Tipping, Currency, and Other Small Things Americans Get Wrong in France

2026-08-20

None of what follows is a big mistake waiting to happen. It's the small stuff, the kind that makes the first day or two of a first trip feel slightly foreign even when everything is actually going fine.

Currency catches people off guard because Geneva is in Switzerland, but France uses the euro, not the Swiss franc. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small village shops, but it's worth carrying some cash for La Clusaz's Monday market or a bakery that only takes cash before 9am.

Tipping works differently than at home. Restaurant prices legally include service, so nothing is technically owed beyond the bill. Rounding up, or adding roughly 5–10% for a meal you genuinely enjoyed, is appreciated but not expected the way it is in the US. Taxis get rounded up rather than a fixed percentage. For chalet staff, a private chef, host, or driver, an end-of-stay tip is customary but entirely discretionary; if you'd rather not guess at an appropriate amount for your specific team, ask our concierge and we'll give you a straight answer.

Entry requirements are simpler than people assume, for now. Americans don't need a visa for a ski trip: the standard rule allows up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area, France included. A new online travel authorization called ETIAS is expected sometime in late 2026, a quick form and a small fee rather than a visa, but it wasn't yet required as of this writing, worth a quick check closer to your travel dates. Passports should be valid at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, the standard requirement travelers get caught out by most often.

A few small habits smooth things further. Say "bonjour" before asking a shopkeeper, ski lift attendant, or waiter anything, skipping it reads as brusque even when no rudeness is intended. In smaller villages like La Clusaz, shops often close for a couple of hours around lunch and on Sunday afternoons, a real village rhythm, not a service gap.

None of this requires research before you go. It's exactly the kind of thing we brief every guest on before arrival, specific to your chalet, your dates, and your group, so the first day feels like the start of the trip rather than an adjustment period. Learn more about how we work, or get in touch with any question before you book.