France – General Travel Tips

1. Some of the best cosmetics in the world for kids and adults alike come from France. You will have no problem walking into a pharmacy and finding all you need in terms of toiletries.

2. French bakeries and dairy are still the best in the world, so your child will be well taken care of on a diet of croissants, cheese and yogurt at least.

3. Road signs in France are horrible, so invest in a GPS or risk going around the same roundabout several times just to find a sign that corresponds with the map. Old school is overrated when you are traveling with a child. Further, tolls can be anywhere from one euro to fifty euros depending on how far you are going, so ensure that you always have cash on you. Many toll booths don’t have attendants so you can get pretty badly stuck if you are not carrying enough money. Similarly, trolleys at the airport require a one euro coin and some of the smaller airports do not have change machines, leaving you with a nightmare scenario of managing your bags and the stroller and baby.

4. Milk entier is whole milk.

5. In the South of France, “Casino” is the supermarket chain, so don’t be confused.

6. The weather even in the summer can be windy, so make sure to pack a sweater or light jacket for yourself and the baby.

7. Language is not a problem in the major cities but French is certainly appreciated.

8. Useful words in French:

* doctor – un docteur
* emergency – un cas d’urgence
* taxi – un taxi
* bathroom – la toilette