Generally, supermarkets open from 08:30 to 20:30, Monday to Saturday and
close on Sundays, although in the height of the August season and just before
Xmas some open for a half day on Sundays. There is a mini Casino
supermarket in nearby Mouans Sartoux which does open Sunday mornings.
Bakers open every day from 07:00, including Sundays, but all close for one
day during the week to compensate.
Banks open from 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturday mornings but close for an hour or
two over lunch and normally on Mondays. Automatic teller machines are open
24/7 generally.
In fact, a lot of businesses do close over lunch hour (about 12:00 - 14:00)
so check before setting off. Very little is open on Sundays - mainly the
bakers and restaurants.
Most tourist attractions are open 7 days a week during the holiday season but
some only in high season - July/August.
The dial code for France is 33 and the
local area is 04 (or 4 from outside France). All numbers are 8 digits - 2
digit area code followed by 6 digit number. All French portable phones
start with 06. Get your portable phone set up for international roaming if
you want to use it when you're here. You can make local calls here just by
dialing the 8-digit number. People calling you will need to dial 44 (if
it's and English portable) plus your number (without the leading zero).
Note that the French ring sounds like the engaged signal in the UK - don't be
confused!
Security - you're unlikely to be physically attacked in the area,
but there is some opportunistic crime around, especially over the peak season when
local villains know that there are hordes of tourists around and they are less
cautious than normal. Don't leave bags lying around, valuables
visible in your car or on the beach when swimming. If you flash wealth
around you will probably draw unwanted attention to yourself. Tourists
have been followed home from the airport by burglars on scooters, who know that
they will soon go to the local supermarket, and clean them out before they get
back - be vigilant. They're mainly after money, although tourists have been
"helped" at cash machines and have discovered that their cards have
vanished. Having said all of that - the summary is just to be careful and
you should be fine.
