We’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating that when in Paris, it’s OK to be a tourist. Book that charming hotel in the center of town, enjoy an outdoor table at a cafe, and stroll along the Champs-Élysées if you like. Over the years as a tour guide and correspondent, I’ve experienced lots of people who try, without success, to pass as a local. It’s just not necessary.

It’s normal that tourists want to fit in, but too often you end up adding too much pressure to the trip planning process and to the actual trip itself. Here are five ways I think tourists could relax about their trips to Paris:

1. Don’t freak out about wearing the right shoes.

I always tell people I can spot a tourist by their shoes—but since they are usually in a touristy spot, like by the Eiffel Tower, I don’t think I’m really all that clairvoyant.

The bottom line on footwear? If you really think anyone in Paris cares what you are wearing on your feet, and if you’d rather spend more time shoe shopping than planning the rest of your trip, that’s your problem. Parisians wear boots, sneakers, flats, heels, loafers, Chucks and everything in between. And while they aren’t always practical, flip-flops do come out in the summer from time to time.

Related: 8 Paris travel myths debunked

2. You don’t need to speak French like a pro.

You don’t know any French? Quel dommage. Enough websites (including EuroCheapo, for example) urge visitors to learn some basics—merci, bonjour, au revoir—and that’s all you’ll need to know.

It’s nice to know local lingo, but few waiters or bartender will expect you to whip out the conditional or future perfect tense while ordering a beer. Some Parisians speak English, and others who you will inevitably encounter are comfortable with tourists pointing, nodding and holding up fingers to signal numbers—if you’re polite about it. Get the bare basics down and then give it a rest. This isn’t a backwoods town where no one has ever met a foreigner.

Be prepared for lines at big attractions in Paris like the Louvre. Photo: Duncan R

3. Visit museums that match your tastes.

Paris is a treasure trove of art, and travelers want to be very discerning when choosing their museums to visit, and often think that it’s better to go to one museum over another. In the end, if you really care about art, go to the museum that matches your taste. If you’re only going to the museum because you think you need to, then go when it’s convenient and just accept that yes, there will be tourists at places like the Louvre. Everyone wants to see the Mona Lisa, and no one knows why, so either just go with it or else pass.

Related: 7 tips for surviving the Louvre

4. Relax about finding the “perfect” restaurant.

You only want to eat where the locals are eating? Sorry, I’m very selective about who can come over for dinner. Want to do what Parisians are doing if not dining at home? Have you seen the lines at McDonald’s?

Thinking that Parisians are all going to some quaint little, off-the-radar bistro every night is a good exercise for your imagination. There are plenty of great “local” places, but don’t think you’re going to unearth anything that hasn’t been dug up a thousand times already. Just try to enjoy your meal wherever you go, and don’t Instagram it—because real locals don’t need to photograph every goat cheese salad and glass of wine.

Be aware but don’t panic for your entire trip. Photo: Duncan Hull

5. Stay alert and stay safe.

Money belt, traveler’s checks, locked box in the hotel—check, check, check. You’re a tourist and you’re overly concerned about falling prey to pickpockets? While I applaud your caution, I wonder if you leave your phone laying on a table while you go to the bathroom at Starbucks. Do you often take candy from strangers? Do you leave your door unlocked at night?

For some traveling to Paris means leaving all notions of personal safety back in their home country—but Paris isn’t Disneyland. (Although there is one a few miles outside of the city.) It’s a real city with the same sorts of crimes that you find in other parts of the world, including America (without the fear of getting shot). If you’re walking around with a wad of cash in Paris, you’re asking for as much trouble as if you did that in Chicago, or London or Sydney—it’s not a good idea anywhere, so don’t do it.

Be vigilant and prepared, yes, but don’t overdo it. Keep your wits about you as I hope you do anywhere else in the world and you should be fine. Check out our article on popular “scams in Paris” so you know what to expect, but honestly, if a scruffy looking group of teenagers swarmed around you in Kansas City asking you to sign a dirty petition and give them money, would you really stop and engage them?

Other things tourists should relax about?

Do you have something else to add to our list of things tourists should relax about when visiting Paris? Do you agree or take issue with any of the points above? Share with us in our comments section below.

The post 5 things tourists should relax about when visiting Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Now it’s time to get local about it. In Amsterdam, you’ll notice a certain city style biking about. Follow these ten tips and ideas to blend in or stand out, but above all, make things interesting.

Related: Stay at the eco-friendly Bicycle Hotel in Amsterdam

1. You’ve got a bell, so use it!

While I don’t condone the “use and abuse” of bicycle belling in Amsterdam, don’t be afraid to ring someone over and out of your way. Whether it’s a slowpoke cycler, or a tourist who’s aimlessly wandered into the bike lane, a few bring brings can make a difference. I keep my finger on the bell trigger while biking down some of the more crowded streets.

A Three-Act: The Dutch Side Saddle Hop from Amsterdamize on Vimeo.

2. Learn how to ride “Dutch” side saddle

There’s something very endearing about riding on the back of someone’s bicycle, watching the city slowly pass by as the cyclist does all the work. Notice how locals here ride side saddle on the back of a bicycle, facing to the side with their ankles crossed and away from the wheels. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but it’s definitely doable. Watch this video from Amsterdamize for a slow-mo demonstration.

3. Learn how to bike someone side saddle

This applies for ladies and gents, as I’ve seen all combos you can imagine of people chauffeuring other people sitting side saddle on their back wheel. It’s not so much about your passenger’s weight as it is about your right amount of balance and speed for a smooth easy hop on.

4. Ditch the handlebar breaks and fancy gears

The majority of bikes here are an old-fashioned design. Instead of handlebar breaks we use backpedal breaks. And rarely do we use gears: this is a country that’s entirely flat. Flashy mountain bikes are a rarity here, so don’t go for the deluxe model at the rental shop. A Simple Simon style is best.

5. Just cruise it

Being in a hurry doesn’t work well in this capital city. There’s just too much congestion of people, trams, taxis and other cyclists. Don’t fly like Superman down the streets—make enough time to look both ways, always. Soak in the cycle.

6. Make some noise

Is there a rattling in your chain? A squeak in your cycle? A creak in your crank? I hope so. A Dutch bike isn’t the real deal unless is has a little noise to announce your presence to the other bikers around you.

7. Blend in

At the rental shop, opt out for the vibrant yellow, in-your-face red and neon green frame colors. Unless you want people to know you’re a tourist, which can be a good thing for beginner bikers. There are plenty of rental shops offering options that blend in with the others, giving the average biker a more of a local feel.

Related: Cheapest bike rental shops in Amsterdam

8. Know how to fix your bike

I don’t know if it’s in the Dutch blood or just a mandatory class in third grade, but everyone here can fix a bike. Whether it’s putting the chain back on, patching a flat, or pumping air for a little more speed, knowing the basics is a must. Rental shops usually dish out reliable and sturdy bikes, but it doesn’t hurt to know where your closest repair shop is. Even snagging a small air pump at the nearby market for €2 is not a bad idea.

9. Get a heavy-duty super lock

Make sure you have two locks, a back tire lock and a heavy-duty chain lock. The running joke in this city is that we pay more for our lock than our bike. In a lot of cases that’s true. Bike theft is normality here, to a point where most of us think an unlocked bike is fair game and a glowing sign that yells “Freebie!” Lock your bike to something cemented to the ground, like a bridge railing.

10. Don’t wear a helmet?

I know that sounds crazy to those who have yet been to Amsterdam, but bicycle helmets never made it to The Netherlands. Isn’t that nuts? In most places yes, but bicycle culture has been around Amsterdam since the 1800s. There are more bikes than people in this country, and two wheels is certainly the main mode of transport here. Take into consideration the designated bike lanes, the slow place, and the rule that bikers have the right-of-way – it breeds a lifestyle always aware of the bike. Plus, we really like the wind in our hair.

The post Amsterdam: 10 tips to bike and blend in like a local appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A street sign

1. “Sortie”

Exit signs are clearly marked by the word, “Sortie,” which can also mean “military action” or “flight.” Think about that as you fight for your turn on the escalators at the Printemps department store during sale time! (And once you get on, remember to stand on the right, pass on the left!)

2. Digital signs of the times

Most metro stations are now equipped with digital countdown clocks indicating the next two incoming trains. If the first train looks too crowded and the next is only a moment behind, it may help you decide whether to give the first a pass. (By the way, Paris is on the 24-hour clock format. 19hr = 7 PM.)

The green cross.

3. Street smart

You’ll find the iconic blue street signs on the sides of buildings, usually at intersections. Just above the name of the street, the signs will also list the “arrondissement” (1-20) that you’re in. Often they’ll include a historical tidbit, too, about the person or event the street is named for.

4. Pharmacy signs

Pharmacies are easily recognizable by their flashing green cross signs, dressed in neon and super cool LED. In each neighborhood at least one remains open through the night (and a closed pharmacy will post a sign directing you to the nearest open pharmacy).

French pharmacists are licensed to diagnose and treat minor illnesses without doctors’ prescriptions. (Eye opener: this is also where you’ll pick up contact solution, eyedrops, and contact lens cases. Grocery stores don’t carry them.)

A happy hour sign

5. Green man walking

Always wait for the pedestrian crosswalk green man to give the signal to walk. However, note: On many of the wider streets and boulevards you’re supposed to cross in two stages, waiting for a second set of signals to indicate when it is safe to continue the rest of the way.

6. “Happy Hour” signs

Poking out of nearly every nook and cobblestoned cranny, chalkboard signs with their seductive hand-written descriptions still have a commanding presence in the city. Happy Hour specials and fixed-price set meals tempt passersby from restaurant doors, terrace tabletops, and windows. (Cheapos, the “formule” is normally the cheapest version of the fixed-price menu.)

7. Banner Day

Keep your eyes peeled for banners stretched over streets announcing free concerts, festivals and “brocantes” (itinerant flea markets). Need eyeglass repairs? Look for neon spectacle-shaped signs.

8. Sign, sign everywhere a sign

You’ll find countless publicity signs for department stores, movies, and museum expositions on classic Parisian “Morris columns” (rotating cylindrical billboards) and plastered on poles, café windows and Metro station walls. Take note, Cheapos—spontaneous planning just got easier!

The post How to Read Street Signs in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.