Articles by this author
'More and more' Americans in Europe look to renounce passports after fee cut
Since mid-April Americans can benefit from a hugely reduced fee to renounce their US citizenship and many are now opting to take that route, campaigners say.
'Stone age' ticket system preventing travellers in Europe from taking trains
Popular flight routes around Europe are almost impossible for passengers to book by train because of a "stone age" ticketing system, a new report has found as the EU is set to unveil plans for it single ticket system.
Flying bells and giant omelettes: 8 ways the French celebrate Easter
Food, drink, family gatherings and egg hunts all feature at Easter in France - plus some more unusual traditions.
OPINION: Warning, the new French civics test for citizenship was harder than I imagined
Anyone wanting to become a French citizen, now has to take a 40-question civics test and it’s not that easy, writes The Local’s Ben McPartland.
Your consumer rights for shopping in French sales
As the official French sales begin, here's what you need to know about the sales season, including your all important consumer rights.
Night trains from Paris to Berlin and Vienna to be axed
Two popular night train routes from Paris to Berlin and Paris to Vienna will be scrapped in December, the Austrian rail provider ÖBB confirmed on Monday.
How drinking (a little) alcohol boosts your ability to speak a foreign language
Enjoying a beer or two - but not too many - can help you speak a foreign language more clearly, a prize winning scientific study claims.
Essential tips for your campervan holiday in France
From what to take to where's best to spend the night, The Local's Ben McPartland shares some tips and insights into how to ensure your French campervan holiday goes smoothly.
Job advert: The Local France is looking for a freelance journalist
The Local France is looking for a freelance journalist based in Paris who can help boost our coverage of the country for a growing number of readers.
When will Europe roll out its ETIAS visa waiver for non-EU travellers?
From April 2025 the UK has demanded European travellers obtain an ETA travel authorisation, but when will the EU / Schengen area finally roll out its own equivalent visa-waiver for non-EU arrivals?
Who you should call in an emergency in France and what you should say
We hope you will never need these, but if you do have an emergency while you are in France, these are the numbers you will need to call, and the kind of questions you are likely to be asked.
Tell us: Have you recently moved from the US to France?
Have you recently moved from the US to France? If so, we want to hear about why you decided to do so and the challenges it involved. Take our quick survey.
What to expect from Thursday's French pilots' strike
France's national union of airline pilots (SNPL) has called for a strike on Thursday, November 14th to protest against a government plan to increase taxes on flights. Here is what to expect in terms of disruption.
Is easyJet to blame for making Geneva 'worst airport in Europe'?
Cointrin, Geneva’s international airport, posted the worst performance results in Europe in terms of punctuality and reliability of flights during the summer of 2024. The finger of blame has been pointed at easyJet.
17 French expressions for making love you (probably) won't find in a dictionary
From setting the table to toasting with belly-buttons via 'doing the wolf dance', the French language contains some truly bizarre (and hilarious) expressions for the act of sexual congress. Here are our favourites but tell us your own.
'Allez putain!': The French vocab and songs you'll need for Euro 2024
You might also be supporting your home nation, but if you've gone native and want to cheer on France at the Euro 2024 football tournament, here's some phrases, songs and chants you'll need to know (or just to understand what the Frenchies are shouting about).
Americans in Europe who renounced citizenship sue US over 'capricious' fee
Former American citizens based in Europe who renounced their nationality have launched a new lawsuit against the US over the huge fee they were required to pay to handover their passports.
Eiffel Tower: 13 things you didn't know about Paris' Iron Lady
Did you know the Eiffel Tower and Margaret Thatcher share a nickname? Explore some of the lesser known facts about one of France's most famous monuments.
Don't miss a story: How to make the most of The Local's new app
The Local has a new mobile app that gives readers the opportunity to access far more articles than before and also receive news alerts for all the issues they are interested in so they don't miss a story.
How a visit to the doctor in France left me naked and on all fours
There are certain places in France where you really need a decent level of French in order to avoid ending up in an cringeworthy situation - or even naked and crawling on all fours on the surgery floor, as The Local's Ben McPartland found out.
Yes, train travel from France across Europe is far better than flying - even with kids
Hoping to do his bit for the planet, perhaps save some money and avoid spending any time at Charles de Gaulle airport, The Local's Ben McPartland decided to travel 2,000km with his family from Paris to southern Portugal by train - not plane. Here's how he got on on and would he recommend it?
UPDATE: What Liverpool fans coming to Paris for the Champions League final need to know
Paris will stage the final of the Uefa Champions League on Saturday May 28th. For any fans coming to the city there are a few things you should know including about travel, planned strikes and the fanzone.
UPDATE: Paris transport strikes and works set to hit Champions League final fans
Liverpool and Real Madrid fans heading to Paris for the Champions League final on Saturday will be affected by transport strikes and planned works on the RER train line. Here's what you need to know.