Traveling to Paris, want to go to London too. So many questions! Help!?

Question

I'm going to Paris for a week in March for a spring break course my saxophone teacher is teaching there. I want to stay at least a few extra days, hopefully a week, and do more.

I'm 25 and have never traveled outside of the US so I feel kind of lost. I know absolutely no French whatsoever. Is English commonly spoken there, or am I expected to know some French? If I am, are there any good books, videos, methods, etc to help me learn some basics? I don't mean to sound ignorant. I just don't know.

In Paris are any of the signs or anything also translated in English? In general, how does one get around when they know no French? I'm flying there alone and it just kind of scares me.

I would like to go to London afterwards. What's the best way to get there, what does it cost, and are there any websites you can direct me to?

Answer 1

Don't worry, Paris is a very multi-cultural place and many of the people living there will be able to understand and speak better English than people in the States can speak French. So you will have no trouble ordering things or finding out how to get to certain places, however it is always helpful to pick up a basic French phrase book which as common/every day words and phrases in it just in case. Also many tourist guide books will have maps/direction/trains guides etc to help find your way around.

As for the signs, they will be in French or they were the last time I went, however they are fairly straight forward to figure out what they mean - well the important ones anyway - if not use your basic word book.

As for getting to London, there are three options. Boat, Plane or the Eurostar (train). Planes and the Eurostar do direct from Paris.

Eurostar will cost you around £26-£55 return, duration about 2h 30min.

Plane will cost you around £90 with a duration of just over an hour.

Answer 2

It's much better to learn some basic words of french. A lot of french are able to speak a bit english but starting a converstaion with a simple "excusez-moi, je ne parle pas français" (sorry, i don't speak french) will make contacts much easier.

French are proud and considere that they are not expected to speak english. If you speak some basic words of french, they will strongly appreciate it and then, will be happy to speak english.

Don't forget that people in Europe are more formal than in the US. It's very important to say "bonjour", "s'il vous plait", "merci", "au revoir".

Hope you will enjyoy your trip

Bienvenue en France ;)

Answer 3

Two books that I would recommend are "French or Foe" by Polly Platt and Rick Steves' French Phrase Book and Dictionary, which is full of helpful hints and is very helpful.

Bon voyage.

Answer 4

While it is better to know French than not to know it when traveling to Paris the fact is that the city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. And given that English is the second language of almost every educated person on the planet, Paris is set up to deal with people who speak English but not French.

True, signs will be in French but you'll soon figure out that  "tirez" means "pull" and "poussez" means push on doors and that "sortie" means exit.

Almost everyone in the service industry (desk clerks, waiters, etc) will speak enough English go serve you.

I do speak French but usually travel with sweet young things who don't and waiters, hearing me speak English to my companion will invariably address them in English even tho they will speak to me in French.

So don't worry about it at all.

If you do take the time to learn a few polite phrases however it will certainly be appreciated and taken well (especially from an attractive young lady...which I am sure you are).

The best way to get to London from Paris is undoubtedly the Eurostar train that travels thru the tunnel under the English channel. Going from city center to city center is vastly more convenient than traveling to or from the airport at either end.

As for how to avoid looking like a tourist, its pretty much impossible, so that's another thing not to worry yourself about. There are a few things that muight be useful to know.

Generally speaking the French are more formal than most North Americans.

In everyday speech this means appending "s'il vous plâit" to any request. It means saying "je voudrais" and not "donnez moi" when ordering from a menu. It means calling the waiter "Monsieur" and not "Garçon." It means greeting the staff at a shop with "Bonjour" (madam or monsieur as appropriate) before asking for something.

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.

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).

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. Therfore don't ask for it.

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. Your change will often be placed there rather in your hand.

Although there are fewer and fewer of them with each passing year there are still public toilet facilities that have attendants. They should also be tipped.

When traveling on public transportation you'll notice little fold down seats close to the doors. These can be used until the subway car fills up. If and when it does become crowded you should stand up to make more room. You'll also notice that there are some seats which are identified as being for wounded war veterans, pregnant women etc. You may sit there but should give up your seat if someone in these categories needs it.

If you keep you eyes open, watch what others do, and bear in mind that even in the simplest things there can be differences, you'll do fine.

Answer 5

Both previous respondents gave great answers, so I'll just add for emphasis that you really should learn some basic French phrases.  

Use google to find some websites to help you learn.