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Are you making your first trip to Paris, France quickly? Last Updated 5 minutes ago Make sure you stay away from these common mistakes when traveling for the first time during your journey!
I once resided in one of my favorite cities in the world, and I just returned from a month-long trip that made me think about moving there in the future.
However, I frequently hear from another travellers who were against Paris and had a terrible time there or felt it was overrated.
And usually, those travelers made one ( or several ) of the following mistakes!
These are the most frequent errors to prevent making when visiting Paris for the first time:
Visiting During High Season
If I had to give you any advice regarding your initial visit to Paris, it would be to avoid going there in the middle of the summer! June, July, and August are great year for tourists in Paris, and everything is really crowded.
The area is only populated by tourists because all Citizens leave in August, which is their primary summer vacation month. And it’s HOT during this time of year.
This can be annoying to attend because the majority of properties in Paris lack air conditioning ( even the most luxurious accommodations have weaker AC than what you’re probably used to at home ).
With the Summer Olympics approaching in Paris, I’d advise perhaps less because the prices will rise as well.
Otherwise, spring and fall are the best times to visit Paris — April, May, or October are my top picks for the best time of year to plan a vacation.
Never Learning Any European
Before traveling to Paris, you do n’t need to be fluent in French.
You do n’t need French to get by, since most Parisians already speak good English. However, understanding a few fundamental thoughts will help a lot.
Even just knowing and using “bonjour” ( hello ), “au revoir” ( goodbye ),” s’il vous plaît” ( please ), and “merci” ( thank you ) is much appreciated.
Instead of just barreling up to someone and speaking in English right away, you will find that they typically have a brighter perspective if you make an effort to communicate a small bit of French.
Thinking Citizens Are Rude
Although some folks believe Parisians to be harsh, this is actually not the case.
Some of it simply comes down to social standards. For example, in France, it’s expected that you will claim “bonjour” when you enter a store or a restaurant.
It is rude to not visit the hostess or merchant.
Also, before you ask people a question, it’s even pleasant to visit them second, rather than just walking up and asking” Which line do I need to get in”? or” Where’s the toilet”?
Falling For Common Scams
However, Paris is riddled with holiday scams, and a sure way to ruin your first vacation is to drop for one of these scams.
What should you be on the lookout for:
A man may began tying a friendship bracelet to your wrist as a man approaches you. Do n’t let him, he’ll try to charge you for it afterward!
Rose “gift” fraud: Likewise, a man may view you or your traveling companion offering a grew as a “gift” but then require repayment after you accept it.
Fake requests: A group of women will approach you, often posing as mute or from some other organization in an effort to get you to sign a petition. These are false, and they will sometimes ask you for income or attempt to steal your identity.
Metro thieves: If you’re on a crowded Metro, be really vigilant and maintain a close hang on your things, because this is when pickpockets most often strike.
By recognizing these popular schemes, you can easily avoid them.
Over- Planning Your Vacation
Over-planning and trying to pack too much into a short amount of time is one of the biggest mistakes you can make on your first trip to Paris.
I get it, if you only have 3 or 4 days in Paris, it’s only normal that you want to improve your time and see and do as much as possible.
However, overly little planning can make your trip demanding.
Why not have a relaxing picnic on the Champ de Mars and take in the views of the Eiffel Tower from there instead of standing in line with thousands of other tourists to climb the observation deck of the most famous building in the Paris skyline ( which is n’t even a good view since you’re in the most iconic building in the world’s skyline )?
Or if you only have a few days in Paris, why not stay in the city and trek along the Seine or take a trip to the Latin Quarter instead?
These are the kinds of experiences you’ll cherish and cherish more than the urge to examine off every popular activity in Paris.
Dressing Improperly
I frequently see visitors in Paris go from one of two extremes in terms of clothing.
They’re both absolutely underdressed, wearing knock- flops, a t- clothing, and a fanny group, and they might as well have a bright sign reading” tourist” over their head. You do n’t want to be this person because it makes you stand out and make pickpockets and scammers more likely to target you.
In Paris, I also see tourists dressed up like extras in Emily’s outfit. No Parisian actually walks around the city wearing a beret, a fancy dress, or skirt.
If you go too dressy, you’ll end up being pretty uncomfortable. Instead, I advise sticking to classic darks and neutrals in your clothing and wearing comfortable footwear.
Throwing Away Your Metro Ticket
You might still end up purchasing paper tickets on your trip, even though Paris is gradually replacing paper metro tickets with the digital Navigo pass.
Be sure not to throw your ticket away, though! When you are exiting the Metro, there are sometimes transit police checking tickets, and if you’re caught without one, you can be fined.
Waiting for the restaurant bill
You might have a habit of having your waiter check you out of the house several times throughout the meal.
This is not how things in Paris operate.
You’ll need to ask the waiter for a check at the end of the meal and to ask if there’s anything else you need.
In French, you can say” L’addition, s’il vous plaît” when you’re ready to pay.
Dale PetersonDale, a full-time traveler and author, has over six years of experience. She has traveled to more than 55 nations and has a focus on digital nomadism and solo travel.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. None of the organizations referred to in this post have reviewed, approved, or otherwise supported this content.
