Are you planning to visit the City of Love this summer? The plethora of famous museums, palaces, mansions and restaurants might perplex you as to what to visit for a worthwhile trip. So, here are some useful tips that will come handy for a memorable experience.
- Pick your hotel according to your budget because you would not want to cheap out on sightseeing. Hotels like Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs Elysees, Regina, St. James Albany and Hotel Excelsior Latin have reasonably high guest ratings and are easily affordable. Visit Airbnb if you are looking for more options to choose from.
Tip: The months of May and June are best for Paris trip. You would not want to visit in August when half of the city’s population has left for holidaying somewhere else.
- Cars are usually expensive and therefore unnecessary. If you are on a budget, then renting your own car is not an option to consider. Trains and metros are also convenient and it is advisable that you buy a carnet (a set of 10 metro tickets).
Tip: Travelling by train is the safest option. You can even take the train to Amsterdam (a little over 1 hour), Luxembourg or London from the city (around 2 hours).
- Your manners are very important for you to blend in. Parisians expect tourists to be polite and that means you should avoid smiling at strangers or befriending people in cafés. Basically, they expect you to keep to yourself.
Tip: To be courteous, learn a few words and phrases that you can use everywhere like bonjour, merci, au revoir (goodbye till we meet again), excusez-moi, pardon, je voudrais ceci (I would like this one) etc. Don’t go overboard though, as most people involved in the tourism industry do speak fluent English.
- Try to obtain the Paris Museum Pass because individual tickets to museums can cost twice as much. Here are the names of a few unmissable ones.
- The Louvre (and the Glass Pyramid)
- Grand Palais
- Notre-Dame de Paris
- Petit Palais
- Louis Vuitton Foundation
- Espace Dali
- Carnavalet Museum
- Musée d’Orsay.
Tip: book a little ahead of time to avoid long queues.
- Having said that, you would not want to miss out on the:
- Eiffel Tower (If you have a little extra money in your pocket, try out French delicacies at Jules Verne that allows diners to enjoy eating at 400 ft above ground level while relishing the picturesque view of the city)
- Disneyland Paris
- Nightlife experience at Latin Quarter
- Moulin Rouge (it might be expensive but the experience will be unforgettable)
- Dining out? I would recommend duck-confit, escargots, baguettes, Paris brest and quiche Lorraine. If you want to opt for cheap meals, go to L’as du Falafel. If you are a vegan, you ought to try out food at Le Potager du Marais and Hank Burger.
Remember, unlike other cities, many Parisian restaurants do not remain open in between meal times. But cafes mostly remain open.
- The city is renowned for its boulangeries or bakeries. Do not forget to try out a top-notch baguette at Le Granier à Pain and escargots at Du Pain et des Idees.
- Ask for carafe d’eau in restaurants. That way, you won’t have to pay for water in restaurants.
- If you are a student, try procuring an ISIC (International Student Identity Card). You will be able to avail a lot of discounts.
- For a bird’s eye view or panoramic experience of the city, go to the top of Montparnasse Tower or Sacre Coeur.
- Visit the catacombs of Paris. You might feel eerie seeing those skulls and bones but it is a very important part of history and you won’t regret it.
- Many cruises provide a luxury cruising experience around the city with the best combo holiday offers. If you are planning on a romantic trip, take a promenade down the Pont des Arts bridge on the Seine river where couples leave locks and throw the key into the river.
- If you want to wear tasteful clothing like , try out dresses, decent jeans and scarf etc. Do not go for T-shirts, shorts or sweatshirts. Plus, you will be visiting quite a few churches. So I would recommend not to bank on such clothes.
Summer sale for shopping starts in the middle of June and lasts for more than a month.
- Shops remain open from around 10 am till late evening and usually remain closed on Sundays. As a mark of politeness, say Juste Regarder (just looking) while browsing through items because shopkeepers dislike tourists who touch their items without asking.
- Perfumes are the best souvenirs from Paris. Pay a visit to Fragonard Boutique Francs Bourgeois for a wide variety of perfume collections. Even the run of the mill perfume boutiques in Paris have good collection of perfumes.
- Go for a lazy evening walk in the city’s neighborhoods (like The Marias, known for its LGBT history and Ile de la Cité – Ile Saint-Louis, 1st arrondissement) . The city itself is a collection of arrondissements.
- Want to get your portrait drawn by a Parisian artist? Then, Place du Tertre in Montmartre i.e. the 18th arrondissement (aka mecca of modern art) is the place to be.
- You would not want to miss picnicking in a Parisian park. So grab a few sandwiches, baguettes, chocolates and beers and head down for any quiet park you see.
- Tips for making some unforgettable memories: Sit with your favourite book (or maybe The Da Vinci Code?) on the banks of Seine and enjoy a mellow summer afternoon. Or, watch the beautiful Eiffel Tower as it sparkles after every hour in the evening and at night.
So why wait? Keep these tips in mind, pack your bags and get ready for the most amazing summertime holiday.
