Paris Travel Tips (For Your First Time!)

I am so happy I remembered this like 3 days before I needed to leave! Thank the universe for Amazon Prime! You’re going to need an plug adaptor because the outlets are different in France than in the U.S. This is going to help charge your phone or laptop, as they accept a big voltage range (100-240). France plugs are usually 230. 

Now if you’re going to want to curl or straighten you’re hair then you’re going to need a converter. Look at the label or tag on your hot tool you're planning to take and it should tell you the voltage it has. 

If you're like me and have the "better safe then sorry" mentality, then I would purchase the two just in case. I promise it's no more then $50.

When I finally booked my ticket to Paris and made my itinerary I kind of had the mentality that I would buy the tickets when I got there. The Louvre, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, etc. A Big NO NO! Haha

Paris is always busy with tourists and people wanting to do the attractions, therefore things get sold out quick. The last thing you want is to plan this awesome itinerary and you get there and you end up not being able to get in because there is no more tickets. So buy in advance!

This recommendation goes hand and hand with the one above. I was about a week or two out before I started thinking maybe I should make reservations especially when it comes to French restaurants (eating there lasts like 3 hours!) I couldn’t even make reservations online because everything was reserved already! Luckily my friend called and was able to secure us a few reservations but there were at like 8 or 9pm.

Only downfall but that is what I get for procrastinating! So after you book your trip, book those reservations STAT!

I’ve never been the type to buy locks for my luggage or buy a luggage with built in locks. But when it came to traveling abroad and having layovers, I knew I should get them just to be safe.

Target has a set of 2 for like ten bucks and it’s TSA approved! So if the airport agents need to get in your bag they already have a master key to open it without you (so creepy I found this out recently too!)

It’s not necessarily an “omg I need this item” but it gave me a piece of mind knowing if my luggage got lost or something then nobody could get in it.

Believe me when I say I love carrying my luxury goods. My designer purses and accessories are something I always wear. But when I heard there were many pickpocket-ers and people that make a living out of robbing American tourists, I had to reevaluate.

I headed to Ross and Target to find myself an inexpensive purse and affordable jewelry I can take without fear of it getting damaged or stolen. Highly recommend if you plan on being in major tourists spots such as the Eiffel Tower.

Make sure you have other forms of payment other than American Express. Visa and MasterCard are widely used everywhere along with other major credit cards from other countries (e.g. some from China). 

American Express is used primarily at more touristy places such as shopping at the Galeries Lafayette and eating at restaurants like Le Train Bleu. They won’t accept it at the metro station so just keep that in mind when trying to plan your finances.

I had no idea this was a thing until my girlfriend's boyfriend told me about this. Apparently if you buy any train ticket or tickets for the train, you are supposed to hold the ticket until you exit the station. So once you swipe your ticket to get into the station you are supposed to hold it until you exit in case any metro police ask for it.

If you’re caught without it you can get fined, apparently it’s a way they are able to keep track and make sure people are paying their fare. Don't get caught up in other words haha!

If you’ve never taken public transportation then this might be a new one for you. Much like the traffic in your local city, you know to avoid the freeways in the morning and in the evenings. Traffic can be brutal with people trying to get to work and school. The same pertains to the metro, trains, and buses. 

There were times I found myself waiting for 2 or 3 trains to come by until I could actually get on because there were so many people! Try to plan your days were you avoid those crucial times as much as possible 

Ugh I was so sad that the train stations were not going to be operating because of protests. My girlfriend and I had planned to visit Lille and Nantes but obviously that plan was scrapped. So definitely make sure you are listening to the local news or ask around to ensure that the trains you need are going to be up and running. 

If you purchase tickets in advance, they will more than likely refund you as they did to us. But make sure they return your money back to your form of payment and do not give you a credit for future travel.

There are going to be tons of apps, claiming to help you navigate around Paris but the only thing you really need is Google maps. They give you walking directions, train and bus routes, and so much more. It literally works just as good as it does in the States (if that is where you live).

My girlfriend made sure I knew this before I landed. There is going to be tons of people trying to haggle you for a ride to Paris, claiming they’re legit taxis. Do not take a ride from them as they usually up the price dramatically and you never know who is giving you a ride.

The taxi station usually has a set price when traveling to Paris, just to give you an idea I paid 53 euros from CDG to the 20th arrondissement. This is a more safer option as well for those going to Paris by yourself or on a girls trip.

This is another great tip that my girlfriend told me about. Since most flights leave early from Paris so you can get to the States by the evening, Uber isn’t really “awake” at that time. I didn’t want to run the risk of not having a car so we called the taxi company and it was at my place ready to pick me up no problem. It was on average the same cost as the app! 

There is also the choice to reserve a car in advance on the Uber app if you'd like, I have just never tried it!

So living in New York, I literally walked everywhere. But I was not prepared for Paris at all! I totally planned out my outfits with heeled boots not thinking at all. 

By day #2 I was ready to take Ubers everywhere that's how bad it got! Definitely recommend to take trainers or comfy boots in a backpack while you explore Paris. Then when you want to do a quick photo op, switch into your picture perfect shoes!

This will save you from exhaustion at the end of each day!

Growing up in California, I always had the dream of going to every Disneyland there is in the world. So when I found out I was going to Paris, that was the first stop on my list. 

Unfortunately, I had many friends that warned me not to go, especially since I had been to the parks in California and Florida. Apparently there is not as many rides and the food is not nearly as good. So I used my supposed Disney day for another sight seeing day. 

Of course if you’ve been wanting to go, go for it! Definitely not telling you not to go but just recommending per my French and American friends!

One of my tragic mistakes I made… Leading up to my trip I honestly believed that I could walk into my bank the day before I was supposed to leave and get French currency. WRONG! Turns out that you have to place an order with your bank at least 48 hours before you need it. 

So I had no other choice than to convert my dollars to euros at the airport. I ended up losing almost $100 because of their conversion fee. Note to self, do not do that again! This is a super helpful tip for any out of country travel, keep it in mind!