Paris tips?

Question

Me and my family are going to Paris this summer. We don't speak French, so that might be a problem. But does anyone have any tips for us that might help us while we're there? Like some important words or phrases in French? Or what not to do in Paris? Things like that, from your experience or from what you know.

Answer 1

First of all let me endorse everything that G has said about the importance of having a good attitude, keeping an open mind, and seeing cultural differences as part of the pleasure of travel. Those things are true wherever you may go and whomever you may meet. Indeed, if everything everywhere was the same as at home there would be little point in travel. Monuments and historical sites have their value but, in the end, people not things,  are important. One new friend is worth more than any monument of stone or steel.

As to language, one should certainly take the time to learn a few polite phrases but the fact is that most people in the hospitality industry, waiters for example, will speak some English.

Nonetheless, knowing to say "Bonjour madame" or "Bonjour Monsieur" when entering a shop or cafe is a plus. Pointing at things and saying  "Je voudrais ceci s'il vois plait" (I'd like this please) is quite acceptable. Remember to say "merci" (thank you) at every opportunity and when leaving a shop a friendly "bon journee" (the equivalant of "have a nice day") will be appreciated.

By the way, no matter what any phrase book suggests, call a waiter "monsieur" and not "garcon" and, in Paris, one asks for the check by saying "la note s'il vois plait" and not "l'addition."  

If you do strike up a conversation with a Parsian recall that the French tend to be more formal than Americans.

Thus the  French tend to follow the older practice of not calling each other by first names or using the familiar without at least some acquaintance (although this is not so much true of young people).

The easy presumption of friendship or the discussing of personal matters with relative strangers that is common in North America is sometimes seen as boorish or crude by the French.

Americans in particular who will talk about the intimate details of their love lives, the state of their personal finances, and the cost of everything they own with someone they met ten minutes ago are, for that reason, regarded as utterly outré. The one exception to this seems to be discussing the state of one's health. I sometimes think that the French have raised hypochondria to a high art.

On the other hand, Americans, who have been taught to never discuss politics or religion, sometimes think they are being singled out for abuse when the French express their opinions on such matters. They are not, of course. they are simply engaging in the second most popular French indoor sport (and the one that does not usually require a bed). The French love a good argument and the average Frenchman is, in my opinion, far better versed in the details of international affairs and the great issues of the say than the average American.

On a more prosaic level, you will notice that butter is not served with bread except at breakfast or when served with the cheese course.

Cafe au lait is only called that at breakfast. At other times it is "café crème " or "une crème."

Asking for special preparation of food items is generally frowned on as is the practice of the "doggy bag."

By law, prices must be posted in the window of cafes. You will notice that there are usually at least two price levels. One is for service at the bar (le zinc) and the other for table service. It is cheating to buy a drink at the bar and then take a table to drink it at.

When you pay for something the person taking your money expects you to put it down, rather than taking it directly from your hand. Most places have a sort of tray on the counter expressly for this purpose.

Public transportation is at a very high standard. Don't hesitiate to use the Metro, the buses or the RER commuter trains to get around. All metro stations have maps of the system and many have a simple push button method for finding the correct route from one station to another. You can buy ten metro tickets at a time in what is called a "carnet" and save a few euros. Passes are also available. If you feel you will be using a lot of public transport these can be a good idea. Tourists often buy the "Paris Visite" pass but there is another pass called a "Mobilis" which is usually a better buy which tourists don't know about because it is not mentioned on the English language website.

One last tip, stay away from any restaurant or cafe that has a big sign advertising "English menus" or "English spoken."

Have a great trip.

Answer 2

At Paris many people speak English at restaurants and hotels

but to know the names of food will help ( chicken, fish, beef) and the name of french plates.



things  to do  or not to do:

-don't tip, the tip is included in the price.

-don't trash your metro ticket while you are in the metro, you can get a fine.

-use the night bus instead of a taxi usually at night is difficult to get a taxi and the bus is cheaper.

-travel light, don't bring big luggage

-bring with you the metro map and city map.

-buy a international telephone card you can find this at the airport.

-the first Sunday of the month the museums are free.

-check the weather, don't forget your umbrella

good luck!

Answer 3

the wife is there at this very moment. she went to pere lachaise (not sure if thats spelt correct) to see jim morrisons grave. she told me the french in paris city centre are the most ignorant bunch of tossers she'e ever dealt with so be prepared for that! she also says that as you get further out of the city though, the people are nicer!

Answer 4

Be humble and respectful of their custom and language. Attempt to speak French (albeit in broken French) and they will go out of their way to help you or even try to practice their broken English to converse with you.

In spite of all the mis-information and prejudice about French, they are among the warmest and nicest people I've known and that's why after seven visits to Paris, I still want to return. I've been to the UK, Germany and Luxembourg and live my whole life in the US so feel that my observation is not too subjective  :)

Answer 5

I went to Paris this year on Valentine's Day with my fiance and we had a fabulous time. I think the thing that helped us the most was having a game plan on what we wanted to visit and we did research on it. There is nothing worse to the French than "American Tourists" with not one idea about the history of their great city. They really do take pride in their history and why not?! Paris is a gorgeous place. So do your research and have an idea of what you want to see. This is the site I used for research and I thought it was really worth it:

http://www.frommers.com/

Another tip is to maybe get a language book (or audio cassette) and try out the phrases you know you will need. Stuff like "How much?" and "Thank you" are phrases you will need so it's good to have. Most everyplace you go (tourist attractions wise) will have english speakers but it makes sense to know the basic.

A tip for when you are in Paris is use the Metro whenever possible. If you are going with your family it might make it difficult but it is definately worth the try becuz taxi's are expensive and almost everything is readily accessible through metro. Also a fabulous hotel (in case you need it) is the Hotel du Cadran. We have absolutely nothing bad to say about this hotel and it's service. Also it is in the middle of everything and has lots of yummy French bakeries near by so it's easy to wake up early with the yummy fresh baked bread smell in the mornings.

http://www.cadranhotel.com/

A few most see places are: Notre Dame, Eiffle Tower (of course), La Louvree, Sacre Couer, Champs d' Elysses, Les Invalides and Arc du Triompe. Also try to catch a boat tour down the Siene river (best at night for best views of the City of Lights).

Good Luck & have a fabulous time!

Answer 6

Don't go. It is a filthy city, everything is vastly overpriced and the locals are surly and unfriendly. Go to a city like Limoges where the people are glad to see you.

Answer 7

if you are planning on climbing the stairs up notra dame, take some handiwipes - the railings to hold on to while climbing the stairs are rusty and dirty - they get damp and are icky to hold on to. best, even, to take gloves (like those surgical toss gloves) to use as you are climbing the stairs.

Answer 8

My husband and I were in Paris last month for 6 days and we totally fell in love with the city and people.  Yes, I have heard  how unfriendly the people are or how dirty the streets are.  But we went there with open minds and open hearts and we found it to be the total opposite.  The city was generally clean and people were very friendly and helpful to us - except for 1 incident at the St Dominique Metro station wherein the ticket booth attendant went berserk at me when I asked for help on how to use the L' Carte Orange.  But you know what - a very nice man, who witnessed the tirade of the booth attendant,  tapped me in the shoulder and showed me how to insert the card on that tiny slot.  

1.  Attitude - be open-minded and accepting of other people's cultures.   Remember you are a visitor to their country.  Be respectful.  You reap what you sow.  Smile!!

2.  Do not generalize people - just because one person was mean or unfriendly to you does not mean the entire city and country are like that.

3.   I suggest you buy a French Phrasebook - I (being the designated communicator during our travel) got the Langenscheidt Pocket French Phrasebook.  Although I did not use much of it since most of the Parisien we met speak or understand English.

4.  Research, research, research - here is one website that was helpful to me http://en.parisinfo.com/

5.  To get our bearings of the city - our first 2 days were spent on the Hop On Hop Off bus.  it really helped us get to know the layout of the city and the places we want to spend time in.

6.  Learn the Metro map - here is the site that I found most helpful http://www.parisvisite.com/en/Transports...

7.  Depending on how long you stay in the city and the number of museums  you intend to visit - I suggest you get the Paris Museum pass.  It saved us money and time - no lines when you use the Museum Pass.

8.  Yes, we visited alot of sights but the thing I treasured most were my interaction with the people: the waiters, hotel attendants, tour guides, security guards, the diners, the artists at the Place du Tertre,  as well as fellow tourists.  

9.  Use your credit card instead of cash - if possible.  Exchange bureaus charge commissions which is a bit high when you convert your dollars to euros.

10.  Food - I love their food although my husband who is a plain meat and potato guy had a hard time adjusting his palate.

I hope this helps.

Answer 9

go see some nice exhibits and use a credit card so, you wont have to change ur money in and most ppl in paris also speak english so i dont think that will be a problem

Answer 10

First and foremost do not go with a bad attitude.  Second of all use your manners.  And thirdly please learn some french. Use please and thank you a lot!  S'il vous plait (seel voo ple) Merci (mer see).  Ask if they speak english : Parlez vous anglais? (on glay).  It's hard to write these words out phonetically so my suggestion is that you go to the library and check out some french CD's with phrases.  They will be invaluable to you.  Buy a phrase book, too.  You can probably get an inexpensive one at a used book store.  Try your best to speak to them in french and trust me 9 times out of 10 they will appreciate your effort and reply in english.

We have been to France many times and the French are rude ONLY if you are impolite.  Many Americans go there with the attitude that we are better than they are.  Wouldn't you feel offended if they came here and made you feel inferior in your own country?  You'll be on their land so treat them as you would like to be treated.  

Please don't complain as to how they do things over there.  Yes some of their customs are different from ours but that doesn't mean they are inferior to us it only means different.  I find if you go to France it's best for your sake if you embrace their culture rather than go against it.  Remember you're in a foreign country. It's supposed to be different; that's the whole idea about travel, to experience new cultures and new people.  In my opinion that's all part of the fun.

If you follow my advise you will find you'll have a new appreciation for the French and for travel itself.  You will also be amazed by your own personal growth.  You will not see people or cultures in the same light after your experience.  And you just may discover you've adopted a few French customs yourself after your arrival back home.

I love the French people for many reasons and they have treated me kindly but I have to admit I keep an open mind, I use my manners, I speak their language when I can, and I put forth the effort to try to understand them by being them throughout my visits.

Bon Voyage!!

Answer 11

Get to know the concierge at your hotel because they are the most helpful people.  They can help make arrangements for transportation, tell you the good restaurants in the area you are staying, tell you areas to avoid and often have discounts to attractions you want to see.  Parlez vous Englaise is a good phrase to know, it means do you speak English.  Have a wonderful vacation in the City of Lights!

Answer 12

What to add to this list of good tips. Just a few more, and I'll try to be different.

Bills : service is already included in it (and prices in restaurants are with both service and VAT), but to tip is usual if the service is good. This is not mandatory.

Summer : This is the tourist season. Parisians are hiding in the back streets, avoiding the touristy areas and bolting at the first sight of a camera, or on holiday themselves somewhere else. If you meet French people they are mostly tourists themselves. Don't be surprise if they can't help. In August plenty of shops are closed too.

If you have Visa or Mastercard use it over Amex, shops don't like Amex as the charges are twice those of the formers. French use credit cards all the time, so those are accepted universally. You have a sticker with the name of the CC companies accepted in each shop on their door.

Careful when crossing the streets. Wait until the cars have stopped at the red light. The little green man can wait a few seconds more.

Early get up will get you in the museums and such without queuing. The queues can be verrrry long.

Avoid loudness. This is one of the things that make French wince and think "how rude". We are taught from childhood not to shout and find the American voice level painful, and transform the French into slightly hostile islands of frigid silence.

Have a very nice stay, I hope you will enjoy every minute of it.

Answer 13

It's very good to make and effort to speak some French.  Be apologetic that you don't speak French and it will take you a long way.  Remember how you might feel if you're working and someone just walks up and blabbers at you in some language and you'll do fine.  :P

Whenever you enter a store (especially a small one) or restaurant, always say "Bonjour Monsieur" or "Bonjour, Madame" etc. and "Merci, Au revoir" when you leave.  In America, stores are thought of as public places.  In France they are thought of as extensions of the store-owner's home -- even if they live across town.  

After some one waits on you, you can say "merci" (Mare-SEE) but don't forget to say "au revoir" (Oh-ruh-VWAR) before you leave.  I'm fluent and even I forget to do this sometimes.  In America saying "thank you" to a cashier is also saying "goodbye" but in France it's not.  :P  I didn't even realize we do this in America until I noticed they don't do it in France.

People in Paris are generally nice but just like in New York or any big city they can get in a hurry.  Smaller towns are like smaller towns everywhere - more laid back and friendlier.

Learn to use the Metro!  I can be your best friend if you use it right.

Always always always be on the lookout for pickpockets.  You know this, of course, but remember that it could be a child or children who bump into you or get in your way so that you may have to slide past them.  There's really not a lot of crime in Paris compared to US cities of its size but pickpockets are very clever there.

Dress fairly nicely.  You don't have to dress for church but think about how your parents or grandparents may have dressed to go out shopping when they were your age and adopt the same level of dress (updated to today's style of course)  Avoid bright colors.  I joke with French friends that if they have to go to a funeral at the last minute, they're already dressed for it.  You don't have to go that far of course and neither do many of them.  But loud colors and short shorts say to people, "I'm a loud, obnoxious person . . oh . . and help yourself to my purse or wallet while we're at it."

Watch a couple of movies before you go: Amelie is an excellent choice.  Any fairly recent movie that takes place mostly in Paris is a good idea to give you tips on dress, etc.  It will also give you a little taste of Paris and a feel for things.  Watching such movies after you get back is a treat too because it's like visiting there again.

People probably won't smile a lot.  This is not because they are somber or rude.  French children are taught at an early age not to smile at strangers.  (In America we are taught to smile a little at least if we make eye contact with someone.) If someone trips and recovers, or something like that . . then they may share smile with a stranger like "Oh what a fool I must look like."  Smiling at strangers for no apparent reason (in their upbringing) seems like you must want something.  And if you're a woman smiling at a man . . . all kinds of interesting misunderstandings can occur.  Smiling is not forbidden - it's a treat that is earned rather than an automatic response to accidental eye contact.

The French really do love to help people who seem to be in trouble or lost if those people are nice and if they are apologetic about not speaking the language.  (Of course no one expects every tourist to speak French but a little apology that you don't goes a long way toward making every encounter with someone who speaks English a little smoother.)  If you stop someone on the street for help always apologize for bothering them.  "Excusez-moi, monsieur" (or madame/ mademoiselle) "I'm sorry to bother you but . . " and so on.  Of course if they don't speak English . .oh well.

I agree that credit cards are a good idea.  You can also use your ATM card there and if your bank is a good one it won't cost you much.  Your own bank will usually give you the best exchange rate.  Of course the same ATM safety rules one should observe in the USA should be observed there as well.

Tip street performers or musicians unless they're really doing a bad job.  It's certainly not required and most people don't do it but in my opinion it sure beats the heck out of beggars and the music or "statue" is usually a neat addition to the ambience.

Have fun! If you forget one of these little tips you will be forgiven because you are foreign.  Just give a nice big shrug and a small smile.  HAHA.  

Paris is my favorite city in the entire world.  I hope you fall in love with it too.