Paris
France
The Metro/Rail system is the way to get around in Paris
Never start a conversation with "Do you speak English"
Be ready to walk ALOT !!! Not a bad thing.
Definatley be adventurous. There is a lot to see down those side streets !!
Enjoy lunch at a leisurely pace...People watching in Paris is a great past time.
Coffee costs more if you drink it outside at a cafe. I could have saved money and time by ordering at the bar.
When you go to a resaurant and desire just plain free tap water to drink, ask for "un carafe d'eau." It's safe.
giving two kisses when you meet someone instead of leaving the other party embarrasingly waiting for the second kiss.
Taxis start the meter from point of departure. So if you call a cab, you're paying before the cab even arrives.
That a bank won't let you in the door if you're wearing a ball cap
I had consern on what shoes to wear and how to dress. Ignore it. About the only thing thing that seemed taboo was gym type stuff Tshirts - white socks.
I have frequently received an unpleasant reaction from store clerks, taxi drivers, etc. when paying cash with a large bill. They will ask if you have change and of course you won't because of the denominations dispensed by ATM machines and the fact that you are a tourist and therefore will not have an accumulation of change. To save myself the hassle I now get 100 euros in 5 euro denominations before I leave home. Giving someone 2 five euro bills does not elicit the same response as one ten euro bill might. A ten and 2 fives is better than a twenty. Hey, whatever works.
Most French bathrooms do not have outlets for anything except small shavers. It can be difficult to find an outlet close to a mirror in the room to plug up curling irons and straighteners even with the proper converters/adapters.
That when a woman smiles and makes direct eye contact with a French man it can be taken as a flirtation and sign you are interested (go ahead and keep smiling ladies, just be forewarned)!
Carry your hotel's information card with you. On the occassion you need to take a taxi back, you can give it to your driver and he'll know the address, and you will always have the telephone number with you.
Photocopy all of your credit cards and your passport and carry them in your luggage separate from where you're keeping the real thing, and keep a copy at home that someone else can access if you need it.
DO NOT change money at ANY Bureau de Change that hasn't been recommended by someone you feel you can trust. In many cases, the ones which post the best exchange rate are the worst deals. Be very careful and ASK exactly how many Euros you'll actually receive when you hand over your dollars. Have them write it down, and know that once the transaction is complete, there is no "un-doing" the transaction. If you get screwed, you'll have to live with it, so MAKE CERTAIN you know exactly how many Euros you'll receive.
Find out your hotel's policies. At just about every small hotel, you're supposed to leave your room key at the front desk, and it's a fair bet they'll lock the front door around midnight.
Order a caraffe of water every time you sit down to eat or drink something to help from getting dehydrated while you're touring.
The Metro just stops running around 11:00 to midnight! No warning! We had to walk a long ways to get out of the underground! Lots of homeless and drunks stay down there at night! ( At least they did last time I was there.
Ice cubes are hard to come by.
Cold pop in groceries are an exception. ( Most French people drink room temperature beverages for their digestion and health.)
Doggie bags are not available when one dines out. I could not just eat half my meal and take the rest back for lunch. Do not over order from the menu. Fortunately portions are smaller, so the food is not wasted.
Dr. Schole's foot patches for blister are so expensive in France, bring a roll from home to use much cheaper! I precut mine!
If one can not find the electrical outlet especially in the bathroom, ask the desk clerk where it is located. It is hidden sometimes.
Greeting a shopkeeper (and sometimes other customers if the shop is very small and cramped) is obligatory. "Bonjour Monsieur/Madame/Messieurs/Mesdames" should get it. Very traditional people will give you a chilly reception if you neglect to mind your manners!