MondayLunchCrew

This is the part six of my Paris Recommendations Week.

• Walk as much as you can. It's the best way to explore the city and enjoy the vibe of quartier. Unless you are staying far from where you want to see in sights, no need to get a metro pass; get carnet(s) of tickets for metro to use the metro and the buses. The buses are really easy to use, just read the instructions on the bus stands. To buy tickets for buses outside of the metro, look for a map on the bus shelter that will tell you where the nearest tabac that will sell tickets. Some bus stops will also have electronic signs telling you when the next bus will be arriving. Love that Metro is easy to use, but stops are close together like London, so you can walk most of it if you are up to it.
• Get a Plan de Paris at a newsstand. It's a small compact map book. Much like a London A-Z. It's well worth the money, it's the BEST map book and lists everything. It's my bible for Paris. Not a guide, but you will never be lost with it, it lists bus routes, metro maps, shopping places, markets, post offices, taxi stands, everything.
• It may be difficult to do with Canadian bank cards, but with American bank cards, it's really easy to get out money from most bank machines you see. They will give you the best rates so you don't get hit with the extra exchange rates at money exchange and you don't have to pay the extra on credit cards either if you use cash. Check with your bank on if you can use your card. Many of the machines you'll find in Paris take bank cards and not credit cards.
• While it's customary to tip on top of the service that's included in the Service. Make sure you check that the restaurant is Service included when you are ordering but looking at all the pages and small print of the menus. It's often NOT printed on the receipt and if you didn't check, you'll end up paying the tip twice.
• When reading addresses in Paris, the last two digits will tell you which arrondissement it's located in. ex. 75006 = 6e arr.
• There are many many perfume shops in Paris. Do yourself a favor, buy a scent in Paris. and you'll remember your trip every time you wear it.
• Join all the chic, put-together French women, buy a scarf, start wearing it.
• When entering a shop or exiting a shop, remember to be polite and say "Bonjour" and "Au revoir". Learn as much french as you can and use it.
• Make note of all the cool places for your own list of recommendations so you have them for your friends for their trip to Paris.

Research:

• www.paris.fr
• www.parisinfo.com

I'll end with some cool maps of Paris at superfuture. I do hope this was helpful and bon voyage!

Labels: Paris, Travel

// posted by May @ 9/22/2006 10:27:00 p.m.