Buying Antiques in France~Getting ready!

1~What to do WAY in advance of leaving



Chapter One

Frequent Flyer Card~

Sign up for a frequent Flyer credit Visa or Mastercard card to accrue miles immediately!!!

Note: Make sure the card has a car rental insurance policy as that will save you dollars later when renting your car.

Order one a year or more in advance if possible.

(You might be able to get your airfare covered if you get it early on.)

Shop around as some give up to 5 miles per $1 spent at specific Stores.

Capitol One has a card that gives 2 miles per dollar spent on ALL purchases that is only $39.00 per year. Be certain to check on the annual fee before signing up for any card.

Order Passport~

Be certain to check on your passport expiration date, or if you do not have a passport be certain to order one at least 6 months in advance of departure.
They are taking quite a bit longer now to get due to new passport requirements leaving the country.


Learn French~

If you are looking to bargain for antiques at the “down and dirty” Brocantes or Marche au Puces (Swap meets/Flea Markets) you need to learn basic French, otherwise expect to pay at least 25% more in English. Yes, I said 25% more.

If you are traveling with companions, be certain to tell them to only speak English until after the deal is sealed. I assume that when you speak English they figure they can take advantage of you, your $$$ and lack of communication.



Book Airfare/Hotels~

The best site we have found to find the best deals on airfare/hotels (more about lodging later on) is kayak.com, it searches all the other sites for you automatically and FAST, yes, Travelocity, etc….

Why is Kayak different?
1. Search 140+ travel sites at once and find the cheapest fares
2. Compare results from all sites together - filter and sort instantly
3. Click to buy direct from airlines or agencies (Kayak is not a travel agent)
4. It's almost too good to be true, but Kayak is free!



Car Rental~

Book it 3-6 months in advance

We recommend kemwel.com
Kemwel makes it easy to book the best discounted travel services and car rentals in Europe. Whether you need a rental car, a buy back auto lease, or even a luxury auto rental, Kemwel can meet your needs.
They have been driven to provide the guaranteed best travel service at the best price. They guarantee it with their beat rate policy and their philosophy of no surprises or hidden costs.
If you have any questions, you can contact them online or call them toll free at 1-877-820-0668.

In France (and we assume it is the same in other European countries) the rate for an automatic transmission is two to three times (yes I said 2-3 times) more than a shift or standard transmission. The reason for this is simply that they less of them available. So either learn to drive a stick before you depart or expect a higher car rental bill.

Car Insurance~
Check your credit card, many have the car rental insurance covered on the card.