Paris is one of the most popular destinations for tourists across the globe. While the city is often known as the City of Love, it welcomes lots of tourists besides lovers and honeymooners.
A visit to the city gives you a chance to tick off iconic attractions such as the Eiffel Tower from your bucket list, as well as magical experiences such as a visit to the Hall of Mirrors.
Now that you may be a new person visiting Paris, how do you visit like a pro and maximise your experience? Read on to find out.
1. Prepare to Eat Late
French people have a reputation for eating late. This may be explained by the fact that most standard jobs in the city are usually from 10 am to 6 pm, unlike standard working hours (9 to 5) in other places.
By the time everyone gets settled, it is probably approaching 8 pm. Most visitors also experience this in hotels where dinner is around 7 pm.
However, if you cannot wait, you can still get decent cafes and bistros outside your hotel.
2. Find Accommodation near the Centre
Traveling to a new destination can be tough and tiresome. For this reason, you need to find accessible and comfortable accommodation to rest and unwind as you prepare to explore the city.
When taking flights from Detroit to Paris, you can expect to fly for slightly over 8 hours. This means that you arrive when you are already tired and jetlagged.
Consider getting accommodation near the city centre for easy access to and from the airport.
3. Book Your Flights in Good Time
There is nothing as stressful as missing your flight due to late bookings or inconveniences that come with high charges for urgent bookings. To avoid all these, book your flights to Paris at a good time.
Once you decide to travel and choose dates, proceed to assess the available flights for the time and book the most suitable ones. With this out of the way, you can focus on other vital elements of preparing for your trip.
4. Pack Comfortable Wear
One thing about touring like a pro in Paris is getting the right outfits. Being a highly fashionable capital, you need to dress the part to fit in the crowd.
Depending on the season, you may have to pack differently. While you can access the city all year round, March to May (spring) and September to October (autumn) are the most preferred times to visit. This is because the weather is friendlier and the latter attracts lesser crowds.
You can pack light layers, linen, scarves, and light coats. Don’t forget to pack different shoes (boots, sneakers, and loafers).
5. Explore Paris Using the Public Transportation
While it may sound intimidating to use public transportation, Paris has one of the best systems. It has a cheap and efficient metro, and you can purchase billets or day passes for your single-day rides. It saves you money while ensuring you see most of the city.
If you want a more indulging experience, consider walking around the city from one arrondissement to another at your own pace.
Conclusion
And there you have it. As you can see, getting that pro experience requires you to take on simple elements, such as using public transportation or walking around.
Start by booking your flights early enough and getting accommodation near the city centre. This saves you the hassle when arriving and leaving after your vacation.
Don’t forget to learn about the Parisian dining hours so you are not stranded when looking for lunch and dinner.
