peggy

We need to know the very basics, things that you didn't know the first time you went. What are the most useful phrases? English speaking restaurants? What are some of the things we should look out for to avoid being taken advantage of? Any useful information would be helpful.

Tammy

First thing, relax. Paris is a very easy city to get around in, even if you don't speak French. I recommend learning to say, hello, thank you, please, excuse me, pardon me, I would like? do you speak english? and where is the toliette? I don't speak French. <BR> <BR>A lot of restaurants have their menu in both French and English, but recommend taking along a good phrase book. I use the Berlitz French phrase book and dictionary. <BR> <BR>I personally found the Parisians to be very friendly and helpful, but to be able to say hello, excuse me, and thank you very much will help you out along with a sincere smile <BR> <BR>Paris is a big city, so you do have to watch out for pick pockets. Don't flash your money, keep your credit cards, money and passport in a place that can't be accessed easily by a pick pocket. Just always be aware of your surrondings and who may be near you or approaching you. <BR> <BR>Take a good steet map, I use the Streetwise Paris and have always had good luck. <BR> <BR>Have fun!

elaine

peggy <BR>There is no reason for you to fear being taken advantage of in Paris unless that happens to you in other places. <BR>I have a Paris file with a lot of the basics in it; if you'd like to see it, email me.

Quicksilver

Hi Peggy, <BR> <BR>May I reiterate the other posters' general opinion? Don't worry! You will be amazed at how UNintimidating Paris actually is! <BR> <BR>That said, I'll provide one piece of general advice and two little specific, "nit-picky" things. <BR> <BR>GENERAL: <BR> <BR>Read as much as you can about the various areas/arrondissements before you go. If you have an idea of where they are and what makes them unique, you'll be quicker "out of the gate" in the morning to see something that suits your mood. (e.g., do you feel like seeing the romantic narrow streets of the Latin Quarter today, or the "hôtels particuliers" of the Marais, or the hills and stairs of Montmartre? etc.) <BR> <BR>LITTLE PRACTICAL THINGS I NEEDED TO KNOW: <BR> <BR>1) Where can I find a clean "toilette" that's more than a hole in the floor? <BR> <BR>(I don't normally return to my hotel during the day, so this was important - and we learned the hard way that bathrooms in cafés are sometimes the "Turkish toilet" variety!) <BR> <BR>Department stores tend to have clean, free washrooms... I dropped in at La Samaritaine a couple of times for this purpose, and the Galeries Lafayette or Printemps would work if you were in the Opera area. <BR> <BR>2) Where's the post office and how much is postage? <BR> <BR>I sent postcards from the post office across from Sainte-Chapelle/the Palais de Justice, at 4 Boulevard du Palais. There are automated machines that make it really easy to buy the right amount of postage - you don't even have to line up for a teller. <BR> <BR>For what it's worth, I think the "Facts For The Visitor" sections of Lonely Planet guides are fabulous for this kind of logistical info. (no, I don't work for them!) I always had the Paris guide in my bag, and I used it in both of the situations above. These guides also provide good advice on transportation, both for arriving/departing, and for navigating within the city. <BR> <BR>It seems almost redundant to wish you the time of your life, because you will absolutely, definitely have it. Bon voyage! <BR> <BR> - Quicksilver -

jessica

don't worry about paris, they're not as snotty as the stereotype. in fact, as the others have written, if you just learn a few simple phrases and make the effort, you'll have no problem. <BR> I recommend that when you get there, go to a book store (there are tons around) and get a book of the arrondissements. the michelin one has all of the arrondissements in detail,like where the metro stops are and where the monuments are so you always know where you are. <BR> phrases to know: <BR> hello: bonjour <BR> good evening: bon soir <BR> (pronouncewar) <BR> thank you: merci <BR> please: s'il vous plait <BR> (pronounceeel vou play) <BR> good bye:au revoir <BR> (pronounce: orvoi) <BR> <BR>on the champs-elysees, which is the main avenue in paris, anywhere you stop to eat, english will be spoken. the hot spots are also on this avenue, others branch off from there, like on avenue georges V. <BR> taxi cab drivers are generally nice (I left my wallet in one at 5am and he returned it to me the next day). people won't try to take advantage of you. <BR> one more thing, if you like hot chocolate- you HAVE to go to Angelina's. it's on rue de Rivoli. their chocolat africain is thick and the best ever with their homemade chantilly(whipped cream). <BR> anything else, feel free to e-mail

Danielle

I second all of the things that have been said already, but would like to add one thinglease take your time, and enjoy yourself. This is something we never had a chance to do. It is better to see 5 things completley then to see 50 things in a rush! My friend and I rushed through everything, and I truly regret that. Also we found that when ordering at a restuarant it seemed that you had to be ready to order your drinks and your meal at the same time. If you ordered your drinks first they would deliver the drinks and the bill and would never come back to see if you wanted to eat. I don't know if anybody else has had that experience, but we sure did. Something that I found useful, and I know some people might find it corny, is to take the big red tour bus for your first day. It only takes two and a half hours and it really gave my friend and I our bearings. It gaves us more information and understanding about our surroundings then any map. And most important of all: HAVE A BLAST!!

Heather

Peggy, I think that you might enjoy reading the portion about Paris in Rick Steves' France guidebook. For a first-timer with your concerns, it provides the "very basics", talks about how to look for dining options, how to avoid scams, and provides a useful list of phrases with simple pronunciation guides that won't confuse. While I didn't use Steves' book to plan my trip, I did give a copy to my mom before our trip so she could be more comfortable with Paris. Once she was there, she liked knowing about the Metro and some of the sights. <BR> <BR>My only other suggestion is to buy a Marling's French dining book. The series of books are tiny and fit in a pocket or purse. I would studiously avoid restaurants that tout speaking English. With the easy-to-use Marling's book, you can decipher French menus in a snap.