Paris's climate is generally moderate. Winters witness high levels of precipitation?though snow is uncommon?and temperatures averaging around 7 degrees C (45 degrees Fahrenheit). While summer mornings may be cool, afternoons can be hot. Paris's average July temperatures are around 18 degrees C (64 degrees F). August experiences heavy rainfall.

Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry 27, avenue de Friedland, 75382 Paris Cedex 08; Tél.: + 33 1 55 65 77 27

International Chamber of Commerce 38, cours Albert 1er, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 53 28 28

American Chamber of Commerce 156, boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 5643-4567

Franco-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry 31, rue Boissy d'Anglas, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 5330-8130

German-French Chamber of Commerce 18, rue Balard 75015 Paris; Tel.: 00 33 1 40 58 35 35

Italian Chamber of Commerce 134, rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 93 73 73

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) 2, place du Palais Royal; Tel.: +33 (0)1 42 61 27 27 ; www.jetro.go.jp/france/paris/fr

Korea Trade Association (KOTRA) 19 av Opéra, 75001 PARIS; Tel.: 00 33 1 55 35 88 88

Brazil 34, cours Albert 1er, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 45 61 63 00

China 11, avenue George V, 75008 Paris; Tel.: 01 47 23 34 45

Czech Republic 15, avenue Charles Floquet 75007 Paris ; Tel: + 33 1 40 65 13 00

Germany 13, avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 83 45 00

Italy 51, rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 54 03 00

Japan 7, avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 48 88 62 00

Korea (Republic of) 125, rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 53 01 01

Mexico 9, rue de Lonchamp, 75116 Paris; Tel.: 01 53 70 27 70

The U.K. , 35 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré 75008, Tel.: + 33 1 44 51 31 00

The U.S. 2, avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris; Tel.: 01 43 12 22 22

Netherlands , 7 rue Eblé 75007 Paris; Tel.: 01 40 62 33 00

Most large hotels also have business centers that offer many of the same services that independent centers provide.

Centre d'Affaires Elysées 8 rue Jean Goujon 75008 Paris, Tel. : + 33 1 40 74 79 00

Griffuelhes Business Center 2, rue Victor Griffuelhes, 92100 Boulogne; Tel.: + 33 1 46 94 75 50

Regus Levallois Place de Seine 7, avenue Georges Pompidou, 92300 Levallois Perret; Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 48 27 27

NCI Etoile-Galilée 33, rue Galilée, 75116 Paris; Tel.: + 33 1 44 43 52 00

NCI Vendome 16, place Vendôme, 75001 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 45 28 28

NCI Elysees Berri 8, rue de Berri, 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 42 99 95 00

HQ Global Workplaces , 10 place Vendôme 75001 Paris; Tel.: 01 53 45 66 50

NCI Com'Square 57 Esplanade Général de Gaulle 92 081 Paris La Défense; Tel.: +33 (0)1 46 96 56 56

Regus Paris 12, rond-point des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris; Tel: + 33 1 53 76 21 05 / 06

ServCorp 23, square Edouard VII, 75009 Paris; Tel.: + 33 1 53 43 90 00 / 92 00/i>

Le Carrousel du Louvre 99, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris; Tel.: + 33 1 72 72 17 00

Porte de Versailles Paris expo 1, place Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 43 95 37 00

World Trade Center Paris Bourse de Commerce - 2, rue de Viarmes 75001 Paris; Tel: + 33 1 55 65 33 00; www.wtcparis.com

International Corporate Communication , 3 rue des Batignolles 75017; Tel.: +33 (0)1 43 87 29 29

Nagpal International Translation , 65 rue Pascal 75013 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 07 55 28

Société Française des Traducteurs , 22 rue des Martyrs 75009 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 48 78 43 32

May Courier International 13 rue Oberkampf, 75011 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 29 56 00

Kinservices Express 113 rue Belliard 75018 Paris; Tel.: 01 42 55 60 49

Chronopost 34 rue Croix Petits Champs 75001 Paris, Tel. : +33 1 53 42 31 40 / + 33 (0) 825 801 801

DHL 6 rue Colonnes 75002 Paris; Tel.: 0820 20 25 25 (toll-free within France)

FedEx Tel.: 0820 12 38 00 (toll-free within France)

UPS 107 rue Réaumur 75002 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)8 00 87 78 77 (toll-free within France)

All upper-range and most medium-priced hotels are equipped with dataports that allow guests to use laptop computers. Many hotels also offer business centers equipped with computers and Internet access. Outside hotels, cyber cafes are available including:

XS Arena Luxembourg 17 rue Soufflot 75005 Paris, Tel. : + 33 1 43 54 55 55

Cybercafé de Paris 15 rue Halles 75001 Paris, Tel. : + 33 1 42 21 11 11 ; www.cybercafeparis.com

Cyber Cube 12 rue Daval 75011 Paris; Tel.: 00 33 1 49 29 67 67

Cyber Service Duriez 3 rue Boétie 75008 Paris; Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 42 91 49

Côté Cyber Jardin 5, rue de La Sourdière 75001 Paris; Tel: + 33 1 42 60 79 04

Cybersquare 1, place de la République 75003 Paris ; + 33 1 48 87 82 36

Citizens of Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the U.K., and the U.S. do not need a visa to enter France. Citizens of the People's Republic of China must apply for a visa.

Duty-free allowances are 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content exceeding 22% by volume or 2 liter of spirits or liquors with an alcohol content not exceeding 22% by volume; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette and personal goods up to the value of 183 EUR. However, there are now no limits imposed on tobaccos and alcohol from one EU country to another.

The International Dialing Code for France is 33. The city code for Paris is (0)1.

Police 17

Fire 18

Ambulance 15

SOS Help (English-language crisis line) Tel.: 01 46 21 46 46

When making calls within France, you need to add "0" in front of the area code. You do not need to dial "0" when calling Paris from abroad. Directory assistance is 12. Toll-free numbers begin with "800," while premium numbers begin with "08". Public phones are widely available, and most public phones accept only calling cards.

Cellular numbers start with "06". GSM is the cellular standard in France. SFR, Orange France, and Bouygues Telecom are the main cellular providers. If you choose to bring your cellular phone into France, be sure to check with your home cellular service provider to establish compatibility of your phone with systems abroad. Rent a locally compatible cellular phone before you arrive to obtain reasonable rates and reliable service.

As of January 1, 2002, euro became the official currency. Euro notes are available in denominations of 5 EUR, 10 EUR, 20 EUR, 50 EUR, 100 EUR, 200 EUR, and 500 EUR, while coins are in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and 1 EUR and 2 EUR. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, hotels, airports, train stations, and authorized foreign currency exchange offices. ATMs are available throughout the country. Traveler's checks are accepted widely. Most businesses accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Diners Club is less common. You may be required to enter your four-digit PIN number, so you should be sure to have this information.

Restaurants A 15 percent service charge is usually added to the bill, unless the menu says service non compris or service en sus when you should add your own 15 percent; an additional small tip for good service is always welcome

Bars Service is usually included, but it's customary to leave a euro or two or just round up the charge

Airport skycap/porter 1 EUR to 1.5 EUR per piece of luggage

Taxis 10 percent of the fare

Hotel bell desk 1.5 EUR per piece of luggage

Hotel housekeeping 1.5 EUR per night

Hotel room service Service charge is usually included, but round it up or leave another 1 EUR

Parking attendant/valet 1 EUR to 1.5 EUR

Haircare/personal services 10 percent of the charge

France is in the Western European Time Zone, which is Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour. It observes Daylight Savings Time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

VAT is 19.6% and is always included in the posted price.

Electricity is 220-240V AC, 50Hz. Plugs are round with either two or three pins.

Paris has an excellent system of roads, although driving in Paris is not for the faint of heart. It's better not to drive anyway, since the public transportation is excellent. Taxis cruise the streets in Paris. They can also be found at taxi stands by the train station and in the main squares. Nearly all are radio taxis and can be quickly summoned to your hotel by the concierge. All taxis have meters, and there are surcharges for trips to the airport, Sunday travel, late hours, and baggage. France's bus system is mostly run by the national railroad, the SNCF, with routes replacing or supplementing the train lines. Municipal buses in Paris are user-friendly, with well-posted routes. Paris' subway system is called the Metro. It is clean, efficient, and reliable. Metros run from 5:30am until 12:30am.

France requires no special immunizations or health precautions. France has one of world's top healthcare systems, and the emergency rooms are well equipped. Pharmacies in Paris take turns staying open after hours - lists are posted in the pharmacy windows. Access to prescription and over-the-counter drugs in France are excellent.

• New Year's Day January 1
• Easter Sunday in mid-March or early April
• Easter Monday Monday after Easter
• Ascension Day Sixth Thursday after Easter
• Labor Day May 1
• 1945 Victory Day May 8
• Bastille Day July 14
• Assumption August 15
• All Saints Day November 1
• Remembrance Day November 11
• Christmas December 25

Situated in a genuine hôtel particulier, L'Ambroisie serves French cuisine to pure perfection as to be expected in a three-Michelin-starred establishment. Jules Verne, situated on one of the levels of the Eiffel Tower, is a Paris landmark for Haute Cuisine and a magical view. Maxim's Royale, which plays a part in Lehar's famous opera The Merry Widow, is a tribute to Art Nouveau elegance. At La Tour d'Argent you'll find fine food, superb service, delectable dishes and breath-taking views onto Notre-Dame and the River Seine. Helene Darozze has a reputation for exquisite inventive South-western French dishes, while star chef Alain Ducasse forsakes classic French food for an Asian-inspired international cuisine in his restaurant Spoon, Food & Wine. A chic but trendy clientele dine at Le Georges, the latest creation from the trendsetting Costes brothers on the sixth floor of the Pompidou Centre.

Paris offers unrivalled choice in shopping. Living up to its reputation as fashion capital of the world, Paris boutiques and department stores have fabulous collections of designer clothes, shoes, bags and leather goods. Paris is also renowned for limitless perfumes and cosmetics selections. Antiques and crystal/glassware also make good gifts. The best areas for high-end fashion boutiques are Avenue Montaigne, rue François 1er and the area around Avenue George V. For upscale antique shopping pay a visit to Le Louvre des Antiquaires. The Carrousel du Louvre offers a large selection of moderately priced gift items.

Paris offers a dizzyingly rich spectrum of historical and cultural sites. The Arc de Triomphe commissioned by Napoleon grandly celebrates the leader's victories. The Cathedral of Notre Dame is one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in the world. Paris's other famous church, the Sacré Coeur with its white dome, is located on Paris's highest point. The much-celebrated Louvre, housing an enormous collection of great artworks, lives up to its reputation as one of the world's best museums. Other world-class museums include the Musée Carnavelet, Musée d'Orsay and Musée Marmottan. For examples of modern and contemporary art and design, Paris offers a panoply of sites, some of which are the Palais de Tokyo, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Musée Picasso and the Grande Arche de la Défense. Science and industry are the subjects of the technologically dazzling Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie. Paris counts among its most popular green spaces the Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin des Tuileries, Parc Monceau and Bois de Boulogne. Not far from Paris is the impressive Château de Versailles, which warrants a day trip.