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Introduction
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Paris, the city of lights, is a favorite travel destination of many business travelers. The city offers a great variety of features that can make your trip to Paris more than just a business trip.
Paris is the business heart of France and has a population of about 10.5 million. This number includes the city's suburbs. Paris' businesses are spread out over various districts, but a major concentration of major businesses can be found in "la defense", the city's modern business center, just outside the Boulevard Peripherique (ring road).
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Business Information
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Paris is a main global business center, and it is home to well-known international corporations such as Danone (Food), LVMH (Luxury goods) and Renault (Automotive). Paris can be a challenging place to do business for the non-French because of language barriers and specific business etiquette. Although most French multinationals have adopted English as the official company language, in many cases it is still hard to get by without French. However, the younger generation of French has embraced the English language and it is more and more common for French businessmen to be fluent in English. Another particularity about business life in French are the lavish business lunches, where wine can still play an important role.
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Arriving
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Paris has 2 major international airports, Charles De Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). Most international travelers arrive at CDG. Both airports are within a 30 minutes taxi ride from the city (but traffic can be a problem).
Charles De Gaulle Airport
CDG airport lies 20 miles north of Paris city center. A taxi ride to the city will take approximately 30 minutes and will cost around € 30. Taxi drivers would appreciate a small tip (say € 5), but tipping is not mandatory. Another, fast, option is to take the train (called RER), which brings you to the heart of Paris in 20 minutes.
Orly Airport
Orly lies 25 miles south of Paris. A taxi ride to the city center takes approximately 30 minutes, and will cost around € 35 plus the optional small tip.
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Getting around
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Locals ("Parisians") get around town by metro. Business travelers do the same, or prefer taxis.
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Hotels
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Paris hosts some famous upmarket hotels. The Ritz Carlton on Place Vendome is arguably one of the most luxurious hotels. If your boss or client is not generous enough to let you stay in this icon of French hospitality, no worries. Paris offers a wide range of very nice places to stay.
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Restaurants
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The French cuisine has a rich tradition, and Paris has retained its fair share of this richness. La Tour D'Argent (3 Michelin Stars for almost 70 years in a row!) and Le Cinq are just a few of the examples of fine Paris dining places. In addition, the city has a lot of excellent but much more affordable restaurants.
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Entertainment
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As one would expect Paris has some great entertainment possibilities. Whether your stay in Paris is limited to 1 day or 1 week, there is no chance to get bored. Paris' opera house is world class and has amazing shows. Some classic and good bars are the Buddha Bar and Man Ray (Bar and restaurant).
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Essentials
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- Language: French
- Time zone: GMT + 1
- Currency: Euro
- Population: 10.7 Million (including suburbs)
- Electricity: 220 Volts
- Health: No vaccinations needed
- Visa requirements: No visa requirements from most countries
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Getting a local mobile phone and/ or simcard
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Getting a local simcard for your mobile can save a lot of money when you need to make local phone calls.
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