FIDI Conference : What to Do in the French Riviera

What to Do in the French Riviera!

We hope that our recent newsletters have helped you with your travel arrangements and your restaurant reservations for the forthcoming FIDI Congress in Cannes.

During your visit, we encourage you to take some time and enjoy the beauty of the city and the surrounding areas. To help you with your sightseeing plans, we present you with some suggestions based upon the time you have available.
For those traveling to France, the latest COVID update is as follows:

  • French authorities will end the “COVID Pass” requirement from March 14, avoiding the need to show any document to enter restaurants and bars.
  • The requirement to wear a face mask in indoor settings will also end on March 14, except on public transport or if required by the establishment.

Finally, a reminder that you will need to show that you have had all three shots of a European approved vaccine to avoid testing prior to your arrival in France. Approved vaccines Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson , AstraZeneca, and Novavax.

More travel information available on this link 

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Staying Local!

A Walk on La Croisette

La Croisette is one of the most famous streets in France. La Croisette runs along the 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) stretch of the Cannes seafront. You will find plenty to see along the palm tree lined street which is home to the best hotels, casinos, and boutiques. You will also pass the iconic Palais des Festival where you can have your photo taken on the famous steps.

La Mairie de Cannes & Marché Forville

Located within a few minutes of each other, La Mairie de Cannes (the Town Hall) and Marché Forville (Forville Market) are well worth a visit.

The Town Hall was designed by Cannes’ architect Louis Hourlier and completed in 1877 and has a bandstand opposite. The building is a good example of French architecture from the Third Republic.

Then enjoy an authentic French experience at the Forville market. The building is not attractive, but inside you will be impressed by the range of cheese, sea food and other products at the many stalls. Simply watch the local people as they buy their local produce or enjoy some oysters or paella for lunch.

Le Suquet

Le Suquet is a Roman settlement in the oldest area of Cannes. The neighbourhood is a great way to learn what the city was like in the 18th and 19th centuries before it became a tourist destination. Enjoy the cobbled streets, bars and restaurants with fantastic views of the bay.

While in Le Suquet, visit the Notre-Dame d’Espérance, the gothic church built in the 14th and 15th centuries

3-4 Hours to Spare?

If you are planning to see the surrounding area for a few hours, we would recommend you rent a car. Hertz, Sixt, and Europcar have offices within walking distance of the conference hotel with others available at the train station.

Mougins and Grasse

Both of these locations can be seen on one trip as Mougins is on the way to the perfume centre of France in Grasse.

Mougins is a very charming fortified city and a former home of Pablo Picasso. You can park at the city gates and then walk the narrow streets. A nightmare for moving companies but a beautiful sightseeing trip as you get lost among the art galleries and specialty ships that line the streets. Please note that some of the walking may be difficult for people with disabilities.

After Mougins, you can head to Grasse to sample some perfume. There are two main perfume shops called Fragonard and Molinard. Fragonard has several shops in the area, but we recommend the downtown location which also offers free tours. You can also learn more about the history of the perfume industry at the International Perfume Museum, located close to the shop.

We suggest a walk in the many pedestrians streets and to park your car in this parking garage.

If you are ready for lunch, Grasse is also home to great restaurant, Jacques Chibois that we mentioned in our restaurant guide.

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Biot

Biot is a small medieval hilltop village between Nice and Cannes with winding cobblestone streets on the fort.

Biot is known for its cubist art museum as well as its handmade glass, plates with a bubble inside.

Visit the Verrerie shop that includes a large international glass art gallery as well as watching how the glass is made. If you make a reservation, ahead of time, you can also learn how to make your own glass.

Juan les Pins and Antibes

For those that enjoy a scenic drive, a visit to Juan Le Pins and Antibes will be right up your street.

Parking at the beauty spots along the coast should also be much easier in April compared to the summer tourist season.

The high-class resort of Juan-les-Pins is well-known for its sandy beaches and promenade that features many smart outdoor restaurants and fashion boutiques. A walk into the town will find you in narrow streets that are home to cocktail bars and nightclubs.

As you drive on you will pass through the forested Cap d’Antibes peninsula with its grand villas that separates Antibes from Juan-les-Pins. Antibes is known for its old town surrounded by 16th-century city walls and Fort Carré that overlooks the luxury yachts moored at the Port Vauban. The city is also home to the Picasso Museum.

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Day Trippers!

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East to Nice and Monaco

 Taking the highway east from Cannes or by driving along the coast through Antibes and you will arrive in the port city of Nice. Take some time to see the port, visit Massena Square and stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. If you are hungry or thirsty stop at the Hotel Negresco for a drink or a meal.

Carry on driving east from Nice and you will arrive at Cap Ferrat with the beautiful Villa Ephrussi, a lovely house and French garden. Cap Ferrat is also home to the Four Seasons Hotel with a very large salt water pool in front of the sea where you can enjoy your lunch.

After Cap Ferrat you can continue along the coast with commanding views of the ocean and arrive in the millionaire’s paradise of Monaco. You can park your car in one of the numerous underground parking areas and take time to visit the iconic sights that you have seen in magazines.

“Be seen” in Casino Square, enjoy a drink and people watching at the Cafe de Paris and stroll along the sea front “Promenade of Champions”. Motor racing fans can visit the famous areas of the track that you have watched many times on television.

Here is a map of Monaco and more information.

On the way back stop in the village of Eze and enjoy the 2 Michelin Stars restaurant, Chevre D’or.

Return to Cannes on the highway (about one hour) or the roads along the sea (90 minutes to 2 hours).

West to Saint Tropez

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Saint Tropez is located about 20 miles from the nearest highway exit, so we suggest you take a drive along the sea as a better alternative.

You will pass by the beach called the Plage du Midi and the Pullman Casino Hotel where you can stop for a drink or an outdoor meal by the ocean.

Drive on and you will arrive in the city of Theoule. This is charming city by the sea and you can also enjoy a mid-level hike in the Parc de la Pointe de l’Aiguille. Further west along the coast will take you past the cities of Saint Raphael and Sainte Maxime which are also nice places to stop at one of the numerous beach bars.

You will then arrive in the famous city of Saint Tropez. There is a large parking area at the entrance to the city which is walking distance from the main attractions and narrow shopping streets. Have a drink at the well-known Senequier Bar or eat at La Petite Plage with a menu from Three Michelin star Chef Eric Frechon. If you are on a smaller budget, there are many bars and restaurants for watching the yachts and people in Saint Tropez!

When you’re done with shopping we strongly recommend the 20 minute drive to Port Grimaud, a beautiful city full of canals, nicknamed “Small Provencal Venice”.

The return journey to Cannes will take you about 75 minutes.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

And remember, in addition to sightseeing tips, we also offer fine international moving services!

Stay Safe and Healthy!

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No Lockdown in France France

What Your Customers Should Know

The French government has announced that the country will not be following other European countries like Austria in reimposing a lockdown.

Instead, the health minister announced that masks will now be required in indoor places, including places where the Health Pass is required for entry. The government also announced that booster shots are available to everyone over 18 years of age and that they would be available after 5-months from vaccination.

By December 15, all people over 65 years old must have a booster shot to maintain their Health Pass and by January 15, the same rule will apply to all adults. A valid Health Pass is an essential requirement in France to gain entry to restaurants, cafes, cinemas and museums, and other public venues.

Following the announcement, vaccination bookings grew rapidly, causing medical appointments web site “Doctolib” to freeze. A spokesperson for Doctolib said that more than 400,000 new reservations were made on the same day as the government announcement.

As infections rise to over 40,000 per day in the country and concerns regarding the Omicron variant increase, France has also suspended all flights from Southern Africa and tightened restrictions for people coming from the French overseas territories of La Reunion and Mayotte.

Neer Service continue to operate normally, subject to our careful health and safety protocols.

Please contact us with any concerns from your customers moving to France.

We hope that this information will help you start to plan your trip to Cannes and please reach out to us with any questions. The team at Neer Service are here to make your visit a memorable one!

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Moving You Closer to Cannes! FIDI 2022

In advance of formal information from FIDI, in the first of a series of newsletters we highlight the 2022 Conference destination city of Cannes and the best way to get there.

History

Cannes was established around 1530 when it became independent from the monks that had ruled the city for hundreds of years. Located on the French Riviera, in the 18th century both the Spanish and the British tried to take control of the Lerins Islands off the coast of Cannes but were defeated.

By the end of the 19th century, several railways were completed and Cannes became a destination for wealthy individuals eager to escape the winter cold. In the 20th century luxury hotels were constructed and the city was increasingly modernized, initially attracting more American tourists than Europeans.

Known as a destination for the rich and famous, summer tourism quickly overtook winter trips, and the city of 75,000 inhabitants is famous for its life style, beautiful environment, and its annual film festival.

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How to Get There

AIR

Unless you have a private plane, you cannot fly direct to Cannes. The closest airport to the city is Nice Airport, but international flights to Nice are limited, meaning that visitors will need to connect through another French or European airport. You have a map showing direct flights from European cities here

For travelers from North and South America, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris CDG) may be the more obvious arrival point, but the airport has a poor record for flight connections and travelers may want to consider another European hub to get to Nice. If you do select Paris to connect, be sure that your connection is from Paris CDG and not from Paris Orly Airport, the main domestic airport.

You may also consider a direct daily Delta flight from New York JFK to Nice

Travelers from Asia Pacific and Africa may want to connect through Dubai using the daily Emirates flight to Nice.

Nice Airport to Cannes

If you travel by air and arrive at Nice Airport, there are several alternatives to get to Cannes and the conference hotel depending on your budget and the time that you have available for your journey.

  • The least expensive option is by bus direct from Nice Airport to the train station inCannes. The bus costs €22 for a one-way trip and €33 round’s trip. More information and booking is available here
  • Although the train from Nice to Cannes travels along the Mediterranean, you will have to transfer from Nice Airport to Nice Station by bus before boarding the train to Cannes.
  • Uber or taxi is the quickest and most convenient method of travel with an Uber currently costing about €60 and a taxi currently costing about €100.

Cannes train station is about 10-15 minutes’ walk to the center or a short taxi ride.

Train from Paris

If your plans include a visit to Paris, there is also a comfortable train from the capital that will take you direct to Cannes. The train from Paris will cover the 560-mile journey in about 5 hours. You can book a first class or second-class ticket direct here.

We hope that this information will help you start to plan your trip to Cannes and please reach out to us with any questions. The team at Neer Service are here to make your visit a memorable one!

Stay Safe and Healthy

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New 19mph Speed Limit in Paris

Expatriates already living in Paris or moving to the city will have to learn to take their foot off the accelerator pedal as the Mayor this week introduced a new speed limit of 19 mph (30 kph) for most of the roads.

 
City authorities hope that the new speed limit will make the Paris a safer and cleaner city as the mayor tries to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport. The 30 kph limit already applies to about 60% of the Paris area but the new speed limit will now cover the entire city. Only a few streets will remain exempt from the rules, including the Champs Elysees, with the speed limit remaining at a speedy 31 mph (50 kph)!

Paris joins other French cities such as Bordeaux, Strasbourg, and Toulouse with a similar 19 mph limit.

The mayor of Paris, who won a second six-year term in 2020, has built new bike lanes, banned old diesel cars, and is reducing parking space in the city in a bid to limit car traffic. Paris authorities have said police will be lenient in applying the new speed limit in the first weeks of the new rules.

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Health Pass for French Workers

Starting this week approximately 2 million French workers in restaurants and other service jobs must now show a health pass to go to work.

The new law, that is part of the government’s strategy to fight the pandemic, means that affected workers must show proof of vaccination, a fresh negative virus test or recovery from COVID-19, or risk suspension from work. Businesses that do not comply with the law could face fines.

While protests continued this weekend against the Health Pass law, less marchers turned out to voice their opposition and polls have shown that most French citizens support the Health Pass. At the current time, nearly 72% of French people have had at least one virus dose and more than 64% are fully vaccinated. The public is already required to show a Health Pass to enter restaurants and cafes, cultural venues, sports arenas and for long-distance travel.

The law will also make vaccinations mandatory for French health workers by September 15.

France Waits on EU-USA Advisory

The European Union this week recommended that member countries ban American citizens from non-essential travel to the EU after a significant rise in Covid-19 cases in the United States.

Countries within the EU, including France, have been advised to put in place coronavirus-related restrictions to prevent the arrival of tourists and other non-essential travel from six additional countries including the USA.

So, does this affect customers moving to France?

The short answer is NO.

Customers moving to France with a work visa have always been allowed to enter the country throughout the pandemic. For the time being, current arrival requirements (for both tourists and work visa holders) are the need to show a vaccination certificate or a recent negative Covid test upon arrival and there is no need to quarantine.

The European Union travel advisory is not mandatory on member states, and it is up to each country in Europe to determine its own rules on borders. It is possible that France may accept the EU advisory to prevent tourism, but this will not affect moves in process or future relocation activity.

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France Tightens COVID Measures

President Macron this week announced the increased use of a Health Passport or “Digital COVID Certificate” as France faces an increase in the highly transmissible delta variant of

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Curfew Ends in France

The French government announced last week that the curfew that has kept people at home during the evening and nighttime hours since mid-October has ended as France continues to relax restrictions.

With over 48% of the French population receiving at least one vaccine shot and 27% fully vaccinated, the curfew was ended ten days earlier than originally planned. The French Prime Minister also said that masks are no longer required outside (except in crowded places) but will remain mandatory in all indoors spaces.
 
In addition, starting June 9th restaurants and cafes that had only been opened for outdoor seating, can now welcome guests inside. As the summer heat rose to over 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius ) in Paris last week, people also welcomed the news that swimming pools can also reopen.
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France Welcomes Back Americans

The French government has opened the door for American citizens to travel to France and the rest of Europe for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.

he European Union last week added the United States to the list of countries that will allow people travelling for business or leisure to the 27 nations in the bloc.

Fully vaccinated people can now travel freely to France without the need for a Covid-19 test with no requirement to quarantine on arrival. Travelers must present proof of vaccination and a signed statement that they do not have symptoms of Covid-19 and have not been in contact with anyone with the virus.

People that are not fully vaccinated must present proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of travelling. Those individuals are also not required to quarantine but must also provide a similar signed statement.

Each European country does have the right to determine their own rules and business or leisure travelers should monitor the news for any country specific requirements.

Continued Learning at Neer Service

At Neer Service we believe in continuing to educate our team to get better, especially when things do not always go as planned.

For that reason, we have presented each member of staff with a copy of “A Complaint Is a Gift”, a great book that highlights that complaints or criticism are not something that should be ignored or denied but are valuable feedback that helps us to improve.

Like you, Neer Service always plan to provide the highest levels of customer service, and this book teaches us to welcome complaints as an opportunity to get better.

EU Launches COVID Certificate

Effective July 1, 2021, the European Union will introduce a Digital COVID Certificate to provide freedom of movement within the continent.

The objective of the digital certificate is to harmonize the requirements for travel within the European Union providing proof of vaccination or negative COVID testing.

The digital certificate will carry a QR code and carry confirmation that the individual has met one of the following criteria:

  • They are fully vaccinated;
  • They have completed a negative COVID test within the last 3 days;
  • They have tested positive for COVID longer than 15 days ago and within the last 6 months.

More information on the digital certificate is available on the European Union website on this link.

Leading shipping line CMA CMG reported that their profits grew from €48 million in January – March 2020 to €2.1 billion in the same period in 2021…..over 40 times more.

Future container ships may use wind instead of fuel as the team at Michelin work on the “wisamo” project to develop sails for large vessels. More information on the project is available on this video.

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Lockdown Relaxed in France

The French government has announced a number of measures to allow the country to begin to return to normal in the month of May, but the country is maintaining the nighttime curfew from 7pm-6am.

Beginning on Monday (May 3rd) the government will lift the ban on travel within the country allowing people to move freely around France following the earlier restrictions that have impacted mobility.

The French President also confirmed that the government remains committed to opening restaurants for outdoor service between mid May and the end of June and allow the reopening of cinemas, theaters and museums with a limited capacity. Children are also returning to school after the closures in April.

International travel restrictions remain in place although the European Union have suggested that travelers from the United States that have been vaccinated will be allowed to enter the EU this summer. Tighter restrictions have however been put in place for India, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, that include a mandatory quarantine with tight checks on compliance by the police.

Moving and relocation services continue to operate normally subject to strict health and safety measures.

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Nine Perfect FAIM Audits in a Row!

Neer Service are proud to announce that the company has recently passed our latest FIDI-FAIM audit with another perfect score.

The EY audit in March 2021 was the ninth time in a row that Neer Service has been accredited to FAIM standards with no areas of non-compliance since becoming FAIM certified 19 years ago.

A copy of our 2021 FAIM report is available here.

We would like to thank everyone at Neer Service, from our move management team to our dedicated packers and drivers, for continuing to keep quality at the heart of our company. We would also like to thank our agent partners around the world for their continued trust in the company.

Neer Service is also pleased to confirm that we have also renewed our “CO2” environmental certification for the fifth consecutive year. Neer Service is committed to limiting the damage to our environment by our activities and proud to be the only FIDI company with this certification.

More information about this certification can be found here

Neer Use New Mask Technology

With the expectation that masks will become part of our lives for the future, Neer Service has adopted the use of improved protective equipment for our crews.

The new masks have an effective pathogen decontamination built into them and a bi-directional filtration. They therefore provide better protection from any risk of infection for both our clients and crews without being as obstructive as a N95 mask for our labor intensive work.

More information on this new development in personal protective equipment can be found here.

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