7 TRAVEL HACKS TO DISCOVER FRANCE

Planning your first trip to France is exciting but might feel overwhelming. Knowing a few insider tips – from a french person who used to grow-up in Paris and live now in South of France – can make a difference to make unforgettable souvenir of France. With its rich history, iconic cuisine (more than croissant, escargot and baguette), and -not that- friendly people, I am pretty sure you will have a beautiful experience in our country.

Bon voyage !

1. PLEASE, DO NOT JUST STICK TO PARIS

That’s the most important piece of advice I can give. Because you can’t claim to have seen France if you’ve only seen Paris. France is much more than the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Montmartre, it’s also the wild Normandy coastline from the top of its huge white cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it’s the sweetness of life in Provence, the colors of the sea in the calanques, or the glamour of the Côte d’Azur. I could never claim to have seen England if I’d only been to London, just as I couldn’t say I visited USA if I’d only been to New York.

If you want more than a glimpse of France, explore places like Provence, the Loire Valley for its castles, the French Riviera, Strasbourg and its surroundings or Normandy and le Mont Saint Michel. Paris is a hub for high speed trains (TGV) and in less than 5 hours you can be on the other side of France. To get the best tickets price & schedule, you can visit SNCF website, Flixbus and Blablacar which are the 3 main transports companies in France.

2. FREE FIRST SUNDAYS

Many museums and monuments, such as the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. If your visit coincides, it’s an excellent opportunity to save money while enjoying world-class art. However, be prepared for crowds at these iconic spots. If you’re interested in exploring lesser-known, less touristy museums instead, I’ve written an article about some hidden gem museums in Paris that you might like.

3. YOUNG EU 26

If you’re a citizen of the European Union and under 26, you can also enjoy free admission to public museums in French cities: the Louvre and Orsay are included, as well the Musée de l’Orangerie and going up to the Arc de Triomphe. In Marseille you can enter freely to the Mucem (Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée) or access to the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy.

This is your sign, if you’re under 26 ans and reading that, to get to France and save on cultural visits !

4. SAVE ON THE WATER

Bring a reusable bottle and take advantage of the many fountains around the city for free refills. Just look for signs indicating “eau potable” (drinkable water) or “eau non potable” (non-drinkable water). Additionally, restaurants in France are required to provide a free carafe of tap water upon request, so there’s no need to order expensive bottled water, especially in touristy areas. Bread is also typically served for free, but it’s a good idea to check the menu for any additional charges. Drinking tap water is very common in France, as it is strictly monitored and treated. And it’s better for the planet !

5. EAT LIKE A LOCAL

As a French person, I can spot a “touristy” restaurant using 6 techniques.

Firstly, if the restaurant’s menu is in French, English, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, etc., this is a very bad sign. Restaurants that target tourists first and foremost often do so at the expense of quality and authenticity, often charging disproportionately for basic dishes when visitors are not familiar with local standards. Prefer a menu in French and English only.

Second, if the menu is 20 pages long, there’s a good chance that the food isn’t homemade, i.e. frozen and then reheated on site. I know, you know that even a chef with a team of 10 cooks cannot do miracles. If the menu offers 20 varieties of meat, 15 choices of pizza and a wide selection of crepes and burgers, then there’s a reasonable problem with the quality of the dishes. This often betrays a commercial approach and little attention to fresh or local produce.

As well if the menu features photos of the dishes. Oh dear. If you find a menu like this, run away.

If someone is driving traffic in front of it, the restaurant may be good, but it sends the message that they need to advertise because they’re not attracting enough people. Whereas, believe me, if it were really good, word of mouth would do its job and they wouldn’t need to promote the establishment. I went once to this kind of restaurant, the waiter was super friendly but the food was really average …

An absence of daily specials indicates that the restaurant doesn’t work with fresh, seasonal produce. Likewise, good restaurants put forward the “fait-maison” label, which indicates that the dishes are prepared on site (and it’s controlled)

Finally, look out for places frequented by locals: the French have good taste and their frequentation should give you clues to good addresses.

6. TIPPING ISNT MANDATORY

In France, service is included in the bill, so tipping is not expected. If the service isn’t good, don’t force yourself to give a tip for the sake of it. However, leaving a small coin or rounding off the bill is a nice gesture if you’re satisfied with the service. For a 37€ restaurant, round up to 40; for a 70€ restaurant, round up to 75/80€.

7. EXPLORE NEIGBORHOODS OVER CHECKLIST ATTRACTIONS

In Paris, le Marais (4th arrondissement), Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Neuilly and the 7th arrondissements are nice authentic places to enjoy a day in Paris, find creative restaurants and enjoy parks. In Marseille, don’t miss the Vieux Panier, with its pretty little streets, cafés and stores selling local crafts. In Bordeaux, my favorite district is Chartrons. Find out more about the neighborhoods you want to visit before you get there, and check out forums like Reddit or LeRoutard.com, as well as Facebook groups.

BONUS TIP: PLAN FOR STRIKES

I think the reputation of frequent strikes in France has spread beyond our borders. There are strikes every year, at strategic times (Christmas, New Year and school vacations). They can affect public transport services as well as national roads and freeways. Before your departure, make sure to check the news and have backup plans in case of disruptions, such as easy cancellation of accomodation or reporting your trip.

What is your tip to travel to France ?