What advice you wish you had?
 

My hubby and I are leaving for Paris soon and I'm thrilled and a little nervous. As first timers, we could really benefit to hear any advice anyone might have on anything from your travel experiences. I know this is very broad but I'm receptive to anything that'll help make our holiday break a special one. Thank you for taking time. Unbelievably excited!

On my last trip, the St. Petersburg segment wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been if I'd known about the long lines into the Hermitage and other venues.

I would have arranged for a tour or bought tickets ahead of time.

I'd say "traveler know thyself". Meaning, sit down and have a think about whether you feel you need to have everything planned ahead, a real itinerary day to day, or would you be happier deciding what you feel like doing, if anything, when the time comes. I'm of the latter persuasion and many things on the list do fall by the wayside. But I'm just happier that way. Of course you can be anywhere along the continuum, not one extreme or the other, but I believe it's an important element to consider. Add to it, for 2 of you, be willing to set off or not, alone.

Pack your sense of humor and enjoy yourselves!

Some other thoughts:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...unger-self.cfm

I guess I would jsut not worry so much about everything, but I tend to have anxiety before trips about things going wrong, etc. In fact, in all the years I've been traveling to Europe, nothign horrendous has ever happened -- my luggage got delayed twice, but was delivered to my hotel by end of day after arrival, at the latest. I've missed a train connection, but it wasn't the end of the world. And only once did a hotel not have my reservation (actually, they had it but did not have a vacancy), so they "walked" me to a nearby hotel of the same level, only two blocks away so I knew the area, and it turned out to be a nice hotel anyway. And I was only there one night, so didn't really care that much. Those are the worst things that ever happened.

So just try to remember, thousands of people go to Europe every month, many of them not as smart as you, and somehow they all manage fine, so you can, also. So just try not to worry about things too much, go with the flow and relax.

Don't let anyone convince you that you "have to" see a particular site. See what interests YOU. For instance, if art and antiquities aren't your thing, then don't feel compelled to visit the Louvre just because you feel like it's a must. Nothing is a must except indulging your own wants and interests.

I also wish someone had told me to spend time learning a bit of the language. In France, I can get by. For Italy, I wish I'd spent less time researching things to see, do and eat and more time on the language.

Recognize that some things will go wrong. Something will be late or you will get a lot of rain or you will lose something or whatever.

Every time I have been to europe on vacation (50+) and any longer business trips there has been some problem along the way.

Expect it and be ready to roll with the punches.

Important things to note:

Do not take anything with you that you can't stand to lose - no expensive jewelry or watches

Keep a list of opening days and hours of your must see sights so you are not taken by surprise

Never let go of your belongings in any public place - even the breakfast room or lounge of your hotel

But most important - just relax. Give yourself some time every day to just sit in a cafe or pub or whatever and have a drink and relax - and watch the (often quite different) world go by.

Practice a very few French phrases: Sil vous plait, Bon jour, etc. It will do wonders.

We were in a train station early one morning. I walked up to a kiosk, asked for Deux cafe, sil vous plait. The attendant, young enough to be my granddaugter, looked at me and said Bonjour, madame. I got the point.

Don't forget to tell your bank and credit card companies that you're going about a week before. I always do this on personal trips but failed to do it once on a last minute business trip. I then had to spend a bunch of time on the phone getting things in order (not nearly as easy as doing it from the states when I wasn't tired).

Bring a good quality rain jacket. Stay outside in the rain.

Take a taxi/bus/subway out to the suburbs and walk back downtown.

Write down the name or take a picture of food/beer/anything you really like. It took me ten years to remember the name of an angelic German beer. Ten long, wasted years.

Don't try to see everything. You can't and you'll rive yourself crazy trying to.

Make sure you check the days that museums are closed, so you don't show up on a day it is closed.

Don't be afraid to use the bus system. It's easy to use and will help you learn your way around Paris.

Don't eat at places right around major tourist sites. Usually poor quality and overpriced. If it has menus In 8 languages and pictures of the food, skip it.

I also had a cab driver correct me by saying s'il vous plais to me because I had given the destination without adding, please. Do say Bonjour when entering a shop and make sure to say please and thank you in French.

Consider a Paris Museum Pass if you will be visiting multiple museums and monuments. http://en.parismuseumpass.com
Less about cost savings and more about saving time in the ticket lines.

A few simple pieces of advice on first Paris trips:

In the central areas of Paris (single digit arrondissements), Metro stops are close together. It is just as fast to walk one stop as it is to take the Metro. Similarly, it is as easy to walk one stop as it is to make a transfer to go one stop.

Note which sites you want to see that require nice weather. The stained glass of the Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame demand sun. Museums are good for rain days. Cloudy days are good for walking. Your preferences may vary, so make your own annotated list of things to do, including closure days, weather preference, etc. Then group sites by location to cut down on running around wasting time.

The Museum Pass (NOT the Paris Pass rip-off) saves line time, and may or may not save money. It also allows you to pop into some small place you may be near just to see if it interests you or even just to use a rest room.

The two best views of Paris are from the top of the Tour Montparnasse and from the captive balloon: Ballon de Paris in the Parc André Citroën.

Fragonard makes many branded perfumes. They sell the same stuff unlabelled in generic containers at a great discount.

The most useful map is Paris par Arrondissements, a small book, with variants from different publishers. Amazon carries them. Books do not use data plans and work without being recharged.

Berthillon makes great ice cream.

Try a different pastry every day.

My two favorite Paris museums are Cluny (museum of the Middle Ages with the unicorn tapestries) and the Picasso Museum.

I'm not sure I saw this already but if using an ATM machine always shield your PIN number. Not matter where you use your ATM card, airport included do this. I know it's a no brainer but I failed to do this at an airport and was still behind the secured area when the machine I used had a skimmer on it. What a way to ruin your vacation when you can't get money half way through your vacation and have to rely solely on credit cards.

Have a great time and if you can just wonder around. Even if you can just take an hour to do this and just look and try and remember what you saw.

Leave home, home.

It is about the place, not you.

Sassy, I love the unintended (I think) phrase, "wonder around." It's the poetry of travel!

- never take your hands off your purse.. do not hang it over your chair in a restaurant.. and if its between your legs make sure straps are wound over your knees.. and be aware..

- same to some degree with suitcase.

- ALWAYS say "Bonjour madame or Bonjour Monsieur " before you start any verbal interaction with anyone.. Its not "one ticket please" its "bonjour madame, one ticket please".. etc

Don't schedule your day tightly.. a lot of "tourist stress" comes from folks getting all pissy because of crowds or lines and the need to "get through" sites. I was stuck in a line once for St Chapelle,, I enjoyed easvesdropping on all the other languages of the folks around me in line.. just relax..

That said.. lines at some places can be very long.. there are ways to avoid that at most of them however .

A Museum Pass can be a good deal.A Paris Pass is not a good deal.

Tap water is free and absolutely fine to drink.. if at a restaurant or café and ordering food it is fine to ask for "un carafe d'eau svp" ( pronounced carafe dough roughly) .. bottled water can be costly. If they ask if you want gas .. that means bubbly.. and that means not free.. Cokes and sodas can cost more then a glass of house wine.

A bakery is a great place to pick up a sandwich or slice of quiche or pizza for a quick lunch( and cheap too )

The metro is great and easy to use once you learn.. and since kids there use it by the time they are 10-11 .. you can easily learn it too.
However.. buses are better for those with mobility issues as metro stations can have stairs( sometimes lots) and long passageways .

Have a crepe from a street vendor.. my favorite is ham and cheese.. but many like the sweet ones( nutella, yech) .. make sure he fresh pours the crepes and not just taking it off a premade stack. My favorite place for that is by the St Michel Fountain.

There is no such think as "must sees".. if it doesn't interest you .. don't spend your time and money .

Planning, reading, researching and then booking on information gleaned on blogs or from books, one feels they have to see so everything. One never knows if the traveler who just posted has been to that area many times or it is their first time. Our recent trip to Scotland, I felt I hadn't really planned but relied on the people who live in the areas, B&B or hotel hosts, we had an amazing trip. So my advice is, perhaps pick one place you really want to see each day, go with the flow, and enjoy the moment. You are in Europe after all.

Get lost !

(really, that's when I saw things I didn't think I would).

And don't believe what some racists (self conscious or not) say about certain arrondissements of Paris : we have a lot of diversity and it is a good thing, it colours the city.

Enjoy your trip.

All wonderful advice, and if I can offer something on a completely practical level, I never go out for the day without tucking some tp in my pocket or bag. The WC's at the major places and restaurants will be fine, but for example I was happy I had enough to share with another patron last fall at Pere Lachaise! More than one unhappy experience, and I never leave home without it! :)

Aloow yourself time to just sit in a café and people-watch (but if the table's laid up for a meal, don't sit there and just order a coffee).

Get used to the public transport maps:
http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/

Actually, one of those pocket kleenex packs is useful and easier to carry than a roll of TP.

I'm guessing you're a man, AJPeabody...

Those little packs take way more room than a number of folded squares :)

Following up on NYT's advice: keep valuables--particularly passport-- in your hotel safe and don't bring anything you won't need (e.g. fancy watch, jewelry).

Make a copy showing entry visa for France and carry the copy. Credit card and walking-around cash should be in a moneybelt. Don't carry a bag or purse. Don't keep anything you'd mind losing in a backpack, a jacket, or your pockets.

While en route with bags, always keep in physical contact with all of them. If flying into DeGaulle, probably worth the expensive of taking a cab from (and to) the airport as pickpockets ride the trains and a friend lost her passport on the train.


Recently saw a "horror video" with two young female thieves in Paris walking right up to a woman using an ATM and grabbing the cash after she took it out. Hope there's nothing to this, but I'm going to buy a fairly hefty walking stick after we get to Europe and I'll stand guard while my wife takes the cash out. This will also help shield the pin.

Things will go wrong, but keep them to the level of "missed the opening times for Louvre" or "Seine boat sold out" rather than having to make a trip to the embassy to get a new passport.

Don't stand on an escalator with your purse swung over your shoulder behind you. I made that mistake years ago and caught a woman trying to pickpocket me while her partner played the violin to distract everyone. Luckily Someone saw her doing it and caught her.

You can see great views of city from the Arc de Triomphe and lines are shorter than the Eiffel Tower.

Great photo shot of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Place across the Seine.

Have a wonderful trip!

LOL AJPeabody. It was typo but actually sounds pretty good either way.

If going to the Louvre don't go through the Pyramid entrance. Use a side entrance or from underneath from the subway as its usually faster and don't go on a free Sunday.

I think the toilet paper tip is awesome.. always have some Kleenex or some tp in your bag.. always..

Three words..

smile

Slow down

dwd - I would be very careful about carrying around a 'hefty' walking stick with intent. If you hit somebody with it, even if you feel that this is justified, you could be in big trouble.

Slow down, be good, be careful, be polite...

A lot of useful advice above, out of which I picked the following basics:
- Don't carry around valuables. Have a photocopy of your passport and leave the original at the hotel. Don't put more money in your wallet than you reasonably think to spend until returning to your hotel. No mobiles phones and other stuff you don't need.
- Make a short list of things you really, really, really don't want to miss. It's a nuisance when you planned to do a museum and you're standing there on the usual Monday closing day. For the rest: don't be a slave of your own program. Places which you expected a lot from can be disappointing and the other way around.
Plus:
- Central Paris is much smaller than you think. From the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Bastille could be walked within an hour if there were not so many wonderful things along the way. (I find it actually the ideal introductory walk.)

OMG I'm so glad I asked this question I was not expecting all the knowledgeable responses thank you so much! I usually have tissue in my purse, and a toothbrush, and a mini apartment, but I will double up on the TP. I especially appreciate the Paris suggestions love those thank you again.

I'm struggling to decide on 2 more dinner restaurants if you could suggest with your amazing advice. There are so many to choose from online one can go hungry and crazy at the same time. This is so surreal am I really going to Paris? My husband thinks I'm funny. He's playing it cool but he broke down last night and finally did a very long Happy dance. Thank you please keep the advice coming. Gleaning a lot from your wisdom.

Hi Simone

What are your tastes for a restaurant, atmosphere, sights, food, veggie, when do you come (season), and waht budget would you find reasonable ?

Mvg.

wit--I don't intend to hit any one. I intend to look somewhat dangerous and warn any would-be thief off.

I hope the time hasn't come when one can't carry a walking stick in Paris! Or anywhere else in Europe.

Hi pariswat,

We are very open minded eaters so anything that is delicious we will try. We will most likely get some champagne, a bottle of wine then appetizers, main, dessert. Let's just say we'll go all out on some nights but we don't plan to eat that way every night. It might not be humanly possible! I also love a great lunch and don't often get to have lunches together at home so if you know of a more casual place in mind I'd love to hear that too or if the fabulous dinner restaurant is open for lunch, it could be a better value but ambience might be better at night so I guess it just all depends. Any budget we will consider so if you have a place in mind please let me know. Thank you! :)

Oh by the way, I read people dont tip unless the service was exceptional. Is that true? That feels a little weird. What if the service was just normal? It's refreshing to hear they don't have to rely on tips to make a liveable wage but need some clarification on this please so we don't act and look like shmucks in Paris. Thank you.

For most meals I just round up.. so if bill is 14.30 , I would leave 15 euros.Leaving just the change ( coins) is very normal.

I will leave a little something for a very nice meal.. if I felt service was extra special.. but that would top out at most around 5-10 %.. and frankly.. that's rare.

I have however heard in some very touristy places that some tourists have had waiters mention the gratuity is not included.. as a big hint to tip. If they did that to me I would be sure to take even the change.. because they are preying on tourists if they say that.. trust me, saying that to a local would not be done.

The "meal of the day" which is posted outside many restaurants M-F normally offers 3 or 4 courses for E12 to 14. I've had this in lots of European cities, in the country, in small villages and only once had a meal that was inedible (really don't ask), on every other meal I've eaten very well, had wine and water and tried something I normally would not eat with people who are friendly and welcoming, the local plumber/builder/doctor/lawyer in fact you should seek it out just to link, for just 30 minutes, with the local culture.

'It might not be humanly possible!'

I hear you - I've had my 13th restaurant on ... 13 days.
Tonight is my 14th. (fed up is literally how I feel...).


Anyway : here are therefore the restaurants I preferred (the ones I went to and totally subjectively gave a high note). Except Pergolèse (100+ per person) all were around 50 e per person, as defined by you (and applied by me : 2 paltes, wine, dessert).

Nom Adresse arr Metro
Italian : Far Niente (il) Paul Fort, 1 14e Porte Orléans
Pizza : Massara rue turbigo 70 3e temple
Michelin : Pergolèse rue pergolèse 16e Porte maillot
Brasserie : Philou Richerrand 10e Canal St Martin
Découverte : Pouic Pouic rue Lobineau 5e Odeon
Viande : Santa Carne 24 rue des Tournelles 11e Bastille
Viande : Sacrée Fleur, rue de Clignancourt, 18e, Chateau Rouge.

For the sight more than the food :
Zyriab Institut Monde Arabe 5e Jussieu

If you like cheses (fondues, raclettes)
Pain vin fromage 3 rue de Geoffroy l'Angevin 4e

Roadtrip advice:
If you drive on motorways in the Netherlands and on the autobahns in Germany, always carry some small change ie EUR0.50 because the bathroom facilities in the petrol stations are not free.