Our first trip to Paris wasn’t perfect, but the lessons we learned will make your trip much smoother.
Not learning basic French
We didn’t worry too much about French because we assumed everybody spoke English. Most did, but knowing a couple of basics like “bonjour” and “merci” would’ve made everything a little bit more pleasant and amicable.
Not booking museum tickets in advance
We assumed that we would be able to go straight into the Louvre. It was a big mistake. The queue was so long it was a tourist destination in itself. We stood in it for more than an hour, and we realized the hard way: buy tickets online ahead of time.
Packing the wrong shoes
Paris streets are not forgiving. I brought cute flats that felt great for the first hour but by the time it was lunch, my feet started crying. My husband wasn’t much better off with new shoes. And believe me, broken-in, comfortable shoes are essential when travelling.
Overpacking our schedule
We tried to see everything in one trip: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre, Versailles, etc. By the third day, we were tired & grumpy. The slower timeframe would’ve allowed us to really soak up the city rather than run around from place to place.
Eating at tourist traps
We ate at a restaurant near the Champs-Élysées one night because we thought it’d be “very French.” It wasn’t. Food was outrageously priced and tasted bland. We learned our lesson and made sure to look up restaurant reviews online or ask locals where to go eat.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon
We made the rookie error of visiting the Eiffel Tower in the middle of the day. It was packed, sweltering & frankly, disappointing. Had we gone in the morning or at night, it would have been a very different (and less anxious) experience.
Not reserving dinner tables
We assumed we could just show up at restaurants for dinner. Most places were booked solid by the time we arrived in the evenings. A few disheartening rejections later, we began making reservations, and dinner in Paris was drastically less stressful.
Overlooking smaller attractions
We were so hung up on tourist traps that we had no time for hidden attractions. A random walk in the Marais became one of the highlights of our visit. Next time, we’ll leave time to roam without a plan.
Misjudging the weather
We didn’t check the weather forecast one day and ended up stuck in a freak Montmartre rainstorm without umbrellas. And our romantic stroll turned into a soggy, cold disaster. Lesson learned, and now we always pack a travel umbrella when visiting Paris, rain or shine.
Ignoring the metro
We used taxis everywhere as the Metro was intimidating. Not only was it costly, but we also spent so much time stuck in traffic. When we finally took the Metro, we could not believe how quick and convenient it was.
