Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and france

An American Idiot In Paris.

The Whelk — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:14:01 -0800

American Male In Paris For The First TIme: I've read the previous questions but looking for some exact things. I'll be staying in Monmartre' for a few weeks and looking for things that are uniquely Parisian, laid back gay spots, and clothing that'll make me look halfway human. Details below. 1) I'm staying for an extended time, so after I get the Tourist Checklist done, I'd like to feel a feel for the neighborhoods and the daily life of the city. My reading French is "okay" but my speaking French is *terrible*. Are there still tiny movie theaters?

2) I have an allergy to loud dance music but I also want to check out cute boys. What do I do to keep from getting a splitting headache?

3) My wardrobe is dying all around and for some reason I thought a trip to Paris would be the best way to perk it back up. Looking for clothing, cuts, or styles that are not normally found or hard to find in the States. Money is a *bit* of an issue, so it'll either be one big big item or a collection of awesome everyday stuff-accessories. I'm about 5'11 and on the husky end of 210lb and tend toward more traditional styles. Where would I shop?

Warmish places to go in Europe?

walla — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:44:37 -0800

Where in Southern Europe should we go for a few winter months? We work remotely and are considering spending January through March in Europe. We've done this before in Northern Europe (Germany, northern France & Italy), but because of the season we're thinking about going south. Ideally we'd rent an apartment for a month in each of 2 or 3 places.

We love smallish, walkable, affordable cities - Freiburg, Germany was one of our favorites - but we're flexible. It's great if there are day trips nearby, as we won't have to start working until 3 PM.

Thanks for any ideas!

How do I get from Paris to Innsbruck?

iguanapolitico — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:54:58 -0800

How do I get from Paris to Innsbruck? Traveling to France and Austria later this month. We need to get from Paris to Innsbruck on a Thursday. My traveling companion and I are having trouble finding airfare that even approaches "reasonably priced" ($1100 one-way, $450 round-trip). She has made this trip before and didn't pay those kinds of fares, but the dollar *is* in the toilet.

So we're looking at rail. We're kind of having trouble finding a definitive answer on whether we need to book this now or if we can get a ticket on our day of travel. Some MeFites must be familiar with European rail travel, hopefully specifically from Paris to Innsbruck. Any specific advice you can offer? Thanks.

Fun in Paris?

disillusioned — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:24:27 -0800

TypicalTravelFilter: What are the must-sees, tips and tricks, and off-the-beaten paths whilst in Paris for 3 days? I'm visiting Paris later this month for three days, down from London.

I know the Museum Pass is supposed to be fantastic, but what other absolutely amazing things are proximate/accessible without a car service (public trans, walking, or bus okay)? (I'm staying at the Arc de Triomphe Hilton.)

I'm very into food, but my typical garb is t-shirts and jeans. What do I need to pack in case I'd like to eat at a very nice restaurant? Moreover, what very nice restaurants would you recommend? I'd also love for feedback all along the economic strata, from dirt cheap (if such a non-McDonalds thing exists) bites to what I might expect to pay for a much nicer restaurant. Also, will I have trouble getting in some place great? Can I make reservations once I'm there, or is it already too late for some of the better places?

I like photography as well, and people watching. I'm not terribly into wine, which itself is a crime in France anyway, or fashion, or shopping, but I do love art, museums, off-the-beaten path demonstrations or activities, and everything else... any other tips and tricks would fantastic as well, including faux pas, etc.

(And of course I'm eating up other threads as well, but please feel free to link to any I absolutely must not miss.)

Merci.

Emigration advice: What do you wish you'd known?

handee — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:41:30 -0800

I'm moving country on Tuesday. For those who've done this before - what do you wish you'd known before you set out? Is there anything I can do now to make it easier? Details: Moving from UK->France (Grenoble) for 1 year maybe 3 depending on contract status. I have a bank account, but no flat yet, and will be staying with a friend whilst I get one sorted. My husband's staying behind (but we plan to meet eachother at least once a month either visiting or catching up at conferences etc). I'm moving with a couple of bags rather than shifting my life over; I have every intention of returning to this house with my cats and garden and husband and so on (once I've finished my French adventure).

I'll be working in a uni. I'll be taking language classes as my French might be charitably classed as "intermediate".

I'm beginning to fret a bit.

How do I convert US to euro?

gingembre — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:09:53 -0800

How can I send a check from the US to France in euros? More currency abroad questions inside. I am taking a course in France this summer and need to pay the deposit by check. How do I do that? And it has been so long since I traveled abroad; I might need a primer on how the currency exchange works. Do I convert some money at the airport and then do more at a bank? Should I convert to euros or francs? Does anyone still use francs? And is it advantageous to use a credit card or do you get killed on the exchange? I feel like a student again, and I kind of love it.

24 Hours of Le Mans Tips?

patr1ck — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:59:45 -0800

Anyone have advice on attending 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time? Where to be at what times, where to stay, other things to do besides watch the race, any other little tips, etc.

Mobile software for the mobile traveller?

zaebiz — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:30:18 -0800

What applications/software for your mobile device did you find useful/essential for travelling? I will be travelling initially around Europe and then who knows.... I have an iMate JasJam phone running Windows Mobile 6 but would acquire another device if this will be more suitable for running useful applications.

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and Lyon singing in the wilderness.

mdonley — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:21:07 -0800

I'm going to Lyon this weekend and will be free from late Saturday evening to about noon on Sunday. I'm into food and photography but am on a super-tight budget, so I'm looking for both some cheap, tasty delights and some particularly pretty little corners of the city. I'm staying in Vieux Lyon, going to a concert in Villeurbanne, and can speak French.

What is the greatest gift?

santojulieta — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:30:57 -0800

What gift should I bring to a 4-year-old half American, half-French girl living in Paris? Friends of my husband are generously offering to let me stay with them when I got to Paris next week. I have gifts for Mum and Dad, but what about little girl? What should I bring a little girl who just started going to French school?

Best cheese in Paris?

ransom — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:10:01 -0800

What cheese shops should not be missed in Paris? We're in Paris in early April and want to have great cheese experiences. Where should we go?

Dropping like birds.

Evstar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:36:15 -0800

Given the current economic state in Iceland and of the air travel industry in general, how risky is it to be buying cheap tickets on Icelandair a couple months in advance? To get to Canada to start a new job there I need to fly from France to Toronto around April 23-30th, preferably for less than 3500eur.. Flying with multiple carriers is going to be impractical. Do I run a large risk if I choose Icelandair? I was lucky enough before fly the very last flight with Zoom before they tanked, and I don't want to find myself at the other end of that divide this time around.

Thanks!

how to become an amateur hosteller ?

nicolin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:30:47 -0800

I need an advice on a business proposal I want to do to my mother. My mother has inherited a flour mill. It was my grandfather's business and she didn't want the building to turn into a wreck after my grandfather had given up milling. So she invested a fair amount of money to turn each level of the building in an autonomous flat (I've put some pictures here). What happens now is that my grandfather is gone and my mother has a tremendous amount of money to give to the bank each month. So she really needs to rent out each level. The mill is located in a small village, in the south of France, which hasn't many assets apart from the fact that it's a real quiet place, a rural one. The three flats had been rented for a few months, but someone moved out, and then someone moved out again. So there's only one person inside the building right now.

I would like to tell to my mother to put some furniture in one of the flats to be able to rent it per week or even for a few days to travelers and people eager to taste a little quietness.

Do you think that it's a good idea ? I would like to promote such a place on English speaking sites to attract people seeking a fFrench rural spot. Is it worth a try ? How would you manage that ?

Please evaluate my route from Italy to Spain by car

zaebiz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:07:07 -0800

I plan to drive from Venice, Italy to Valenica, Spain in April or May 2009 using the following route. I will stay for a few days or weeks in little spots along the way. I should have about six weeks in total. I mostly want to see a little of Spain and Italy, the French Riviera, Montpellier, Marseilles and finish at Valencia. Apart from that anything else I should try to see? Any parts of the chosen route I should avoid? What's driving like along that route? Any rental car companies which will let me pick up in Italy and drop off in Spain?

Foreign guides around Europe

vizsla — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:21:43 -0800

How does a 40ish year old male with enough money find his way around Europe without foreign language skills? Is it possible to hire guides to travel with, or at least to show them around on a city-by-city basis for this sort of thing? I'm thinking specifically France, Spain, Italy. Willing to use University students or some other creative possibility. Mostly there for a holiday but may also need to talk to real agent agents about places in France or Spain.

Study Abroad: Nantes/Paris

Solon and Thanks — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:47:16 -0800

I'm a French major (a sophomore) at an American university weighing my options for study abroad and I'd like some input, especially about Nantes, France. I apologize in advance if this sounds obnoxious; I'm aware that I'm a very lucky person to have this "problem."

My plans, until recently, were to study for February-June 2009 in Paris. I've just decided to investigate the idea of participating in two study abroad sessions, since it recently became affordable thanks to some scholarships that will apply. There is a program in Nantes that looks great and I've heard good things about, but I've never been to that area. It's similar to that Paris program afaik despite location.

So: I have many options. I would like to go abroad for the second semester of the upcoming year (spring 09), and perhaps for either fall 09 or the 09-10 school year. I don't know how to distribute this. (Paris full year? Nantes semester? Nantes full year? Paris semester? Both semester? Paris but not Nantes, vice-versa? I have more opportunities than just these two, so it's fine with me if an answer is "x city is overrated - don't bother.")

Paris is an amazing city, but perhaps too touristy for my needs (which are: learning French. I'm at an middle/upper-intermediate stage and really want to get better.) Though it would, I guess, be an easier place from which to travel during holidays/weekends. I've never been to Nantes but heard good things, and I'm guessing it would be much less expensive than Paris (though I'm doing a home stay either way, so rent/groceries aren't a factor.) I like Paris, but also like the smaller-town feel of places like Chartres.

To get to my point: What are your impressions of visiting each, or of living in either area? I've briefly visited Paris, so I'm specifically interested in hearing from people who have visited Nantes or Brittany, or have lived in either city. Any thoughts are much appreciated.

This is stressing me in.

Evstar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:33:14 -0800

What is the best way for me to find an apartment in Lyon, with a kitchen, for 10 months to a year? I'm a Canadian in Toronto with a French Visa good for a year. I'm leaving at the end of August to stay in Lyon for 10 months to a year. My girlfriend and I need an apartment apartment within a reasonable distance of the University of Lyon for those ten months. She is a student, I am not.

We will arrive in Lyon on the 29th of August.

Should we hire a real-estate agent? Search online classifieds ourselves? Would we be crazy to show up in Lyon on the 29th in hopes of finding a place for September in the few days left in August? Is there a better way to go about this?

Oh, and we're on a student's budget. The two of us will be splitting rent halfway.

I would love to hear from people who live or have lived in Lyon, especially from someone with a similar travel experience.

Thanks.

Where in France can I find some inexpensive privacy?

Beardman — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:12:44 -0800

I'm looking for a secluded place in France, preferably no more than two hours from Paris by train, where I can read philosophy for two days straight. On Thursday I've got to be in Paris, but I'm flying there from Berlin on Tuesday morning. I was supposed to have gotten a lot of studying done in Berlin, but got sucked in by the city and its nightlife. Now I'm hoping to arrive at Orly and promptly head somewhere utterly off the beaten track, preferably a nice, small town that doesn't have any renowned sights that I'll feel obligated to check out. My preference is for Normandy, but I'm open to anything: where would you shack up for two nights if you wanted a secluded single room, but had no reservations?

Going to Paris in October. What should I know?

eric1200 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:35:40 -0800

I'm spending 4 days in Paris. I've never been to France, and I speak no French. This was a spur of the moment plane ticket purchase. But I don't want to be an unnecessarily annoying tourist. Should I try learning to speak some French? Will anyone understand me if I speak English? How might I unwittingly offend someone? Any other tips for a clueless American in France? (Besides, you know, trying to become less clueless between now and October.)

Finally if anyone has any fun Paris suggestions re: where to stay, good eats, etc. Those would be very welcome too!

Where to go from Lyon?

flibbertigibbet — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:25:31 -0800

I'm thinking of taking a day/weekend trip from Lyon (Rhône-Alpes) to... somewhere. I'd like the destination city to be pretty close. Any suggestions? (I've managed to scrounge up some additional cash since my last question. Yay!).

I'm trying to figure out what to do with a long weekend during a trip to Lyon. I'd love to go to Paris, seeing as this will be my first trip to Europe, period. Problem: the tickets are so expensive (80 Euros, 130CAD/USD) that I'm thinking of trying to find something closer, and, err, cheaper. (Just as a quick comparison: the cheapest trip to Milan costs about the same as the average trip to Paris, both via train.)

I'm really open to suggestions. I'm into art, architecture, religious studies, and history, so anything along those lines would be awesome. Tiny town known for its beautiful churches? Sure!

Thanks in advance.

Strange Places in Paris

Julnyes — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:41:07 -0800

What odd things are there to do in Paris? I will (hopefully) be in Paris for a few days in the beginning of May and I am looking for something truly odd to do there.

Is there anything in Paris similar to The Museum of Jurassic Technology ? That place was a highlight of my trip to Los Angeles.

I looked into the sewer tour and the catacombs, but they just weren’t doing it for me. Thanks for any suggestions.

looking for legit au pair placement agency in France

Dcotton — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:14:11 -0800

can anyone recommend a legitimate agency in France that places people into au pair or similar jobs? 23 year old Canadian female with extensive experience working with children and currently teaching in Korea would like to spend a year in France, probably working as an au pair or similar child care position. Any ideas about how to go about finding a decent position? There are tons of places mentioned on the net--but how does one know which are legit? 23 year old Canadian female with extensive experience working with children and currently teaching in Korea would like to spend a year in France, probably working as an au pair or similar child care position. Any ideas about how to go about finding a decent position? There are tons of places mentioned on the net--but how does one know which are legit?

Paris stopover logistics and strategies?

Vidiot — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:12:14 -0800

Paris stopover question(s): I have most of a day in Paris on the way back from my vacation. How much time should I allow to get through CDG? I'm landing at CDG at 9:20a in a couple of weeks, and leaving at 6:55p. If I check my bags at my origin all the way through to New York, when do I need to be back at CDG in order to make my flight home? I understand the new TSA screenings at foreign airports can be slow, and CDG is generally a non-user-friendly place, in my experience.

Some ancillary questions: What's the quickest way into town on a Sunday? Air France bus or RER?

And does the #29 bus still have those great open platforms on the back?

(Any other stopover tips/advice/strategies/recommendations? My girlfriend has never seen Paris before and I want to show her around a little.)

Another travel to northern france

elpapacito — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:38:41 -0800

Planning a trip to these locations ; Caen , Rouen , Amiens, Reims , Metz and Troyes (long trip to relatives) . What to do, what to see ?

Staying in France while visiting Geneva?

thatgirl — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:01:31 -0800

For a visit to Geneva, would it be advisable and convenient to stay in a nearby town in France? Which town? Which hotel? Convenience is key! My boss is going to Geneva for a conference and then staying afterward for a week's vacation. We're having a hotel emergency, in that it turns out the hotel hosting the conference does not have a room for her from May 22 - 27 (this is once the conference is over). Apparently it's some sort of holiday that week (?), and I cannot find a room for her. She's going to be sleeping on the street!

So my question is, how big a deal would it be for her to stay in one of the neighboring towns in France -- Annemasse comes up in hotel results a lot, for example, and also Ferney-Voltaire. Because the EU is so open, she can just take the train back and forth with no problem, right? There wouldn't be any border crossings or customs to deal with? (She won't have a car.) I'm assuming that as long as I get her a hotel that's near a train station, it would be painless -- is that correct?

How long would the journey be from Annemasse into Geneva? Are there other towns I should check out, also? Does anyone have any specific hotel suggestions? It would have to be very convenient to Geneva and very hassle-free - a very short train ride, and a very short walk to the train station.