What do you wish you knew the first time you traveled to Paris/Europe?

October 5, 2009 3:49 PM

What is your best advice for a first time international traveler?

I will be staying in Paris for a month early next year and am incredibly excited, and slightly apprehensive, about it. I have never traveled outside of the US, and have no idea what to expect, which is where the collective wisdom of Mefi comes in. With that said, here are my questions:

What do you wish you had known before you traveled internationally for the first time?

If you had the opportunity to live in Paris for a month, what would be on your "must see or do" list?

posted by carterscott to travel & transportation (52 comments total)

First time I spent any length of time internationally that was beyond normal touristy 'vacation', I spent far too much time on facebook, random internet stuff, etc. since I didn't know many people very well and didn't really have things to do. I totally regret that - I has acquaintances that I should have worked harder at making into good friends for the 2.5 months I was there - doing things with outside of school.

Try to limit your contact with your existing friends as much as possible and really throw yourself in, I guess is what I learned.

Have fun! I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time.
posted by R a c h e l at 3:57 PM on October 5

travel tip: pack 2/3 the clothing you're inclined to take, and double the underwear/socks.

my favourite thing in Paris is the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore. it's an awesome place for book-lovers and travelers alike. i hate to sound Disney-esque, but it's magical.
posted by gursky at 3:57 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

Keep a copy of your passport in a safe place, and another copy with someone elsewhere who can forward it to you. Otherwise, bring less stuff than you think you need; eventually stuff just weighs too much or gets lost anyhow.

How much French do you speak? Are you travelling alone, with people you know, or staying with friends/family who know the area? I think those things really change what you can expect from your experience.

Paris tap water is rather more unfortunately flavored than most I've encountered, so you might not want to rely on it straight (I was only there a week so I didn't get a filtering system figured out).
posted by nat at 3:59 PM on October 5

Go to a number of places that might not seem interesting to a traveler on vacation. Go to the grocery store, a small park, or into the business district of wherever you are. I always found the most fun I've had being in a country other than my own is when I'm seeing how people live their everyday lives. The combination of familiar and "foreign" always appeals to me.
posted by xingcat at 3:59 PM on October 5 [6 favorites]

These all are based on your plan to be there for a month:

1. Take few clothes. Buy clothes when you get there to wear during your visit.
2. Good shoes are very important, as are good socks.
3. Learn as much French as you can before you go. Start now.
4. Learn as much as you can before you go about the history of the place you are going and the significance of the places and things there.
5. Take more pictures. Take great pictures.
6. Go off the beaten path to buy food at small stores. It makes a difference.
7. Take time each day to do something in Paris that you would enjoy doing at home. For example, if you like reading, take some time each day to just sit on a park bench, a cafe, or anywhere to just sit and read. Or whatever you like doing - find a way to do it there, no matter what it is. It will take you out of tourist mode and put you into a unique life-enjoyment mode that will change your perspective.
8. Don't walk slowly through museums. The slow, shuffling "museum walk" will kill your enthusiasm. Walk to a piece of art, enjoy it however you want, and then walk at a normal pace to the next one. Then stop and enjoy that one. And you don't have to look at every piece of art. You don't have time to look at all of them, so move on to the ones that you're going to care about.
9. Smile. Smile big.
10. Talk to strangers. Keep smiling.
posted by The World Famous at 4:01 PM on October 5 [2 favorites]

Do you speak french? If not, I like packing a phrase book and a very small dictionary.
The phrase book let's you show that you are trying to fit in, and the dictionary is helpful to translate things in off the beaten track places.

Bring far less stuff than you think you will.

print out friends addresses and phone numbers.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 4:01 PM on October 5

Best advice: nearly everything you will want to bring can be bought in Paris (or anywhere, for that matter). Therefore, pack very light.
posted by nitsuj at 4:02 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

Make an effort to learn some of the language, even if it is only a handful of phrases.

Advice for Paris? Don't tire yourself out trying to see all the big sights - spend a good whack of your time exploring, living and chilling out. Stay out of the metro and walk or use a Velib. Visit the cinema, the swimming pools, the gyms, the shops and everything you'd do in a normal month at home. It's a fantastic city.

Must see are the night time picnics on the Pont des Arts. Weather permitting.
posted by fire&wings at 4:07 PM on October 5

My main advice is: don't worry so much. People get really, really worked up about international travel, while ignoring the fact that other people live where they are going, every single day, and do just fine.

Bring an adapter, ONE guide book, passport, tickets, camera, layer-able clothing, and restrict your total luggage to no more than 20kg. And despite what everyone else will tell you: there is nothing in Paris you must see. What you must do is enjoy your experience of living in Paris, whether that's getting to know all of your tiny neighbourhood very well in one month, or doing 20 Metro trips a day all over town.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:08 PM on October 5

Keep some kind of log, even very simple, to jog your memories about what you've been up to. But since you'll be there for a whole month, keep a more detailed record of any place you've eaten that you want to come back to, so that you can find it again.

Use couchsurfing.com to meet and hang out with local people, even if you don't stay with them, they can share something more and different with you than you could get on your own.

If you feel yourself start to get sick, STOP. Even if it means missing out on something. Stop and REST and do whatever it takes to get better, so that maybe you miss a couple of days of being out and about, but you don't spend the whole month fighting a cold that won't go away.

My favorite sites in Paris were the Sainte Chapelle and the Rodin Museum. And the Musee D'Orsay.

This I do everywhere new that I go: walk as much as possible, with a map in hand. I don't naturally have a sense of direction but if I don't have a sense of orientation to where I am, everything seems more overwhelming and less comprehensible.
posted by Salamandrous at 4:11 PM on October 5

travel tip: pack 2/3 the clothing you're inclined to take, and double the underwear/socks.

This is great advice.

Also, make sure your luggage is not cumbersome to haul around railway stations.

Stow everything underneath when flying, and bring just a small carryon (that contains a chng of clothes (underwear, socks, shirt, pair of shorts to lounge in) and a toothbrush.

Bring a cloth bag to carry magazine and other stuff when you're on the train.

Make sure your wallet is easy to put in your pocket. I bought a special "travel wallet" big enough to hold a passport, and it wouldn't fit in a pocket and came with a lanyard instead. I lost my passport three times in six months.

Get an international drivers permit.

Try to learn the local language.

Ignore feelings of homesickness.
posted by KokuRyu at 4:17 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

Learn about the Métro and RER, and use them. It's kind of fun to get off a train at random and see what is near the station.

Figure out street markets. For many, many Parisians this is simply where the shopping is done. There are supermarkets but it isn't at all as much fun even though the experience is better than a typical US supermarket.

Hang out at cafés. The French have been doing so for centuries and there has to be something to it (it's very tranquil in a lot of them).

Flirt. You learn to flirt by imitation. The Parisians are experts and they will flirt with you, unless you wear sandals, white knee socks, Bermuda shorts and an aloha shirt. Wit in short brilliant flashes is what to aspire to.

Eat. If the restaurant has been there for any length of time then it's good enough. France is paradise for eating. Don't hesitate for a second to eat whatever is on the menu even if you don't know what it is. It will be good. The seafood will be fresh - a day or less old.

Pack very light if you have plenty of money. Clothing in Europe is quite a bit more expensive for a given quality than clothing in the US. The French wear more black than north Americans do. If you are in Paris early in the year it will be cold and rainy.
posted by jet_silver at 4:21 PM on October 5

As far as being nervous, I think unless you are very sheltered and need absolutes in your life you won't have a tough time (and since you have chosen to travel, I doubt both). The different language being spoken on the street will be very strange at first; that's about it. France is a good place to start - similar culture but considerably different in a few ways that are blunt enough to be picked up on short trips.
posted by MillMan at 4:25 PM on October 5

1. Don't walk around with your map out. It's Paris, not the Congo.

2. Don't walk around with a fanny pack. It's Paris and you should know better.

3. Don't walk around with your huge camera. It's Paris, and your not National Geographic.
posted by Spurious at 4:35 PM on October 5

Stay off the internet. Other than "Got here OK, coming home as planned", you don't need to update everyone on your trip. That's what the big photo-sharing and storytelling session when you get home is for. Internet cafes are timesuckers on a trip I've found.
posted by variella at 4:42 PM on October 5

A little something I learned in Paris-- it's a good idea to write down the French names of medicines you might need at some point (antacids, pain relievers, etc.). French pharmacies are different from American ones, and they can be really confusing-- especially because the people working there (understandably) often don't know the English names for medicines.

Also, if you want to eat at a café, just sit down somewhere. No need to ask to be seated, and don't buy food at the register and then sit down at the café to eat it unless you want to be chased out.

You can eat cheaply off fresh baguettes and street food (which is all pretty tasty, and in large portions).

If a tiny lady dressed all in black comes up to you and waves a picture in your face, she's asking for money. There are a lot of tiny lady beggars in tourist areas.

Do use the Metro, but don't be surprised if there's a Metro strike (over the course of a month, it's pretty likely).

Look out for British and Australian tourists, especially middle-aged ones-- obviously this is a huge generalization, but whenever I've run into older Brit or Aussie couples in continental Europe, they've been tons of fun and great to talk to (the younger ones are fun, too, but party quite a bit harder and are therefore a little more difficult to have conversations with). Even if your French is great, it's really nice to be able to speak English once in a while.

And have fun! Paris is amazing.
posted by oinopaponton at 4:47 PM on October 5

Don't be tempted to walk around Paris without a map. You will get lost, which is fun until you realize three hours have passed and you have no idea how to get back to the hotel or where you are.

Don't forget that the Metro closes at a certain time (before the clubs do!). I believe it's midnight with some exceptions. If you go out at night, plan how you're going to get back. Taxis are expensive and I had problems understanding my Moroccan driver's accent. He also had trouble understanding me, so it was a good thing that I had a map with me, in order to point to my hotel's location. Taxis also don't take credit cards, in my experience. Have some cash with you at all times. Guard it like you would in any big American city, although I was rarely afraid in Paris, even as a single woman walking alone at night.

At least attempt some French with shopkeepers and the like. Most speak at least some English, but they seemed to be a lot nicer when I tried to speak French. Shrug and smile at their rapidfire response, and they'll switch back to English.

Bring decent clothes, in the business-casual range. People dress up there as compared to Americans. I echo the posters above who recommend buying clothes when you get there; you can find some good deals if you stay out of the big names sur le Champs-Elysees.

Don't feel bad about eating at McDonald's once or twice. A month is enough time to get homesick, and frankly, I was often stumped as to what to order in restaurants. But for god's sake, don't go to Starbucks while you're there. Half of the Parisian experience is languishing in cafes over a cup of cafe au lait, and you may as well have the real thing.

I agree that Internet cafes suck ass. They're expensive and if you forget to request an English keyboard or they don't have one, it's impossible to type.
posted by desjardins at 4:48 PM on October 5

Also, make sure your luggage is not cumbersome to haul around railway stations.

This. Elevators and escalators are not nearly as prevalent, so keep in mind that you WILL be hauling your crap up flights of stairs. As a single woman, I usually got lots of help with this; I doubt this would apply to you.

don't be surprised if there's a Metro strike (over the course of a month, it's pretty likely).

Yeah. Make damned sure you have some alternate way of getting to the airport.

Also related to the Metro/railways/transit: The most important French word you need to know is SORTIE. Train stations are easy to get lost in.
posted by desjardins at 4:52 PM on October 5

Oh-- and if you have a Bank of America account, withdrawing money from a BNP Paribas ATM is a little cheaper than most cash exchange places you'll find, plus your ATM card will work.
posted by oinopaponton at 4:52 PM on October 5

Although I have never been to Paris, I just took my first international trip this past year to Japan. Here are some good travelling tips I received from both my own investigation and external advice:

1. Contact your credit card company to tell them you will be using your credit card abroad. Many credit card companies will automatically block or place arbitrary limits on your credit in foreign countries unless you notify them.

2. Roll up your clothes when you pack in order to pack more items in the same amount of space. As someone mentioned earlier, it's not a travesty to re-wear a pair of jeans or a shirt, but it does suck to re-wear the same pair of underwear. Plan on packing additional undies or do your due diligence and find a local laundromat.

3. Despite the fact that metropolitan city living is expensive, good food doesn't have to also come expensive. I dined for approximately 500-600yen (approx 5-6 US dollars) at various street cafes and eateries with the added bonus of a more authentic experience. I'm sure you can find a lot of great places like this in Paris as long as you're willing to be patient with any communication gaps. Also, try eating something that you can't identify on first glance. :)

4. Talk with strangers if appropriate. Some will ignore you and some won't, but it's worth a shot at times.

5. Get the "four-wheel drive" luggage if possible. Carrying heavy luggage even to and from the airport to your living space is a pain if you need to carry it. Double the warning if you carry a bag with you while you are sightseeing and wandering about. A good passenger bag or backpack is worth its weight in gold and your back won't be in agony at the end of the day.

6. Wear good shoes and socks. My office-work lifestyle didn't prepare me for the amount of walking (8-10 hours per day at times) I would have to do. I got callouses and painful blisters only because I dumbly decided to not wear a more durable pair of shoes on a particular day.

7. Whenever you leave your living space, always remember to bring, at minimum, a little cash, your passport, and a timepiece (watch or cell phone) even if it's for a walk across the street.

8. A lightweight mobile music device was fantastic company for some long walks. If you have an ipod or mp3 player with light mobile headphones, bring it along with the power charger.

9. Sit on a park bench in a city park and people-watch.

Enjoy your trip!
posted by seppyk at 4:53 PM on October 5

Oh, and probably one of the more important things. Don't exchange your money at any of those random exchange kiosks at the airport. The service is bad and the rates are always poor. Find a reputable local bank that has a currency exchange counter that you can visit several times during your stay if needed. I exchanged both U.S. dollars and AmEx travellers cheques on my trip. There were slightly different rates depending upon what you were exchanging, but the bank I found was exchanging close to the market rate.
posted by seppyk at 4:57 PM on October 5

Traveling in European countries is not as daunting as you might fear. If you don't know French, do you have any knowledge of Spanish or Italian? Those are related enough to French that you can probably get along in situations where your target knows no English.

And, if you think about it, Brits and Americans have descended on Paris for a long time , so many of the people you'll meet will have at least some knowledge of English.

So, go to the cafes and people watch. Enjoy the food, see the sights, you'll never forget this experience,
posted by path at 5:09 PM on October 5

Definitely carry some sort of lightweight but carrier bag with you for groceries, random shopping, etc. that you may pick up over the course of the day. It is likely that you will find yourself shopping in places (including supermarkets) that do not give you bags, so you should be prepared to pack your own shopping.

Do carry small change in various denominations. You will need this to buy Métro tickets from machines and also for public toilets.

If you are allergic to feathers and/or wool, you will probably want to take a synthetic blanket of some sort with you and possibly also a pillow, especially if you will be traveling around a bit. Hypoallergenic bedding can be very hard to find in parts of continental Europe.

Do not expect shops to be open on Sundays. They probably won't be.
posted by sueinnyc at 5:11 PM on October 5

Ecco Track II (the lowtops). The best shoe for walking around when you need comfort, warmth and waterproof, snowproof shoes and you can't pack several pairs.
It's the perfect shoe for travel. I wore them all over Europe my first time around.
posted by Zambrano at 5:26 PM on October 5

Try to limit your contact with your existing friends as much as possible and really throw yourself in, I guess is what I learned.

This is really important. I have a friend who works in international student relations for a university, and she says there's been a huge difference since the advent of social networks. Whereas previously students would be forced to throw themselves into the culture of the country they're living in (and would benefit immensely from it), they now are able to just stay in their dorm rooms and spend all night on IM and whatever the equivalent of Facebook in their home country is, and it's as if they never left. They routinely report regretting this on graduation.

Cut off your internet -- don't even bother getting it where you stay. It allows you to act as if you've never left America, and you don't want that, even if you're feeling homesick and sad.

The same is true for the other things in France: don't eat at McDonald's every night, force yourself to learn the ways and rituals of French cafes and restaurants. Don't get taxis, force yourself to learn the Metro. But these are transitory, while you can spend virtually all your time online aside from the odd trip to a museum. In the end, it'll be little more than a short vacation.

Since you've got the month, you've got a real chance to get to know Paris and learn French quickly. But it'll mean throwing yourself in and immersing yourself fully, not hiding in virtual America. So log off! And have a good trip.
posted by fightorflight at 5:42 PM on October 5

In addition to telling your bank you will be traveling, change your ATM PIN to be four digits if it isn't already. Many foreign ATMs will not accept longer PINs. This caused me much grief on my first trip abroad.
posted by phoenixy at 5:49 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

To answer a few question I've received:

No, I don't know French. However, I'm planning to work on rudimentary French since I've been told that Parisians are much friendlier as long as you try to speak French (even if you butcher the language). Any recommendations for language software would be greatly appreciated.

I'll be there alone for most of the time, although my wife is planning to visit at least once. I do have family in Brussels, so I plan to visit them at least one weekend.

I'll be working while I'm there, so packing light isn't quite an option. I'll endeavor to do my best though! As an aside, does anyone have recommendations for comfortable, yet stylish, walking shoes?

As far as logistics, I've identified a few things I'm going to make sure to do/buy before leaving: international drivers permit, outlet adapter, new luggage, research eurorail vs. buying train tickets (I'd like to go to Brussels and Madrid or London while there). Any other ideas?

What's the best way to make phone calls overseas? I'm not going to take my iPhone for fear of massive bills, and I'm thinking Skype might be the best solution. Any other thoughts?
posted by carterscott at 6:08 PM on October 5

Here's the one thing I wish I didn't have to figure out by trial-and-error: In every major city I've visited in Europe, street hawkers are utterly ubiquitous. They will, in a VERY aggressive manner have try to sell you crappy (usually Chinese-made) trinkets at tourist prices. The word "no" simply does not work with these folks, and getting them to leave you to your business can be a bit of a challenge. Here's what does work, though: nothing conveys "leave me alone" better than to look the person who is harassing you in straight in the eye, and saying the words "FUCK OFF" slowly, clearly, and with unmistakable intent.

Their whole sales tactic is based on the fact that most people aren't comfortable being an asshole, which means that you will NEED to be an asshole to protect yourself.

Oh, and not for nothing, there is some REALLY fantastic advice in this thread.
posted by deadmessenger at 6:30 PM on October 5

Please don't become an American tourist who stares at people while saying FUCK OFF very slowly. I've yet to find a major European city with hawkers like those deadmessenger describes. Hell, even in Cairo a firm "La, shukran" and walking away did the job.

(It is a good idea to say "non", rather than "no", though: that way anyone taking you for a patsy will at least think twice). But seriously, Paris is not totally exotic, it's a western european city and terrifyingly uncontrollable situations are unlikely to occur.
posted by fightorflight at 6:44 PM on October 5 [2 favorites]

You know, I would say that you shouldn't be afraid to look like a tourist. If you're going to be there for a whole month, you don't need to be lugging your huge camera around everywhere, but sometimes just . . . go for it. If you work too hard to look all cool and Parisian you probably won't have nearly as good as a time. Having a map out looking lost can attract both very nice helpful interesting people and very unsettling swindler-type people. If you can figure out the difference, you'll be set.

Talking to people can be great fun. Getting the check at a restaurant can be a huge pain. The Metro is a fine thing, with nice color-coding etcetera. There are a lot of things in Paris. Going places alone is great because you can go at your own speed. Markets have delicious foods and produce--are you staying in a hotel the whole month, or will you have a kitchen?

You have a lot of time, so take it slow! Skype is probably a good option, but I also agree with not trying to be completely connected. However, I do know the benefit of being able to make the connections with home. Skype video calls have really helped to keep me connected to people back in the US.
posted by that girl at 6:46 PM on October 5

Don't be afraid to take your iPhone. I took mine to the Netherlands and Belgium after signing up for one of the international data plans. Turn off any push notifications and automatic email checking. When you get off the plane, go into Settings --> General --> Usage and scroll down to click "Reset Statistics." Then keep an eye on your data usage to make sure you don't go over your allotment. The map application is extremely handy when you're in an unfamiliar city!

For actual calls, Skype is good (and you could call on your iPhone using the Skype app in a wifi zone). To be accessible to locals, you might be able to get a Paris online number through Skype, though you'd have to be online to answer. Or you could get a cheap unlocked GSM phone and a local prepaid SIM card. This site lists lots of providers of the SIM cards.
posted by PatoPata at 6:48 PM on October 5

Keep an open mind. This may seem obvious, but Paris is in another country, which means it's not like where you're from. The differences may not be large but they'll run deeper than you think, and it's the small things that trip you up anyway - how people greet each other, do they hand you change or toss it on the checkout counter, do they expect tips or chase you down to give back money you've "forgotten" or get angry that you've tried to give them "charity", and so on. A local friend might not necessarily explain these differences because they've lived there all their lives, but you will notice. Just go with it and don't take offence if normal things there seem strange/rude to you.
posted by Xany at 7:01 PM on October 5

Specific for Paris: get a Navigo Decouverte. It is worth it since you are going to stay for over a week. It is a card you can use in any bus/train/metro inside a certain region. Do not buy Paris Visite, unless you hae done your math and are going to spend a lot, but quite a lot of time in museums. More info at this site.

Transport timetables and how to get from here to there, and also alerts about strikes can be found at the RATP site.

Be friendly, even if some people are not friendly back. Bonjour when you meet someone, bonne journée when leaving (for mornings and afternoons). That is always nice. Some people can really smile at you when a foreigner says "bonne journée". :)

Traveling by train to other countries: depending how far apart your trips will be, I would say separate tickets will be cheaper than eurorail. Do yur research, though. I used the SNCF site (in French only) to buy tickets. I would then print the receipts and get the tickets from a machine at the station or ticket windows. Be a bit wary of the machines, though, some can eat your ticket and then you'd better speak some French to get a technitian to get your tickets from the evil machine.

Be sure to bring your passport with you for your trips in Europe, especially to England. Nobody may check it if you go to Spain or Belgium, but it *will* be if you are crossing the channel. Also, when going to England by train, allow at least half an hour for immigration.

Oh, if someone at a tourist place comes right after you not looking lost as a fellow tourist would and say "Do you speak English?", it is probably someone asking for money.

Outlet adapter: you may need a converter. In France it is 220 V / 50 Hz.

Walking shoes: if your budget allows, get a couple of pairs of Camper shoes. Stylish and super comfortable.

Packing: pack enough clothes for a week and a half/tewo weeks and use a landromat. They are simple and some sell small packets of soap for one load of clothes only.

If you are staying in a hotel, I recommend you do not buy breakfast. You can usually get a much tastier and cheaper breakfast at a boulangerie: croissants, baguettes and all that, which are probably much, much better than at your hotel's buffet.

Have fun!
posted by natalinha at 7:14 PM on October 5

iPhone is a go if you turn off Push!

research eurorail vs. buying train tickets (I'd like to go to Brussels and Madrid or London while there). Any other ideas?

Yeah. Fly. It's vastly cheaper and faster with EasyJet and Ryanair than it is to take the train. The only exception to this may be a Eurostar ticket between Paris and London or Belgium bought well in advance, but I would not bet on it. However, the Eurostar is an experience. Overnight on a standard French train, not so much.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:46 PM on October 5

Sorry, let me just add: The Eurostar is a great experience unless you have claustrophobia. That tunnel is long and dark and the walls are literally millimetres from the windows and that freaks my shit out.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:49 PM on October 5

Leave 20% of the space in your luggage empty. You'll use the empty space to bring back gifts on the way back, and whatever else you might have acquired while you're there.
posted by gmarceau at 7:51 PM on October 5

Here's a universal: please don't stop and gawp (and then take pictures) in the middle of the sidewalk. We all hate that, no matter who we are and what country we hail from.
posted by Windigo at 7:58 PM on October 5

Brain dump:

- Keep a diary. Good for both memories and sorting through emotions.
- Life will be a bit harder, because you don't know "how things are done", and it takes time and effort to work it out. The first few days will probably be the hardest, because you
- This doesn't mean that it won't also be brilliant.
- Choose not to get irritated or angry at the differences.
- Pack light-ish. You should be able to carry all your luggage and still have one hand free. But, it is sensible to pack small useful things. Particularly drugs. Keep bags and
- Learn as much French as possible. Pimsleur is good, and I've also heard good things about Michel Thomas. Languages are also hard, but it is so, so worth it. Buy a small dictionary that you can fit in your pocket.
- Buy useful souvenirs. That way when someone compliments your bag and asks where they can get one, you can say "thanks, I bought it in Paris".

And repeated for emphasis:

- Choose not to get irritated or angry at the differences.
posted by kjs4 at 8:00 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

I spent a month in France (mostly Paris) during the summer of 2005. It was absolutely the most memorable and fun trip I've ever been on, and the only one outside of North America.

These are things I learned:

1) Get cash from an ATM, not a currency exchange kiosk. Make sure to let your bank and credit card companies know you will be traveling before you go.

2) When at a restaurant, if you want tap water, you must ask for "eau du robinet" or else you will get expensive bottled mineral water. Also, the tip is often already included in the check. Be sure to ask if you are not certain ("est-ce que le service est compris?").

3) Try a crepe from a street vendor. They are delicious, especially with Nutella!

4) The metro is awesome. I got way too much pleasure out of the fact that you have to push a little button or turn a little handle to open the doors on the subway cars. They don't open automatically on most lines. Also, if you can, try to ride line 14, which is completely automated and driverless. You can stand in the very front of the first car and pretend you are the driver! :-) At least one line (possibly #14, I can't remember) also has trains that are completely connected and open from front to back -- no doors between the cars!

5) On a month-long trip you may very well feel some culture shock initially, and homesick after a couple of weeks. Even as a moderate French speaker, the whole experience still wore me out. I'd have to take a day every now and then to just do my own thing and avoid crowds, restaurants, etc. Don't worry, this feeling does pass.

6) Skype is great for calling home. When I was there 4 years ago, free wi-fi was not ubiquitous, but every McDonald's restaurant had it. So I would go in, order a cheap drink, and sit in a corner to call home for a few minutes.

I hope you enjoy your trip! I loved it there and really wish I had an excuse to go back right now!
posted by Nothlit at 8:11 PM on October 5

You're going to Paris for work? I assume you will be dealing with some local French people, at least on some basis. Ask them about their favorite places in the city. If they every invite you out for drinks or over for dinner, by all means go, even if you aren't normally that outgoing of a person. I think it's great that you're going to be there for a whole month...you'll have the opportunity to get to actually know the city, rather than just checking the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre off on your list. You might also want to look into weekend day trips outside of the city.

Other than that, eat in cafes, buy crepes on the street, shop in markets, and walk around the city and speak as much French as you possibly can. Keep a photocopy of your passport in your hotel room. And don't panic if you encounter a toilet that doesn't look like a toilet.
posted by emd3737 at 8:14 PM on October 5

The more lost you get, the more fun you have. Don't forget to try everything.

PS - When you determine you've finally finished packing your bag for the big trip, open it up again and dump at least a quarter of it on the floor.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:08 PM on October 5

Don't buy any hash or grass. This stuff is a big deal there.
posted by Wolof at 10:20 PM on October 5

And do not, not, attempt to devour the Louvre in one visit. It will defeat you, as it has many others.
posted by Wolof at 10:22 PM on October 5

Get a credit card with one of those new security chips and a PIN. Many ticketing machines in Paris and France will only accept cards with a chip.
posted by reformedjerk at 11:36 PM on October 5

As far as logistics, I've identified a few things I'm going to make sure to do/buy before leaving: international drivers permit, outlet adapter, new luggage, research eurorail vs. buying train tickets (I'd like to go to Brussels and Madrid or London while there). Any other ideas?

Just chiming in about visiting London. Your eurail pass won't work on eurostar.
If you buy in advance you can get eurostar tickets for £59 roundtrip to London.
The trip is a bit over 2 hours. You only spend 30 minutes of that in the tunnel.

A lot of people have given you detailed lists which is fun. But in all honesty all you really need is:
- a passport (Make sure its current)
- a debit/credit card (Make sure you've checked with your bank that it will work in France)
- A few changes of clothes

Everything else is a bonus. You can buy outlet adapters there. You can grab euros from an ATM. There are english-language bookstores where you can pick up guidebooks, etc.
posted by vacapinta at 1:05 AM on October 6

My main bit of advice is to treat it like an adventure. Shit will happen. You'll get lost, you'll get ripped off and you'll get frustrated as you can't communicate properly or someone treats you like a cretin for not knowing the system for something.

You've got a month. Wow. Split your trip into things you must see (Eiffel Tower, Louvre etc) and pottering about in various neighborhoods finding things out for yourself. At ground level, on foot, you pick up so much more.

Consider yourself a failure if, by the end of the month you have not found your favorite café, bar, and boulangerie.

Know this: if you wear chinos, white sports shoes, a sensible anorak or a fanny pack, or any combination of most of those, you may as well walk about waving a US flag above your head. It's your call, but my preference has always been not to look like a tourist if I can avoid it.

On that basis, if you have a small camera you're happy to keep in your pocket, you can take pictures whenever you want without being in full on "tourist" mode all the time.

Finally, remember that in France a shrug and a slightly exaggerated exhalation goes a long way. If in doubt, a good shrug and a gormless look is a fine tactic to adopt.
posted by MuffinMan at 1:22 AM on October 6 [1 favorite]

Oh, I also meant to add that if you're there for a month consider not only seeing other nearby cities such as London and Brussels but also perhaps taking a weekend drive in the French countryside.

I'd recommend heading southwest at least into the Loire valley, or heading farther west to Brittany.
posted by vacapinta at 1:46 AM on October 6

For languages I've tried both Michael Thomas and Pimsleur and preferred Pimsleur by far.

For telephoning within France, I would get an unlocked gsm phone here (ebay) and buy a prepaid SIM card there.

So far, my favorite brand of map is Borch - here's Paris.

Flying is cheaper than trains but you have to plan and commit ahead to get the really cheap tickets. Also, flying within Europe (especially the bargain airlines) has really strict limits on carryons and charges you extra for checked baggage, so if you're going to do that you should especially plan for packing light.
posted by Salamandrous at 4:36 AM on October 6

I've heard good things about the Rosetta Stone software for learning languages.

Paris/Europe is very easy. The metro is simple and you can (or could?) get weekly passes, which will lead to you using it more. That said, walk around above ground too - it's a great city for walking. Knowing a bit of the native language will get you far - especially compared to other countries. My grade 9 French got me further than I expected, but the more you know the better. For the month you're there, see if you can get by with just French. Not sure how feasible that will be, but it's a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the language.
posted by backwards guitar at 8:40 AM on October 6

Paris Pratique Par Arrondissement (linked only to show you the cover; buy it there!) is a really awesome map, the size of a pamphlet, showing the city by administrative district and with a street name index. It's about €5 and it's sold in bookshops and newsagents, including the ones at the airport.

It's definitely good to be learning French now - you will almost certainly end up in situations where English won't work and having only a few words of French for politeness might be nice but won't solve your problem of communicating in a place where it's the language spoken. It'll also allow you to use being there to improve your language, whereas if you have none, the conversations around you in public will just wash over you and the opportunity will be missed.
posted by carbide at 11:59 AM on October 6

Start every conversation with Bon Jour and end with Merci. That's really all the French you need to know in my opinion. But if you don't start with Bon Jour, the person may very well ignore you.

I would go to the Marais Arrondisment (sp?) and buy yourself a hat and coat straightaway. You'll feel much more fashionable and like you fit in.

If you are inclined, enrolling in a french class while there is a great way to meet other travelers and make friends.

I'll tell you right now YOU CANNOT GO WRONG! Even if you just walked around aimlessly you would have a fantastic time. In fact, this is the one thing you should make sure you do while there. Don't just see the sites.
posted by xammerboy at 10:15 PM on October 6

Nth-ing everyone who said some of the more interesting experiences abroad are to visit the things you would do everyday. You should be able to determine your favorite neighbourhood locales this way; I imagine what it would like to live there. It worked when I was in NYC for 5 weeks, and had I been in Paris longer, there would have been a million places in the Marais I would have adopted.

The clothing suggestions have been correct. Pack excess underwear, and 2/3 of the clothes you were originally planning. I have found some of my favorite "souvenirs" have been clothing and accessories (shoes, scarves, jewellery) purchased overseas, which always bring back memories of the shop itself. I tend to buy unusual, interesting, inexpensive things that I wouldn't necessarily buy at home, that people tend to ask about.

Before you go, leaf through one or two basic guides to photography (composition/lighting etc) which may inspire you to take more than snapshot-style photos; you'll take more interesting photos that way. Because you're there for a month, give yourself a project or assignment while walking around one afternoon/evening, to take pictures of certain objects/people/in a particular style. Take more photos than you think is necessary. Don't be afraid of getting your camera out; only be mindful of whether you've just stopped in the path of someone else.

Maps you will need, and again don't be embarrassed getting them out. Paris is relatively easy to get lost in, and I found myself less and less self-conscious the more times i had to get it out (and I usually have a good sense of direction). OTOH, I never had to get my map out in NYC, because it's such logical city planning.

Have fun!
posted by chronic sublime at 3:51 AM on October 8