Traveler's Notes: Paris
MetroThe metro system is very good, and very easy once you figure it out! It is by far the best way to move around any city and avoid the nightmare of traffic and the costs of parking There are ticket machines in each station, however many stations also have machines outside near the entrance of the station. In general we found these to be less crowded, and easier to navigate without lines of people breathing down our necks. Being new in a city, you're not always sure where you need/want to go, so having a little time at the machine without the added pressure of people in a rush took some of the pressure off and gave us a chance to figure things out. Do be cautious of scammers who try to "help" you at the machines when you did not seek out their help. We noticed people working together in groups--one would "help" people at the machine as a distraction to avert attention off of personal belongings which could then be stolen by the others.
Eating OutEating out with your family in Paris, or any big city, is expensive! A very conservative meal for 4 people averaged 50 euro in Paris...we're talking 4 entrees and tap water--no starters, no wine, no dessert. Be aware that the cost of drinks can inflate your bill substantially, so on the subject of water, make sure to ask for a carafe of (tap)water, not bottled water. The water is good, and it's free! Before we wised up, we paid 18 euro for two sodas and a bottle of water because we didn't know how much the drinks cost. In general, this one way to keep the cost down. It'll still be expensive, but at least you won't feel so ripped off.
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Museum PassThe Paris Museum Pass is a great investment and saves a ton of time because it gives you "skip the line" privileges into the museums. This was true at every museum that we visited--how nice to walk right past the long lines of people buying tickets and go straight in. When you're trying to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, this is priceless. And, you will only need these passes for the adults in your party because admission is free to museums for anyone under 18! Passes are available for 2, 4, or 6 days depending on how long you'll need them. The museum pass also comes in handy because of the lack of public restrooms in Paris...I can't think of any other city we've visited that didn't have at least pay toilets available for public use, so Paris was the first! If they had any, we never found them. This is likely part of the reason why the subway stations reek of urine. What there is a lot of in Paris is museums! So, the pass came in handy for us a few times-- even if we didn't want to see the museum, we could still go in and use the restroom.
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Scams
On the subject of scammers, I couldn't help but think of this movie clip when we were in Paris...
In addition to the Metro scammers, other scams to look out for are people who approach you and ask you to sign a petition of some kind...they are there solely as a diversion so that their buddy can rip you off while you aren't paying attention. Just walk on by... Another ploy we witnessed was by a woman who intentionally dropped a ring on the ground, then picked it up and tried to give it to a passerby, saying that they had dropped it. If the person took the ring, she demanded money for it. Same goes for bracelets, too. Basically if anyone tries to give you ANYTHING, don't take it and just keep walking! Be wary of anything that doesn't seem right because if it feels wrong, it probably is. This is not to diminish the fact that there are nice people EVERYWHERE! We have always been the recipient of some act of kindness from strangers when we travel, and Paris is no exception. But, keep your wits about you.
Pickpockets are very common in Paris, especially in and around all of the popular tourist sites. Never keep a wallet in your back pocket. Best not to keep it in a front pocket either, if possible. If possible, use a bag designed with theft in mind. You can purchase travel bags that have latches on the end of each zipper to secure them (to the point that it's hard for even you to open), and they are made with straps that have been reinforced so they can't be cut off. Wear the bag across your body and keep it where you can see it. During rush hour on the subway there will be people literally pressed up against you, so keep a hand on your bag if you can. Safe travels, my friends!
Pickpockets are very common in Paris, especially in and around all of the popular tourist sites. Never keep a wallet in your back pocket. Best not to keep it in a front pocket either, if possible. If possible, use a bag designed with theft in mind. You can purchase travel bags that have latches on the end of each zipper to secure them (to the point that it's hard for even you to open), and they are made with straps that have been reinforced so they can't be cut off. Wear the bag across your body and keep it where you can see it. During rush hour on the subway there will be people literally pressed up against you, so keep a hand on your bag if you can. Safe travels, my friends!