TheTraveler

 

Five Tips on Safely Getting Around Paris
By Alice Cunningham

I have absolutely no sense of direction. My recent trip to Paris could best be described as a litany of lousy left turns and lost cabbies. May that you avoid the same....

TIP #1

ALWAYS CARRY A STASH OF 10-15 EUROS.

Don't assume that U.S. twenty dollar bill you keep stashed for emergencies will work here. It won't. The French like their currency. (this ISN"T Mexico where they actually PREFER dollars to pesos) The best scenario is the taxi driver will scoff at you and speed away. The worst? You're stranded and at the mercy of strangers who speak a different language. ALWAYS have 10-15 EUROS tucked away for emergencies.

TIP #2

TO HAIL A CAB GO TO A TAXI STAND.

You will rarely get a ride (at least from a TAXI) by standing in the middle of the street flailing your arms at passing cabs. (Believe me, I KNOW!) They CAN stop if the light atop the car is lit but probably won't. (This is Paris after all, not Manhattan) There are designated Taxi Stands that are located at most major intersections. Queue up to the front of the line and off you go.

TIP #3

ALWAYS KNOW THE EXACT STREET ADDRESS OF YOUR HOTEL OR FINAL DESTINATION.

I knew only the name of my hotel and general area of it's location. (St Germain des Pres) I did not know the exact street address. I (wrongly) assumed the taxi driver could take it from there. (big mistake. NEVER assume.) ALWAYS memorize or carry the address with you, whether it's on a book of matches, a notepad from your hotel or just scribbled on a napkin. You can also have someone at your hotel circle its location on a map. If you find yourself lost and unable to communicate any other way, you can simply smile and point to the map.

TIP #4

THE AIRPORT SHUTTLE COSTS LESS THAN A TAXI AND CAN BE PRE-RESERVED.

It costs about half as much as a taxi and can be pre-booked either through your travel agent or by reserving it on the Internet. (www.beeshuttle.com) It may take longer to get to your hotel, (depending on the number of other stops) but once there, you can enjoy a relaxing glass of wine and a leisurely Parisian meal with your savings!

TIP #5

IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE, DON'T GO! (just kidding)

It IS important to know a few key phrases such as, "Parlez-vous anglais?" (Do you speak English?) "Je me suis perdu." (I'm lost.) "Pouvez-vous-m'ai-der,s'il vous plait?" (Can you help me please?) "Merci beaucoup." (Thank you very much.) If you're a female attempting to fend off unwanted attention from the opposite sex, simply say, "Je suis marie'" (I'm married) while rocking an invisable infant and pointing to your tummy.(This works especially well after any Parisian meal) Finally, if you can't speak the language, do not have or cannot read a map, don't know when to smile.....take along someone who can and does!

Back to TheTraveler.