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Tuesday
Jul212009
Travel Tips: 5 ways to enjoy France more
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 10:51AM | Tweet
France isn't like anywhere else. I know this might sound obvious, but traveling in the Hexagon can be a frustrating if you don't keep in mind some of the subtle reasons that France is different. So here are 5 tips to help you get the most out of next trip.
Small shops close at lunch and at least a day and a half a week, often Monday and Sunday. Some museums are closed on Mondays (Versailles), others on Tuesdays (Louvre), even in the height of the tourist season. Some smaller monuments are closed in winter. So plan accordingly and don't leave your souvenir shopping until Sunday.
The French still abide by pretty regular meal times. Don't think you'll be able to get a sit-down lunch at 3 in the afternoon or eat dinner at 5PM, unless you're willing to go the fast food route. The alternative is to grab a snack (quiche, slice of pizza) from a boulangerie and picnic (related post). In bigger cities you'll find city markets with a wide range of packaged sandwiches.
After two weeks in Washington DC last winter I realized that France doesn't have anywhere near the same number of public restrooms as the US. So limit your intake of fluids accordingly. Ditto for baby changing rooms.
Easier said than done, but you really need to plan when you are going to drive around the capital. Please see one of our recent posts on the subject.
A few years ago we visited Yosemite and were stunned to see that there were paved paths everywhere, even up to the foot of the waterfalls. This isn't the case in France. There are still lots of cobblestones (the courtyard of Versailles), gravel paths and high curbs. Very few Metro stations are wheelchair accessible. Very few chateaux have elevators. So if you're traveling with someone who has mobility issues, plan accordingly. And don't assume you'll be able to rent a wheelchair when you get here. You need a prescription to rent one in France, otherwise they're horribly expensive.
Things close
Small shops close at lunch and at least a day and a half a week, often Monday and Sunday. Some museums are closed on Mondays (Versailles), others on Tuesdays (Louvre), even in the height of the tourist season. Some smaller monuments are closed in winter. So plan accordingly and don't leave your souvenir shopping until Sunday.
Eat at meal times
The French still abide by pretty regular meal times. Don't think you'll be able to get a sit-down lunch at 3 in the afternoon or eat dinner at 5PM, unless you're willing to go the fast food route. The alternative is to grab a snack (quiche, slice of pizza) from a boulangerie and picnic (related post). In bigger cities you'll find city markets with a wide range of packaged sandwiches.
Drink less
After two weeks in Washington DC last winter I realized that France doesn't have anywhere near the same number of public restrooms as the US. So limit your intake of fluids accordingly. Ditto for baby changing rooms.
Avoid driving around Paris
Easier said than done, but you really need to plan when you are going to drive around the capital. Please see one of our recent posts on the subject.
Not wheelchair friendly
A few years ago we visited Yosemite and were stunned to see that there were paved paths everywhere, even up to the foot of the waterfalls. This isn't the case in France. There are still lots of cobblestones (the courtyard of Versailles), gravel paths and high curbs. Very few Metro stations are wheelchair accessible. Very few chateaux have elevators. So if you're traveling with someone who has mobility issues, plan accordingly. And don't assume you'll be able to rent a wheelchair when you get here. You need a prescription to rent one in France, otherwise they're horribly expensive.
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