Paris Travel tips

Paris, the capital city of France, is often considered by many as the most beautiful city on earth. Placed on the river Seine, the city will remind you of the Europe of the 1960s. With a population of over eleven million, it is the worlds leading cultural and business hub today. Paris today attracts a large number of tourists from all over and has become a dream holiday destination for people from around the world.

Let’s see how you can plan a great trip to Paris and get the best deals on offer. It’s easy!

First things first! Try your hand at French or carry an English to French dictionary along. Parisians are rigid with tourists who can’t attempt a bit of French.

The Right Time To Visit – Well, the best time to visit Paris is springtime. But if you can’t handle large crowds and bloated prices of accommodations, then another time of the year will be best suited for you. If this is not your first visit, then try winters. They are chilly and the conditions are harsh, but this is a time of celebration and Christmas festivals so you are going to have an equally great time.

Getting There- Flights are expensive but if you plan ahead, fares won’t hurt much. Paris is well connected to the rest of the world by Air and has two major airports, i.e. Orly and Roissy Charles de Gaulle. Both Airports offer exceptional ground services like duty free shopping, shuttling services etc. including restaurants and lounges. A number of airlines have great deals on offer for the autumn and fall winter travelers.

Reaching Paris from within Europe can be fun if you are willing to try out the “Bullet Trains”, so called because of their ultra high speeds. They are comfortable and the fares are considerably lower than airfares.

Accommodation and food: – Living in Paris Hotels can be expensive if you are visiting during springtime but during other seasons the prices go down considerably. Other alternatives to exotic hotels if you are on a tight budget are resorts and inns. Parisians are complete food-aholics and love variety. You will have access to European, Continental and Oriental cuisines and exotic seafood.

Staying Safe: – Paris is one of the safest cites in the world and the crime rate is at its lowest but you still need to take precautions against a few things.

Watch out against pick pocketing, which is generally prevalent in areas such as trains, stations and tourist areas. Using traveler’s checks is a wise option. Avoid carrying any thing more than a few hundred dollars in cash. While staying in a hotel or a hostel, use lockers for your valuables. Availing travel insurance along with your tickets as well as health insurance is a wise choice. Women need to take care at nighttime and stick to areas that are well lit.

Driving In Paris – This is one thing that you should avoid. Paris is bad with parking spaces and traffic. Instead get a taxi and keep watching the meter, as taxi drivers here would grab every chance to overcharge.

Keep a list of local emergency numbers at hand. Take all these tips into consideration and you will undoubtedly have a great Paris vacation.