language
English is spoken to varying degrees in the southwest of France. French schoolchildren usually are taught multiple foreign languages, which may include English, German, or Spanish. You will find that some locals speak English quite fluently and others do not know any at all.
France also has many regional accents. The accent of southwestern France is more lilting and singsong than the standard French pronunciation and intonation.
currency
The Euro is the official currency of France, so keep an eye on the exchange rate with the U.S. dollar. You may want to purchase Euros at home before you leave on the trip.
Contact your home bank before leaving to find out what the fee is for purchases and ATM withdrawals abroad. Check to see if your bank has an international partner, so that you can avoid some of the usage fees for each withdrawal if you do need to obtain cash in the village. For example, Bank of America partners with BNP Paribas in France. You should also check with your credit card company to find out their charges for purchases in France.
In France, like most European countries, credit cards have been equipped with chip technology for the past decade. While American credit cards without a chip may be accepted by actual salespeople, some machines may not accept them. In touristy cities, this might not be a problem, but please make sure that you have a chip card or Euros on hand or you will not be able to pay for things in the countryside where we will be staying!
DRIving
If you are visiting France for less than 90 days, you may drive with a valid U.S. driver's license. In addition to having your U.S. driver's license, visitors are strongly advised to carry an International Driving Permit or attach a French translation to their U.S. driver's license. An IDP can be obtained through AAA for $15 and is a valid form of identification in 150 countries worldwide and that contains your name, photo and driver information.
All rental cars are equipped with GPS technology. Traffic drives on the right. You will drive through many roundabout intersections and pass many stationary speed cameras.
French motorways, known as autoroutes, are designated with number preceded by the letter A (for Autoroute). Most French autoroutes are toll motorways, and entrances to them are marked with the word " Péage." You take a ticket from a booth as you enter the autoroute, and tolls are paid when you leave the autoroute or when the toll section comes to an end. Toll gates are designated as cash, credit/debit, and/or electronic payment by signs and colored images. The cost of motorway travel varies, but is about 1 Euro for 10 miles.
weather
The warm season lasts from June to September. We chose late-June because this is likely after the springtime rains and before the mid-summer heat. Average high temperatures at this time of the year are usually between mid-70°F to mid-80°F. Average low temperatures range from mid-50°F to 60°F.