FRENCH WITH A SMILE

After many years as the worlds top tourist destination, France has recently slipped to third position (behind the United States & Spain) for income from tourism and one of the reasons for this fall in popularity has been put down to a lack of friendliness from the French themselves. In a recent interview the French Minister for Tourism Luc Chatel said "We have to make a collective effort. We were very successful in the 1970s, but tourists are different now; they book by themselves on the internet and prefer short trips. Our greatest handicap is our perceived lack of friendliness."

Tourism figures for last summer (2007) showed numerous cancellations & early departures from campsites, especially in Brittany & Normandy which, whilst may in the main be due to the weather, the French feel it will do no harm to the tourism figures to improve their image overseas. With this in mind the French Tourist Chiefs have offered the following advice to the tourist industry:

• Be the first to say "Bonjour" when confronting a tourist.

• If a tourist tries to speak some French -- be patient.

• If you speak some English then use it.

• Be patient & courteous in transactions.

• If all else fails then SMILE!

BRITISH TOURISTS ARE TOPS IN 2007

For the second year in a row British visitors to France have outnumbered all the other nationalities who visit our neighbour across the Channel. Helped by English success in reaching the Rugby World Cup Final, the British tourist numbers were greater than the Germans, Dutch, Belgians & Italians, whilst the strength of the Euro against the Dollar was still keeping American visitors away.

LEAVE YOUR RADAR DETECTOR AT HOME

French Law currently bans the use of a non GPS radar (or laser) detector or scanner & anyone caught in possession of same can face a ban from driving in France for up to 3 years as well as having it confiscated. Also, if there is no other driver in your motorhome you would have to get a motoring organisation to repatriate your vehicle & return home by other means - anyone who continued to drive could face a possible prison sentence.

GPS devices that warn the driver of approaching a speed camera are however legal as they are merely advising the position in advance of known locations of speed cameras -- as long as they don't also incorporate a radar/ laser detector. So be warned; Leave Your Scanner at Home!

HELP FOR THE HANDICAPPED AT VERSAILLES

A visit to the Palace of Versailles can be one of the most rewarding experiences that this area of France has to offer but it can also be one of the most tiring -- the Palace itself seems to involve a never ending tour of kings & queens apartments, state rooms, galleries, the Hall of Mirrors, the Chapel, the Opera room, etc. Then once you have done all this, you are then invited to visit the many acres of gardens, canals & water features outside the Chateau that are another amazing feature of this World Heritage site that cannot be missed.

Whilst this may be quite tiring for the able-bodied visitor, it can be almost impossible for a visitor with reduced mobility. Help is at hand however, when visiting the Gardens as it is possible to hire a 4 seater electric "golf" cart that can be driven around the grounds whilst including an inbuilt commentary.

Palace of Versailles