The medical care is excellent, the costs are correspondingly high and you first have to pay for them yourself. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid for nationals of EU and EFTA countries. The EHIC regulates care and reimbursement of costs in the event of illness for EU and EFTA citizens. The local health insurance fund (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) is the temporary provider. For medical or dental treatment, you first have to bear the costs yourself. The doctor then gives the insured person the “Feuille de soins (assurance maladie)” treatment form, which can be used to present the EHIC to the Caisse Primaire d’ Assurance Maladie is reimbursed (percentage varies). The EHIC does not include repatriation after a serious illness or an accident abroad. Statutory health insurance companies are not allowed to offer this service. Only private travel insurance companies pay for return transport. It is therefore recommended that you take out health insurance abroad for the duration of your stay, which covers risks that are not covered by statutory health insurance companies. The EHIC does not include repatriation after a serious illness or an accident abroad. Statutory health insurance companies are not allowed to offer this service. Only private travel insurance companies pay for return transport. It is therefore recommended that you take out health insurance abroad for the duration of your stay, which covers risks that are not covered by statutory health insurance companies. Check directoryaah for more information.
Food and drink
In the French overseas territories, there is a risk of infection from diarrheal diseases that can be transmitted through contaminated food or drink. Therefore, careful food and drinking water hygiene measures should always be implemented. Water should be either boiled or otherwise sterilized or purchased packaged before use for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice cubes. When buying packaged water, you should make sure that the original packaging has not been opened.
Other risks
The standard vaccinations for children and adults recommended by the Robert Koch Institute (including against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, measles, rubella, pneumococci, poliomyelitis and influenza) should be refreshed before the trip if necessary. Schistosomiasis pathogens are found in the lower reaches of the river Cavu/Cavo near the town of Porto Vecchio in southern Corsica, so swimming and wading in inland waters in this region should be avoided. Well maintained swimming pools with chlorinated water are safe. Nationwide, from April to October, there is a risk of transmission of Lyme disease from ticks, especially in grass, shrubs and undergrowth. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is also transmitted by ticks. The rural areas in Alsace and the Rhine plain are particularly affected. Vaccination against this disease is possible. Chikungunya diseases can occasionally occur in southern France. The chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. Travelers are advised to protect themselves against mosquitoes. Dengue fever occasionally occurs in late summer in southern France (Nice region). An effective insect repellent is recommended. A hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for trips to the Mediterranean coast and Corsica. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. Leishmaniasis, transmitted by butterfly flies, occurs mainly between June and September on the Mediterranean coast and Corsica. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. The viral disease West Nile fever is transmitted by infected mosquitoes in France, especially in the summer months. There is no vaccination. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. France is officially free of terrestrial rabies. The risk of Zika virus infections exists in southern France in the Var department and in the French overseas territories. Pregnant women are therefore advised not to travel to outbreak areas, as infection can cause birth defects.
Health certificate
In France and other EU countries, in addition to the digital COVID-19 vaccination card (EU Digital COVID Certificate), proof of the COVID vaccination status with the vaccination card in paper form is also valid. France accepts the Swiss COVID certificate.
Money
Currency
1 euro = 100 cents. Currency code: €, EUR (ISO code). Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, coins in denominations of 1 and 2 euros and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
Credit cards
Mastercard and Visa are accepted and widely used. American Express and Diners Club are less commonly accepted. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card. Credit cards are accepted in many shops, hotels, supermarkets and restaurants. Retailers often display a minimum amount for credit card purchases on the notice board.
ATMs
Girocard With the Girocard (formerly EC card) such as the Maestro card, V Pay or Sparcard and PIN number, cash can be withdrawn from ATMs in the national currency throughout Europe. In many European countries it is also possible to pay with a debit card in shops. Cards with the Cirrus, V-Pay or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.
Travelers cheques
Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are hardly available in Austria. Travelers checks can only be cashed in France in a few exchange offices in the big cities.
Bank opening hours
Not uniform: 08.30-16.00, also 09.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00. Some banks are closed on Mondays and/or open until 12 noon on Saturdays. On the day before a public holiday, banks close at 12:00 p.m., in rare cases they remain closed temporarily or even for the whole of the following day.
Foreign exchange regulations
For travelers within and from outside the EU, there are no restrictions on the import or export of national and foreign currencies, but there is an obligation to declare funds from an equivalent value of €10,000 (in addition to cash, cash also includes travelers cheques, savings accounts, other currencies, to third parties checks drawn, the true value of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum (gold coins containing at least 90 percent gold grade, uncoined gold in the form of bars, nuggets or nuggets containing at least 99.5 percent gold grade), precious stones (but not jewelry). )).
Currency Exchange
Some hotels are authorized to exchange money. The Credit Mutuel and Credit Agricole (comparable to the German savings banks) have relatively long opening hours. By law, hotels and shops are generally not allowed to accept foreign currencies. However, you will find exchange offices z. T. in department stores, at train stations, airports and near tourist attractions.
