When I was travelling to France, I felt that I had everything on point and my trip would end up being perfect. However, later I realized that I had committed numerous small errors that ended up accumulating over time. I realised many things during my vacation to France, such as booking the wrong mode of transport or going to eat at costly places. When you are planning your trip, the following 18 personal and practical tips on travel to France are the things I would have preferred to have been told before I went to visit the best places in France.
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1. Just book your tickets 2-3 months in advance
One of the blunders I made was booking my air flight tickets only a few weeks before my trip to France. If you’re planning a visit, remember that early booking can save you a significant amount of time and money, especially during the peak tourist months.
2. Remain out of the Paris city centre
I decided to stay close to the Eiffel Tower as I believed that it would cut time. It also quickly drained my budget, though. When you are touring the things to see in Paris, you should seek accommodation in neighboring regions such as Montreuil or Clichy. They have better connections through the metro and are really affordable.
3. Travel by metro all over the place
One of the most significant tips about traveling in France is to avoid taking cabs. Instead, make use of the well-developed metro or internal transportation system, particularly in Paris. I saved a significant amount by opting for 2-euro metro tickets over 20-euro taxis. This choice made me feel resourceful and savvy.
4. Purchase a local SIM/ eSIM
During my first day of traveling to France, I had to continue using my Indian Number, and I was slapped with international charges. eSIMs or local SIM cards are cheap and provide satisfactory data during your vacation to France.
5. Go to museums on Sundays
One of the best things that I discovered: most of the museums are free on the first Sunday of each month. When you are in Paris and the main attractions you want to visit include the Louvre and Orsay amongst others, you should plan your visit around these dates, to save some cash.
6. It is advisable not to eat close to popular sites
One of my less pleasant experiences was dining at expensive, touristy spots near attractions like the Eiffel Tower. I later discovered that just a short walk away, I could find better, more affordable food in quieter areas.
7. Have complete meals in a single day
As a way of maintaining my budget within the planned limits during my vacation in France, I began taking one good lunch and then fruits, croissants, or cheese in the afternoon. It was effective in the urban and small visiting places in France.
8. Carry Water Bottles that can be refilled
Touristy places have water that is too expensive, and tap water is clean and safe. The water refilling spots in Paris are in most of the visiting places, particularly in the parks and museums.
9. Use the FlixBus instead of trains
Though the train is a faster alternative, using a FlixBus won’t burn a hole in your pocket, as it is less expensive. I discovered that I could have saved over 50 percent of the fare using FlixBus when I wanted to cover other destinations in France, such as Lyon or Nice.
10. Take a free Walking Tour
There are numerous cities with free walking tours. They operate on tips and provide a good background on the places to visit in France. I did it in Paris and then in Marseille, both were worth it.
11. Buy transport tickets and museum tickets
In the beginning, I was not aware of the Paris Museum Pass or the Navigo Pass. It was later on that I realized that they gave access to a lot of places to visit in Paris and made traveling extremely economical.
12. Travel in the cold shoulder season
It is very crowded and expensive, and I was travelling in June. Personally, based on my experience, I would recommend visiting France during the period of March-May or September-Nov when the cost of travel to France is the lowest. It’s a good time to visit France as the weather is fine, and one does not have to face the tourist traffic.
13. Buy food at grocery shops near you
I began to buy fruits, yogurt, and snacks at the supermarkets instead of dining out on a daily basis. The spots to visit in France usually have well-stocked shops with good pre-made food.
14. Download offline maps
During the initial two days of my vacation in France, I was not able to buy data and was not able to find my way around either. And then, I opted for an offline map that came in handy, and it was very useful even without the internet.
15. Don’t be dependent on the card; carry cash too
Small places to visit in France have some shops and cafes that accept cash only. I realised that when I was turned away in a little bakery in Dijon. It is always good to keep some change in euros just in case you get fascinated with any small outlet.
16. Just memorize some French phrases.
Knowing how to say hello, thank you, and how much in French was a great help to me. It not only made my interactions with locals more pleasant but also showed my respect for their culture. Individuals around the places to visit in France were more welcoming when I made the effort to speak their language, even with my limited skills.
17. Don’t overpack
I brought too much clothing, and this made it more difficult when I was travelling between places to visit in France. There are laundromats in most areas. And all you have to do is pack smart, and then you will be able to move around more freely.
18. Forget about shopping at the Airport
I had planned to shop at the Airport, but the gifts were too expensive. When you are on a vacation to France, you need to buy small items from local shops where people normally go (particularly the local corners or open markets, some of the things to see in Paris).
Final Thought
A vacation to France is more manageable and less expensive if you plan it well and ensure that the trip is simple. This is actually what I needed to know about traveling in France when I went for the first time. Be it Paris or any of the smaller cities in France, each of the places to visit in France is worth looking around, and now you can do it without having to spend extra money.