Community Chat

[jeanlake]

Daughter, mid 20s, visiting friends in Paris in a month. Her first trip to Europe. I've been to Europe, but not France. Daughter has been reading online tips, but I wondered if you have good tips to share. Thank you for your help!

[kittykatkay]

My advice to you is to take all of us with you! Have a great time, I'd love to go to the CoCo Chanel store. awwwww!

[I am still oxox]

From what I have heard from friends its very cold and indoors is super heated, so dress in layers

[JustJules]

I agree with KittyKat, tell her to take us along. Your daughter will have a wonderful time, Paris is a magical city. If she is visiting friends I'm sure they will have lots of sights to show her. Aside from all the major landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, it's the essence of the city that has so much charm. She must go into one of the patisseries and have their pastries and sweets, and of course their fresh baked croissants. Paris is not for the calorie counters, so much good food, but it's a great experience. Of course the shopping too. Hope she has a safe journey, I'm sure it will be a lovely trip for her.

[jeanlake]

Thank you -- and yes, let's all go to Paris but let's wait until the spring. Frank Sinatra liked Paris in the springtime! I bet I'll want to travel to Paris after daughter shares about her trip. My tips to her were to wear a wrist watch so she can keep track of time without always depending on her cell phone. Take several pre-paid Visa cards. She's a bit scattered. Give us her bank account number in case she runs into problems and we can deposit money for her. Have her bank phone # handy. Put a copy of her flight itinerary in her handbag as well as in her suitcase. Pack light so she doesn't incur checked bag penalties. Let her debit card bank know she'll be traveling to Europe. She'll be traveling alone. Her friends are French soccer players (plus their girlfriends and wives) who are a part of our city's soccer team. Daughter works in marketing and has planned events, for and modeled with, this group for the past two years. I've never met them. I suspect there's a single guy among them that she is interested in. I know, I'm being a mother.

[jeanlake]

Thanks again - I'll check back and share your great thoughts with my daughter.

[KathyPet]

make a photocopy of passport to keep with her in her room Call the banks that issued her credit cards and her ATM card and let them know that she will be in France and the dates otherwise they might block her accounts when she tries to use the cards

[dooBdoo]

Hi, ury! I was in Paris only once and it was at Christmas! Yes, it was shivery cold but I found it to be magical... the lights, the snow, the crisp air.

My thoughts: an extra copy of her passport might be a good idea; perhaps a protective cover if her passport, credit cards, etc. have RFID chips; consider a purse/bag designed for safer travel (I often used one from TravelSmith, lightweight with reinforced straps that can't be cut or torn, for example); know some French; take the Metro; see the Musée d'Orsay and Sainte Chapelle (although we did visit the Louvre, the lines are long and slow-moving); stroll the Champs-Élysées at night; and remember none of the food or beverages have calories!

Oh, what dear, sweet memories I have of that visit with my DH.

I wish her Godspeed.

[Burnsite]

Hi, uri, Average temperatures in any city are listed (by month) on the internet. I just checked and the first site I saw listed said 46.4 degrees F. The French will list in Centigrade.

I have been there the first week in March, and it was lovely. Coat weather but not freezing when I was there.

The Louvre, the Opera, Versailles (a 40 minute train ride to Louis's palace) and excellent shopping, all available. The museum now housing the Impressionists, also beautiful. The old coffeehouse (Les Deux Magots?). The left bank. Notre Dame and lighting candles there. I am not much for expensive dining, but the markets for cheese, veg and breads are open. Inexpensive in-room dining once in a while. Coffee at some cafe in the morning at a countertop (much more if you buy a table).

Pretty French children in the park. I suggest your daughter maybe rent the old film _Charade_ to get into the spirit?

Paris in colder months, very pretty. Plus a great film, too: Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant and Walter Matthau. Paris really looks like that, still.

[JustJules]

Ahhhh to be young, and going to Paris to meet handsome French soccer players. I think all your suggestions for her are wise. The pre-paid Visa cards are convenient, but if she loses them it's like losing cash. Have you considered American Express Travelers Cheques? You can get them at many banks, and also at AAA and you don't have to be a member to purchase them there, they charge a small fee of $1 per $100. She can exchange them as she needs to, and if they are lost or stolen they are instantly replaced. She can give you the numbers, and in the event they are stolen or lost, just notify American Express and they cancel those cheques immediately and nobody can use them. That is always what we use when we travel to Europe. Like with all big cities she just needs to be aware. If she is going to carry a handbag, a cross body bag is a wise choice at least for when she will be at the airport or any train station. There are many thieves just looking to steal a purse from a young lovely American tourist. I'm sure she will encounter many wonderful people, but one can never be too careful when traveling abroad.