Scenset's Guide to France

French cinema has a long history of artistic and philosophical movies that showcase French ideologies and cultural changes. With a varied history, including the first-ever commercial film screening at the Grand Café in Paris in 1895, French cinema continues to dominate for its themes and characterizations.

A few of our favourites to watch before you travel are:

• Les tontons flingueurs (Monsieur Gangster) is a French classic known for its witty dialogue and well-written characters. Ex-gangster, Fernand, takes on a comical mission from a dying mob boss, triggering a chase by rival mobsters and resulting in humorous encounters - trailer here.
  
• Amélie, known for its stylish cinematography, follows a waitress with a vivid imagination in Paris' Montmartre district and her quest for connection to other people and the subtle nudges she gives in the lives of those around her - trailer here.
  
• Les Choristes (The Chorus) captures the uplifting influence of music and the profound effect a teacher can have on their students' lives. Notably, it has received a nomination as France's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards - trailer here.
  
• The Intouchables, one of France's biggest cinematic triumphs, became a festival favorite upon its release. Based on a true story, the film beautifully depicts the poignant bond between Phillipe, a disabled aristocrat, and his caregiver, Driss - trailer here
  
• Midnight in Paris, written and directed by Woody Allen, stars Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. The film centres on an aspiring novelist who loves the city of Paris and wanders the streets at night alone exploring. It is a visually stunning movie and one that will have you packing your bags to head to the airport - trailer here

A few of our favourite French classics are:

• Around the World in Eighty Days, by acclaimed French author Jules Verne, tells the infamous tale of Phileas Fogg, who bets with his friends that he can circumnavigate the globe in eighty days. It's a great book set during the Golden Age of Travel - click here for more information.
  
• My Life in France by Julia Child, chronicles Julia's journey from her initial introduction to France and her education at Le Cordon Bleu, culminating in her groundbreaking cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent triumph as a television chef - click here for more information.
  
• Chocolat (also a fantastic film to watch!) is set in a small French town where a woman and her daughter challenge tradition by launching a chocolate shop just before Lent - click here for more information.
  
• A Year in Provence is a British advertising executive's best-selling memoir detailing his amusing adventures renovating a farmhouse in Provence in the late 1980s. It charmingly portrays southern French life, customs, and seasonal changes, making it a standout in French expat literature - click here for more information.
  
• The Elegance of the Hedgehog, written by French novelist and former philosophy teacher Muriel Barbery, is a captivating story set in a Parisian apartment building. It sold over a million copies worldwide and was adapted into a movie, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the City of Light's past with its depiction of a bygone era of Parisian life - click here for more information.

We have designed some great playlists for you to enjoy during your trip through France full of local talent to discover!

• France is full of local French talent and popular modern artists.
  
• The Open Road is perfect for listening to while traveling between destinations, so sit back, relax and enjoy the views!
  
• Summer Chill is great for spending time on the chic French Riviera.

A few words in French are very appreciated and will go a long way! Here are a few phrases to help you along your journey:

• Hello: Bonjour (bon-zhoohr)
  
• Hi/bye!: Salut! (sah-loo)
  
• Goodbye: Au revoir (oh ray-vwah)
  
• Good evening: Bon soir (bon swahr)
  
• Please: S'il vous plaît (seel voo play)
  
• See you later: À plus! (ah ploo)
  
• Thank you: Merci (merr-see)
  
• You're welcome: De rien (duh ree-an)
  
• Pleased to meet you: Enchanté (ohn-shawn-tay)
  
• Excuse me: Pardon/Excusez moi (par-dohn/excuse-ay-mwah)
  
• Yes: Oui (wee)
  
• No: Non (noh)
  
• Good: Bien (bee-en)
  
• My name is...: Je m’appelle... (jeh mah-pell...)
  
• Do you speak English?: Est-ce que vous parlez anglais? (es-kuh voo par-lay ong-lay)
  
• The menu, please: Le menu, s’il vous plait (luh muh-new, seel voo play)
  
• What would you suggest: Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez/suggérez? (kehs-kuh vooh ruh-koh-mahn-dey/sooh-zhey-rey?) | For use in a restaurant
  
• The bill, please: L’addition, s’il vous plait (lah-dee-shawn, seel voo play) | For use in a restaurant

The French typically dress less casually than Americans, especially Parisians who always looking chic and put together:

• Cool and comfortable clothes for when the weather is hot. Cotton clothing works well!
  
• Comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Paris has a lot of cobblestone streets so make sure you're not wearing shoes that will cut your strolls short!
  
• Swim/beach shoes (some beaches are pebbles) if your feet are sensitive.
  
• Sun cream, sun hat, lip balm and sunglasses for days you can't escape the sun
  
• Swimsuit, for the pools, saunas or spa facilities at hotels, as well as the beach.
  
• A modest outfit if you are visiting churches or religious sites that cover your shoulders, chest and top of your legs.
  
• Semi-casual clothes for eating out.
  
• Semi-formal clothes if you're eating out at a fine dining restaurant. Some restaurants may have a dress code.
  
• Day-pack for excursions
  
• A suitable travel adapter
  
• A power bank or to keep your phone charged - batteries drain quickly when using GPS all day.

• Electricity in France runs on a 220-volt, 50-hertz AC current.
  
• France also uses a Type E plug (round pin and receptacle with male grounding pin).

We recommend bringing a travel adapter that has multiple specifications so you're always prepared.

Hotels may have adapters you can use, but they may not always be available or working, so it's best to have your own.

Here are some tips on health, safety and general rules to be aware of:

Security

• Dial 112 and ask for the police if you have an emergency.
  
• It's important to remember that, like all major global cities, pickpockets operate in highly populated areas; especially areas frequented by tourists.
  
• It is highly recommended not to bring or wear valuable or sentimental jewellery, watches or items with you that you do not wish to lose or have stolen.
  
• While most visitors do not have any issues whatsoever when visiting, it's always good to be aware of your surroundings and your personal items.

Health

• Dial 112 if you have a medical emergency and ask for an ambulance.
  
• If you are under special medical treatment, you are advised to take enough medicines with you to cover your trip and any delays, as there is a high possibility that you may not find the same medicine in France.
  
• If you need hospital treatment in France you’re more likely to receive appropriate care in a public healthcare facility. However, in some tourist areas there may not be any public healthcare facilities nearby. Some hotels may call private doctors or ambulances to take patients to private hospitals.
  
• Ensure you have travel insurance with you that covers medical, if you are not already covered by your supplier.
  
• Pharmacies are widely available and are well stocked. It is common for the pharmacy to have English-speaking staff.
  
• Medical care for illness or accident is free to citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein as long as they have a European Health Card (EHIC) and the reason for the trip is not to seek specific medical treatment.
  
• Some beaches may have strong undercurrents known as riptides (baïnes), especially along the Atlantic Coast. Local sea conditions can be dangerous even for strong swimmers.
  
• Most beaches have lifeguards and flag warning systems. Make sure you understand the warning system before swimming and always follow the advice closely.
  
• Follow local advice if there are jellyfish in the sea.

Protests

• There can be frequent industrial action across France. This can lead to disruption and delays on public transport.
  
• If you’re due to travel to or within France, monitor the media, check your operator’s advice and follow the advice of the authorities.

Local laws and customs

• Carry your passport with you wherever possible. You must be able to prove your identity either by providing documents when asked or within 4 hours at a police station. Identity documents can be a passport, photo driving licence or any other documentation provided by a government body.
  
• Covering your face in public places in France is illegal. This includes balaclavas, full veils or any other garment or mask that is used to hide the face. You can be fined up to €150 euros if you don’t comply. Forcing someone to hide their face is also a crime and is punishable by a year’s imprisonment and a fine of up to €30,000 euros. If the person forced to hide their face is under 18 years old, the sentence is doubled. This law applies to tourists.

Natural Disasters

• France, particularly in the south, can experience forest fires in the summer so be aware and follow local advice.
  
• Local flooding can occur during periods of heavy rainfall so be aware and follow local advice.
  
• There is a risk of avalanches in mountainous areas. Check weather conditions on the Meteo France website and follow local advice before you ski or hike.

Our guideline for tipping is:

• Restaurants: At restaurants, it isn't uncommon to find a service charge added to the bill, which indicates that a tip is included. It is customary to round up the bill or add an additional 5-10% unless you are unhappy with the service. If no service charge is included, a 10-15% tip is considered generous.
  
• Guides | half day: €20–40 per day is the amount we recommend.
  
• Guides | full day: €30–80 per day is the amount we recommend.
  
• Drivers: €15-60 per day is the amount we recommend, depending on whether it's a half or full day
  
• Chauffeur/guide: €20-50 for half-day experiences and up to €30-80 for full-day experiences, depending on the service and the complexity of the day.
  
• VIP Greeters: €20-50 per trip depending on the level of service and amount of luggage handled.
  
• Airport transfers: €15-30 per trip
  
• Hotels | Housekeeping: €3-5 per day.
  
• Hotels | Porters: €1-3 per bag.
  
• Hotels | Concierge: €5-10 for restaurant reservations, or €50+ for more elaborate requests such as tickets to a sold out show
  
• Hotels | Butlers: it is customary to tip 5% of the room rate. Alternatively, between €50-120 per day depending on the level of service.

• The Euro (€) is the official currency of France.
  
• One Euro is made up of 100 cents, and there are eight different coins (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 Euros), and seven notes (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros).
  
• Almost everywhere accepts card payments (a Revolut card is an amazing way to keep local currency on you with a card payment to avoid transaction fees), but it's important to always have some cash money on you when traveling to rural areas as you might encounter a few studios or small shops in less-touristic areas that don't accept card.
  
• Cash is usually withdrawn from automatic teller machines at bank branches. In addition, in France it is easy to find ATMs to withdraw cash in shopping centres and shopping areas, large urban centres and historic centres in small towns.

French cuisine is renowned worldwide for using simple ingredients transformed by artful techniques.

Below are a few of our top recommendations to try when in France:

• Soupe à l'Oignon (French Onion Soup) is a classic! A hearty soup consisting of a flavorful onion and meat broth, served with a crispy bread layer, topped with grated cheese, often Comté or Gruyère, and then baked until golden and bubbly.
  
• Moules Frites à La Crème is a classic Normandy-originating mussel dish featuring mussels cooked in a luscious sauce comprising butter, cream, onions, garlic, shallots, cider, parsley, salt, and pepper.
  
• Steak Tartare may not look appealing, but it's a must-try! Consisting of finely minced raw beef mixed with chopped onions, capers, and various seasonings, this dish is typically savored as an appetizer, often accompanied by toast or crackers. Only eat this in notable restaurants as it's raw meat.
  
• Boeuf (Beef) Bourguignon is the iconic stew that you have to taste in France; especially if it's a rainy day! Made by slow-cooking beef in red wine with garlic, onions, bacon, mushrooms, and carrots; it's considered one of France's national dishes for good reason.
  
• Galettes Bretonnes are savory buckwheat crepes stuffed with ham, a fried egg, and cheese. Simple, but oh so good!
  
• Coq au vin, originally from Burgundy, is an iconic stew-based dish consisting of a slowly cooked rooster in a wine sauce.
  
• Paris-Brest is a French dessert made of choux pastry and a praline flavoured cream, covered with flaked almonds; it's delicious!
  
• Mille-feuille, also known as a Napoleon slice in North America, is a French dessert made of puff pastry layered with pastry cream. Its modern form was influenced by improvements made by Marie-Antoine Carême.
  
• Macaron are best known for their beautiful colors, are sweet meringue-based confections made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond meal, and often food colouring.

It can be confusing knowing how to order in a French bistrot or restaurant, so we've listed some tips for you:

• L’entrée: Starter/appetiser
  
• Le plat principal: Main course
  
• Le fromage: Cheese,
  
• Le dessert: Dessert

This is usually followed by coffee.

• If you order “un café” in a restaurant, it will be an espresso/short coffee. For a normal coffee that’s between an espresso and an Americano, you can ask for a café allongé.
  
• A lot of restaurants stick to a pretty strict lunch/dinner schedule, so it can sometimes be tricky to find somewhere to eat around 3/4pm. This is definitely true for traditional bistros, as they open for lunch 12-2, close mid-afternoon and then open again for the evening, usually from 7 til midnight.
  
• Similarly, Sunday hours are really respected in France, so although you’ll be able to find stuff, a lot of supermarkets and shops close on a Sunday.
  
• Saying bonjour when you walk into a small/medium-sized store is considered polite, and the same with saying au revoir when you leave.
  
• Always check opening hours of restaurants, as they can vary depending on the season.

Alain Ducasse is one of the biggest names in French Cuisine, is is known for creating innovative dining concepts that reflect international influences.

He is currently at the helm of three restaurants, each awarded three Michelin stars in Monaco, Paris and London.

Here, Alain Ducasse shares his Choux Pastry Cheese Puff recipe to try at home:

• Click here for the recipe.

The French Tourism Board website has plenty more recipes for you to dive into, so you can bring the taste of France into your kitchen when you return:

• Click here for more recipes.