Loisde

I've wanted to go to Paris for years, and out of nowhere, the opportunity has literally dropped in my lap to go to Paris with 2 other women, neither of whom has ever traveled out of the country.

I've traveled a bit in Europe - to the UK and Italy - so I have some modest experience. However, once my initial excitement about going to Paris has mellowed, I find myself in a bit of panic.

I don't speak French. I've purchased 4 different language guides and I still feel like people will think I am mocking them. I don't see myself knowingly ordering anybody's liver in a restaurant. I don't eat amphibians or anything that once lived in a shell.

What if I wear white trainers and walk around with an unfocused, wild look on my face? My traveling companions think I am totally travel savvy - don't know where they got that idea except that compared to them, I am practically Rick Steves. Ha!

Ha! Ha!

Extreme anxiety is kicking in. My DH is very helpful by assuring me lamely, "You'll be fine." I keep telling myself that we have a nice hotel, a car and driver picking us up at the airport, more than adequate money, and we are not stupid.

Somebody, anybody throw some confidence my way. (I'm not actually taking white trainers. I DO know better than that.)

cynthia_booker

So what if you do wear white trainers? The world will not come to an end. No big deal.
You will find many here who speak very little, if any, French and get along quite well.
Relax and have a good time!
As I travel on the cheap, I am jealous of you having plenty of money and a driver from the airport, although taking the RER to most areas is no problem.

TDudette

Everything you do in your own country, someone else is doing in France. We are all alike.

My dear hub and I, when looking at our map, have often been approached by French people offering help in very good English,

Don't worry. Just say hello, goodbye, please and thank you and you'll be fine. Where are you staying?

tuscanlifeedit

Here's the deal: you aren't stupid. Many other people are. You're way ahead of the game.

There are tons of people that go to Paris without reading a guide book, speaking a word of French, or looking at a map.

Compared to them, you ARE Rick Steves.

You're going to have a great time. My only suggestions would be to ask your companions to not expect too much of you, and to remember to laugh at yourself.

TPAYT

You will be fine. Paris is one of the easiest cities we have ever been to----that's why we have been back 7 times.

Where are you staying? The fodorites can help you.

Paris is one of the best walking cities in Europe. The Metro is also easy, and the boats on The Seine are a wonderful way to get your berings.

We don't speak French and have traveled all over France successfully. Anywhere you go, if you say Bon Jour or Bon Soir(sp)the French will be very nice to you.

On our very first trip to France in 2001 we had come from Italy with Lira but no Francs(pre-euro) late at night. We could charge dinner, but needed money for a cab and wanted to cash a check.The desk clerk said she couldn't do that, but she pulled out her purse and said, "Here's some Francs for a cab, give them back to me tomorrow". Try that in New York!!! Enough said.

Let us know your dates and plans, we will help you. You will look like a tour guide when we get done with you.

LSky

"Everything you do in your own country, someone else is doing in France. We are all alike."

Perfectly said.

muskoka

http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3925.html

If you read this, you can't go wrong. Forget about all pretenses and just enjoy one of the world's great cities.

Ackislander

I am one of the real stuffy dresser people, and even I say "Don't worry! You'll have a great time!"

If you are the kind of person who worries enough to post about this, you are the kind of person who will have good manners and a pleasant attitude toward others. If you do something goofy or dumb, tant pis (tough luck).

Instant good manners: ALWAYS say hello when you enter a business, hotel, cafe, or bus, and always say goodbye. Say please and thank you ALWAYS. The French are very, very polite.

Making life easier if you don't speak French: Cafes are very busy from 12:30 until about 2. Try to eat a bit earlier than 12:30 and the action won't be quite as intimidating. The action can be intimidating because everyone is in a hurry to get back to work. Things move very quickly, and waiters don't have time to wait while you make up your mind or to explain the menu (see next sentence). If you do have to eat in prime time, try to study the carte posted outside ('menu' doesn't mean 'menu' in France) and make your choices before you go in.

Finally, get a little book of maps and a bus guide at any newsstand, buy a carnet (packet of tickets) and take the bus when your feel get tired. You will see a lot more of Paris than from the Metro. Take the Metro when you are going a long distance.

Your only real problem is going to be wanting to go back about once a month for the rest of your life.

Myer

I find that learning "Hello", "Good-bye", "Thank you" and "Your welcome" in the local language gets them into a good, smiling mood.

The rest is no problem.

Vttraveler

As others have said, you and your friends will be fine and should have a wonderful time in one of the world's greatest cities. If none of your language guides has a section on menus/food, it is worth picking one up but other than that you sound well-prepared.

French is hard to pronounce if you don't know the rules, so it might be worth checking out a CD or DVD from the local library when you are trying to learn a few basic phrases.

jubilada

It is way better to be you than to be Rick Steves as you are way less arrogant.

suec1

I'd suggest you also challenge your traveling companions to get guide books and look thru them and find some things THEY want to do - I don't mind being the travel planner but I don't want to be the on call tour guide every moment of the day. Also one of the most pleasant and relatively inexpensive activities is the Paris Walks walking tours - print out their schedule and ask your friends to pick out one or two they like. Bon voyage!

lmhornet

""Everything you do in your own country, someone else is doing in France. We are all alike."

Perfectly said."

I don't think that women a beheaded for adultry in most countries. I

Apres_Londee

Paris a big city that gets millions of tourists every year. They've seen it all. No one cares how you dress, and any gaff you make, there have been countless people before you who have made the same gaff only a thousand times worse than you. You'll have a wonderful time, enjoy your trip!

tod

Take special note of what Ackislander said about the French and good manners.
I have made the odd mistake of going up to a ticket counter/booth and asking for a train ticket to..??? - the person behind the glass looked up and first greeted me with a polite 'bonjour madam'! It's then I realised I had forgotten my manners so departed with an extra Au Revoir!
Even asking directions......please start with 'Excusez-Moi' or 'pardon' before asking your question. I always ask if the person speaks English before I continue (in English) with the question.

Loisde

You are all very, very kind, and I deeply appreciate all of your responses.

I truly am a person who could spend days and days in Paris not going inside any museum, but just walking around and enjoying the feeling of being in Paris. Of course, we will do as much as we can in the short time we will have. We are staying in the 5th arrondissement very near the Pantheon at the Hotel Claude Bernard Saint Germain. The reviews I've read is that it is a nice moderately priced hotel, and the biggest complaint is that it has an unusually small lift, which is no complaint at all in my view.

We're doing a wine tasting at O Chateau which I'm looking forward to and we are working on a day trip out to Versailles.

I have an acquaintance who is a Francophile since her single trip to Paris more than a decade ago with an organized tour group. I take her 'recommendations' with a grain of salt, but since she found out I am going, she is intent on giving me detailed instructions, especially with restaurants, such as "Do not eat at a restaurant which has the menu printed in English. You will not get authentic French food. Avoid anything the tourists are doing.'

I'm a tourist for goodness sake and I think there may be a good reason why the Louve and Eiffel Tower are popular attractions. She makes me tired, but I let her 'advise' me and then I ignore her advice. Maybe when I come back from my short trip, I can be an expert too.

If you have any restaurant recommendations, I would love to have them. I'm not nervous about riding the metro or RER (I became quite adept at minding the gap in London) but I am a little timid about riding the bus.

I think I'll keep a detailed diary of my trip and do a trip report when I come back. I can and often do laugh at myself, so I'm not worried about my traveling ego. I just do not want to offend or expand the reputation of 'ugly american in Paris.'

tuscanlifeedit

And your probably cuter and less nerdy than RS, too.

sheri_lp

Wear large sunglasses, lipstick and think "what wouild Audrey Hepburn do?".

azzure

"I just do not want to offend or expand the reputation of 'ugly american in Paris.'"

I don't see much chance of that happening!

Judyrem

Great post.
I always get very apprehensive about France and the French...AND once there absolutely LOVE it.
Never ever had a bad experience...the French are great IMO.