General Travel Tips for Visitors

I have been sturding in Paris for the last two summers, and a couple of people have asked me to post some general tips about Paris. For those of you who are interrested, here are my experiences. I know others will have differing thoughts, but I figure this is a start. If you have any questions, post them here, and I will try to review them daily -- In the meantime, see you in France!

First, in regards to security, yes, bomb scares happen (last year we had two), however, the French police are very good about dealing with it. Basically, the best thing to do not let it rule your life or plans. Do what you want to do, and be smart about it. For example, if you see an abandoned package -- get away from it. If they announce in English to leave the metro/train station -- then do that.

You will find that Paris is safer than most US cities. The difference is that they don't really have the violent crimes that we have. There are pickpockets and petty crimes, but they don't stick a gun in your face. Also, they are pretty far North, so it doesn't get dark until 10 - 11pm. Of course this doesn't mean you can ignore crime, but just follow the usual basic rules for a city: be smart, don't bring attention to yourself, stay in groups at night, etc.

In regards to weather, El nino is standard weather in Paris. So have clothes for all occasions, and especially for rain.

In regards to tourist sites, here's some tips to avoid crowds or reduce costs:

1. Most museums (including the Louvre) are 1/2 price or free on Sundays, however, it is extremely crowded!!!

2. Even though the Louvre is one of the free ones on Sunday, I would actually recommend going at about 4:00pm on Wednesday. Wednesdays the museum is open until 10:00pm, and no one knows it, so it's remarkably empty.

3. Also in regards to the Louvre, instead of going thorugh the crowds at the front entrance, use the Louvre Carousel entrance on Rue de Rivoli. It's a side entrance, through a modern mall which avoids all the crowds.

4. If you're not a museum person, I still highly recommend the Musee d'Orsay. The museum is an old train station which houses all of the impressionist art. Although some won't admit it, many Americans like the Musee d'Orsay better than the Louvre.

5. If you plan a trip to Versaille, let me give you a couple of warnings. First it's crowded, second the palace was scavenged during the Revolution (so it's missing most of it's furniture, and it sometimes seems like a tribute to Napoleon), and finally, most of the day tours going there are overpriced.

However, I actually still recommend going on a Sunday (when the fountains run) for a picnic. Buy some food in advance and take the RER to get there (don't worry, it's easy, just follow the crowd). If you must see the palace, then make sure you do it right when it opens (the crowds get worse as the day goes on). Afterwards, enjoy the gardens and the fountains and make your way over to the Petit Trianon area (by the way, the Grand Trianon is worth a visit). The Petit Trianon was a little village that Marie Antoinette built becuase she was homesick for Austria, and many consider it the most beautiful part of Versaille.

6. Finally, some little tips for homesick Americans. There is a TGIFs next to the Hard Rock Cafe, a Chili's just off the Champs Elysee (on a right side street, when facing the Arc de Triomphe), a KFC next to the Georg Pompidou Center, and the best Mexican food is at the Indiana Cafe (4 locations, most prominent are the Bastille, and by the Opera Garnier)