Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Traveling to Paris tips/advice/suggestions?
- Thread starter Tyler23
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Easily, I made them.
Really, I had decided for the most part before I made this post. I'm basically looking for opinions/tips/insights from members here that have been there/live there.
Really, I had decided for the most part before I made this post. I'm basically looking for opinions/tips/insights from members here that have been there/live there.
Well I go to Towson, so technically I live in Towson
Towson is usually our stomping ground. Fri/Sat we bounce around to and from the Turtle, CVP, 7W, or the Rec Room. Most of my buddies from high school went/go to Towson
Good deal. It's pretty nice here. I'm originally from Colorado, lived in Maryland for a while (went to middle/high school here), went back to CO for freshman year, and am now at Towson. What high school did you go to?
In my experience, the Frogs (I'm a Brit) wear backpacks more than they do messenger bags, so you should be fine.
and don't forget the legal whores!!!
If you go to Amersterdam and hit one of the local "coffee" shops, be careful, their "coffee" is a lot stronger then ours and you don't want to ruin one of your vacation days by being too "caffienated".
If you go to Amersterdam and hit one of the local "coffee" shops, be careful, their "coffee" is a lot stronger then ours and you don't want to ruin one of your vacation days by being too "caffienated".
Calvert Hall, also in Towson. Most of my world is between Hunt Valley and Parkville, I'm not too well traveled. Well, if you count bars I am pretty well traveled.
Cool cool. I don't know this area well, except for Towson, and just a little bit of Baltimore.
I'm from the Germantown/Rockville/Frederick part of MD.
Anyways,
Looks like I'm set to go to Paris. Have to fly to Cinci tomorrow, then connect on the flight to Paris. Hopefully flights aren't cancelled out of Cinci due to weather.
Purplemarmalade - You mean it really won't make a difference if I wear a backpack or messenger bag? Everyone says backpacks make you stand out as an American.
I'm from the Germantown/Rockville/Frederick part of MD
.Anyways,
Looks like I'm set to go to Paris. Have to fly to Cinci tomorrow, then connect on the flight to Paris. Hopefully flights aren't cancelled out of Cinci due to weather.
Purplemarmalade - You mean it really won't make a difference if I wear a backpack or messenger bag? Everyone says backpacks make you stand out as an American
.Man, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. Tons of people would kill to be in your situation.
Unless you are planning on looking like a tourist and headed to some seedy areas, I wouldn't sweat the MBP.
Go for it, have a good time.
I second this.
Paris...
Go.
backpacks are totally ok. it's a bit cold for flipflops, and even in summer you'll be the only person for a half mile wearing them. the germans still wear black socks with sandals though, just like they do here in america. (i asked one german why, and he said black socks dont look as bad when they are dirty... hmm, he does actually have a point.)
check the metro to cdg if thats your return flight, last i heard the metro north to cdg was still out of order except for a crazy route that went south first and took forever. i found out the hard way. just take a taxi, its like $45 from st germain.
i took 3 mbp, never had a second thought about them at home or out and about,, and my ipad never left my side, sfr has/had the only realistic ipad plan for tourists, something like $6 a day though. i didnt check the iphone data plans...
dont buy the multi-day metro passes, get the 10-pack of tickets, you'd have to ride the metro like 8 times each day to save any money buying the multi-day tickets, thats alot of metro, even for a tourist.
even the most hard-core gangster types you might see up north by clignancourt metro seem alot less intimidating as soon as they open their mouth and out comes french. ive never ever had a problem. but im a girl, they just try to buy me a cup of coffee. perhaps wear a ring on your finger, even if your single.
for anyone taking an early ipad, make sure you update your ipad before you go, my launchday ipad was without some kind of firmware crap or something, which kept it from accessing the networks there or something wacky, and ultimately killed my ipad, for which i got an instant replacement at the new apple store up by the opera. (i posted some pics recently of the opera store right after their opening day. really gorgeous store.) you don't need to remove your ipad for tsa screening, mbp you do.
grab that funky real-time language translator video app thing if theyve made the french version yet.
if you have any need for an unlocked iphone4, grab one while your there.
thats about all i can think of thats general and mac/apple related paris travel advice.
Go.
backpacks are totally ok. it's a bit cold for flipflops, and even in summer you'll be the only person for a half mile wearing them. the germans still wear black socks with sandals though, just like they do here in america. (i asked one german why, and he said black socks dont look as bad when they are dirty... hmm, he does actually have a point.)
check the metro to cdg if thats your return flight, last i heard the metro north to cdg was still out of order except for a crazy route that went south first and took forever. i found out the hard way. just take a taxi, its like $45 from st germain.
i took 3 mbp, never had a second thought about them at home or out and about,, and my ipad never left my side, sfr has/had the only realistic ipad plan for tourists, something like $6 a day though. i didnt check the iphone data plans...
dont buy the multi-day metro passes, get the 10-pack of tickets, you'd have to ride the metro like 8 times each day to save any money buying the multi-day tickets, thats alot of metro, even for a tourist.
even the most hard-core gangster types you might see up north by clignancourt metro seem alot less intimidating as soon as they open their mouth and out comes french. ive never ever had a problem. but im a girl, they just try to buy me a cup of coffee. perhaps wear a ring on your finger, even if your single.
for anyone taking an early ipad, make sure you update your ipad before you go, my launchday ipad was without some kind of firmware crap or something, which kept it from accessing the networks there or something wacky, and ultimately killed my ipad, for which i got an instant replacement at the new apple store up by the opera. (i posted some pics recently of the opera store right after their opening day. really gorgeous store.) you don't need to remove your ipad for tsa screening, mbp you do.
grab that funky real-time language translator video app thing if theyve made the french version yet.
if you have any need for an unlocked iphone4, grab one while your there.
thats about all i can think of thats general and mac/apple related paris travel advice.
Thanks Fgirl!
So why do most sites recommend not using backpacks, and some suggest messenger bags?
I will definitely look into the metro back to cdg, that is my return flight, although I am actually staying at the Sheraton in the International Terminal in CDG, so hopefully I'll already be there the morning I depart.
Still scared about taking my MBP. I'll have my iPod touch with me. Are there many/any wifi hotspots in Paris? I won't have a phone of any sort so I'll only be able to contact my dad from either a payphone (too expensive), hotel front desk, or via e-mail, which I could access via wifi on my ipod touch.
Also, I am 20 years old, so I can't legally drink in America (hah..like that works), but I would like to experience legal drinking in Paris. Any recommendations for where a not very wealthy American can go to get some good, not too expensive drinks? Also, besides wine, what are some popular drinks in Paris?
So why do most sites recommend not using backpacks, and some suggest messenger bags?
I will definitely look into the metro back to cdg, that is my return flight, although I am actually staying at the Sheraton in the International Terminal in CDG, so hopefully I'll already be there the morning I depart.
Still scared about taking my MBP. I'll have my iPod touch with me. Are there many/any wifi hotspots in Paris? I won't have a phone of any sort so I'll only be able to contact my dad from either a payphone (too expensive), hotel front desk, or via e-mail, which I could access via wifi on my ipod touch.
Also, I am 20 years old, so I can't legally drink in America (hah..like that works), but I would like to experience legal drinking in Paris. Any recommendations for where a not very wealthy American can go to get some good, not too expensive drinks? Also, besides wine, what are some popular drinks in Paris?
While Americans are quite used to carrying backpacks for any sorts of reasons or activities in the U.S., and backpacking itself is a rite of passage for many post-grads, this itself can become a risk when traveling abroad. Backpack screams Hey look, Im American. Please pickpocket me. You might as well tape an American flag to your head. (Ive heard of Americans sewing on patches of the Canadian flag to their backpacks, and I honestly have no idea whether or not this works.) Unless youre in the vicinity of a school or university, I have rarely seen locals in continental Europe donning a backpack.
Not only is a backpack obvious, its easier to grab things out of it. Even in the U.S., Ive gotten advice about the risks of having a backpack. For example, at a safety and security seminar I sat through when I started at Columbia University Grad. School of Journalism in 2007, the campus security officer advised that we always we wear backpacks in front on the subway. Ive known quite a few people to have had their wallets stolen out of their backpacks on the NYC subway since. Because of this, Ive found backpacks just to be a hassle.
Messenger bags are easier to swing around to the front and hold on to without being so obvious. Plus, they just look cooler. Maybe its the Euro style appeal? This isnt to say messenger bags are completely safe. If youre not careful, someone could easily lift a flap up. You need to take it upon yourself to protect your things.
Not only is a backpack obvious, its easier to grab things out of it. Even in the U.S., Ive gotten advice about the risks of having a backpack. For example, at a safety and security seminar I sat through when I started at Columbia University Grad. School of Journalism in 2007, the campus security officer advised that we always we wear backpacks in front on the subway. Ive known quite a few people to have had their wallets stolen out of their backpacks on the NYC subway since. Because of this, Ive found backpacks just to be a hassle.
Messenger bags are easier to swing around to the front and hold on to without being so obvious. Plus, they just look cooler. Maybe its the Euro style appeal? This isnt to say messenger bags are completely safe. If youre not careful, someone could easily lift a flap up. You need to take it upon yourself to protect your things.
what exactly are you thinking is going to happen, or not happen, when somebody sews a Canadian flag patch on something???
Do you thinking that thieves are going to think "OH! A Canadian!! Well it wouldn't do to steal anything from a Canadian so I guess I better look elsewhere for somebody to steal from"
Should a bag like this be alright?
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.styledash.com/media/2008/08/a.p.c.overstock.comleatherduffel$46.99.jpg
It's the closest to a messenger bag I can get. I can wear it around my shoulder (opposite side), so it rests on my side and I can easily put it in front of me. Plus, it has zippers, no flaps.
Stop worrying about it. The French are now used to foreign tourists, even tourists from the USA. They will not chase you down and beat you.
DON'T claim to be Canadian. You'll be putting your life at risk because certainly some Canadian will turn up and want commune with a fellow Canadian......then THEY will chase you down and beat you when they find that you're lying to the world by pretending to be Canadian
About to go to bed. Getting up early to begin my journey.
Any last minute tips/suggestions/comments?
I'm gonna miss you all for the next few days.
Any last minute tips/suggestions/comments?
I'm gonna miss you all for the next few days.
> Careful with your bag; have it attached to you all times, esp laptop;
> avoid deserted subways...
> Dont forget to try royale with cheese at mcdonalds...
> Beer... ah... 2 words : Leffe and Affligem
> visit Pigale... they have...er... excellent guitar shops there.
> eat, drink, love.
> avoid deserted subways...
> Dont forget to try royale with cheese at mcdonalds...
> Beer... ah... 2 words : Leffe and Affligem
> visit Pigale... they have...er... excellent guitar shops there.
> eat, drink, love.
Always good advice. Shouldn't be a problem unless you're out really late or stray away from central Paris.
Ugh, skip the fast food. So much other great stuff to eat in Paris.
Hey, those are Belgian beers! Perhaps a Kronenbourg or a Meteor instead?
Oy, Montmartre is pretty touristy. If you only have a couple of days in Paris I would prioritize seeing other things first. Still, it is obviously not without its charms. The cobblestone streets winding up the hill are beautiful, there are some good, local-style restaurants in the side streets off Rue Lepic, and Sacre Coeur is of course pretty stunning. Look out for the various street hustlers in the area, though.
This.
what exactly are you thinking is going to happen, or not happen, when somebody sews a Canadian flag patch on something???
Do you thinking that thieves are going to think "OH! A Canadian!! Well it wouldn't do to steal anything from a Canadian so I guess I better look elsewhere for somebody to steal from"
I have no idea. I just copied and pasted that from a web site I googles to help the op out with his question. I did t even read most of it. I guess that practice was done a few years back. Not because of crime but because so many people in other countries couldn't stand Americans because of the was in Iraq.
About to go to bed. Getting up early to begin my journey.
Any last minute tips/suggestions/comments?
I'm gonna miss you all for the next few days.
I live in a suburb of cinci and the tri-state is really getting some snow. Hopefully your flight through here isnt delayed. Have fun in Paris!
Cool cool. I don't know this area well, except for Towson, and just a little bit of Baltimore.
I'm from the Germantown/Rockville/Frederick part of MD
Anyways,
Looks like I'm set to go to Paris. Have to fly to Cinci tomorrow, then connect on the flight to Paris. Hopefully flights aren't cancelled out of Cinci due to weather.
Purplemarmalade - You mean it really won't make a difference if I wear a backpack or messenger bag? Everyone says backpacks make you stand out as an American
Only Americans where backpacks in Europe
Not what I've witnessed.Then what do men in France carry their gear in? MAN BAGS
Maybe you're saying all men in Paris carry their gear in Messenger Bags? If so, that's not correct.
+1. We'd pummel you with our hockey sticks!
Seriously though, you'll do fine. Just keep an open mind and remember that things are not the same as at home and be willing to go with the flow.
I've been to Paris. Awesome place. Very walkable city, their public transportation is very good.
I used an ALICE backpack when I went to England and France.
How did I deal with it? *SHOCKER COMING, BEWARE! I... left it at the hotel! I don't need a bag while walking around and sightseeing.
If you really need a bag for some reason, I have a messenger bag for when I need to carry work papers, my laptop or whatever into the city. Why you'd need work papers or laptops when vacationing in Paris, I don't know.
I used an ALICE backpack when I went to England and France.
How did I deal with it? *SHOCKER COMING, BEWARE! I... left it at the hotel! I don't need a bag while walking around and sightseeing.
If you really need a bag for some reason, I have a messenger bag for when I need to carry work papers, my laptop or whatever into the city. Why you'd need work papers or laptops when vacationing in Paris, I don't know.