Americans in France: Planning for summer travel and the Trump effect

Welcome to The Local's "Americans in France" newsletter for members, featuring all the news and practical information you need as an American resident, visitor or second-home owner in France. You can sign up to receive it directly to your inbox before we publish it online via the link below. 

Dear Americans in France, 

May is right around the corner, and with it come tax deadlines and France's best month for weekend trips.

This year, the month of May boasts four public holidays (Friday, May 1st; Friday, May 8th; Thursday, May 14th and Monday, May 25th). As such, you might notice extra crowds at the train station or tourist sites, as families across the country head off on weekend trips. 

A few years ago, I used the month of May to go back to the US without using too many vacation days. If memory serves, I spent nearly three weeks in the US, using only 11-12 vacation days (in France, the statutory number is 25 days per year, though many workers have more). 

Oddly enough, flight prices between Paris and my home (Baltimore/ Washington DC) seem to be in line with the seasonal average, despite the Iran War and surging jet fuel prices.

Still, trouble is on the horizon. The head of the International Air Transport Association has said that Europe could start to see cancellations "by the end of May" due to fuel shortages, while the Air France-KLM group announced plans to increase cabin fares by around €50 per person. 

For the time being, it seems the worst-affected flights have been those between Europe and East Asia, but what happens next is very hard to predict. If you do find yourself facing a cancelled or delayed flight, know your rights. 

You can hear the team at The Local discussing the latest on jet fuel shortages on the Talking France podcast.

If you don't plan to make a trip home anytime soon, but you do want to send a letter or package, we have received clarification from La Poste after weeks of confusion and mixed messages to Americans in France.

The gist is - you can still send letters and documents, but the in-branch machines cannot be used to send documents. All requests must be made in person at the counter of the post office.

In other events, the Paris federal benefits unit of the Social Security Administration will be hosting outreach events at US consulates (Lyon, Rennes, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, and Marseille) this May. If you have questions, particularly related to a change of address or banking information, it might be worthwhile to attend. Spots are filling up quickly - more information on the Embassy website.

And starting on May 1st, the French government will begin imposing a €40 'administration fee' for people wishing to exchange their driver's licence. This has been in talks for some time - it was initially proposed as part of the 2026 Budget, then scrapped, but now the plan is here to stay.

Here's a quick refresher on swapping your US licence for a French one.

And finally, Neighbour's Day (Fête des voisins, May 29th) is often overlooked in France.

In my experience, the degree to which people observe it varies quite a bit, but if you are seeking French friendships, why not revive the Fête des voisins in your community? For recent arrivals in France, it offers a great excuse to bake some cookies and take them over to your French neighbours. 

I like to conclude with a piece of advice from a fellow American in France. For those looking to make their move to France permanent, Jim Lockard, who has lived in Lyon since 2017, recommends "Making or finding a checklist of everything you will need to gather and do - it takes a while to prepare and to familiarize yourself with the rules and customs of France in advance."