In no particular order...
1. Reserve tickets for the Eiffel Tower online
It's ridiculously simple and doesn't cost extra. Why stand in a line when there is absolutely no reason to?! Also - don't take the elevator back down, you'll miss the neat walk where you can see the innards of the tower.
2. Go to Angelina for tea/coffee/hot chocolate and sweets
An amazing suggestion from my sister's boyfriend, and the perfect frenchy-french ambiance. Totally pricey, but certainly worth it, and very relaxing.
3. Get to the Louvre right when they open
If you're there long enough to warrant purchasing the museum pass (another good idea since it helps you get past some lines), Get thee to the Louvre and line up before they're open. Oh - and use the underground mall entrance, which is less crowded. By the time everyone is inside and buying their tickets, you're already halfway to the Mona Lisa with a museum pass.
4. After booking a hotel, find the closest grocery store
This serves a few purposes:
This serves a few purposes:
1. for when your husband forgets his deodorant
2. you'll want to buy bottled water here every day instead of next to the touristy attractions because it is so so SO much cheaper
3. you'll want snacks for breakfast (yogurt) or to do a picnic for lunch or dinner (cheese, ham, rolls and mustard, cookies, you get the idea)
4. it's freaking fun to look around foreign grocery stores. I like doing some of my souvenir shopping here, because you can get gourmet treats like mustard, olive oil and teas, and also get some practical things that might be hard to find elsewhere (like instant espresso sticks), or fun and cheap reusable bags with french writing.
5. Learn some French
Hubby didn't need to since I was in charge of re-learning all my French which was fine. But at least take a look at what foods are so you can quickly navigate a menu, especially if they don't have English versions. (Better yet - if you make a few reservations ahead of time, you'll be able to check out a menu online and plug it into Google Translate to get an idea of what looks good, and you can print it out to take with you!)
Hubby didn't need to since I was in charge of re-learning all my French which was fine. But at least take a look at what foods are so you can quickly navigate a menu, especially if they don't have English versions. (Better yet - if you make a few reservations ahead of time, you'll be able to check out a menu online and plug it into Google Translate to get an idea of what looks good, and you can print it out to take with you!)
6. Walk fast and know where you're going
The Paris metro system has over 300 stations (all of which offer a different design) and if you look like a tourist, you'll be treated like a tourist and possibly a target for pickpockets. We didn't have any problems because we travel light and I spoke French as much as possible, but at least familiarize yourself with the metro map. I downloaded the system map on my phone and plugged in routes to and from places where I knew we'd be, just so it was easier to follow the signs in the metro stations. Nothing is worse than being overrun by a group of people who know where they're going and you're in the way!
7. One word: macaron.
Hubby finally discovered these tasty treats, and almost every time we passed a pastry shop we peeked inside to see their stash.
Hubby finally discovered these tasty treats, and almost every time we passed a pastry shop we peeked inside to see their stash.
8. The house wine is always a good selection.
It's incredibly easy to spend an arm and a leg on food here, but like in Italy you can get a carafe of wine that almost always turns out to be delicious and is reasonably priced (for Paris, anyway). Plus, they are usually not as big as a bottle, so you won't feel like you have to stumble out of the restaurant or cafe.
9. Do a heavy lunch instead of a heavy dinner
Paris is all about people watching, and there are plenty of people out during the day! The French have no problem spending a super long lunch doing this, and the meals are usually cheaper during lunch than at dinner.
10. Have a plan!
Going to a new city to explore is stressful all by itself, but when you add in a foreign language and endless activities you think you HAVE to cover it can really drain you. Just a little structure in your day will have you feeling more relaxed and more like you're actually on vacation. Even if it's just making a dinner reservation one day, deciding to do the Louvre the next morning and studying the metro map, you'll have an edge on the competition (those other travelers). It's also helpful to have some background on the places you're visiting so you don't have to waste time figuring out why the Eiffel Tower exists and you can marvel at how awesome it is right away.
Going to a new city to explore is stressful all by itself, but when you add in a foreign language and endless activities you think you HAVE to cover it can really drain you. Just a little structure in your day will have you feeling more relaxed and more like you're actually on vacation. Even if it's just making a dinner reservation one day, deciding to do the Louvre the next morning and studying the metro map, you'll have an edge on the competition (those other travelers). It's also helpful to have some background on the places you're visiting so you don't have to waste time figuring out why the Eiffel Tower exists and you can marvel at how awesome it is right away.
Next time: Versailles, where I wish I could spend many more of my vacations.
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