A small mistake - though when it happens if you are 20 years old, its' really budget killing - I once had a drink on piazza San Marco in Venezia. OMG, I don't remember the price after so many years, but me and my friends we were really shocked !
Visiting the US 20 years ago for first time as a 9 people group of recently graduated: 1. ordering 9 medium sized pizzas in SF and having to finish eating them during the next 3 days (portions!)... 2. because of lack of menu display outside the restaurants in NY, entering the place not knowign the prices, having a 9 people table arranged for us, getting a heart attack seeing the prices and leaving in shame... 3. this for the french out there: going right away to the guide du routard recommended places at tourists spots: twice (at Paige and Flagstaff), the restaurant literally had a french people tent at the back of the main building with picnic style plastic furniture... so no typical atmosphere and scenic view hahaha...
you prolly dont give a shit but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account?? I somehow lost the account password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me!
As a French person I am telling you do not stop to sign any kind of petition on the street !! Unless the person giving it to you has a special jacket or hat with their association name written on it, don’t stop for them and keep walking. These people want to distract you so that their friends can go pick pocket you!
I had read about these scammers and knew to avoid them, but i was caught off guard one day and someone says to me, do you speak English, i was about to say Yes then saw her clipboard, i said Non then walked off😂
@@shavonnestacia2865 Is it bad that I want to travel just to experience the scams? Like, I'm from a scummy neighbourhood, but I notice the scams in other places are a bit more unique.
A piece of advice from a French parisian : if you can’t speak French (and that’s ok!), please ask first whether the person you’re adressing speaks English or not. In my opinion, it’s not rude not to speak our language but it’s rude to assume that we speak yours, I think maybe a lot of French people feel the same as me?? Plus A LOT of people actually can’t speak English so if you check that first, they may steer you to the right person to help you faster 😁
That should be the STANDARD all over the world. Like, I will never understand anyone who goes to any country and expect they know English, we don't expect them to know our language when they come to ours, so why should we expect them. At the basics, it would be a pretty damn fair expectation if they at least make some sort of effort on their end to learn basics like a greeting, yes, no etc, but then again, I haven't travelled much and maybe not as much people hold that weird shallow standard when they go to country which doesn't speak their language.
@@joryllena9382 you can't live in fear, what kind of life is that, full of regrets. Go and do it! I don't speak French, but I am going for a 2nd time. So worth it!!!
I’m an American whose traveling to Paris in October. It’ll be my first time. I took a few years of French. Do you get offended when Americans try to speak French?
I've been lucky enough to travel to Paris for work quite often. I've ALWAYS found Parisians to be super helpful and utterly delighted when I attempt to speak French. It's a general rule for visiting any city never to eat where the main tourist attractions are. I'm a brown girl from GA. The last time I was in Paris, I just turned left out of my hotel and walked until I found a restaurant that smelled good. I ordered in fumbling French and the table of Moroccan emigres next to me became convinced I was a long, lost cousin. They invited me to eat with them (delicious!) and gave me some great tips on other out of the way places to eat.
An advice I can give, or rather, a useful tip: service in restaurants take a while and it's done on PURPOSE. French people hate to be rushed to eat, so the waiters are generally discrete and will wait a bit even after you finished before bringing the next meal. That's how it works. If you are in a hurry you can explain it to the waiter BEFORE hand, and very politely, and they might make an effort to bring you your dishes a bit faster. Don't expect miracle though, if it's a good restaurant and the meals are handcooked, it can't be instantaneous. If you want to eat fast, we have a lot of fast food and sandwich shops. Also the "client is king" mentality is almost non-existent in France, unless you are in an extremely fancy place. Always be nice with waiters and people working in shops, say bonjour and all and everything should be fine. If you are annoyed by something don't assume you can talk to them like shit and they will stay nice because they need the tip. They don't. Tip culture doesn't exist in France, they'll get paid wether you're satisfied or not. In paris the service isn't always the best so yeah, google the restaurants before going in, stay polite and everything should be fine :)
Absolutely. America is a fast culture. Many Americans always feel that they can never move fast enough. Also, Americans want everything right away. Plan to go to McDs and Dunkin since I want to get the most out of my tourist dollars. LOL.
I'm French and it depends on people. Young people wear more colors now, the style of the 80s, 90s vintage is very popular. It is rather the old generations that have remained classic. You can dress as you want, stay who you are and the look of others is not important... that's how fashion is created 😁
I agree with all points, first time I was in Paris, people were shockingly nice, but using my simple French greeting and just engaging them in conversation helped a lot. Also, they often thought I was French because of how I was dressed, there was so many hilarious incidents.
When i visited Paris i walked around wearing a beret, black and white striped shirt with a baguette in my hand. I was shocked by how nice people were to me. Unfortunately the next day when i wore a leather jacket with jeans nobody seemed to care about me.
Not bringing a change purse! America deals with a lot of paper cash, but the euro is much more change-based and the wallet change area isn’t usually big enough. Also: don’t put your metro tickets in the change purse. Coins will demagnetize the metro tickets and they wont work anymore..
I returned from Paris last week. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice and accommodating the people were. I had heard that the French were not very nice to people who didn’t speak the language, but this was not my experience. Very beautiful people, and I look forward to returning !
As a non-french european. A different view here: If you ask them something in English and they seem rude. Yes, they are rude. In other European places you can ask whatever you want and people are happy to answer in their broken English and help you. It's not you, it is them.
Pourriez vous me dire de quel pays européen vous êtes, s'il vous plaît ? Peut-être que vous avez posé une question à un nom anglophone, moi j'avoue je suis nul en anglais, je vais certainement vous faire une phrase du genre "not speak English, sorry" parce que je ne parle pas l'anglais, l'italien beaucoup plus. Il ne faut pas s'attendre à une personne gentille si vous ne l'êtes pas vous même.
I highly recommend (especially if you're going for a week or more), look into getting one of the travel passes for the métro system. You can get a "Navigo Easy" pass in which you can load money on and not worry about buying paper tickets (which will be phased out). When I was a student in Paris, I had the Navigo pass most locals have, so the Navigo Easy is great for tourists and return visitors!
We did a 10 day trip to Europe. 2 days in London 2 days in Dublin 3 days in Paris 2 days in Amsterdam 1 day lost to travel It was a whirlwind, and so much fun, but I would NEVER travel this way again. It was fun, but every other day we were travelling. My advice: pick a country and stick with in that country/region to really experience it.
We’re doing that this July Germany -Frankfurt 1 night Nertherland -Amsterdam 2 nights Belgium -Brussels 1 night France -Paris 2 nights Switzerland -Zurich 2 nights Italy - Milan 2 nights Germany - Munich 2 nights
I definitely experienced the difference in fashion while living in France. In general, I do wear a lot of neutral tones, but I also mix it up and wear bright colors! The strange looks never ceased, but I had many people tell me that they really appreciated my boldness because that is not a typical quality of the French. It did make me stand out in some situations, but it was not always a negative thing... oddly enough, I actually had a lot of high school kids coming up to talk to me and one of the reasons they did was because of my fashion!
I think it would be boring to look like everyone else and “blend in.” Sounds very somber. I wear make up and dress cute, (not over-the-top or inappropriate). Just saying that’s me.
It's like in japan, if you're a foreigner it's okay, you're forgiven. Like a precious bird from a tropical country. Every french mother tells her daughter not to wear too much make up or flashy colors so that they don't look "vulgar and superficial" , I'm not saying it's the right , universal way of seing things , and french girls can feel corseted by this. If you're a french girl, you will be juged, harshly : skirt too short + heavy make up (you'll get insults) , flashy anything (you'll get unwanted attention and comments) , you'll be considred as trying to attract attention to yourslef , being vulgar, being vain,narcissistic and sometimes ... stupid. All sorts of unpleasant things. It's not "a good thing" but in a way it also maintains some kind of style, identity and tradition.
I'm french and I find french people making absolutely zero effort to speak a bit of english when living in such an international city equally rude to tourists not being able to utter a french greeting. About public transportation I'd like to add: please, please PLEASE stay on the right side of the escalators/stairs and leave the left side to the fast walking people otherwise you're gonna get pushed aside a lot 😂
Yea so true about the escalator and stairs. In NYC we do the same thing. We hate when people stand on the left slowing us down trying to get to work. That’s how we know they’re tourists. Lolol
Thank you for saying this. I always see these comments about French people being upset if tourists don't make an effort to speak a little french greeting and I'm thinking if the French person speaks English anyway just speak English versus wasting their time and yours.
People who have bad escalator etiquette or who are just unthinking and clueless are very annoying. I understand why their behavior would get a rude reaction.
I think what you said about going to the restaurants near the hot-spots in a city is a big mistake when you're traveling to a foreign country is so true. I'm an American, so I think of it being like eating at a restaurant in Times Square if you were in New York. It's a no go. There's so much city to explore anywhere you go! 😊 Thanks for your amazing videos, Tiff!!!
that does not apply to Paris though! Every city has its particularities! Im right with her on that one and most Parisian would agree ( have lived there for 3 years and visit every 2 yo ) The beauty and particularities of the city are way more subtle than that of a typical north American city.
Same could be said in San Francisco--restaurants at Fisherman's Wharf are tourist traps and the food's mediocre at best. Former NYer here too. Times Sq has a FEW restaurants worth checking out--Junior's for the cheesecake for example...and Joe's Pizza. :-) But Olive Garden, Red Lobster, TGI Friday's, SBARRO *ack*...notsomuch.
The Vietnamese food in Paris is the absolute best!! My biggest tourist mistakes have been in Germany or the Netherlands....walking on bicycle paths....🙈
My experience in visiting another country as an American is that, you don’t wanna bring the “all American” attitude/behavior or wherever you are from don’t bring your daily local attitude/behavior from home, because they will find you rude and disrespectful. Just be at your best to their accommodation. Making these adjustments will make the locals more comfortable and acceptable to you!
Such good advice! When I was backpacking through Europe with friends and we stayed in Paris even though my attempt at French (from couple of classes in high school) I would attempt. I remembered the start of questions and the would point ie ou es ....? Also always said merci and bonjour. People helped us because they saw me trying even though we had been told the French were not friendly. They were to us and I think it was my attitude and gratitude for any help and they felt it. 😁
France, and mostly Paris, gets over 50,000,000 visitors a year, 50 MILLION! Have a bit of compassion for the service people there. In a day they can deal with people speaking 30 or more different languages! It gives me a headache just thinking what that must be like!!! So try to help a little! Say 'Bonjour madame'! Bonjour monsieur! S'il vous plait! (Please!) Abbreviated as SVP. Merci! (Thank-you!) Mercier, madame! Etc. Or--- Pardon! EVERYONE CAN MASTER THAT MUCH! EVERYONE!!! TO WHATEVER COUNTRY YOU GO TO, PLEASE MASTER THAT MUCH!!!
Same! And I'm allergic to smoke. Probably wouldn't enjoy it. But I'm feeling the vibe and like to learn. And hey, maybe I actually will end up there someday.
"Bonjour" does go a long way. Even if that's the only word of French you know, that's a LOT better than nothing. Another reason not to stay in the suburbs: Paris is a VERY walkable city. When I take someone around Paris, we use public transport as little as possible (driving is a big NO here, in my book) because it's so much more fun to walk through beautiful little known parts of the city. Thanks for the great video. I love hearing what people from other cultures think of Paris.
I went to Paris for the 1st time 3 yrs ago and I can't believe we did everything right. The Metro was kinda hard to figure out but once I got it, I was all over the city using it.
As I Parisian I completely agree with you. I'lll just add the fact that some tourists come to ask for help but are not really polite like they don't say " Hello" or " please". I'm really happy to help tourist to find what they are looking for but it's not realy nice. Hopefully we have more good tourists than bad tourists here in Paris :)
I advise people not to treat their trip as their ONLY trip. Assume it's your first trip and prioritize the sights, experiences so you don't burn yourself out! I love subway systems for getting around when I travel.
I stayed in La Defense at Sofitel Paris La Defense and it was great! The travel time wasn't that bad at all but the metro is LITERALLY right next to the hotel. What's funny is that I noticed that my introverted ways served me well in both London and Paris lol! I came in October during Nuit Blanche and I absolutely LOVED Paris and cannot WAIT to get back! I was able to quickly fit in and many times people randomly started up convos with me in French and I was like.."English?" lol. Also you're 100% on point: When you approach them with the little French you know they are absolutely delighted and will help you more. I watch your channel to get my fix until the borders open, I love this channel and thank you!! When those borders reopen I'm all up in yo Country!! lol
I went to paris with friends and while the others spoke in English, I tried my best in speaking in French. Partly because I really wanted to work on my French, but also because I was in France so you better adapt. The locals were always nicer to me than to my friends. lol They realized that very soon as well.
You are so right about over-the-top fashion. Paris is a walking city - try climbing the hills in Montmartre. Reminds me of National Lampoon's European Vacation.
I’ve been to Paris several times after I first went in the 80’s when you couldn’t get a Diet Coke and used Francs. We were self conscious of wearing sneakers. The same general advice you offer applied back then too.
My biggest mistake was in Paris. This was 12 years ago. A friend and I did the top 2 you said not to do! The fall out was bad. She ended up crying on the bus because no one would help. I didn’t want to leave the hotel lol we lost 2 days in Paris because of this. But God send me those angels, the trip ended up being amazing! So your advice is accurate. Also because I am from Florida I borrowed a winter jacket because it was snowing during the time we wood be there. It was a bright red RW (roca wear) jacket. Clearly this screamed I am from the US lol. Lesson learned yes, lesson learned haha
On my first trip to Paris was with another teacher who took students. Our first bus driver was French. So as we boarded the bus, I spoke a little French to him. Now I haven't spoken French since high school, however, he smiled at me and didn't seem to be so gruff. After that, he was my friend the entire trip. Sometimes he would come sit with me during our stops.
I definitely agree about trying to learn some of the language. At the very least, try to learn some words you may see on a menu so you can recognize something you like eating so you don’t look like an idiot. In general, Americans expect this, so it is only fair! I also agree about not cramming in too much in a small amount of time. It’s hard to really soak in the experience if you are exhausted and in a rush. Good tips!
I love Paris and have been many times. Learning a little French is absolutely the secret key to a great time there. My tip for biggest mistakes made while traveling comes from going to Italy, and wanting to see so much of the country at once, or Europe in general. You want to see as much as you can with a limited time, Don’t City hop every one to two days because you have to pick up your stuff and keep moving nomadically. Space it out to at LEAST 3-4 days. Which I can do 1-2 days but sometimes the transportation isn’t as efficient as you need it to be and your plans get ruined, or even caused you to have to walk in the middle of night 7miles in Bologna in the woods, in pitch black where you cant see your hands or the ground, while it’s athunderstorm and the temperature is dropping and youre soaking wet, and when you get to the hotel at 6am you get no sleep again because you have to leave at 7am to catch a train. Can you tell that happened to me? Oh and this was AFTER not sleeping on the flight over and our 2 hour train took 8 hours and we only had 3 hours sleep the night before that. Just slow down and give a couple days per place.
being loud...could not agree with that more!! One of the best perks of dining in a European restaurant...some peace and quiet and actually being able to enjoy the experience.
Good tip about pacing yourself! I usually do two things a day….a museum in the am, nice lunch and another attraction in the afternoon, then a rest, then an evening meal! I love the Cluny. Had to go three times before i got to see the Unicorn tapestries. They were touring, museum closed for renovations. Finally caught the exhibit. Oh my!
Three weeks is what like to spend in Paris. I have been lucky enough to visit many times and I still have so much to see! I like to stay in an apartment and be one with the city too.
My hs history class had a trip to Paris during spring break and my friend and I had been taking French in school so we actually got around pretty well and people in shops were really nice to us. At a restaurant though, I completely blue screened and forgot like all the French I knew, so I fumbled around for like 3 minutes trying to remember and charade the word for ‘butter’ The server was just 👁👄👁 the entire time.
Same thing happened to me. I was standing near the entrance to one of the paris metros and a frenchman asked me where the station was. I could see it but i was making Jim Carey noises and making gestures. (Probably worrying if metro is feminine or masculine and just having no experience in speaking french.
Public transportation is the best. I took public transportation in from Charles de Gaulle airport to my hotel. Took the RER in to Montparnasse and then switched to the Metro (two stops, maybe three) and I was about 50-100 yards from my hotel. 🙂
Metro system and public transportation is amazing in Paris…. I love it…. I was intimidated a bit first time in Paris and it got better each time…. I only use public transportation in Paris and I love the fact that it is affordable… I also love super great train connection through France…. Affordable, great service … super easy to use….
Indian here, if you ever come to my country, the ppl will learn your language to help you, that's the hospitality you will get! I respect that the world operate differently elsewhere.
A+ advice! These are great tips for travelers going to most major cities in Europe. Sadly, my husband’s job means that late July and early August are the only times we are able to take extended time for a vacation. Public transportation and basic traveler’s French are musts!
I just joined your channel a few minutes ago and thank you for the advice cause I’m planning on going to Paris in the spring and thank you for the tips
I love coming to Paris, Ive been a few times and I'm yet to find a good nightclub that plays RnB/Afrobeats/HipHop. Please Please can you do a video about places to go out clubbing in Paris.
This was so helpful as a woman of color I've been wanting to travel solo and visit Europe mostly but was afraid of going alone and not knowing what to do or getting lost and no one would help me. Paris was on my list but so many people I know who went had a bad experience there so I figured, I wouldn't go but watching this I wanna visit and see for myself I gotta learn some French.
You don't really need to learn French, you just need to know that YOU MUST say "bonjour" all the time when entering a place/talking to someone, it's really rude not to say it in France, hence why so many people get backlash and understandably, since usually you're not enclined to help someone rude. Basically just say "bonjour" when speaking to someone and "merci" (thanks), people will just be way more understanding. Though I gotta say as a Parisian myself, being a dick to some tourist just because they didn't say bonjour is pretty dumb and rude, but it's always a good surprise when one and starts with a bonjour, especially when it's an American (or a Chinese), since both of those countries tourists are usually the ones who don't try to do it (I don't know why though).
Paris and most big cities in Europe, it's very open-minded and I never had much issues racism-wise, apart from some rude waiter in Bruxelles who just assumed I can't speak English and talked down on me. I'm American, and yes, I speak English, even if I look Asian lol Although, once you go to small towns, and rural areas, you *might* come across ignorant people. I've only experienced it twice when I was visiting the French Basque country with my host brother. Def got a lot of weird looks, some where making their eyes small mockingly, call me Jackie Chan(Chinese) and say Konnichiwa(Japanese) lol. It def upset me at the time, but now I'm older, if that ever happens, I'll just ignore those pathetic people. Southern France, in general, people are much warmer and inviting. Sometimes strangers would just strike a conversation with you, which is not like Parisians lol. Just be vigilant in bigger cities, be aware of local traditions and laws, research ahead of time, and just enjoy your time! And, like many many people have mentioned, ALWAYS say "Bonjour", "merci", and also add "excusez-moi", "pardon", and "au revoir". You can even throw in "monsieur, madame, mademoiselle" if you'd like too for bonus points. Magic words that will greatly make your interactions with most French people way better lol
France is amazing!! People always say oh the French don’t like it if you don’t speak French and refuse to speak English however I have NEVER had this issue, I’m quite a bubbly sociable person (not in a loud way) and I think just being overly nice and friendly helps and they actually want to try there English out xx
Totaly agree with not doing too much in one day. My first Eurotrip, we went to Belgium, Barcelona and Paris in 15 days. By the time we got to Paris, all we did was walk around and eat. We did not visit a thing, other than the Eiffel Tower. We live in Belgium now so it's a quick trip to Paris, but if you are travelling from the US or Canada (as we were at the time) or some place further away, avoid this mistake to make sure you truly emjoy your visit.
I visited Paris three years ago; I used Google translate to communicate. When the waitress saw me struggling, she spoke to me in English. My 🏨 was near the effil tower.
I visited France two times. My first visit I went to Montpellier, which is in the South and the second time around, I did a detour in Paris. Yes, my biggest problem was finding a place to eat when I was hungry. I am not like most people, I only eat if my stomach is empty. So when I was hungry for my second meal of the day/lunch all the restaurants were closed. Also, most dishes on the menu had dairy products and I am lactose intolerant. Yes, I was hungry most of the time I was in Paris. I lost weight that I couldn't afford to lose😥
Funny that you mention over the top fashion...When I visited Paris it was during Fashion Week. I went to Versailles and there was a girl there wearing a pair of stiletto Louboutin boots! She twisted her ankle before she even made it to the ticket office.
Hey Tiff, great video! I would just like to bring my input as a French tour guide who has lived in Paris, I usually recommend august to my clients. Not July, but august, absolutely! Because yes, the city is half empty compared to usual, and that's the best part. All the museums and classic touristy landmarks are open and there are no lines, no waiting anywhere, that's the dream. It's true that a lot of restaurants are closed but there are so many anyway. I only agree about the heat waves... That can be tricky, but it's not every year. Anyway, just something I thought was worth mentioning, love your videos by the way :)
Yes, it's not hot in August every year. Half the time it can be horrible in July but not in August. It can rain a lot in August, and between the rain and the clouds, the temperature can be about 10° or 15° cooler than July -- it's quite livable.
This is a very charming city, I hope I can visit again sometime in the future when all this is over. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job!
I'm so grateful for these amazing tips! Thank you! My entire family is even louder than most Americans. I will want to work on this, but remain me too.
I came there July of 2017 and the weather pissed me off some many time lol. I got up and it's cold so I dressed for the cold by 2pm the sun was roasting 😣😣 imagine dressed in long sleeve in the boiling sun lol. Somehow I loved the metro ( though the train is packed and a biy unpleasant in smell) and the bus. Can't wait to be back. Thanks Tiff ❤
Hey Tiffanie, I watched videos of Paris street walks from Summer 2020 and I noticed that a lot people, especially women wore colourful clothes: green, blue, red, oragen, yellow etc. even men wore a lot of white t-shirts. However, in the Fall and Winter, everyone was wearing black. Maybe the type of colours being worn depends on the season and weather?
Yes it does, and it also depends on what area of the city you're in. That's the one point in the video I didn't agree with - there are plenty of people wearing color.
I wore work it gear shorts and top that was pink and green in Greece Athens lol 😂 I would still do it again. But people were looking at me and I stood out.
You. Are. FABULOUS! Your hair is AMAZING!!! 👍🇨🇵👌 Also, this video is spot-on. I have visited Paris several times and everything you say is truth. I always go out of my way not to stick out in the crowd! I'd rather anyone think that I am a local. Also, the French are not rude at all. The smallest amount of French carries you a long way. I love taking the Metro to one of my favorite parts of town, just walking and getting lost. Find a small Cafe on a side street, out-of-the-way, and enjoy! TOTALLY SUBSCRIBING!! Bon journee!!
There is a curfew at 6pm and there will be a lockdown during the weekend, a lot of museum and touristic attractions are closed . the restorant are open but you can only eat by delivery or take away. France really sucks right now :/
This was a good video Tiffanie!! I definitely agree with you on trying to learn the language. Any country you travel to, it makes it a lot easier. I know living outside of the continental US even knowing the basics of any particular language can take you a long way. Overall, good video Tiffanie!!
Yeah you’re a Massachusetts girl!! Thanks so much for this video. Taking my kiddos to Paris this summer and trying like hell not to overwhelm Parisian folks with my Bostonian self. IYKYK.
Hi Tiffanie, thank you for this video. This is my first time viewing one of your videos. My husband and I are planning to visit Paris in August. Well, maybe not August, after listening to this video. We will be traveling from Ramstein AFB, Germany to Paris and looking for an Airbnb to stay for about a week. Thanks again for the tips. Very well done.
i always research before i go anywhere here in the states (i'm working on crossing the pond eventually so doing research on that too). i live along the jersey coast but even going into philly, i did my research on how to get around by walking or mass transit. with nyc, i'm comfortable taking the subway or walking. i've got a handy map and plot my course before i go. i'm a bit of a nerd that way!
One mistake we made (so embarrassing), walking around with large LV bags. Making ourselves huge targets!!! We stayed safe, but got tones of stares 🤦🏾♀️!
Unfortunately, we have to come in August. The conference that we are attending always happens in August, and they chose Paris for 2022. I questioned why they couldn't reschedule for September, but there really isn't a good answer other than, "But we always have the conference in August." Hopefully the French teams will have a great list of places to go and se that aren't all touristy places. C'est la vie...
Would they be offended using translation apps to communicate? Asking them to speak into your phone to be able to translate what they’re saying, then responding in the app and letting them read the translation.
What’s a mistake you’ve made when visiting a new country??
A small mistake - though when it happens if you are 20 years old, its' really budget killing - I once had a drink on piazza San Marco in Venezia. OMG, I don't remember the price after so many years, but me and my friends we were really shocked !
I brought brightly colored t-shirts to Paris the first time. Didn't make that mistake again.
Visiting the US 20 years ago for first time as a 9 people group of recently graduated: 1. ordering 9 medium sized pizzas in SF and having to finish eating them during the next 3 days (portions!)... 2. because of lack of menu display outside the restaurants in NY, entering the place not knowign the prices, having a 9 people table arranged for us, getting a heart attack seeing the prices and leaving in shame... 3. this for the french out there: going right away to the guide du routard recommended places at tourists spots: twice (at Paige and Flagstaff), the restaurant literally had a french people tent at the back of the main building with picnic style plastic furniture... so no typical atmosphere and scenic view hahaha...
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you prolly dont give a shit but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account??
I somehow lost the account password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me!
As a French person I am telling you do not stop to sign any kind of petition on the street !! Unless the person giving it to you has a special jacket or hat with their association name written on it, don’t stop for them and keep walking. These people want to distract you so that their friends can go pick pocket you!
I had read about these scammers and knew to avoid them, but i was caught off guard one day and someone says to me, do you speak English, i was about to say Yes then saw her clipboard, i said Non then walked off😂
@@kokok3052 well that was definitely the right thing to do 😂😂
Ahhh great advice!
That's an old trick here in NY......Didn't know that was still being done....
@@shavonnestacia2865 Is it bad that I want to travel just to experience the scams? Like, I'm from a scummy neighbourhood, but I notice the scams in other places are a bit more unique.
A piece of advice from a French parisian : if you can’t speak French (and that’s ok!), please ask first whether the person you’re adressing speaks English or not. In my opinion, it’s not rude not to speak our language but it’s rude to assume that we speak yours, I think maybe a lot of French people feel the same as me?? Plus A LOT of people actually can’t speak English so if you check that first, they may steer you to the right person to help you faster 😁
That should be the STANDARD all over the world. Like, I will never understand anyone who goes to any country and expect they know English, we don't expect them to know our language when they come to ours, so why should we expect them. At the basics, it would be a pretty damn fair expectation if they at least make some sort of effort on their end to learn basics like a greeting, yes, no etc, but then again, I haven't travelled much and maybe not as much people hold that weird shallow standard when they go to country which doesn't speak their language.
I want to go but so scared because they don’t speak English
@@joryllena9382 you can't live in fear, what kind of life is that, full of regrets. Go and do it! I don't speak French, but I am going for a 2nd time. So worth it!!!
Naa I always assume if they don't I tell them get me some one who speaks English for me
I’m an American whose traveling to Paris in October. It’ll be my first time. I took a few years of French. Do you get offended when Americans try to speak French?
I've been lucky enough to travel to Paris for work quite often. I've ALWAYS found Parisians to be super helpful and utterly delighted when I attempt to speak French. It's a general rule for visiting any city never to eat where the main tourist attractions are.
I'm a brown girl from GA. The last time I was in Paris, I just turned left out of my hotel and walked until I found a restaurant that smelled good. I ordered in fumbling French and the table of Moroccan emigres next to me became convinced I was a long, lost cousin. They invited me to eat with them (delicious!) and gave me some great tips on other out of the way places to eat.
What a wonderful story!
@@LauraMorland I was thinking the same thing !
You found some friendly Moroccans in Paris. Not sure if you are commemting on french hospitality or Moroccan.
Love this! It goes to show that humanity exists no matter where you are! I hope I meet my long lost cousins when I visit next month!
An advice I can give, or rather, a useful tip: service in restaurants take a while and it's done on PURPOSE. French people hate to be rushed to eat, so the waiters are generally discrete and will wait a bit even after you finished before bringing the next meal. That's how it works. If you are in a hurry you can explain it to the waiter BEFORE hand, and very politely, and they might make an effort to bring you your dishes a bit faster. Don't expect miracle though, if it's a good restaurant and the meals are handcooked, it can't be instantaneous. If you want to eat fast, we have a lot of fast food and sandwich shops.
Also the "client is king" mentality is almost non-existent in France, unless you are in an extremely fancy place. Always be nice with waiters and people working in shops, say bonjour and all and everything should be fine. If you are annoyed by something don't assume you can talk to them like shit and they will stay nice because they need the tip. They don't. Tip culture doesn't exist in France, they'll get paid wether you're satisfied or not. In paris the service isn't always the best so yeah, google the restaurants before going in, stay polite and everything should be fine :)
Absolutely. America is a fast culture. Many Americans always feel that they can never move fast enough. Also, Americans want everything right away. Plan to go to McDs and Dunkin since I want to get the most out of my tourist dollars. LOL.
when I move to Paris, I'm gonna wear a ton of color because I AM the main character ;) haha
LOL DO IT
You're name is not Emily
I'm French and it depends on people. Young people wear more colors now, the style of the 80s, 90s vintage is very popular. It is rather the old generations that have remained classic. You can dress as you want, stay who you are and the look of others is not important... that's how fashion is created 😁
Hilarious.
I agree with all points, first time I was in Paris, people were shockingly nice, but using my simple French greeting and just engaging them in conversation helped a lot. Also, they often thought I was French because of how I was dressed, there was so many hilarious incidents.
Yesss!! Speaking french goes a long way!
How do you order in a restaurant? How do you read the menu? I'm going to spend 5 days there. I hope I don't starve!
When i visited Paris i walked around wearing a beret, black and white striped shirt with a baguette in my hand. I was shocked by how nice people were to me. Unfortunately the next day when i wore a leather jacket with jeans nobody seemed to care about me.
@@standardtuning4guitars423 Haha. There's a troll in the house!
I can’t get over your hair. Stunning.
Not bringing a change purse! America deals with a lot of paper cash, but the euro is much more change-based and the wallet change area isn’t usually big enough. Also: don’t put your metro tickets in the change purse. Coins will demagnetize the metro tickets and they wont work anymore..
I miss America already.
I returned from Paris last week. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice and accommodating the people were. I had heard that the French were not very nice to people who didn’t speak the language, but this was not my experience. Very beautiful people, and I look forward to returning !
I can’t speak French AT ALL and I’m literally going there in like 2-3 days😀
@@chaerna I hope you enjoy your trip! Again, I had a great time and I speak zero French. I think a smile, and politeness goes a long way!
@@chaerna Show your money, they will be nice!
As a non-french european. A different view here:
If you ask them something in English and they seem rude. Yes, they are rude. In other European places you can ask whatever you want and people are happy to answer in their broken English and help you.
It's not you, it is them.
🤝well said
Pourriez vous me dire de quel pays européen vous êtes, s'il vous plaît ?
Peut-être que vous avez posé une question à un nom anglophone, moi j'avoue je suis nul en anglais, je vais certainement vous faire une phrase du genre "not speak English, sorry" parce que je ne parle pas l'anglais, l'italien beaucoup plus.
Il ne faut pas s'attendre à une personne gentille si vous ne l'êtes pas vous même.
Absolutely.
I highly recommend (especially if you're going for a week or more), look into getting one of the travel passes for the métro system. You can get a "Navigo Easy" pass in which you can load money on and not worry about buying paper tickets (which will be phased out). When I was a student in Paris, I had the Navigo pass most locals have, so the Navigo Easy is great for tourists and return visitors!
*ekspecially*
is this an apps?
i’ve been following your channel for months and just a couple days ago, i got my acceptance to study abroad in paris next year!! so excited
Ayeeee!!! So great to hear!!!
Congratulations 👏🏽✨
Congratulations, I hope you will enjoy your time in our beautiful city.
We did a 10 day trip to Europe.
2 days in London
2 days in Dublin
3 days in Paris
2 days in Amsterdam
1 day lost to travel
It was a whirlwind, and so much fun, but I would NEVER travel this way again. It was fun, but every other day we were travelling.
My advice: pick a country and stick with in that country/region to really experience it.
You can easily spend 2 weeks in London or Paris alone.
@@peacevkw Nah, boring..... Paris 4 days is enough.
Do you think a week in each place is enough
We’re doing that this July
Germany -Frankfurt 1 night
Nertherland -Amsterdam 2 nights
Belgium -Brussels 1 night
France -Paris 2 nights
Switzerland -Zurich 2 nights
Italy - Milan 2 nights
Germany - Munich 2 nights
Looking for places to go and affordable accommodations
I definitely experienced the difference in fashion while living in France. In general, I do wear a lot of neutral tones, but I also mix it up and wear bright colors! The strange looks never ceased, but I had many people tell me that they really appreciated my boldness because that is not a typical quality of the French. It did make me stand out in some situations, but it was not always a negative thing... oddly enough, I actually had a lot of high school kids coming up to talk to me and one of the reasons they did was because of my fashion!
That's fun!
I think it would be boring to look like everyone else and “blend in.” Sounds very somber. I wear make up and dress cute, (not over-the-top or inappropriate). Just saying that’s me.
It's like in japan, if you're a foreigner it's okay, you're forgiven. Like a precious bird from a tropical country. Every french mother tells her daughter not to wear too much make up or flashy colors so that they don't look "vulgar and superficial" , I'm not saying it's the right , universal way of seing things , and french girls can feel corseted by this. If you're a french girl, you will be juged, harshly : skirt too short + heavy make up (you'll get insults) , flashy anything (you'll get unwanted attention and comments) , you'll be considred as trying to attract attention to yourslef , being vulgar, being vain,narcissistic and sometimes ... stupid. All sorts of unpleasant things. It's not "a good thing" but in a way it also maintains some kind of style, identity and tradition.
I'm french and I find french people making absolutely zero effort to speak a bit of english when living in such an international city equally rude to tourists not being able to utter a french greeting. About public transportation I'd like to add: please, please PLEASE stay on the right side of the escalators/stairs and leave the left side to the fast walking people otherwise you're gonna get pushed aside a lot 😂
Yea so true about the escalator and stairs. In NYC we do the same thing. We hate when people stand on the left slowing us down trying to get to work. That’s how we know they’re tourists. Lolol
Thank you for saying this. I always see these comments about French people being upset if tourists don't make an effort to speak a little french greeting and I'm thinking if the French person speaks English anyway just speak English versus wasting their time and yours.
So true! It's the same in San Francisco. They walk up and don't stand and ride. 😊
People who have bad escalator etiquette or who are just unthinking and clueless are very annoying. I understand why their behavior would get a rude reaction.
I think what you said about going to the restaurants near the hot-spots in a city is a big mistake when you're traveling to a foreign country is so true. I'm an American, so I think of it being like eating at a restaurant in Times Square if you were in New York. It's a no go. There's so much city to explore anywhere you go! 😊 Thanks for your amazing videos, Tiff!!!
that does not apply to Paris though! Every city has its particularities! Im right with her on that one and most Parisian would agree ( have lived there for 3 years and visit every 2 yo ) The beauty and particularities of the city are way more subtle than that of a typical north American city.
Same could be said in San Francisco--restaurants at Fisherman's Wharf are tourist traps and the food's mediocre at best.
Former NYer here too. Times Sq has a FEW restaurants worth checking out--Junior's for the cheesecake for example...and Joe's Pizza. :-) But Olive Garden, Red Lobster, TGI Friday's, SBARRO *ack*...notsomuch.
The Vietnamese food in Paris is the absolute best!! My biggest tourist mistakes have been in Germany or the Netherlands....walking on bicycle paths....🙈
Ha ha I've done this so many times. Pissed off many a biker and almost got myself hit in the process.
Yup, that's a big no no, cyclists in the Netherlands (can't speak for Germany) are some of the rudest people, they don't play
Paris has many bike lanes now
I got yelled at in Scandanavia by a biker. 😢
My experience in visiting another country as an American is that, you don’t wanna bring the “all American” attitude/behavior or wherever you are from don’t bring your daily local attitude/behavior from home, because they will find you rude and disrespectful. Just be at your best to their accommodation. Making these adjustments will make the locals more comfortable and acceptable to you!
Low class American attitudes are not appreciated all around the world such as talking loud, demanding things, etc.
I'm leaving for my first trip to France next week. Such good advice. I don't want to be an ugly American.
@@carolepeck3829 Have fun!!!! I will be there on Thx Giving holiday.
What’s the “all American” attitude ?
@@alicea2537 I meant behavior
Such good advice! When I was backpacking through Europe with friends and we stayed in Paris even though my attempt at French (from couple of classes in high school) I would attempt. I remembered the start of questions and the would point ie ou es ....? Also always said merci and bonjour. People helped us because they saw me trying even though we had been told the French were not friendly. They were to us and I think it was my attitude and gratitude for any help and they felt it. 😁
Yesss they will totally appreciate it if you try & be more inclined to help for sure!
France, and mostly Paris, gets over 50,000,000 visitors a year, 50 MILLION!
Have a bit of compassion for the service people there. In a day they can deal with people speaking 30 or more different languages!
It gives me a headache just thinking what that must be like!!!
So try to help a little! Say 'Bonjour madame'! Bonjour monsieur!
S'il vous plait! (Please!) Abbreviated as SVP.
Merci! (Thank-you!) Mercier, madame! Etc.
Or--- Pardon!
EVERYONE CAN MASTER THAT MUCH!
EVERYONE!!!
TO WHATEVER COUNTRY YOU GO TO, PLEASE MASTER THAT MUCH!!!
i'm so glad you mentioned the water. that's my biggest concern. thanks
Not me watching this video till the end with no plans of touring anytime soon
I guess this is the best way to affirm ❤🕊️
Same!
And I'm allergic to smoke. Probably wouldn't enjoy it. But I'm feeling the vibe and like to learn.
And hey, maybe I actually will end up there someday.
I did write the main character in my book half black, half French 🥖 though. So I'm sure I will find a lot of things useful.
"Bonjour" does go a long way. Even if that's the only word of French you know, that's a LOT better than nothing. Another reason not to stay in the suburbs: Paris is a VERY walkable city. When I take someone around Paris, we use public transport as little as possible (driving is a big NO here, in my book) because it's so much more fun to walk through beautiful little known parts of the city.
Thanks for the great video. I love hearing what people from other cultures think of Paris.
I went to Paris for the 1st time 3 yrs ago and I can't believe we did everything right. The Metro was kinda hard to figure out but once I got it, I was all over the city using it.
Yes, the metro is confusing! Once I figured it out, I had a blast traveling!
Agree, the Metro is not easy at the beginning...but if somebody explains how it works, it is actually easy.
As I Parisian I completely agree with you. I'lll just add the fact that some tourists come to ask for help but are not really polite like they don't say " Hello" or " please". I'm really happy to help tourist to find what they are looking for but it's not realy nice.
Hopefully we have more good tourists than bad tourists here in Paris :)
Hello there... can u pla recommend a place or hotel to stay, not ao expensive.. thanks
Bonjour Tiffanie.I remember when I was in Paris every other women had a beautiful scarf on, the way they tied it was unique.Thanks for info.
oh really!!
Most of them probably were Hermes scarfs .
Yes I agree. I could never lol another sign I was from US
THANK YOU for the tip about "TAP" water. plus the fashion and makeup info. But water...that was critical! thanks.
Much of this applies to Europe in general. The food is DEFINITELY a problem lol you DEFINITELY have to find gems in Paris.
I advise people not to treat their trip as their ONLY trip. Assume it's your first trip and prioritize the sights, experiences so you don't burn yourself out! I love subway systems for getting around when I travel.
Excellent advice!
Tiff, you should make a guide of your favorite restaurants by arrondissement. Please!!!
I stayed in La Defense at Sofitel Paris La Defense and it was great! The travel time wasn't that bad at all but the metro is LITERALLY right next to the hotel. What's funny is that I noticed that my introverted ways served me well in both London and Paris lol! I came in October during Nuit Blanche and I absolutely LOVED Paris and cannot WAIT to get back! I was able to quickly fit in and many times people randomly started up convos with me in French and I was like.."English?" lol. Also you're 100% on point: When you approach them with the little French you know they are absolutely delighted and will help you more. I watch your channel to get my fix until the borders open, I love this channel and thank you!! When those borders reopen I'm all up in yo Country!! lol
I went to paris with friends and while the others spoke in English, I tried my best in speaking in French.
Partly because I really wanted to work on my French, but also because I was in France so you better adapt.
The locals were always nicer to me than to my friends. lol
They realized that very soon as well.
You are so right about over-the-top fashion. Paris is a walking city - try climbing the hills in Montmartre. Reminds me of National Lampoon's European Vacation.
Your place is absolutely ADORABLE!!! It seems so spacious and affordable. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been to Paris several times after I first went in the 80’s when you couldn’t get a Diet Coke and used Francs. We were self conscious of wearing sneakers. The same general advice you offer applied back then too.
Oh wow so interesting!
My biggest mistake was in Paris. This was 12 years ago. A friend and I did the top 2 you said not to do! The fall out was bad. She ended up crying on the bus because no one would help. I didn’t want to leave the hotel lol we lost 2 days in Paris because of this. But God send me those angels, the trip ended up being amazing! So your advice is accurate. Also because I am from Florida I borrowed a winter jacket because it was snowing during the time we wood be there. It was a bright red RW (roca wear) jacket. Clearly this screamed I am from the US lol. Lesson learned yes, lesson learned haha
My momma always taught me NEVER blend in, always STAND OUT! I’m a Leo so I can handle the attention for 5 days. Lol great video and thank you
On my first trip to Paris was with another teacher who took students. Our first bus driver was French. So as we boarded the bus, I spoke a little French to him. Now I haven't spoken French since high school, however, he smiled at me and didn't seem to be so gruff. After that, he was my friend the entire trip. Sometimes he would come sit with me during our stops.
I definitely agree about trying to learn some of the language. At the very least, try to learn some words you may see on a menu so you can recognize something you like eating so you don’t look like an idiot. In general, Americans expect this, so it is only fair!
I also agree about not cramming in too much in a small amount of time. It’s hard to really soak in the experience if you are exhausted and in a rush.
Good tips!
Good tips ! I
Im british and had to look up not researching restos, I honestly didn't know what restos means! Got me hooked out of confusion.
I love Paris and have been many times. Learning a little French is absolutely the secret key to a great time there. My tip for biggest mistakes made while traveling comes from going to Italy, and wanting to see so much of the country at once, or Europe in general. You want to see as much as you can with a limited time, Don’t City hop every one to two days because you have to pick up your stuff and keep moving nomadically. Space it out to at LEAST 3-4 days. Which I can do 1-2 days but sometimes the transportation isn’t as efficient as you need it to be and your plans get ruined, or even caused you to have to walk in the middle of night 7miles in Bologna in the woods, in pitch black where you cant see your hands or the ground, while it’s athunderstorm and the temperature is dropping and youre soaking wet, and when you get to the hotel at 6am you get no sleep again because you have to leave at 7am to catch a train. Can you tell that happened to me? Oh and this was AFTER not sleeping on the flight over and our 2 hour train took 8 hours and we only had 3 hours sleep the night before that. Just slow down and give a couple days per place.
being loud...could not agree with that more!! One of the best perks of dining in a European restaurant...some peace and quiet and actually being able to enjoy the experience.
Good tip about pacing yourself! I usually do two things a day….a museum in the am, nice lunch and another attraction in the afternoon, then a rest, then an evening meal! I love the Cluny. Had to go three times before i got to see the Unicorn tapestries. They were touring, museum closed for renovations. Finally caught the exhibit. Oh my!
Three weeks is what like to spend in Paris. I have been lucky enough to visit many times and I still have so much to see! I like to stay in an apartment and be one with the city too.
The way my fashion is over the top and my makeup is H E A V Y and I’m Parisian 🤣🤣
LOL LOVE IT! Do you boo
My hs history class had a trip to Paris during spring break and my friend and I had been taking French in school so we actually got around pretty well and people in shops were really nice to us.
At a restaurant though, I completely blue screened and forgot like all the French I knew, so I fumbled around for like 3 minutes trying to remember and charade the word for ‘butter’
The server was just 👁👄👁 the entire time.
Hilarious😭😭 definitely somethin I’d do too lmao
Same thing happened to me. I was standing near the entrance to one of the paris metros and a frenchman asked me where the station was. I could see it but i was making Jim Carey noises and making gestures. (Probably worrying if metro is feminine or masculine and just having no experience in speaking french.
Public transportation is the best. I took public transportation in from Charles de Gaulle airport to my hotel. Took the RER in to Montparnasse and then switched to the Metro (two stops, maybe three) and I was about 50-100 yards from my hotel. 🙂
Metro system and public transportation is amazing in Paris…. I love it…. I was intimidated a bit first time in Paris and it got better each time…. I only use public transportation in Paris and I love the fact that it is affordable… I also love super great train connection through France…. Affordable, great service … super easy to use….
Indian here, if you ever come to my country, the ppl will learn your language to help you, that's the hospitality you will get! I respect that the world operate differently elsewhere.
i used to live in paris when I was 14. I wanna go back now! I miss it
A+ advice! These are great tips for travelers going to most major cities in Europe. Sadly, my husband’s job means that late July and early August are the only times we are able to take extended time for a vacation.
Public transportation and basic traveler’s French are musts!
I just joined your channel a few minutes ago and thank you for the advice cause I’m planning on going to Paris in the spring and thank you for the tips
I love coming to Paris, Ive been a few times and I'm yet to find a good nightclub that plays RnB/Afrobeats/HipHop. Please Please can you do a video about places to go out clubbing in Paris.
This was so helpful as a woman of color I've been wanting to travel solo and visit Europe mostly but was afraid of going alone and not knowing what to do or getting lost and no one would help me. Paris was on my list but so many people I know who went had a bad experience there so I figured, I wouldn't go but watching this I wanna visit and see for myself I gotta learn some French.
You don't really need to learn French, you just need to know that YOU MUST say "bonjour" all the time when entering a place/talking to someone, it's really rude not to say it in France, hence why so many people get backlash and understandably, since usually you're not enclined to help someone rude.
Basically just say "bonjour" when speaking to someone and "merci" (thanks), people will just be way more understanding.
Though I gotta say as a Parisian myself, being a dick to some tourist just because they didn't say bonjour is pretty dumb and rude, but it's always a good surprise when one and starts with a bonjour, especially when it's an American (or a Chinese), since both of those countries tourists are usually the ones who don't try to do it (I don't know why though).
Dear Lisa the city is very multiracial, being a black woman won't make you stand out at all . Have fun
Paris and most big cities in Europe, it's very open-minded and I never had much issues racism-wise, apart from some rude waiter in Bruxelles who just assumed I can't speak English and talked down on me. I'm American, and yes, I speak English, even if I look Asian lol Although, once you go to small towns, and rural areas, you *might* come across ignorant people. I've only experienced it twice when I was visiting the French Basque country with my host brother. Def got a lot of weird looks, some where making their eyes small mockingly, call me Jackie Chan(Chinese) and say Konnichiwa(Japanese) lol. It def upset me at the time, but now I'm older, if that ever happens, I'll just ignore those pathetic people. Southern France, in general, people are much warmer and inviting. Sometimes strangers would just strike a conversation with you, which is not like Parisians lol. Just be vigilant in bigger cities, be aware of local traditions and laws, research ahead of time, and just enjoy your time! And, like many many people have mentioned, ALWAYS say "Bonjour", "merci", and also add "excusez-moi", "pardon", and "au revoir". You can even throw in "monsieur, madame, mademoiselle" if you'd like too for bonus points. Magic words that will greatly make your interactions with most French people way better lol
France is amazing!! People always say oh the French don’t like it if you don’t speak French and refuse to speak English however I have NEVER had this issue, I’m quite a bubbly sociable person (not in a loud way) and I think just being overly nice and friendly helps and they actually want to try there English out xx
Girl go to France!
Excellent advice. Another plus if you stay in Paris is that you can go back to your hotel for a break if you get tired.
Totaly agree with not doing too much in one day. My first Eurotrip, we went to Belgium, Barcelona and Paris in 15 days. By the time we got to Paris, all we did was walk around and eat. We did not visit a thing, other than the Eiffel Tower. We live in Belgium now so it's a quick trip to Paris, but if you are travelling from the US or Canada (as we were at the time) or some place further away, avoid this mistake to make sure you truly emjoy your visit.
Wow your hair is unreal it is so gorgeous! 😱😍😍
I call it " 2 MOPS HEAD "
I visited Paris three years ago; I used Google translate to communicate. When the waitress saw me struggling, she spoke to me in English. My 🏨 was near the effil tower.
Yess exactly! They will help if you try!
They will speak English if you tip them... A 5 dollar Euro went a long way for us😀😀😀😀
Don’t forget the outlet adapter! When I lived in Paris my first week was a disaster because I couldn’t use my hair tools!!!
thank you so much for this video! i’m going to paris in a few days and your tips are all so helpful 🤍 bless u
I visited France two times. My first visit I went to Montpellier, which is in the South and the second time around, I did a detour in Paris.
Yes, my biggest problem was finding a place to eat when I was hungry. I am not like most people, I only eat if my stomach is empty. So when I was hungry for my second meal of the day/lunch all the restaurants were closed. Also, most dishes on the menu had dairy products and I am lactose intolerant. Yes, I was hungry most of the time I was in Paris. I lost weight that I couldn't afford to lose😥
Funny that you mention over the top fashion...When I visited Paris it was during Fashion Week. I went to Versailles and there was a girl there wearing a pair of stiletto Louboutin boots! She twisted her ankle before she even made it to the ticket office.
😂😂🙄Versailles, so very beautiful x
Lol a French person once told me they could tell I was American by watching the WAY that I talk and how my mouth moves. Also that we are very loud.
Hhahaaha exactement
Hey Tiff, great video! I would just like to bring my input as a French tour guide who has lived in Paris, I usually recommend august to my clients. Not July, but august, absolutely! Because yes, the city is half empty compared to usual, and that's the best part. All the museums and classic touristy landmarks are open and there are no lines, no waiting anywhere, that's the dream.
It's true that a lot of restaurants are closed but there are so many anyway. I only agree about the heat waves... That can be tricky, but it's not every year.
Anyway, just something I thought was worth mentioning, love your videos by the way :)
Yes, it's not hot in August every year. Half the time it can be horrible in July but not in August. It can rain a lot in August, and between the rain and the clouds, the temperature can be about 10° or 15° cooler than July -- it's quite livable.
I’m planning to visit Paris by next year. Thank you so much!
Tiffanie: Speaks about the mistakes that tourists do.
Me: Admiring her hair and not listening.
Wear what you want!!!! True artist appreciate color and style.
💯
I love your hair!!!! Fantastic!
Good to see a beautiful, smart brown black dark skinned girl branching out in the world,
Really thanks for sharing 😊
I’m going to Paris in July and it’s going to be my first time leaving the United States. I’m exciteddddddd
Enjoy it. I'll travel again after 2 1/2 years!
Breakfast In America is BOMB!! 😋❤️🙌🏻 met some awesome people when I was there in April of 2011.
This is a very charming city, I hope I can visit again sometime in the future when all this is over. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job!
I'm so grateful for these amazing tips! Thank you!
My entire family is even louder than most Americans. I will want to work on this, but remain me too.
These are great tips & I love all the tips people are sharing in the comments! Thank you for sharing!
Really good info ! Would love to see the restaurants list you recommend 😊
I came there July of 2017 and the weather pissed me off some many time lol. I got up and it's cold so I dressed for the cold by 2pm the sun was roasting 😣😣 imagine dressed in long sleeve in the boiling sun lol. Somehow I loved the metro ( though the train is packed and a biy unpleasant in smell) and the bus. Can't wait to be back. Thanks Tiff ❤
Hahaha yeah that weather can be so annoying & you're so welcome!
Hey Tiffanie, I watched videos of Paris street walks from Summer 2020 and I noticed that a lot people, especially women wore colourful clothes: green, blue, red, oragen, yellow etc. even men wore a lot of white t-shirts. However, in the Fall and Winter, everyone was wearing black. Maybe the type of colours being worn depends on the season and weather?
Yes it does, and it also depends on what area of the city you're in. That's the one point in the video I didn't agree with - there are plenty of people wearing color.
😩 I already scheduled my vacation and bought my ticket already for the end of August 😢 wish I watched this first.
This was so good!! Doing a solo trip to Paris in April. Thank you!!!!!
We need the list of places to eat while we are there! Great video, can't wait to see more
I wore work it gear shorts and top that was pink and green in Greece Athens lol 😂 I would still do it again. But people were looking at me and I stood out.
You spell your name the same as me!! It's so rare! Thanks for the advice!
Great vid girl. Thanks for the info, excited to go 😁
You.
Are.
FABULOUS!
Your hair is AMAZING!!! 👍🇨🇵👌
Also, this video is spot-on. I have visited Paris several times and everything you say is truth. I always go out of my way not to stick out in the crowd! I'd rather anyone think that I am a local.
Also, the French are not rude at all. The smallest amount of French carries you a long way. I love taking the Metro to one of my favorite parts of town, just walking and getting lost. Find a small Cafe on a side street, out-of-the-way, and enjoy!
TOTALLY SUBSCRIBING!!
Bon journee!!
I and my wife are coming next week for our first anniversary celebration and gonna stay for a week.
Thank you Tiffanie!!! Heading there for my 50th it just happens to be in July. Your videos are so helpful.
Can you do an update on how Paris is during lockdown right now?
Oh good point maybe I'll do a livestream soon and we chat about it :)
There is a curfew at 6pm and there will be a lockdown during the weekend, a lot of museum and touristic attractions are closed . the restorant are open but you can only eat by delivery or take away. France really sucks right now :/
This was a good video Tiffanie!! I definitely agree with you on trying to learn the language. Any country you travel to, it makes it a lot easier. I know living outside of the continental US even knowing the basics of any particular language can take you a long way. Overall, good video Tiffanie!!
As Tiff mention it, you dont need to speak fluent, let say knowing the survival language is enough.
Yeah you’re a Massachusetts girl!! Thanks so much for this video. Taking my kiddos to Paris this summer and trying like hell not to overwhelm Parisian folks with my Bostonian self. IYKYK.
Hi Tiffanie, thank you for this video. This is my first time viewing one of your videos. My husband and I are planning to visit Paris in August. Well, maybe not August, after listening to this video. We will be traveling from Ramstein AFB, Germany to Paris and looking for an Airbnb to stay for about a week. Thanks again for the tips. Very well done.
Paris metro is great, I agree it's harder for those that aren't used to taking public transportation! The transfers are sometimes very confusing.
Yes totally agree - I really think NYC prepared me 🙈. But def the better to take then spending a ton on Ubers
Google maps makes it easier, tells you exactly what train to get and the direction and even the Platform no, it was a great help.
This won't really help you, but... French people living in the country, out of Paris, may experiment the same sort of confusion ! :-
My birthday in august & I plan on coming there to celebrate. Ima just have to live through the heat
The restaurants thing is true anywhere to be honest :D. Well, except places where you don't have a lot of choice.
Thanks for these tips!!!! I'm going this week and this was really helpful!
i always research before i go anywhere here in the states (i'm working on crossing the pond eventually so doing research on that too). i live along the jersey coast but even going into philly, i did my research on how to get around by walking or mass transit. with nyc, i'm comfortable taking the subway or walking. i've got a handy map and plot my course before i go. i'm a bit of a nerd that way!
One mistake we made (so embarrassing), walking around with large LV bags. Making ourselves huge targets!!! We stayed safe, but got tones of stares 🤦🏾♀️!
Omg this comment just saved me lol I was definitely going to bring my huge LV bag on my solo trip next week.😂
Unfortunately, we have to come in August. The conference that we are attending always happens in August, and they chose Paris for 2022. I questioned why they couldn't reschedule for September, but there really isn't a good answer other than, "But we always have the conference in August." Hopefully the French teams will have a great list of places to go and se that aren't all touristy places. C'est la vie...
Would they be offended using translation apps to communicate? Asking them to speak into your phone to be able to translate what they’re saying, then responding in the app and letting them read the translation.
Prolly not. Especially if they are in the younger crowd
I could not agree more. Everything you say is 100% correct!!!!
This was hella informative! I am visiting next month and this really helped a lot. Thanks girl