France is a country has grown on me over time and after several trips. Now, it is one of my favorite places to visit. While Paris generally is the first destination of choice for tourists, it is those places outside of Paris with beautiful landscape, cute shops, small streets, and houses with old world character that have made me fall in love with France. Since it took me some time to feel comfortable in France, here are 10 things to consider before traveling to help you fall in love with the country quicker.
25 Tips For International Travel
Parlez vous anglais?
“Do you speak English? It is definitely a question you will be asked in France. If you are in Paris, the answer is likely to be yes or a little. However, outside of Paris, particularly in the countryside, the answer very well may be no. In some areas, not only do people not speak English, but essential signs may not be translated into English either. Google translate or a English-French phrase book will come handy during your travels.
Get outside of Paris
I know that when most people think about visiting France, Paris is their destination of choice. I understand why. Similar to New York City, it is a happening place that is full of culture, cuisine, and nightlife. However, I highly encourage you to get outside of Paris and see the other parts of France. I love the French Riviera and Normandy region. There is so much beauty in the country. Even a train ride from Paris to the Champagne region will give you a different perspective of this beautiful country.
Normandy: 10 Things To Know Before You Travel
Sunday is a day of rest
In France, as with may European cities, many shops, restaurants, and museums will close early or be closed all together on Sundays. It is something you should consider when planning your trip. You probably do want to waste an entire day not being able to do anything because the entire country is shut down. Separately, be mindful that many museums and fine dining restaurants are also closed on Monday.
Siesta time…
Okay, it is not called a siesta in France, but many shops and restaurants close down between 2-2:30pm and 6-7pm everyday. If you are like me and regularly skip lunch because you get caught up in sightseeing, it may be hard to fill your belly if you wait past 2pm. If that is the case, then pack snacks or buy a sandwich earlier in the day and save it for this time of the day.
Wow, it’s hot in here!
For some reason the regions outside of southern France, pretends like the hot summer weather does not exist in the rest of the country. Most hotels will have air conditioner, but do not be surprised if your Airbnb does not. Also, many shops and restaurant will not have air conditioning either. This is one of the most frustrating things about France for me. I know this may sound very American, but when it is 90 degrees, all I want is to eat a lovely meal without dying from the heat. It is probably one reason why the outside cafe is so popular in France. It generally feels nicer to sit outside.
Eating out, don’t be in a rush
The French love their food. Even more, they love taking their time enjoying their meals. If you plan to plant your bottom in a seat at a restaurant and enjoy any sort of beverage or meal, you should have patience. It can certainly take two hours to have a simple meal and several attempts to flag down your server to order of pay. Please do not think that it is because the French do not want to give good customer service. It is just that their priorities are different. First, the French generally do not live off of tips, so they are not looking to turn over tables quickly. Also, as I mentioned, they expect you to take a lot of time to enjoy your food and company.
Why is my meat so bloody?
We all have our preferences when it comes to the temperature of our red meat, and we expect the chef to prepare it correctly. However, the French have a different interpretation than Americans and it is possible you will not be satisfied with the bloodiness you are likely to encounter. There are generally 4-5 terms to describe meat temperatures in French: Blue (rare), Saignant (medium rare), à point (medium), cuit (medium well), and bien cuit (well done). No matter which one you order, they will all be slightly more undercooked than what you would normally expect in the US.
Coffee
Coffee in France is expensive and not always great. Granted, I generally think I have had decent cappuccinos and café au laits in Paris, but I only drank maybe one or two decent coffees my entire time during my recent trip to the Normandy region. It is generally watery and does not taste quite like coffee. For 3.5-4 Euros, you can get a tiny cup of cappuccino that really is only half full. Maybe they make poor coffee to draw you to France’s other great beverages, such as wine, champagne and calvados!
Dogs are welcome
Many restaurants in France allow dogs to dine with their owners. Generally there are no objections to dogs being with their owners outside, but you will often times see them indoors as well.
Watch your Step
Speaking of our furry best friends, I do not think it is mandatory to pick up dog poop off the sidewalks or the grass. In what I consider to be an extremely walkable country, it truly surprised me to see so much dog poop everywhere. Literally dogs go in the middle of a sidewalk, and the owners leave it there. Watch your step!
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