Our New Year’s Resolution is to share all our past travel mistakes and mishaps with all of you! Since 2021 will hopefully be the year of making up for lost time, we want you all to be as prepared as possible for when the world opens up and we can travel once again. For the month of January, we will be sharing our top tips for things to avoid in the world’s most popular tourist cities: Paris, Rome, London, and New York City. This week we are talking all about what not to do in Paris.

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Transcript:

JQ: Bonjour travel dreaming of a walk along the sun in Paris or gazing out over the Eiffel Tower. There are plenty of dreamy things to do in Paris, but trust me, there are also a few things you want to avoid when you visit for the first time. This is travel babies. We’re just two sisters trying to travel the world in style, but sometimes things don’t go as planned.  Each week we talk about important travel topics to help you decide when, where and how to explore the world in style. I’m JQ from JQLouise.com.

Juliana: And I’m Juliana from Travel with Juliana. It’s officially 2021 and our New Year’s resolution is to share all of our travel mistakes with our travel babies so you can avoid all the things that have gone wrong for us while traveling over the years, we’ve learned a lot about where to go, where to eat and what to see and do. But even more importantly, we have learned a lot about what not to do. Over the next month, we will be discussing major cities that you should definitely go to, but will be focusing on the mishaps you definitely want to avoid.

Juliana: First up on our list is Paris.

Getting to Paris

JQ: All right. Well, let’s talk about actually getting to Paris.

Juliana: So my favorite airline to take to Paris is Air France because they usually have direct flights from Boston. You know, you can get them for not too expensive depending on when you go if it’s an off season and they’re usually OK about, you know, your checked bag, you need to be careful sometimes because if you overfill it, then they could be a bit pushy about it and try to make you pay extra. So you need to be careful about things like that.

JQ: Yeah, I mean, I think the key to actually getting to Paris is definitely shoot for a direct flight if you’re coming from the U.S. because there are lots of options. And like you said, there are some great deals that you can find.

Juliana: Yeah. And I mean, there usually it really cuts your time, your travel time, like in half. It feels like because when you have a layover, you’re just it’s basically the difference of leaving in the morning and getting there the next day or leaving at night and getting there the next day.

JQ: Exactly. So to get from the airport to actual downtown Paris, the cheapest and technically the most, you know, efficient way to get there is via train. But the tricky thing is this isn’t a normal metro ticket. So you can’t just use a ticket that you might have laying around. You need to get a special ticket. And this is called an RER train. And I just checked the price. It’s ten euros, thirty cents for adult tickets and seven euros for children’s tickets. But the weird thing is in Charles de Gaulle, there’s only a few of these ticket machines to actually buy one of these tickets. So expect to wait a long time. I mean, if in normal times I know it’s different with Covid, but in the past I’ve had to wait almost an hour.

Juliana: Yeah, that’s crazy. I know I’ve never actually taken the train from the airport because Pierre-Luc has always picked me up and, you know, driven there. So, yeah, I’ve never even had to do this, which is crazy.

JQ: But I think you can buy these tickets online now, so be sure to check before you go and if possible, buy the ticket online or have a friend pick you up or if you can afford it, like splurge and take the fifty or sixty dollar Uber from the airport into Paris, because the wait in these lines is ridiculous.

JQ: All right. Well, so that’s how you get to Paris from the United States. But if you’re traveling abroad or you’re studying abroad, you’re probably going to be traveling to Paris from somewhere else in Europe. So I did that when I studied in Rome and we flew into Paris a few times. And it’s important to realize there’s actually three major airports in the Paris area.

Keep reading or listening for more of what not to do in Paris!

Navigating Paris’ Airports

Juliana: Right. So the main one that I always go to from the U.S. is Charles de Gaulle. But then there’s also Orly and Beauvais. So which one do you normally fly into JQ?

JQ: So I mean, from the US, all the major flights go to Charles de Gaulle, but from within Europe, depending on which airline you’re taking, they might fly into one or the other. So Charles de Gaulle and Orly are definitely the biggest and they’re the most convenient to actual downtown Paris. But if you’re flying on a budget airline like Ryanair, you’ll be flying into Beauvais.

Juliana: What’s that airport like?

JQ: So it’s very far outside the city. So expect like plan way ahead to get to the airport. And, you know, if you’re flying in and out of movie, you know, plan on both ends. So we flew when we were studying abroad. We flew Ryanair to Paris. I think we’re coming from like Budapest or something like that. So we got into the and then we actually had to preorder a bus ticket to get into Paris downtown.

Juliana: OK, how long did it take the bus?

JQ: I feel like it’s like an hour. The ticket was really cheap because it’s a you know, it’s a specific like airport shuttle thing and it’s cheap, but you have to order it ahead of time. So, you know, do your research know which airport you’re going to, and make a plan for how you’re going to get from the airport to Paris, because it’s if it’s your first time…

Juliana: It’s not so trivial.

JQ: Yeah, it’s not as easy as you would think. I mean, now it’s easier where most people’s cell phone plans are easy to turn on international service. But a few years ago, when that wasn’t easy, when we didn’t have our cell phone service turned on in Paris, you know, it’s really hard figuring this out.

Juliana: And also learn a little bit of French so you can at least ask someone, you know, how do I get from here to there? Or like, where’s the Metro? Like things like that so that you can more easily get around.

JQ: So just to wrap this up, I mean, basically coming from the U.S., Charles de Gaulle is probably where he’ll be flying into. So, you know, just plan ahead to either take the train or just take an Uber if you’re flying from within Europe. I would recommend Orly, actually, because that’s on a normal metro line. It’s not on that RTR line. So you can just get a normal ticket. You don’t need the more expensive ticket.

Keep reading or listening for more of what not to do in Paris!

Juliana: Right. OK, great. So now let’s move on to when you’re actually in Paris and you are trying to think of where you should stay or hopefully you planned it before.

But so Paris is a huge city like I the first time I went, I only went for a week and I was with Pierre-Luc and obviously he’s from there, so he knows he was leaving me all around. But so I don’t know what I would have done if without his guidance, basically. So I know when you first went back and I’m sure you had to do a ton of research on like where exactly to stay, what’s in where the the major sites are and which arrondissements you want to visit, basically.

Where to Stay in Paris

JQ: Exactly. So let’s just start here. So Paris is broken up into arrondissement. This is basically they’re different neighborhoods. And unlike a lot of other cities, I mean, it’s it kind of starts inward and they swirl outwards in terms of the numbers. So the lower the number, the more central you’ll be. So if this is your first time visiting Paris, I personally recommend you want to stay in numbers one through eight or one through ten arrondissement. So this is where the central part of Paris is, where all the big sites are like the Eiffel Tower, all the museums, the Luxembourg Gardens. You know, there’s all of these big major sites are right in the center.

Juliana: And, you know, if it’s your first time, of course, you’re going to want to see all of those. But if you’re able to go, you know, more than once, then I definitely recommend venturing out to all of the smaller sites. There’s so many other things to do besides all these major sites. So staying in this in the central part, your first time is great because even in a lifetime, you would be able to see every single thing in Paris that is worth seeing I would say. But the first time staying in a central area is great because you can maybe walk some places, definitely try and take the metro, do your research about, you know, which metro stops you’re going to want to be on and maybe choose a hotel that way.

JQ: Yeah, Juliana’s right. The other thing is, you know, you will be utilizing the Metro if you plan out your trip and if you’re smart about it. So, you know, look at what Metro stops are nearby, the hotels you’re looking at and start to map out your routes like, OK, say, OK, on day one, we’re going to go to the Eiffel Tower day two will go to the Louvre, day three will go here. So, you know, plan that out and help, you know, use that to make your decision on which hotel to stay in. Because the good thing is there are plenty of hotels.

Keep reading or listening for more of what not to do in Paris!

What to See in Paris

Juliana: Yeah, tons. So, OK, let’s move on to like what specifically you should see and you know how to avoid any mistakes when you’re actually going to see them. So obviously all of these big attractions and you know, I haven’t been to Paris in almost a year now because of covid, but I’m assuming they’re still really popular amongst all European tourists going to Paris. So all of the big attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Arc de Triomphe, like all of those, I’m sure the lines are still pretty long or, you know, I’m not sure about whether they are reopened.

JQ: Yeah, I mean and I mean, I’m sure they will be long, like, in a few months when things open up for tours and for, you know, other tourists to be there, then, you know, expect long lines if you’re going to a popular site.

Juliana: Exactly. So I would say especially for the Eiffel Tower, like, don’t wait in the really long line. It’s just not worth it. You can pay a little bit extra to skip the line and you can also, you know, people are mostly waiting for the elevator to go up. But actually, when I first went with Pierre-Luc, we took the stairs and it was the kids like three, 300 steps. And, you know, we got a little bit of a workout in and we got to see the structure of the Eiffel Tower was built. And we didn’t have to wait in a really long line. So that’s definitely something I would recommend.

JQ: And just definitely, if you can book a ticket in advance or a timed ticket, do it like anything, you can book in advance and even, you know, do this weeks before your trip that we know you have a ticket. It helps you plan your trip. You know how much money you’ll be spending on activities and you just want to avoid these lines because you’re only in Paris for a certain amount of time, you know, if you’re standing in a line for hours, I mean, that’s just time wasted. So plan ahead.

Juliana: Yeah. And definitely don’t stay limited to, like, the Paris proper. You know, you can go a little bit outside and see, like, Versaille, for example, it’s about an hour outside and it’s gorgeous again. I mean, it’s a really popular attraction. So there’s going to be lines there too.

JQ: But I’ll say for Versailles I will say it’s so huge. Yeah. That doesn’t feel crowded, even if it’s packed like I’ve been there so many times because that honestly I love that thing when we get Paris, especially in the summer, here’s a little pro tip you can rent bikes in the park of Versailles and you can ride all around and you feel like you’re in your own private. Yeah, it’s amazing. But for Versailles you can book your ticket in advance. But then also once you get there, it might look crowded at the beginning. But then once you’re in the palace or in the gardens, it’s so spread out.

Juliana: I know. I know. I really miss Versailles. And then the other one I wanted to mention was the Louis Vuitton Foundation. Like that’s about an hour outside Paris and it’s, you know, amazing. Again, if you can book your ticket in advance, you already have it and you can avoid the line. All of these things will help just make your experience so much better. And, you know, I would say so much more Parisian because people who live in Paris and they live around all these attractions, I’m sure they’ve seen it, but they probably don’t want to spend an hour waiting in line.

Visit Smaller Museums in Paris

JQ: And I know, Juliana, you’ve gone to a lot of the smaller museums to you know, the Louvre is great. And the Mona Lisa, it’s everybody should see it. But honestly, I think it’s a little overhyped.

Juliana: Yeah. I mean, there’s so many museums in Paris like I don’t know how many times I’ve gone at this point, but every time I me and Pierre-Luc, I’m like, let’s see, museum. Almost every day that I’m there, we basically do. And we see a different one each time.

And there’s tiny ones and they’ve been some of the best, you know, exhibits that I’ve seen there. And then the huge museums like the Louvre, like you said, some of it is just overhyped. And that’s what, you know, American tourists are like, oh, I like this and this is what Paris is. But really, you know, when you get there, it’s different. So definitely do not skip the small museums. You can look up, you know, if you’re staying in the first arrondissement, look up what museums are in walking distance near you.

Buy a ticket online if you can, like, just go to the smaller ones. You’ll definitely love it.

JQ: Well, and so we definitely recommend planning ahead for all the things that are on your must have list. But like Juliana said, honestly, once you choose your hotel, just search and Google Maps like Art Museum right near right near you and see what comes up because you’d be surprised. There are hundreds of these tiny little either art galleries or art museums.

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Juliana: I mean, that’s what makes Paris, Paris, like the culture is just everywhere around you. You almost can’t escape it. So that’s why I just love it so much.

Where to Eat

Juliana: OK, so we talked about what to do in Paris and you know, how to avoid the kind of long lines and long waits at different places. But now let’s talk about restaurants. Food is just a must in Paris.

JQ: Yeah, there are so many amazing places to eat in Paris. And for me, it really starts at breakfast.

Juliana: Yeah, all the boundaries are so good. And actually, one thing Peirre-Luc said, which I think is so true, is in any given, like little block, there’s going to be like four blue injuries and there’s going to be one really good one. So all of them to me are all really good. But for like Parisians, there’s always one really good one within like a block.

JQ: And I think the travel back here is you don’t need to go anywhere fancy for breakfast. Yeah, I mean, my recommendation is just go, you know, walk down the street near where you’re staying and honestly, just look for boulangerie and a boulangerie or a patisserie and just pick out anything that looks nice, that looks fresh and nice. And it shouldn’t cost you a lot of money..For breakfast and any pastries or bread. Honestly, it’s super cheap in Paris.

Juliana: Exactly. You should be able to get a really nice baguette for one euro.

JQ: Yeah, exactly. And just look around like see the ones where there’s a lot of, you know, Parisian people and, you know, I’m sure you can’t really go wrong. It’s exactly I wouldn’t spend a lot of money because you don’t need to.

Juliana: And then honestly, one of my favorite things about Paris is, one, that there’s so many Michelin star restaurants. And two that, if you go for lunch, you can get a really good deal on a prefixed Michelin star menu.

JQ: Exactly. And the reservations are usually easier to get

Juliana: Exactly when you go for lunch. So honestly, that’s one thing that I’m like, oh, we do not have that in Boston. That’s just like something so Parisian to me.

JQ: Like you can get a really nice like three or four or five course meal for lunch for like 40 or 50 euros. Exactly where it dinner is so good. Where at dinner, it’s like double the price. Right.

Juliana: So going for lunch is definitely perfect. You know, you go see a museum in the morning, go to lunch, go see another museum, then you’ve already done a lot by dinner.

JQ: Exactly. But also remember you are in Paris and if you’re at a Michelin starred restaurant, expect to spend a few hours at lunch.

Juliana: Yeah, food is definitely something that the French really take pride in. So it’s like it’s not just, oh, you’re just to eat because you’re hungry, it’s eating, too, just like the museums, it’s like a culture, it’s part of their culture to enjoy everything and really be mindful about it when you eat.

JQ: So the travel back here and I’ve made this mistake a few times is don’t book any activities after lunch because you won’t know what time you’ll get out. I mean, if you get into a lunch at twelve thirty or one, you’ll probably be there until 4p.m.. Exactly.

Juliana: That’s a really good point.

JQ: And just one more quick note about restaurants. Avoid eating anywhere really close to a popular site, right?

Juliana: Anything really touristy. The food is not going to be as good because it’s built for tourists and you’re going to have to wait long. And it’s just not the real experience.

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JQ: Like specifically near the Eiffel Tower, there’s a lot of really touristy restaurants that even say like ‘tourist menu’.So you don’t go there anywhere that says “tourist menu” is not going to be good. It’s not going to be good. It’s seeing you know, it might sound like a good deal, but it’s not going to be good. It’s not going to be authentic. And, you know, so basically, just don’t eat anywhere right next to the Eiffel Tower.

Juliana: And lastly, one other point is, don’t be afraid of the Metro. It’s I know it looks huge and it can be really intimidating at first because it can be, you know, feel a lot bigger than other public transportations in different cities, like definitely bigger than Boston. But the metro is definitely the best and most efficient way to get around Paris. It’s super clean and everybody uses it and it’s really just part of the experience.

Take the Metro

JQ: Yeah, that’s so true. And there’s a few different packages that you can purchase for the Metro, like you can buy like a one day pass or individual tickets. If you buy like a week, pass a three day pass.

Juliana : So depending on how long you’re there, just buy whatever makes the most sense. I usually just buy like a couple for, you know, if we know we’re going to take the metro a lot one day, then we’ll just buy a few and then definitely like look into what ticket makes the most sense for you.

JQ: But also the travel mishap to avoid with the Metro is you need to keep your ticket to get out of the Metro.

Juliana: Right. This depends on where you’re from. I mean, I and also I don’t know if this has ever happened to JQ, but have you ever had anyone actually check your ticket when you’re on the train?

JQ: No

Juliana. So that happened to us once. And just before that I was telling her like I was like, let me just skip it. Like, I don’t need to I don’t need to use my ticket because they’re not going to check it. And then I used a new one. And just so happens, some guy came and checked and made sure that my time was right. And I had two different ones. I was like, oh, my God, which one? Which one’s the one that I just used? And then they were like, Madam, it’s this one. And I was like, OK, good, because otherwise you could find it’s like, I don’t know, the last one hundred euros or something like that.

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JQ: Well, so see, like in a lot of metros in Europe or like this where there’s not always a turnstile where you can just walk, where you can just, you know, where you don’t have to put the ticket in to get in. Yeah. I mean in most areas of Paris there is, but in some parts there’s not. So it’s really weird. And it’s especially on those trains. Yeah. Those are the ones where there’s never turnstiles because those are basically like commuter rails.

Juliana: Right.

What Not to Do In Paris

JQ: So just always so only to get your ticket because it’s so affordable, it’s not worth messing around

Juliana: Everything is so clean. And, you know, whenever I go to Paris, I’m like, oh, it’s just so nice taking this public transportation compared to Boston. Sometimes it’s really dirty.

JQ: Yeah, well. And there’s always tons of trains like the trains come so often.

Juliana: I know this is making me really want to go to Paris. I know.

JQ: So just remember, take the metro. Don’t be scared of it. Look at the map ahead of time and just plan out your routes and always use your ticket.

Juliana: We hope you like our discussion on what travel mishaps to avoid in Paris. We love Paris so much. But if it’s your first time going, learn from our mistakes. Catch us next week when we talk about travel mishaps to avoid in Rome.

Catch up on past episodes here as well!