Comments on: 5 things tourists should relax about when visiting Paris

By: Steve Solosky

Steve Solosky — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 14:46:00 +0000

Good post, Brian. I would recommend that people relax and take the bus. It is true that the metro is probably the fastest way to get from Point A to Point B, but who wants to travel in a hole in the ground while in Paris?

The bus gives the traveler a perspective of the city with a window to look out of. I find it to be a very “social” place too, where I can strike up a conversation with a Parisian just about anytime I want to.

Steve
http://www.travelingprofessor.com

By: Rita

Rita — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:39:37 +0000

One polite thing that I remember from way back when: Address the shopkeeper with a proper title – Bonjour, Madame ou Bonsoir, Monsieur. Respectful.

By: Susan Mellups

Susan Mellups — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 21:32:45 +0000

Well, sitting at a cafe outside our apartment today, I saw two men in suits and about two hundred and fifty black jeans, two hundred blue jeans and two women in white pants. The shoes are as described with lots of sneakers. I was the only one looking.
English? About half the people we hear are speaking it.
Language uses:: the one rule I tell people is to always say BONJOUR or BONSOIR before addressing a native. And of course, MERCI and au revoir..that’s it.
Very good article.

By: Anita Hubbard

Anita Hubbard — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 18:41:12 +0000

Adding to KC’s comment both Bank of America and Capitol One do not charge foreign transaction fees. I too find it’s better to use a credit card; you get the best conversion rate.

By: KC

KC — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 18:18:50 +0000

If you don’t speak French well, then at least smile as you try to use English, gestures and so on. I’ve seen some people reinforce the ugly American stereotype. A friendly face goes a long way in getting what you want Paris, even with a language barrier.

Parisians use credit (or debit?) cards all the time, so there is no need for much cash. I didn’t have any trouble with my American style mag stripe cards, and oddly, my one chip and pin card didn’t work as a chip and pin card. Amex (or at least my particular card) waived their foreign transaction fee. Check with your card issuer, and be sure to warn them ahead of time that you’ll be travelling. This helps the fraud department to expect foreign transactions.

By: William Dotinga

William Dotinga — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 17:38:43 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. Before my partner and I blitzed through western Europe this past summer I was in terror about not speaking French. Like, way more than I was about not speaking German and only knowing the naughty words my opa taught me in Dutch.

In the end, I worried for naught. Beginning every interaction with “bon jour” and “parlez vous anglais” and ending with “merci beaucoup” was all it took. Every restaurant, cafe, store and museum we went to had someone – or found someone – to speak to us in English. We had a marvelous time and I loved Paris.

I wish I’d read the article about surviving the Louvre before we went, though…

By: Anita Hubbard

Anita Hubbard — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 17:27:42 +0000

This is great information! Another thing you should not stress over is clothes. For the most part Paris is a casual atmosphere so don’t over pack. Some of the best sightseeing I’ve done is on the city buses and you must take a ride on the Metor.

By: Kiki

Kiki — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 19:28:15 +0000

such a good, truthful and sensible post! to point 4: guilty… myself I’m taking pics of my favourite food I eat in restaurants (not Instagram though, sadly) – because my eyes eat with me and eating often in Paris it helps me greatly to remember the nice places…. I also never worry about the shoes I’m wearing, as NOBODY is going to carry me around if I’m donning beautiful but impractical shoes! I have plenty of photos of people (not only tourists!) in Paris with bare feet, sandals in hand, in silly high heels, very cool boots, but also sneakers, runners, and tons of espadrilles… 🙂