France Best Travel Tips and Places

Where's the toilet? Où est le toilet? Includering... Oh my god. And goodbye. Au revoir. Je. Ma. Pelle. Je m'appelle. Mes poupous. Okay. Hey, I'm Lexi Limitless. I'm an accredited travel agent and the youngest person to travel to every country. Our world is an amazing place just waiting for you to explore, and I want to help. I'm here to teach you the major things you need to know before you go. In this series, we're covering every country in order from most visited to least visited. And because nobody likes taking notes, I even have a free tip sheet in the description ready to go for you. But now, ladies and gentlemen, please put your seat back and tray table in the upright and locked position, because we're taking off for the best travel tips and places of every country. We are kicking off this brand new series with the world's most visited countries and one of my personal favorites, France. Known for its opinions on tourists, exquisite food, and seductive accents, France is a magnet for tourists. Because there is so much to see, 88 million visitors come here each year. Outside of the United States, France may be the country I've spent the most amount of time in. Because I've lived there for months on and off, I've gained a whole new perspective on their culture. And let me tell you, the French work to live, not live to work. They take their time to enjoy all of life's simple pleasures, like their food. Ugh, food. Oh my gosh, you are going to love the food in France. It is a foodies paradise. For instance, picture this. I'm having a long three hour dinner in this town called Grasse. It's overlooking the French Riviera and I'm trying all kinds of cheeses and wines and fresh breads. Everything is just so beautiful. I even get caught up in the moment and try escargot, which is a snail. Okay, okay, I'll stop there in case I just lost some of you, but don't worry. There is so much more to French food than snails and you're going to love it. Now, I could go on and on with stories, but we need to get into this video. And I would love to hear stories from you guys, the Limitless Army. So if you're from France or if you've traveled there recently, comment below with your story. I want this channel to be a place where we can all share our best tips and learn from each other. And speaking of learning, there are a few important things I really wish I had learned before I went here for the first time. So let's start with the basics. The land. Located in Western Europe, France is the third largest country on the continent. To the west, it's bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. And towards the south, there is the Mediterranean Sea. France has quite a few neighbors, including Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium. France also borders two micronations, Andorra and Monaco. That's a lot of different cultures, languages, and cuisines coming together. So no wonder it's the most internationally visited. The terrain consists of coastline beaches, rolling cities, mountains fit for skiing, and beautiful lakes. The most popular area happens to be the capital city, Paris. Here, the River Seine runs through some of the world's most recognized architecture. When you're planning your trip, the most popular places to fly into are Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Nice airports. The people. Over 95% of the country's 67 million people speak the official language of French, but there are other languages widely spoken as well, including English. When it comes to religion, France is a mainly Roman Catholic country with almost 50% of people identifying as Catholic, while just under 35% of people don't identify with any religion. The weather. France has all four seasons, so if you want to go skiing in the Alps, December to March is your best bet. The summertime in France has fantastic weather, but if you want to avoid the peak season crowds, try visiting during the shoulder seasons from April to June, or September to October. Now that you have an idea of what France is like, here's what you need to know before you go. As a traveler, you can never truly know everything before you arrive in a new place, and you'll most likely always run into surprises, so that's why it's important to do your own research. But I at least want to get you up to speed on the most important things to know so that you have a solid foundation for your trip, starting with visas. For U.S. citizens, if you're vacationing for less than 90 days, you won't even need to apply for a visa, but your U.S. passport must be valid for three months after you plan on leaving the country. For any other nationalities, check with your official embassy website. If you're in France for school or work, you'll need to apply for a visa prior to traveling. CULTURAL CUSTOMS There's a stereotype that Parisians are rude and short with outsiders, but really, they just have a slower pace in their social lives. This means that it's extra important to greet a person with a hello, how are you, before asking for any help. When greeting people, it's okay to shake their hands, but if you're greeting someone you already know, air kisses on either side of the cheek are common. COFFEE Coffee is huge in France, and so is the cafe experience. If you order coffee, make sure to drink it in the cafe, rather than having it as a takeaway option. If you don't want to stand out as an obvious tourist, there's a few things you should keep in mind as far as your clothing. Women in France don't typically wear short shorts, and sweatpants should be avoided. If you want to fit in, stick to neutral tones. Avoid the French's least favorite attire, low cut and tight fitting. For men, if you're wearing a polo shirt and cargo pants, you're screaming, hi, I'm an American tourist, come pickpocket me please! So instead, wear a button up and pants. France actually has some of the best dressed people I've ever seen, so don't just wear casual sportswear when you visit. As always, remember that you are a guest in someone else's home, so be respectful. LANGUAGE It's possible to get by speaking only English in France, but the French appreciate it if you at least start a conversation in French. So here's a few basic French phrases you should know. Hello. Bonjour. Please. S'il vous plaît. Thank you. Merci. Where's the toilet? Où est une toilette? Parlez-vous anglais? Do you speak English? Goodbye. Au revoir. If you're looking for English speakers, try visiting Paris, Marseille, or Lyon. Everyone here doesn't speak English, but as usual, you'll have a better chance of finding someone who does in bigger cities. WATER All over France, tap water is generally safe to drink, but it's never a bad idea to ask a local what they use first. In bigger cities, there are hundreds of public drinking fountains to fill up a water bottle. A good rule of thumb around the world is to check for yourself before you drink. CELL PHONES AND INTERNET For cellular, while in France, check with your phone carrier. They might have an international travel package in your budget. Sometimes, though, it is a better option to purchase a French SIM card. This will allow you to use cellular data local to France. Before you travel, you can purchase a SIM card online from any large French cell phone carrier, like SFR or Orange. You don't have to get a SIM card before you arrive, since they're widely available once you land. I'd recommend checking for them in airports, phone stores, technology stores, and sometimes even grocery stores. In major cities, you can expect a connection of 4-5G. In other areas, the speed will slow down to about 3G. You may not even necessarily need cellular for your trip, because if you're going for a short amount of time or you don't need to make international calls, you'll be okay just grabbing free Wi-Fi in cafes or hotels, and you can also download offline Google Maps and get directions that way without needing access to the internet. Transportation The best way to get around is by train, and the metro is great as well. Like most of Europe, France's train system is efficient and offers a great way to see the country. I also recommend renting a car, although driving in France is not for the faint-hearted, and neither is the parking. Buses are also widely available to take you throughout the countryside. Just know that the services are not as reliable as trains. If you're only visiting a big city, a transportation pass is a great option, which you can find in the different metro stations. Taxis and ride-sharing services are also easy to find. Outlets and converters French outlets typically produce a voltage of 230, so check your devices that you bring with you to make sure they can handle that voltage. Otherwise, you might need a separate voltage converter if you're from the U.S. Throughout the country, you'll use type E and C sockets. To make sure you always have a way to charge your devices, I recommend purchasing a universal adapter, which modifies the physical plug prongs. Safety No matter where you are traveling, always use common sense. Especially if you're solo, my golden rules are to not explore at night and never get intoxicated. I always share my itinerary with loved ones, and I know where the embassy is located. In France, you can find the U.S. Embassy in Paris. In general, France is a safe place to visit, but look out for pickpocketing in touristy areas. If you're in a place with a ton of people, pay attention and keep your hand over your bag and keep nothing in your back pockets. In big cities like Paris, the subway is where tourists are targeted for pickpocketing as well as touristy attractions. For solo female travelers, I have some good news. France is generally a safe place for women to travel alone, but of course, use normal common sense and precautions. Accommodation There are tons of accommodation options to fit everyone's budget. France has hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and more. Unsurprisingly, staying in big cities will cost more than in the countryside. Hotels in France vary widely in price. You can find something affordable for around 60 to 200 U.S. dollars before the prices skyrocket for fancier accommodations. Hostels are a great option if you need a basic place to stay and are typically cheaper than hotels. You can expect to spend around 20 to 50 U.S. dollars per night in bigger cities depending on where and when you're traveling. In less touristy areas, you can find hostels for even cheaper. A great place to read reviews is TripAdvisor, and then when it's time to actually book your accommodation, check out resources like Booking.com, Hostelworld.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia. Money and budget Let's break down several budgets and how much you can expect to pay per day in France. These numbers include accommodation, food, transportation, and activities for one person. If you are a backpacker on a tight budget, you'll spend about $40 to $80 per day. If you want to travel more comfortably, you can expect to spend around $80 to $170 every day. If you're the type of traveler who wants to soak up the accommodation experiences, I don't blame you, but you'll be paying around $160 to $300 or more per day. The sky is truly the limit for the luxury experiences in France. When you travel determines a lot of the price, so if you visit during the peak season, you'll pay much more than if you visited during the off season. For currency, France uses the euro. If you have a major credit or debit card, which you should always travel with, you'll have no problem using it here. Make sure to let your credit card company and bank know that you are traveling so that they don't freeze your cards. Just know it's common for restaurants, smaller stores, and markets to not accept credit or debit cards, so I'd recommend having about 1 to 200 euros in cash with you at any given time. I usually carry my money and cards in different locations just in case of emergencies. Because euros are such a common currency, you can get them at most banks before you travel. Also, it's very easy to pick them up at one of the many ATMs or banks throughout the country and typically at the airport as well. I highly recommend downloading a currency converter app to use offline and check current conversion rates. In seconds, you'll be able to see the price in USD so that you know exactly how much you're spending when you're four cheese trays deep on a balcony in Montpierre. Now that you know just what it'll take to travel in France, here are some places and experiences you absolutely can't miss during your visit. I've curated some of the best information about this country from not only my own personal experiences but from those of locals and travel experts to bring you the experiences that, in my opinion, you won't want to miss. Now, if you've been to France or you're from France and you feel like there's something that I've missed or something that I've even overhyped, please feel free to share in the comments. I want everyone in the Limitless Army to learn from each other's experiences, so I look forward to reading what you have to say in the comments. But for now, let's get started with Mont-Saint-Michel. I could go on about the beautiful mountain villages, endless art museums, and truly European beaches, but you can't miss walking across the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. If you've ever wanted to be transported to Hogwarts, now's your chance. Mont-Saint-Michel is a breathtaking island that features a monastery in the northwest of France. Here, you'll find Gothic architecture built from the 11th to 16th centuries. This place is famous for its dramatic tides, but you can always access it by taking the causeway across to the village below the abbey. Palace of Versailles. If you're looking for a great day trip outside of Paris, you can't miss the Palace of Versailles on your trip to France. You'll be transported into the time of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XIV at this World Heritage Site. This gigantic palace is an excellent example of true royalty and grandeur. While the inside is mind-blowing, let's not forget about the endless, intricate gardens around every corner of the palace. Versailles is truly a sight begging to be experienced in person, and I recommend booking your tickets ahead of time so you can skip the lines. Bakeries in Paris. A list of things to do in France wouldn't be complete without slipping in something the country is known for. Bakeries, locally known as boulangeries. Buckle up, foodies. There are small, family-owned bakeries that have been whipping up baguettes and croissants for about a century just about everywhere in Paris. One of my all-time favorite things to do in Paris is to pick up a bottle of wine and a fresh baguette with cheese and strawberries and head down to the banks of the Seine where you can have a picnic right in front of the Eiffel Tower. I know, it sounds stereotypical, but it is such a magical experience that you'll want to do it over and over again. And just like that, you have the basics for what you need to know for your next trip to France. Don't forget, I have a free tip sheet in the description summarizing everything I just talked about. If you are from France, leave a comment letting me know if I missed anything or if there's something else you would want the Limitless Army to know about your country. Be sure to subscribe for more of this Every Country series. This is brand new, episode number one. We have 196 countries to go after this and I am so excited to share this information and hopefully help you guys have amazing experiences around the world. And if you would like to get weekly travel information delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for my travel newsletter in the description or go to lexielimitless.com slash newsletter. Thanks for watching and until next time, let's push our limits.