Ms. Powers' France Travel Guide!
Etiquette-
Here are some etiquette things I've learned over my years of traveling to France and learning about French culture. If you do the etiquette incorrect, it is totally okay, as you are a tourist after all! However, it is helpful to know a couple things so you can try your best to be polite and fit in culturally!
1. Always start with "Bonjour" before asking or saying anything to anyone. Even when walking into a store, always say "bonjour" when you arrive, and "au revoir" when you leave. The same goes for saying Madame and Monsieur. Always address people this way. Such as.. "Bonjour Madame, j'ai une question".
2. When greeting someone in the evening (after 6pm) say "bon soir" instead of bonjour.
3. When saying goodbye, you can say "bonne journée" which means have a good rest of your day. Or you can say "bonne soirée" which means have a good rest of your evening.
4. When riding an escalator- if you wish to stay standing, stand on the right side, if you wish to walk up or down the escalator- go to the left side.
5. Don't eat while you're on the go/walking. Unless you're taking a bite of a fresh baguette, that is the only exception! This also applies for coffee, the French believe that coffee and tea is to be enjoyed while sitting down at a cafe.
6. Athleisure wear and comfy-clothes out of the house is not a thing in France like it is in the US. Feel free to wear leggings and your usual casual clothes if you wish of course, however, you will stand out as an American tourist when doing so!
7. It is not typical to talk to strangers, such as complimenting someone you don't know. However, it is acceptable to ask a stranger for directions or help! Also while in public, make sure to speak in a calm and quiet voice. Americans tend to get excited and talk loudly in public and this can make you stand out and may irritate some locals.
8. When dining- do not cut your food with a fork, always use a knife. When you're done eating, place your silverware horizontal on your plate to signify that you're done. When eating, place your napkin on your lap, and when you're done, put the napkin on the table, not on the dirty plate! It is common to place the dirty napkin on the plate in the US, but not in France.
9. If you're meeting up with friends of family, make sure to do "la bise" when greeting them. La bise is when you lean in and do an air kiss on each cheek. You do not typically do this with strangers.
10. Always cross your legs on the metro or anywhere public. This is considered the polite way to sit to save room.
French Language-
Here are some helpful words and phrases that I challenge you to use while in France! Some of these you likely already know, but I wanted to include everything! Do not be scared to speak French, if you start with "bonjour" and are polite, then most French people are very patient and kind. They also appreciate that there are Americans who want to learn their language and their culture!
- Bonjour - hello
- Au revoir - goodbye
- Bonne journée - have a good day
- Bonne soirée- have a good evening
- ça va? - how's it going?
- ça va bien - it's going good.
- Oui ça va! - yes, it's going good!
- Madame- Mrs.
- Monsieur- Mr.
- Je suis - I am
- J'ai - I have
- J'aime - I like
- Je n'aime pas - I do not like
- Je l'adore - I love it
- Je t'adore- I love you
- Je voudrais- I would like.. (for when ordering something)
- Je vais prendre- I will take.. (another way to order.. this is how most french people order)
- Non merci - no thank you
- S'il vous plaît - please
- J'ai une question. - I have a question
- Où sont les toilettes? - where is the bathroom?
- Où est le métro? - where is the metro?
- Je suis perdu. - I am lost
- Je suis Americaine- I am American.
- J'apprends le français à l'école aux Etas Unis. - I'm learning French in school in the US.
- Je viens des Etas Unis - I am from the United States
- Pardon- sorry
- Es-ce que c'est possible.. - is it possible..
- Es-ce que c'est possible d'avoir plus d'eau s'il vous plaît? - is it possible to have more water, please?
- Es-ce que c'est possible d'avoir un menu s'il vous plaît? - is it possible to have a menu, please?
- Es-ce que c'est possible de s'asseoir a l'extérieur? - is it possible to sit outside?
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît - the check, please!
- Je voudrais le sandwich sans tomates- I would like the sandwich, without tomatoes.
- Les pièces- coins/change
- La carte- credit card
- Acceptez-vous les cartes? - Do you accept credit card?
- Je ne comprends pas bien- I do not understand.
- Parlez-vous anglais? - Do you speak English?
- Je cherche- I'm looking for
- Je cherche un endroit pour dîner - I am looking for a place to have dinner.
- J'ai besoin d'un taxi - I need a taxi
- Combien ça coûte? - How much does it cost?
- à quelle heure fermez-vous? - What time do you close?
- Une table pour deux s'il vous plaît - One table for two please.
- Pouvez-vous prendre notre photo? - Can you take our photo?
- S'il vous plaît, laisse-moi tranquille! - Please, leave me alone!
- J'ai une réservation - I have a reservation.
- Je voudrais m'enregistrer- I would like to check-in.
- Valise- suitcase
- La musée - museum
- l'hôtel - the hotel (don't forget the H is silent)
- La gare- train station
- l'aéroport- the airport
- l'hôpital- the hospital (don't forget the H is silent)
- Le centre commercial- the mall
- Le magasin- the store
- Les escaliers- the stairs
- l'ascenseur- the elevator
- Boulangerie- bread store
- Patisserie- bakery
- Boucheries- meat store
- Fromagerie- cheese store
- Epicerie- grocery store
- Marchés aux puces- flea market
General Recommendations-
Here are some things to keep in mind when in France!
1. It is not common to get a plastic bag after purchasing something. I recommend bringing a tote bag to carry your stuff, then you can carry anything that you might buy during the day.
2. Be very mindful of pick-pocketers! (mostly just in the big cities). NEVER keep your phone in your back pocket, or even use an octobuddy case to take a video, as someone can grab your phone. Carry your tote bag tight on your side or in front of your body. And be mindful that zipper backpacks are easy for pick-pocketers to open.
3. Be mindful of scammers in the streets. They may try to hand you something (a flower) or put something on you (bracelet or crown). Make sure you do not accept. If you do, they will then tell you that you have to pay them and harass you. Also, there can be homeless people in the streets with cups, asking for change. Sometimes they put their cup right in the walking path! If you accidentally kick their cup, they will get angry with you and beg for money. There is nothing wrong with giving homeless money if you wish, just be safe and careful.
4. The floors of a building can be very confusing. What we consider to be the second story in America is considered the first floor (le premier étage). What we consider to be the first floor in America (ground floor) is called "rez-de-chaussée". They count up from there, so the 3rd floor in America, is the actually the 2ne floor (deuxieme étage) in France. This isn't typically a huge problem, but good to know when taking the stairs and elevator at places!
5. French people typically eat dinner later than we do in the US. Such as 8-10pm. Especially in the summer time. So do not expect restaurants to be ready for you at 5 or 6pm.
6. Sundays are reserved for church and for rest, often times places will be closed on Sunday! Keep this in mind when planning your trip.
7. I highly recommend taking the train to another town or country while in France! You can take a train to Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland, Spain or Italy! The tickets typically do not cost much and you can travel to these countries within a couple hours. If you wish to stay in France, you can also take the train to different parts of France, such as the Alps to see the incredible mountains or go skiing, or Nice to see the stunning Mediterranean sea, or to Brittany to see the beautiful Atlantic coast. I also have found that the people in these towns are a lot more patient with people who are practicing and learning French. The French they speak is also a little slower and easier to understand. Therefore, it can be refreshing after being in the hustle and bustle that is Paris.
Paris Recommendations-
Here are some things to consider when planning your trip to Paris!
1. The Eiffel tower will sparkle at night on the hour. Such as, at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm. Plan on being there on the hour to see the sparkle!
2. The Louve is fantastic but is HUGE! You will not see it all in one day. However, spending one day there is enough, just plan what parts and things you want to see.
3. I actually enjoy the Musée de l'Orangerie the most, but this is because I love impressionist art the most. This museum is dedicated just to impressionist and post-impressionist art!
4. I recommend planning your days around the "arrondissements." These are the 20 different neighborhoods in France. It helps to do all the things in one area on the same day, etc. You don't want to spend your whole day riding the metro from one end of the city to the other. Check out the different arrondissements here- https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/guide-paris-arrondissements
5. The montmartre is a super cute neighborhood right near the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. I recommend checking out both. The Sacré-Cœur is located at the highest point in Paris, making it a great place to have a view of the entire city. I like to go here during golden hour to see the sunset over Paris. There is also a fence to attach a lock to, if you want to leave a lock in Paris. They used to do this at a bridge in town, but it made the bridge too heavy! So now people leave locks with their lover here at the Basilica.
6. Another great place to watch the sunset is at the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette. You can see a view of the Eiffel tower in the distance! The Galeries Lafayette is the biggest shopping mall in Paris.
7. Enjoy a dinner with a show at the Moulin Rouge. You can watch the famous Cancan dancers while enjoying a great meal.
8. I highly recommend going to the boulangerie to get a baguette, and the fromagerie to get a cheese, and head to Champ de Mars to have a picnic!
9. When it comes to choosing where to eat, I would recommend places that are not near main tourist attractions or busy areas. This food is typically advertised for tourism and typically is not as good as an authentic French restaurant. My favorite French meals are- steak frites, croque madame, quiche loraine, soupe à l'oignon, crêpe nutella, and crêpe buerre et sucre. "Angelina" is my favorite place to go for a hot chocolate or coffee with a sweet pastry. You may have to wait for a table, but it is worth it!
10. If you like to thrift, you will love the flea markets in Paris! You can find all sorts of vintage goodies. My favorite is the "St Ouen" which is the largest one. There is also the "marché aux puces de vanves" and the "marché d'aligre" which have a smaller and more local vibe, which I also love. Most of the time the markets are only on the weekend, so make sure to google their hours before you go!
Practice with me-
Do you want to practice saying French phrases, as well as your French comprehension skills? Use this link to schedule a meeting with me and we can practice together!