One of the best travel tips that I can give to tourists planning a weekend getaway is to plan ahead. It’s often surprising just how much planning comes into play when planning a trip to a foreign country. A lot of people have taken me up on this suggestion, saying that they were so sure about their trip to Paris that they booked months ahead of time and didn’t travel at all. And guess what? They arrived in Paris first and saw nothing to write home about.
So don’t take my advice for travel tips too far. Always check with the airlines regarding their flight times and cheap flight rates. Often you can find very low cost flights during peak holiday seasons, or if you are willing to travel a bit further out on weekends. And always book with care, as you never know what kind of crazy delays or cancellations airlines may experience.
Another thing that travelers should remember is to not bring large, heavy bags with you. Many tourists are surprised to find out that local airports in foreign countries are often smaller than the ones they are used to. The locals are used to tourists taking everything in stride and walking through, but not so with local airports. Instead, the locals tend to be wary and will often ask you to leave all your baggage at the hotel or in the car before you leave, or worse yet, they will try to charge you heavily for leaving your things behind.
Travelers should also be wary of local food and beverage establishments. There is usually great food everywhere you go in Paris, but there are also some fabulous tapas bars that serve amazing food. I love visiting tapas bars with their amazing atmosphere and interesting music, but the locals in Paris don’t like them very much. And it never hurts to ask the locals for their opinion on places you’re considering going to, as they probably know more about the place than you do! Even though they may hate certain foods, most of them are worth eating at least once in your lifetime, and it never hurts to try new cuisine every now and then.
One of my favorite travel tips for travelers is to save money as much as possible and not spend it on anything that’s touristy. There are plenty of cheap hotels in Paris, which means that there are also plenty of cheap restaurants. You just have to know where to look. For example, if you want to eat at a fancy French restaurant, the locals there will be able to help you figure out how to get there, where to eat, and where to order. But, on the other side of the coin, if you look for a cheap hotel room, the locals might not know anything about the location or the best way to get there and won’t be able to help you.
The best travel tips for travelers are the ones that allow them to truly experience the Parisian culture. Luckily, there are several ways for tourists to experience the Parisian culture. First, they can go to the neighborhoods themselves and see how the locals live. Second, they can go on tours with local guides who are actually living in the neighborhoods for a few days. And lastly, they can stay at an apartment, or a hotel, where they can still see the daily life of the Parisians.
