General Information
Bank and Exchange
Banks are generally open from 9am to 5pm, from Monday to Friday or from Tuesday to Saturday. Some branches may close over lunchtime, usually between 12.30pm and 2pm. For cash withdrawals, automatic cash points (ATMs) operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Banks are closed on public holidays.
You may find some banks who will accept your currency in exchange for Euros; you are more likely to come across exchange bureaux, which specialize in this type of transaction. Make sure you have some ID with you.
Business hours and shopping
The majority of shops are open all day from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Some smaller shops may close over lunchtime between midday and 2pm, or all day on Monday. Sundays and public holidays are the usual closing days, although there are some exceptions... During the week, the department stores all have one late-night opening day, known as a "nocturne" until 9pm. Supermarkets are open at different times depending on the neighbourhood, every day except Sunday, until 8, 9 or 10pm.
Climate
Paris has a temperate climate with mild winters and relatively gentle summers. Average temperatures actually vary between 5°C in winter and 20 °C in summer. July is the hottest month of the year and January the coldest. Spring, from March to May is the driest season. Other seasons get their fair share of rain. Generally, it is always slightly hotter in Paris than in the suburbs. The urbanisation of the capital has led to significant differences in temperature between the centre and the outskirts, regularly recording one or two degrees less.
Currency
The official currency in France is the Euro.
Electricity
In France the norm is 220 V, with a frequency of 50 Hz. Plugs are continental-style with two round pins.
Insurance
The conference organizers cannot accept liability for personal injuries sustained, or for loss or damage to property belonging to the participants and accompanying persons, either during or as a result of the congress. The registration does not include insurance. It is strongly recommended that you arrange insurance when you register for the congress and book your travel arrangements. The insurance should be purchased in your country of origin.
Public Transportation
Paris is of the opinion, that there needs to be a metro station within walking distance of 500 meter from every point of the city. Due to this fact, participants will appreciate the more than close subway connections within Paris and especially between the city center and the conference area "La Défence".
Metro line 1 as well as the high speed train called RER (Le Reseau Express Regional) are available for participants and guarantee for a convenient and direct access to the EFQM 2008 venue, the CNIT (Centre des Nouvelles Industries et Technologies).
Click here for Metro Plan in PDF format
Tip
In France, all prices shown include tax and service (the latter is around 15% of the total price). However, if the service has been particularly good, you may wish to leave a tip in order to show your appreciation. As a general rule, the amount is 5 to 10% of the total bill.
