Ready For Takeoff

by Anne Clausse

Plan ahead to help things go smoothly on your travel-study trip. Here are a few tips from the experts.

Visa or not?
U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter France. A visa is required if your stay in France exceeds 90 days; it must be requested from a French consulate before departure.

Be sure about insurance Before traveling abroad, make certain you have good insurance, says John J. Janc. The creator of the Minnesota State University Summer Study Program in France, he has faced insurance issues numerous times during his 27 years as director of the program. He recommends keeping your company’s information and phone numbers close at hand so you can contact your insurance company in case you are hospitalized or have to see a doctor.

“Before leaving, check to see if you are covered by your regular insurance. Some companies barely cover you if you leave their service area, much less go abroad. Some require you to go to an emergency room to get full coverage,” Janc explains.
According to John Chrisman and Audrey Queyreyre, authors of Study Abroad Paris, “overseas health insurance is more affordable than you think” to help fill any gaps in your current health plan. “Make sure when you purchase your new insurance that you understand exactly what is covered; operating a motor vehicle or extreme sports may not be covered. Understand exactly how reimbursements work before leaving,” they add.
It’s easier for college students. If you are under 28 years old and enrolled in an institution of higher education affiliated with the French sécurité sociale (national health care) system, you are entitled to its student health plan.

Something to bank on
Will you need a French bank account? Janc doesn’t recommend it for people who stay in France a short while. Chrisman and Queyreyre agree: “A Visa or a MasterCard that allows ATM withdrawals is more than sufficient.”

“Check with your bank at home for any daily or weekly withdrawal limits and fees, and always have euros on hand for your arrival. Don’t rely on your credit card, as certain businesses even in Paris won’t accept international cards, and make sure your ATM card has a four-digit pin number before you leave the U.S.,” they say.
If you do open an account in France, ask your bank at home if it’s affiliated with a French bank, which may streamline the process.

Online resources
Useful information can be found on the following websites:
www.ambafrance-us.org
www.egide.asso.fr/uk/guide
www.edufrance.fr/en/index.htm