What are some things Western tourists should know about visiting France?

Question

Any particular customs/trends when it comes to eating, clothing, speaking, etc? *Anything* else one needs to know?

By Western, I meant Canada/US. I am Canadian myself, and French is my first language, though I have heard that some expressions mean something completely different in France. I also heard that you can't ask for special orders in restaurants, such as "hold the onions". Does anyone know if this is true?

David: Ok, MORE to the West, then. I apologize if seeming to exclude any country that is considered part of the Western world offended you.

Answer 1

Generally speaking the French are more formal than most North Americans.

In everyday speech this means appending "s'il vous plâit" to any request. It means saying "je voudrais" and not "donnez moi" when ordering from a menu. It means calling the waiter "Monsieur" and not "Garçon." It means greeting the staff at a shop with "Bonjour" (madam or monsieur as appropriate).

A little oddity...in Paris one asks for "la note" rather than "l'addition" as one does in most other parts of France and the Francophone world.

The French tend to follow the older practice of not calling each other by first names or using the familiar without at least some acquaintance (although this is not so much true of young people).

The easy presumption of friendship or the discussing of personal matters with relative strangers that is common in North America is sometimes seen as boorish or crude by the French.

Americans in particular who will talk about the intimate details of their love lives, the state of their personal finances, and the cost of everything they own with someone they met ten minutes ago are, for that reason, regarded as utterly outré.

On the other hand, Americans, who have been taught to never discuss politics or religion, sometimes think they are being singled out for abuse when the French express their opinions on such matters. They are not, of course. they are simply engaging in the second most popular French indoor sport (and the one that does not usually require a bed).

On a more prosaic level, you will notice that butter is not served with bread except at breakfast or when served with the cheese course.

Cafe au lait is only called that at breakfast. At other times it is "café crème " or "une crème."

Asking for special preparation of food items is generally frowned on as is the practice of the "doggy bag."

By law, prices must be posted in the window of cafes. You will notice that there are usually at least two price levels. One is for service at the bar (le zinc) and the other for table service. It is cheating to buy a drink at the bar and then take a table to drink it at.

I too learned to speak French in Canada during my years at McGill University. Opinions vary but I have been told most frequently that my patois Quebeçois is "charming" (usually accompanied by a little half smile). I suspect that Parisians regard Canadiens français as their slightly daft distant cousins who need to be treated with kindness after so many centuries of oppression by les anglais. (I also discovered they have no idea what you are talking about when you exclaim "tabernac!")



NB: (1) The Samaritaine store decribed in the answer below has been closed for more than a year.

(2) There is a new law which restricts smoking in public places tho not to the extent that this has occured in North America and the UK.
-

Answer 2

Salut,
I understand you speak Acadien or French from Québec? Anyway, the French from France are usually very fond of their cousins on the other side of the pond, especially the Quebecois. Don't be offended if some already have an opinion on you even if they don't know anything about Canada. They delight in your accent. Your vocabulary is a source of amazement and wonder. Some reminding us of our language of old, some of it so "Anglicism".
I have Canadian colleagues and their written French is absolutely perfect but I suspect that I wouldn't be able to follow a real life conversation with them.
You will have no difficulty understanding people, and like I said, you can bank on you likability factor. The French will take the side of Quebec, although the more politically savvy will not forget that it is Canada.
What can else can I say? Have a great time and laugh at any misunderstanding ;-)

Answer 3

I know that a tray is a plateau and not, if I remember rightly, a cabaret.
Be polite. Use S'il vous plait & Merci, Monsieur & Madame. Parisiens are much more polite than they used to be. My French is decent enough to spend holidays in French Holiday Villages where only French is spoken, and I have virtually no problems with attitudes. My French accent is understood fairy well in France, but in Montreal, people had problems with my "French" accent as compared to Quebecois.
Canadians speaking French seem, to my ear, to drop or slur the last syllable of words - make the last syllable clear to be understood.
Vegetarians are virtually unheard of in France.
The midday meal is dejeuner (not dinner) and the evening meal is diner (not supper).
At lunch time pretty well everything else closes, except big shops in big towns & museums. I once dashed madly into a pharmacy at 11:55 as I was starting to feel ill and couldn't risk going for 2-3 hours without medication.
Lunch time closing of shops is usually 2 hours from between 12 and 15:00. This is when restaurants serve food - do not expect to get a meal after about 14:30 except in McDonalds or maybe a "Self" restaurant (self service).
The best and cheapest way to eat is to pick a set menu. These give a choice of local specialities and some basic "plats", eg steack frites. Usually three courses with several choices per course. For these meals, it would be unusual to ask for a variation - if you want something specific, you go "a la carte" and pay more.
Outside big town centres, you can't get a meal very late, say after 20:30.
Car parks are often free at lunch time, so if you are at a Pay & Display (put your coins in a slot & get a parking ticket to stick inside the windscreen) at 11:30 and ask for 2 hours, your ticket expiry time may be 16:00.
Many motorways are with "Peage", but you can get along roads very quickly during the lunch time and on Sundays, when there are no lorries.
Most Tourist Offices offer Visites Guidees, either free or for a modest fee. If you visit a chateau, you pay for entrance, but the guide my be a benevole, who lives from tips received for a good guided visit.
If you want to meet the people, try a Holiday Village such as Renouveau or Val - both with web sites.
Best views in Paris: Main Samaritaine (big store) building just north of Pont Neuf - elevator to top then walk upstairs onto roof for a free panorama (restaurant in summer too). Also Montparnasse Tower. Ignore public viewing on floor 56 (or whatever). Go into the building and choose the lift which only goes to the restaurant on floor 57 or 58. You don't need to book a meal, but just buy a drink at the bar - nice surroundings and a drink for the same price as the public viewing mentioned earlier. Arrive before sunset to watch the sun go down over the Eifel Tower.
Good value hotels in towns are Ibis. For more authenticity, try a Logis de France hotel - private hotels found in smaller towns, which must keep up to Logis standards. Many logis serve a menu de terroir (local specialities) and the restaurants are graded by "Cheminee", 1, 2, or 3 cheminees for the best (often very rich) food.
Enjoy !

Answer 4

Generally, the people I met were very friendly and eager to help you out... half the time they didn't know English and I couldn't communicate through my French but we managed somehow! :) As for clothing, bring comfortable but nice clothing. No shorts, and probably nothing with the brand name in huge letters on the front. When I travel to France, especially Paris, I bring black clothing and I fit right in (I think). Don't forget to bring an umbrella. If I remember correctly, it is not necessary to leave a tip in restaurants, as the tip is already calculated in the bill. For me, a huge issue is you can't find Pepsi anywhere... I am not a Coke drinker but that is what they serve. I drink a lot of Orangina for that reason. Their bread is very good. I'm not a native French speaker like you, but I've found that in any confusion, people are very willing to help and appreciate that you try. I have had some issues with ATM machines and then I never can seem to find an open bank.

Answer 5

first situation first, have an incredible meal stick to by employing a scrumptious cake. Now as visits pass, indexed right here are some very exciting spots : Provence : appealing, exceedingly in June whilst the flora bloom and the herbs fill the air everywhere you pass Paris of path, you know why Monte Carlo and surrounded little villages, you would be able to as nicely pass to between the main important markets in Italy, approximately 30 minutes from Monte Carlo. and those markets are relaxing ! The Alps The Loire Valley, while you're into castles, there ought to be a hundred all alongside the Loire river, centuries old too yet i'm able to call a hundred countless issues to do or see, it fairly relies upon on what you opt to do on holiday. yet in spite of you come to a decision, forget approximately the north of France and Alsace. it fairly is many times gray or raining, and there is not any longer something to be certain nicely, i wish you will like my u . s . a ., i like yours Bon voyage

Answer 6

Put your phone to vibrate when in a restaurant. If you need to use the phone, take it outside to take the call. I know Americans are used to talking on their cel phone wherever and whenever, but Europeans find this sort of behavior very rude.

Everyone smokes in France. Even if you ask to be seated in a non-smoking section, there will be smoke. You just have to deal with it.

Say please and thank you to everyone. Americans tend to have poor etiquette - many don't say thank you or please when taking a taxi but it's expected all the time by the French.

Restaurants are pretty accomodating, especially in Paris. If you have special dietary needs, then choose your restaurants carefully. The French don't tend to ask for special orders - so I would recommend just pushing the foods you don't like off to one side. Also, make sure you speak clearly if ordering food in French - my husband's pronunciation is terrible - he thought he ordered entrecote but the waiter heard saucisson, and we got some pink mystery meat.

Answer 7

France is considered part of the Western world, for starters. My advice, when visiting France or anywhere else: keep an open mind, put aside stereotypes and caricatures that you've heard, and try to adapt to the environment and the people rather than expecting them to adapt to you. Have a great trip!

Answer 8

i think it all depends where you're going, people in paris and the south tend to be a bit rude, generally speaking northeners are more welcoming. i'm from marseille but my mum lives in lille, and the difference between (for instance) supermarket staff in both cities is staggering! i've lived in the uk for over 5 years and get very frustrated when i go home now as not used to it anymore!
in restaurants it's not necessary to leave a tip but it's appreciated. as said before, it's not common to ask for special orders, and apart from main cities, vegetarians are not very well catered for. sandwiches are quite cheap, but you only get baguette bread. something with a uk-type bread is called a club sandwich and considered a bit fancy!
in terms of snacks and drinks on the go, everything is expensive and there isn't much choice.
in the street, if you're a girl, prepare to be stared at, and not just by young men (everybody stares, it's like a national sport). i've had old geezers whisper things to me as they walked past, it's not a very nice experience. avoid wearing short skirts!
also don't try to see an exhibition on a tuesday, all museums are closed. shops tend to be closed on mondays (and of course sundays)
thats about all i can think of to complement the great advice you've had from others.
enjoy yourself, france is far from perfect but it's brilliant!! :)

Answer 9

If you are in the Paris area you will need to speak perfect French. If you don't some of the locals are likely to turn their backs and walk away from you. They are, fortunately, more tolerant when you get further away from the city, especially down into the south.

Answer 10

Bonjour, en francais de france c'est comme good morning/evenning et bien sur que certaines expressions quebecoise ne fonctionnent pas en dehors du Canada. Tu accent va plaire et susciter la curiosite des francais.
Sache que le politicalement correct n'est pas tres francais et qu'ils aiment appeler un chat un chat...Il y a un certain antagonisme Paris province, les rues en france sont sales (crottes de chien),
tu decouvriras les differences par toi meme, elles doivent etre nombreuses...Il te faut aussi savoir que les francais ont une mauvaise reputation (journal TV l'ete dernier) pour l'accueil des touristes... Mais en parlant francais, peut-etre que ce sera different....