France sometimes gets a bad rep, especially Paris. I hear all the time, “Parisians are
so rude!”. I can relate. Due to my RBF I get mistaken for rude all the time. The reality is, my face does not give off the best impression of me (okay I may not be the nicest person if I’m tired), but I can be very friendly, and I don’t mean to look like that. Lesson is: If you’re basing Paris off one story about one bad experience of getting lost on the metro from your friend who never has a good experience, you’re getting bad insight.
Personally, Paris is one of my favorite places on earth. I can see myself getting an
apartment, and spending my days with The Girls 🐶🐶sipping lattes and eating crepes by the Seine. 😍
Reece and Grace enjoying sunshiny Paris
Anyways let’s refocus. Here are some tips and tricks I learned on how to get the most out of your Paris experience.
-Dress like a local. Parisian style is simple. Dark colors will be your best friend,
especially black, and never (and I mean NEVER) wear your Nikes out in public. Really, don’t ever wear any kind of athletic wear out. Stick to loafers and booties for shoes. We’ll have a whole post dedicated to dressing like a Parisian coming soon!
-Less is more when it comes to makeup. Save that precious space in your carry-on for more shoes 😉The women in Paris are very feminine and minimal, and it shows through their makeup. Throw some concealer, mascara, and a lipstick in your purse and move on. Leave your contour kit in The States.
-Take time out of your day and dedicate it to finding a sidewalk cafe. Drink a cup of coffee or tea and people watch, or spend time journaling about your time in Paris. Stop worrying about making sure you see every tourist attraction, and just relax and breathe in the city. Appreciate the architecture, watch the water on the Seine flow, appreciate the sunshine. You will remember that more than fighting the crowds to see the Louvre (I’m not telling you to skip seeing the Louvre, in fact, don’t!).
One of the halls inside the Palais Garnier. This was my favorite place in Paris.
-Speaking of tourist attractions, do pick a few to see! Hike through Montmatre and stop in a shop to buy some local art. The view of Paris from Sacre Coeur is one of the best, so don’t miss that. The light show at the Eiffel Tower is one of the most enchanting things, so make sure you stop there at night. Tour the Palais Garnier. The architecture both inside and outside the Opera is some of the most amazing you can find, even for Paris. Go shopping in the Galeries Lafayette, and buy a souvenir you can wear (think: SHOES!!).
Reece at the Palais Garnier
Pro-tip: Ask a Travel Agent (hint hint: ciatravelgroup.com) on the best attractions, and times to visit them. They may even be able to get you skip-the-line privileges, or $$ saving deals!
-Speak French (or try)!! You’ll find the locals are more forgiving to you butchering “Je m’appelle Reece” than trying to pretend you don’t even know what “Bonjour” means. Putting a little bit of effort into learning common words like Salut, Bonsoir, S’il vous plait, and Je suis desole will take you a long way. Chances are you know someone who can help you learn these common phrases, or you can download a free app to help get you started.
-Transportation. One of the first things you should do is learn how to ride the Metro. Paris is a large city, and the Metro is the easiest way to get around. Really all you need to know is that Sortie means Exit. It’s fairly simple to figure out; as long as you know where you are and where you’re going you’ll be just fine. The center of the city is fairly walkable, but if you’re headed to the other side of Paris don’t waste valuable time walking for hours when a metro ticket is less than 2 euros.
The Eiffel Tower at night.
-Eat like a local. My absolute favorite restaurant that I ate at was Au P’tit Grec, this little hole-in-the-wall creperie. I think about it at least once a week. The Crepe du Chef will change your life. The food in Paris is some of the best
-Brunch like you mean it. Find an early morning street market and buy fresh fruits, pastries, and anything else you like for your brunch. If you’re staying at an Airbnb or Hostel with a kitchen this is ideal for you. You’ll save some time, and get to eat fresh like a local!
For any extra tips and tricks make sure you contact your travel agent (if you don’t already have one, check out ciatravelgroup.com) and have a chat with them about booking a trip to visit beautiful Paris.
XO,
Reece
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