Filipinos like visiting different countries and experiencing their culture. It’s always fun to visit new cities, and Paris being the most elegant city in the world, is definitely one of the popular options of many Filipinos out there. However, new tourists are prone to committing some common mistakes if they’re not too careful. We have listed these mistakes so you can avoid them!
Not planning when to visit
When to visit a new city would depend on your visit’s purpose, of course. But if you’re visiting just for vacation, it would be great to do some research on when it’s the best time to visit a certain place. For Paris, it expects a surge in tourists in the Summer season, which is from June to August. If you wish to experience the Parisian life and culture with many fellow tourists, it’s a great idea to go during this season. However, if you wish to visit when there are fewer crowds and have a higher chance of booking famous restaurants and tourist attractions, we recommend visiting the capital between November to February.
There are two months, however, when many restaurants close for vacation. These are August and December. So if you wish to visit different restaurants, you may want to consider planning your visit in other months. However, monuments, museums, and parks are still open during these months, so if those are your main purpose for visit, you may still do so since small restaurants are open too anyway. Many monuments and museums are closed on either Monday or Tuesday. So, make plans in visiting these places some other days.
Assuming the locals will speak to you in English
There are always tourists in Paris all year round and many locals can speak in English quite well, so you may think it’s safe to just speak in English. However, there are some Parisians who may not be confident in speaking the language. So, it’s a safer choice to learn a few basic French phrases to strike up simple conversations. Plus, learning new a language can be fun too!
Forgetting to greet people
Speaking of learning a new language, it’s highly recommended that you learn the basic French greetings before starting any conversations with the locals as a sign of politeness. Some Parisians would find it rude when tourists suddenly talk to them without greeting them first, and it’s never a good idea to get on the bad side of the locals. A simple bonjour (in the daytime) or bonsoir (in the evening) to greet hello can make a big difference. When entering shops or restaurants, make sure to greet the staff before inquiring about or ordering something. Once you are served, remember to thank them with a simple merci. When leaving, you may say au revoir to say goodbye to them to remain polite. It’s a simple gesture but the locals will appreciate you for it.
When addressing the waiters in a restaurant or workers at a store, it’s better to call them Monsieur, Madame, or Mademoiselle instead of plainly calling them with a hand gesture. It’s more respectful so they will respect you more in return.
Same-day booking at restaurants and tourist attractions
As we’ve mentioned, Paris is always packed with tourists. So before visiting the city, you should plan your itinerary ahead of time so your day goes smoothly. Booking reservations at restaurants is a must so you won’t have to worry about roaming the city with an empty stomach. For some restaurants, you may be able to book a reservation one night before, but there are other restaurants where you have to book a week or a month away from your day of visit. These restaurants keep it important to always serve high-quality food so they prioritize quality instead of the number of customers.
It’s also important to remember that Parisians love to take time to enjoy their food. Don’t eat in a rush or order food on the go (well, except when you’re ordering a sandwich or a baguette). The locals will appreciate it if you spend a good time enjoying your food.
Waiting for the bill and paying for water
While we’re on the subject of restaurants, you should keep in mind that waiters won’t come to you to give your bills once you’re done eating. You’d be there all day if you keep waiting for them to come to you. Instead, ask for the bill by saying l’addition, s’il vous plait (the bill please). And don’t pay for the water! It’s very expensive. Tap water, however, is safe and free. You may ask for tap water by saying une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait (a carafe of water please), or simply say carafe d’eau for short. Unless, of course, you’re in a luxurious restaurant and don’t mind the price.
Another thing to note is to avoid over tipping. The service fee is already included in the bill so you don’t have to over tip the servers. You may certainly still tip them if you wish to do so, but it won’t harm you to take note of this.
Limiting your experience to famous tourist attractions
Seeing the famous Eiffel Tower and the Louvre is a must, of course. You should definitely prioritize them. But there is so much more to see in Paris, and most of them are hidden. You just have to know what you enjoy seeing or doing. Know your interests, and search for places where you can see them or simply ask people for recommendations.
If you’re a big foodie, you should try the different pastries and beverages from local bakeries and cafés. However, you may want to avoid outdoor or corner cafés if secondhand smoking is a big concern for you. There are many smokers in the capital and smoking is very much permitted in these cafés, so look for indoor cafés. In bakeries, we recommend that you ask for a tradition, or tradi as the locals call it, instead of the ordinary baguette. Because one, it’s much tastier; two, you get to experience one of Parisians’ local food traditions; and three, it’s hand-made by the locals whereas the latter is mass produced.
If you’re into literature, you’d enjoy visiting the libraries and bookstores like the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. One thing about this bookstore though, is they have rules that you should follow, one famous rule is no taking photos. This particular rule is taken very seriously by locals, so you should too!
Riding taxicabs only
You won’t be able to save money if you keep booking cabs to get from one place to another. There are many bad reviews about the cabs in Paris, so locals avoid them. You should also avoid limo drivers at the airport because they charge much higher than cabs.
We recommend that you walk to enjoy the local sceneries and get good exercise since many famous sites are close to one another anyway, or use public transport like the bus or the métro to save money.
One important thing to remember when using the métro though is to always keep a ticket and never lose or throw them away! You can buy paper tickets from the vending machines found inside the métro or RER (Réseau Express Régional) stations. You would only need the ticket to get in as the exits open automatically for everyone. If you wish to avoid buying paper tickets every time you ride the métro or you’re extending your visit to the capital, you may upgrade to the Navigo digital card which you can buy online from the app.
Keeping métro tickets near metals
Never store your tickets in your purse with coins or anywhere near metals. These tickets have magnetic strips which can be demagnetized when they’re in contact with any kind of metal. So, the ticket won’t work when you use them to enter the métro stations.
However, this commonly happens, so they don’t charge you if you ask for a replacement. Just do to the teller and explain what happened.
Taking the stairs at the Abbesses Métro Station
Abbesses Métro Station is the tallest metro station in Paris. So, the elevators are often full. You may be tempted to skip the elevators to avoid the long queues. But the stairs have around 200 steps, and you would just exhaust yourself before even arriving at your next destination. Unless you would physically enjoy it, then, of course, you’re free to do so. But remember to allot an extra amount of time so you get in your métro on time.
It’s also important to note that the métros may not arrive at your destination on time as there may be delays between stations, so travel early, especially when you have booked a reservation at a specific time. Speaking of long stairs, avoid carrying heavy items in general whether you’re in Abbesses or in any other métro stations. Even if you avoid the stairs, the elevators are small so big and heavy belongings would just be a big burden for you and other people in the elevator. It’s more convenient to travel light wherever in the capital.
Being too complacent and trusting of your surroundings
Paris, despite being the most elegant city in the world, is not safe from violence and crimes. Its crime rate is steeping high at 60.7% as of today. Whether you’re traveling alone or with a group, you should always mind your surroundings. Never trust strangers easily and avoid places you’re not comfortable with. You should also research the common scams in the capital before you visit as new scams keep arising. Some common scams that tourists fall into is receiving free flowers, bracelets, or other accessories from strangers then they aggressively and loudly shout at you to pay for them. Pickpocketing and purse snatching in famous tourist spots is also common, so secure your belongings and keep them close to you all the time
Touching items without permission
When you’re in the local market buying fruits and vegetables, never touch them without asking the vendors for permission first. Some vendors may allow it, but it’s always safer to assume that everyone doesn’t so always ask first, especially since there is still COVID-19, so vendors may be stricter about this. This applies everywhere too, may it be flea markets, monuments, or museums. Keep your hands to yourself and you’d have nothing to worry about.
Skipping cheek-kissing
If you’re attending an event in the capital during your visit, it is important to know about the cheek-kissing tradition of Parisians. It is considered rude to brush off this tradition. No matter how many participants are in the event, you should cheek kiss everyone without skipping a single person.
If you wish to know more about the Best time when to visit Paris.
After learning about these common tourist traps and how to avoid them, you’re now ready to visit Paris. Plan your itinerary now!
