Senior Travel in Northern France

One of the best countries to be a senior citizen is France. This holds true for those that live there as well as those that make the country a travel destination. Northern France Senior Travel reflects the country's attitude for the elderly. Several discounts and travel options exist to make the journey easier and more enjoyable.

The France Rail Pass

Senior citizens planning to travel extensively through northern France should consider the purchase of the France Rail Pass. The France Rail Pass is available to travelers of all ages, but travelers over the age of 60 are entitled to further discounts between 30-50%. The France Rail Pass allows for unlimited travel through the country and can be bought in various increments of time. The France Rail Pass is only available to non-French residents and must be purchased outside the country.

Villages de Vacances

A Village de Vacances is a village vacation. In France there are over 700 holiday villages designed with the needs of senior citizens in mind. Their activities and facilities feature a wide range, from the just recently retired, to the more elderly and less mobile. Activities are designed around the needs of the traveler. A Village de Vacances could be the perfect place for a traveler with more complex health and mobility needs.

Health Care

France operates a nationalized health care system which is considered excellent. All travelers from non-EU nations must have private health cover before they can take advantage of the French health care system. Before leaving, check to make sure your health care coverage at home will cover you while traveling abroad. Most major insurance providers will offer this. If yours doesn't then additional insurance coverage will need to be purchased. In France doctors will go to the extremes to treat patients in need. If the patient is too ill to move they will make house calls. In France, there are 2 emergency numbers to call for medical attention. Dialing 15 will put you in touch with medical aid and 18 is the general emergency number.  If you are staying in a small town, the local chemist is the best place to locate the details of the local doctor.

Weather

Keep in mind that the weather in northern France is not quite as pleasant at certain times of the year than the southern regions. Similar to southern England, in the winter it is cold with rain and sometimes snow. Fall brings heavy rain that can continue until late spring and early summer. Damp weather can aggravate certain health conditions so it is important to be prepared.