What NOT To Do In Paris: 8 First-Time Travel Mistakes To Avoid
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Are you visiting Paris, France for the primary time quickly? Make positive you keep away from these frequent first-time journey errors throughout your journey!
Paris is one among my favourite cities on the planet — I used to stay there, and I not too long ago returned from a month-long journey that had me considering one other transfer sooner or later.
But I typically hear from different vacationers who could not stand Paris and had a nasty time there or thought it was completely overrated.
And often, these vacationers made one (or a number of) of the next errors!
These are the frequent errors to keep away from in your first journey to Paris:
Visiting During High Season
If I needed to give any recommendation about your first journey to Paris, it might be to not go in the midst of summer time! June, July, and August are excessive season for vacationers in Paris, and all the things is extraordinarily crowded.
All the Parisians depart in August (it is their most important summer time trip month) so town is simply stuffed with vacationers. And it is HOT throughout this time of yr.
Since most buildings in Paris do not have air-con (even fancy inns have weaker AC than what you are in all probability used to at house) this may be an disagreeable time to go to.
With the Olympics occurring in Paris this summer time, I’d recommend a visit even less as a result of not solely will the crowds be insane, however costs for all the things can even skyrocket.
Instead, spring and fall are one of the best occasions to go to Paris — April, May, or October are my prime picks for one of the best time of yr to plan a visit.
Not Learning Any French
You definitely do not need to change into fluent in French earlier than you go to Paris.
And the reality is, most Parisians communicate good English already, so that you definitely do not want French to get by. But studying a couple of primary phrases will go a good distance.
Even simply figuring out and utilizing “bonjour” (whats up), “au revoir” (goodbye), “s’il vous plaît” (please), and “merci” (thanks) is far appreciated.
If you make an effort to talk a tiny little bit of French slightly than simply barreling as much as somebody and talking in English instantly, one can find that they often have a hotter angle.
Thinking Parisians Are Rude
Many folks have the impression that Parisians are impolite, however that is actually not the case.
Some of it simply comes all the way down to cultural norms. For instance, in France, it is anticipated that you’ll say “bonjour” if you enter a store or a restaurant.
Failing to greet the shopkeeper or hostess is rude.
Similarly, earlier than you ask somebody a query, it is also well mannered to greet them first, slightly than simply strolling up and asking “Which line do I need to be in?” or “Where’s the bathroom?”
Falling For Common Scams
Unfortunately, Paris is rife with vacationer scams, and a surefire method to wreck your first journey is to fall for one among these scams.
Here are some issues to be on alert for:
- Friendship bracelets: A man will come as much as you and begin tying a friendship bracelet onto your wrist. Don’t let him, he’ll attempt to cost you for it afterward!
- Rose “gift” rip-off: Similarly, a person will method you or your journey companion providing a rose as a “gift” however then demand fee after you settle for it.
- Fake petitions: A bunch of girls will come as much as you, often pretending to be from a deaf charity or another group wanting you to signal a petition. These are pretend and they’ll both ask you for cash or attempt to pickpocket you.
- Metro pickpockets: If you are on a crowded Metro, keep extraordinarily vigilant and maintain an in depth maintain in your belongings, as a result of that is when pickpockets most frequently strike.
By recognizing these frequent scams, you’ll be able to simply keep away from them.
Over-Planning Your Trip
One of the largest errors you can also make in your first journey to Paris is over-planning it and attempting to cram an excessive amount of into a brief period of time.
I get it, if you happen to solely have 3 or 4 days in Paris, it is solely pure that you just need to maximize your time and see and do as a lot as doable.
But planning an excessive amount of can find yourself making your journey nerve-racking.
Instead of ready consistent with hundreds of different vacationers to go as much as the Eiffel Tower remark deck (which is not even an awesome view because you’re in essentially the most iconic constructing within the Paris skyline), why not have a calming picnic on the Champ de Mars and luxuriate in views of the Eiffel Tower from there as an alternative?
Or as an alternative of battling the crowds on a day journey to Versailles if you happen to solely have a couple of days in Paris, why not keep within the metropolis and stroll alongside the Seine or discover a cool neighborhood just like the Latin Quarter as an alternative?
These are the varieties of experiences you will bear in mind and luxuriate in greater than feeling like you must examine off each single touristy exercise in Paris.
Dressing Inappropriately
I typically see vacationers in Paris fall into one among two extremes with regards to clothes.
They’re both fully underdressed, sporting flip-flops, a t-shirt, and a fanny pack, and so they would possibly as nicely have a neon signal studying “tourist” over their head. You do not need to be this individual as a result of it makes you stand out and change into extra of a goal for pickpockets and scammers.
I additionally see vacationers in Paris dressed up like they’re an additional in Emily in Paris. No Parisian really wears a beret, a elaborate costume or skirt, and excessive heels whereas strolling across the metropolis.
If you go too dressy, you will find yourself being fairly uncomfortable. Instead, I like to recommend sporting comfy footwear and sticking to traditional darks and neutrals in your clothes.
Throwing Away Your Metro Ticket
Although Paris is steadily phasing out paper metro tickets in favor of the digital Navigo cross, you would possibly nonetheless find yourself shopping for paper tickets in your journey.
Be positive to not throw your ticket away, although! When you’re exiting the Metro, there are typically transit police checking tickets, and if you happen to’re caught with out one, you may be fined.
Waiting For The Restaurant Bill
At house, you is likely to be used to going out to eat and the waiter coming to examine on you a number of occasions all through your meal.
This will not be the way it works in Paris.
You’ll must flag down the waiter and ask if there’s one thing you want throughout your meal, and this contains asking for the examine on the finish too.
In French, you’ll be able to say “L’addition, s’il vous plaît” if you’re able to pay.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.