TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY, HOTELS, VACATIONS
Written and Designed By Maximillien de Lafayette
TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY, HOTELS, VACATIONS
Written and Designed By Maximillien de Lafayette
HOSPITALITY
& TRAVEL TIPS AND USEFUL INFORMATION
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What’s the difference between a hotel and an aparthotel? When’s the best time to come to Paris? Where can I find no-smoking rooms? How do I know if a place is accessible to people with disabilities? What are the latest special offers? If you don’t find the answer to your question in this list, don’t hesitate to let us know!
Smokers allowed? The majority of non-smoking rooms are available in hotel chains. As yet few hotels in Paris provide non-smoking rooms for their guests, so clients can smoke in their rooms at their discretion, except if there is a sign specifically prohibiting it. Hotels must ensure ventilation standards are complied with. As for the communal areas, breakfast room, reception and corridors: these are usually non-smoking. As a rule, youth hostels are entirely non-smoking.
Rainbow? The majority of hotels, cafés, restaurants and clubs aimed at a homosexual clientele are to be found in the first 4 “arrondissements” of Paris and in particular in the historical district of the Marais. These “gay-friendly” establishments sport a Rainbow sticker or flag to make them easier to spot.
What about breakfast?
The continental breakfast most commonly offered in hotels consists of a choice of hot beverage, bread and/or pastries, butter and jams. A supplement may be requested for more extensive buffet-type arrangements. Breakfast is not necessarily provided in 1* and ungraded hotels (HT) and it can only be requested as room service in 3*** hotels and above. The price of breakfast should be shown separately from that of the room. It may only be invoiced if it has actually been taken (except in the case of group bookings). |
What is a “résidence hôtelière” (an aparthotel)? From 2** to 4****, or ungraded, they consist of furnished and fully-equipped studios (one room) or apartments, in blocks or on low-rise estates. These apartments can be rented by the day, but more often by the week or month. They also provide the advantage of hotel services.
Aparthotel category/price Aparthotels are graded by the Paris Préfecture de Police based on the same criteria as hotels (level of comfort, amenities and location). Rates vary according to category, apartment type, number of nights and time of year.
“Arrondissement” or “département”?
Among the addresses you will find in the pages of our web site, most are situated in one of the twenty “arrondissements”, or districts, of Paris (referred to by the postal codes 75001, 75002; etc.) and others, further afield, in one of the 8 “départements” in the Paris region (referred to by a 2-figure postal code, 60, 77, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95).
High or low season?
In general, low season is considered to run from 1 November to 31 March and high season from 1 April to 31 October. Many major events and celebrations take place in Paris throughout the year and the increase in the number of visitors has a knock-on effect on availability: Easter, Bastille Day (14 July), Christmas and New Year, and also international fairs and trade shows (Motor Show, Foire de Paris, Agricultural Show, etc.) and “haute couture” fashion collections… So don’t forget to reserve well in advance if you wish to visit Paris at these times. At certain times of the year, it is worth knowing that hotels’ terms and conditions of booking and cancellation may also be modified accordingly.
Electric adapters and plugs In France the norm is 220 volts, 50 cycles, while in the United States or Canada, for example, it is 110 volts, 60 cycles. Voltage and sockets vary from country to country and so an adapter and also a transformer will be indispensable in order to keep your favourite electric razor or hairdryer in working order – not to mention to avoid blowing the electricity in the whole hotel! If you’ve forgotten to bring these important accessories, you’ll be able to find them in electrical goods and DIY stores or hypermarkets. Most major hotels can also provide them. For information, French plugs are equipped with two round pins.
Phoning from your hotel Take care when making telephone calls from your hotel room as the cost of your calls will inevitably be higher. Each hotel has its own price policy for the telephone, but it is worth knowing that calls could be as much as 50% more expensive then the standard France Télécom rate.
Does my hotel stay open late? The majority of hotels are open 24 hours a day and employ a night porter (if not, this should be stated in our information pages). He will be present to greet you and give you your room key, but it is advisable to check beforehand in case there is a limit to the lateness of the hour for returning to your nest.
Speak my language? Not counting luxury establishments where the welcome and information are offered in several languages, it is compulsory for hotels with 2** and above to be competent in at least one foreign language, most commonly English. In most types of accommodation, English is used as a matter of course and you should have no difficulty in making yourself understood!
What is “day use”? If you are just passing through Paris or in transit between two international flights, hotels can let rooms just for the daytime.
Check in, check out When you arrive, rooms are usually available for check-in from 2pm or 3pm, and on the day you leave, you should check out by 11am or midday.
What does the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau’s logo
denote?
Members of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (PCVB) are shown by the presence of our logo next to their name. This means that this trade professional participates in different promotional and hospitality initiatives led by the PCVB each year in order to greet and assist tourists.
Do you have to be young to stay at a youth hostel? There are no age restrictions but you must have the “Auberges de Jeunesse” membership card. It is on sale worldwide through approved travel agents. It has to be said that as the comfort is quite basic, it is rare to see thirty-somethings or above staying here…
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Special discounts for children?
Some hotels and hotel chains offer special rates or even free places for children sharing their parents’ room. The definition of a child’s age varies from place to place, going from under- 12s, under-16s or even under-18s. As well as these special prices, sometimes breakfast is offered free and hotels can give you plenty of ideas for making the most of family trips. You’ll find details of these in the information pages for each supplier.
What do I put in the safe? Hotels and aparthotels may place safe deposit boxes at your disposal either in your room or at reception: very useful for keeping your valuables safe! You could also keep a copy of your identity documents here, helpful in case you should lose the originals. The hotel is responsible for valuables entrusted to them by their guests. In the event of theft or damage, the hotel’s liability is automatically incurred – although the level of compensation will vary. It is interesting to note that if the theft or damage occurs in the hotel safe or at reception, when the client’s property has been personally entrusted to the hotel staff, the hotel takes full liability and any stolen objects will be entirely reimbursed. For individual safes in the rooms, in the case of theft, the cover is limited to one hundred times the nightly room rate. Finally, if the loss or damage are the result of external causes (lightning for example) or negligence on the part of the client (door left unlocked), the hotel has the right to refuse liability.
What exactly is a furnished rental (“meublé”)? These are self-contained fully-equipped studios or apartments, available for short- or longer-term rental. Expect to pay at least €500 per month for a studio. Some furnished accommodation offers additional hotel facilities (room service, car park, baby-sitting, etc.). This type of accommodation can be booked through agencies.
What is a “hôtel de charme”? The charming concept of a ’hôtel de charme’ has no official status of any kind. A subjective description, it is not taken into account by the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, its use being left to the discretion of hotel owners, hotel chains, tour operators or publishing houses. Hotels, usually ranging from 2** to 4**** categories, may be described in this way for the attractiveness of their location, for their decor or their level of comfort.
Do I have to pay the “tourist tax”?
Allocated to the development and promotion of tourism, this tax is also collected by many other countries (in Europe: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Greece). On 1 January 1994, the Paris City Council introduced this tax which is applicable to all forms of paid accommodation: hotels and apartments, furnished accommodation, camp sites, etc. Ranging from €0.20 to €1.20 per person per day, it is not necessarily included in the price of the room but its payment is obligatory for all excepting children under 13 years of age. Terms of cancellation When making a hotel booking, you are advised to check the terms and conditions of cancellation. All cancellations should be confirmed in writing and should comply with the terms set out by the establishment. In the event of the cancellation being received by the hotel before the agreed deadline, the client has nothing to pay. If this date has gone by, the hotel is entitled to demand payment for the first night. If you simply do not turn up or decide to leave the hotel before the planned date, the hotel may collect the cost of the stay in part or in full. What does the “Tourisme & Handicap” label denote?
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When do you leave a tip? How late can you dine out? If you don’t find the answer to your question about eating out in Paris in this list, don’t hesitate to let us know! What time do we eat in France? Lunch is usually between midday and 2 pm, when the kitchen will go off duty. Watch out, as during these times, service can be rather slow if you find yourself in a business area. Parisians don’t dine until at least 8.30 pm as prior to that, time is set aside for “l’apéritif”. If you’re used to eating earlier, restaurants in the more-frequented tourist areas are open from 7 pm onwards, although you won’t see too many Parisians at that time! Alternatively, you can go for a lighter fare (salads, sandwiches or pizza for example). You can eat late in the busier districts and many restaurants stay open until after midnight, in particular the brasseries who serve food non-stop. It’s a good idea to check opening times in our information pages and to book a table in advance in order to avoid a long wait at the more popular spots, especially at the weekend. The majority of bars and cafés open early, around 7 or 8 am and close late, sometimes not until 2 am, or even later if the establishment has a special dispensation. How to pay? Restaurants everywhere take all the major credit cards: Visa, EuroCard, MasterCard, American Express. At each transaction, the restaurant must give you a receipt which you should keep safely. Only cheques drawn on French banks will be accepted and generally proof of identity is requested. You can also pay in euros of course, although it is best to avoid the larger denomination banknotes. Inside or out? If you sit outside on the pavement or terrace, prices will inevitably be higher. The difference varies according to the place, but the establishment is obliged to display their prices, both those at the counter (“comptoir”) or at an outside table (“terrasse”). To tip or not to tip? In France all prices include service and taxes, with approximately 15% of the price corresponding to the service. However, if the waiter or waitress has been especially attentive, you can leave him or her a tip to show your appreciation. Around 5 to 10% of the bill is usual.
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Beer or whisky? Alcoholic drinks are on sale at grocers’, wine shops or supermarkets. We must not forget though that alcohol over-indulgence is not only bad for our health, it can also threaten our driving licence (loss of points, considerable fines) and above all endanger lives. Any establishment selling alcohol is not authorized to serve children under 16 years of age. Drinks less than 15 degrees in strength (wine, beer) can be served to under-18s, but not spirits and liqueurs (whisky, vodka, etc.) Restaurants that do not have the appropriate licence cannot serve alcoholic drinks except to accompany a meal. Happy hour! A custom imported from English-speaking lands, it has been “happily” adopted by the French and is rife at the time of “l’apéritif” (from 6 to 8 pm) when certain cafés and bistros offer their best cocktails or wine by the glass at a reduced price or sometimes “2 for the price of 1”.
Snug for smokers? Restaurants should have designated smoking and non-smoking areas and the inevitable question “fumeur ou non fumeur?” will be asked as you go in. Cafés and clubs remain the places where this law may be not so strictly adhered to, and where the cigarette as a leisure companion is very much in evidence. Mutual respect is ultimately the only rule. Our four-legged friends Before you book your table or meet for drinks, ensure that the establishment of your choice will accept your pet. Hospitality may include a Yorkshire terrier without necessarily extending to a Saint-Bernard...
Do you speak English? In busy tourist areas and in the top restaurants, waiting staff will speak one foreign language or more. English is the most common, but you’ll come across German, Spanish and Italian too. Menus are translated into English and other languages if the area is visited by tourists.
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You
will find this label on our web site to designate tourist sites and
facilities providing access for disabled persons, taking into account 4
categories of disability: hearing, visual, mental and physical. 
Physical
disability 
Mental
disability 
Visual
impairment 
Hearing
impairment 
IT
IS GOOD TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN FRANCE.
