by Melanie Denyer

Created on: November 24, 2007

The first thing to realise, despite the title of this article, is that strikes, major demonstrations and riots are genuinely not the norm in France. They don't happen all that often but, when they do, they tend to be very serious, to the point that they tend to be known, in later periods, as the strikes/demonstrations/riots of XXXX year. While there have been recent transport strikes in France, largely hitting the Parisian region, the last major transport strike was in 1995. And prior to that, the largest demonstration anyone talked about was from 1968. The chances are, therefore, that your holiday is unlikely to be interrupted by such events. And is these things do occur on your getaway to France, here's how to prepare for it and still enjoy your holiday.

First of all, be prepared. If you're on a city break, make sure you have a comprehensive A to Z map of the city, not just the little fold-out map you're given free by the hotel, but a booklet. In addition, look for a good guidebook that includes attractions in the suburbs or outside the city, in case you need to find alternate activities on a day or two. If you've hired a car and are driving around France, take the same precautions anywhere you'd expect major congestion: have a good road atlas in the car and take extra drinks and snacks (and toilet paper) in case you're stuck in traffic for longer than expected.

Demonstrations
These are probably the easiest events to deal with. There is no need for them to have any impact at all. Most demonstrations take place in Paris, so those outside Paris are highly unlikely to be affected. While there is some occasional overspill activity in cities such as Lyon and Marseille, it's easy enough to avoid a city centre by visiting the countryside, or looking for attractions on the outskirts of wherever you're staying. The concierge of your hotel should be able to advise you where to avoid going and make alternative recommendations so you can still enjoy your stay. If you're staying in self-catering accommodation, finding a local shop that sells newspapers is useful: even if they don't have a newspaper in your language, the person behind the counter is probably clued up as to what is going on and, again, can advise accordingly.

Of course, there is always the chance that you leave the hotel and wnader into the city centre, only to come across a demonstration. Demonstrations are usually peaceful affairs but, unless your level of French is good enough to understand the issues in

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