PRACTICAL INFORMATION GOOD TO KNOW Currency exchange You can change money at stations, air- Public toilets ports, large bank branches and bureaux More than 400 free automatic public de change (open until late in the evening). toilets – with disabled access facilities – Before you go ahead with a transaction, available to tourists across Paris. it is a good idea to ask at what rates the Addresses at: www.paris.fr agency buys and sells currency and how much the commission charge is. Some addresses: Change & Collection: 1 rue Rouget de L’Isle (1st). M Concorde.o 01 42 60 00 35. www.yes-change.com Multi Change: 7 rue Marbeuf (8th). M Alma – Marceau.o 01 47 20 23 57. www.multi-change.com Western Union –WU Stores: 194 bis rue de Rivoli (1st).M Tuileries.o www.westernunion.com Ban on smoking The campaign against smoking is a pub- Duty-free shopping lic health priority in France. Smoking is prohibited in certain public places, such as enclosed and covered areas (hotels, restaurants, cafes, tobacconists, casinos, nightclubs, etc.) – unless an area has been specifically equipped for smokers –, public transport (including stations) and in chil- Visitors from outside the European Union dren’s playgrounds. (EU) can claim back VAT (up to 12%) on purchases of €175.01 or more made from Banks the same shop on the same day. On leav- Banks are generally open from Monday to ing the EU, visitors should scan the bar- Friday (sometimes from Tuesday to Satur- codes which are on the form provided by day) from 9am to 5pm. If you have an Inter- the retailer at one of the terminals near national Visa card or Eurocard/MasterCard, to the Customs ticket desk in order to be you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day from reimbursed quickly. most cash points. Customs information centre: 0 811 20 44 44 (€0.06/min), Mon-Fri, 8.30am-6pm, except public holidays. Détaxe SAS: www.detaxe.com Global Blue France : www.globalblue.com 92