GETTING THERE

PASSPORTS:
If you are traveling to France from another country, be sure that you obtain a passport and that your passport is valid for the length of your stay. Specifically, you will need three months of validity before your passport expires. 

VISAS:
France is one of 25 member countries of the Schengen Convention, an agreement whereby all EU (European Union) member countries (except the UK and Ireland) plus Iceland and Norway abolished checks at internal borders in 2000. The other EU countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Spain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden. EU, Norwegian and Icelandic nationals need no visa, regardless of the length or purpose of their visit to France. However, if they stay beyond 90 days they are required to register with the police. Legal residents of one Schengen country (regardless of their nationality) do not require a visa for another Schengen country. Nationals of many other countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the USA, do not need a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days in France, although some of these nationalities (including Australians and Canadians) may be subject to restrictions in other Schengen countries and should check with consulates of all Schengen countries they plan to visit.

TRAVEL SITES TO FIND FLIGHTS
A few Travel Aggregators that search multiple travel sites for flights:
Cheapflights: http://www.cheapflights.com
Farecast: http://www.farecast.com
Kayak: http://www.kayak.com
Mobissmo:http://www.mobissimo.com
Opodo: http://www.opodo.com/
Sidestep: http://www.sidestep.com
Travel Zoo:  http://www.travelzoo.com

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION:
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Transportation/Air/airports_Paris1.shtml

COPING IN COACH:
While we all know that amenities no longer exist on most coach flights, there are ways we can help ourselves fly more comfortably, including good meals, dressing correctly, and dealing with awful seating and exposure to germs and bacteria. To ease the discomfort of flying, consider the following: • Dress comfortably in breathable fabrics. Dress in layers, wear soft stretchy clothes on long flights so you can stretch and move about comfortably. • Wear or bring socks. You will be more comfortable when you remove your shoes at airport security or during a long flight. • Pack food. Sandwiches, granola bars, nuts and fruit are healthful, convenient alternatives that don’t require a lot of extra carry-on baggage and will get you through a long flight. Consider bringing along something that gives you joy during a flight-time meal – a plastic glass that has decoration, a favorite coffee mug, a good napkin instead of a paper towel. • Stay hydrated. Drink water, avoid alcohol and use skin moisturizer to combat the dry cabin air. • Bring cash to purchase snacks and headphones in case you did not pack your own. • Check in early (check into the possibility of checking in online at your airline’s website) for the best chance of getting an exit-row, window, or bulkhead seats. Check out these websites for information to help you make your flight more comfortable: www.seatguru.com has measurements, positioning and reviews of seats for 25 airlines. www.flight001.com offers products geared toward air travel – pillows, carry-on bags, travel books, small electronics, toiletries, and other intriguing items. www.ifly.com has information about amenities and other features at dozens of airports. Also, check your airline’s website for details about the carrier’s food and beverage service and in-flight entertainment. In addition, remember to get up and move. If you are lucky enough to have an aisle seat, get up and walk up and down the aisles every hour. Bring along playing cards, travel sizes of board games, portable electronics (CD and DVD players) to keep yourself distracted. And also remember that everyone else on board your flight is in the same space you are; be considerate, be kind, be gracious to the flight attendants who, if they are able, will warm your carry-on food for you, bring you blankets from First Class (which are usually higher quality), give you ice for that special cup you bring along, and carry out your trash. They are your friends on the flight.

MAP OF PARIS METRO SYSTEM

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