BIG MISTAKES visitors make in PARIS: 6 habits that could ruin your trip!

Here are 6 habits tourists in France, especially American citizens, might engage in that will be considered awkward or inappropriate by some French people.

Music: Nostalgia by Johny Grimes (CC BY 3.0)

[nyasak]

I still cringe at how loud we(Americans) were playing pétanque in Place Dauphine as part of a group tour. It was my first visit. I have never made that mistake again.

[acbc]

I’m an American but I’m not loud . I always travel by myself. I observe how people behave in public. I was well brought up by my parents .

[jonathanbloom]

I enjoy your videos. This one is right on point: As an American, I am frequently annoyed and embarrassed by how loudly other Americans (usually women) speak in restaurants. Contrary to the stereotype, the French are generally far more polite and considerate than Americans.

[AnneMB]

These videos are really helpful. This will be my 5th visit to France in my lifetime. I’ll certainly try to speak French. Or politely ask, parlez-vous anglais?

[striker]

We do plan to learn French, at least enough to be able to communicate basic needs and being able to reply.

[hbeerman]

I'am not americain, but thank you anyway. Merci!

[valentinebambou]

Le 18è arrondissement de Paris est à la fois le paradis des touristes sur la Butte Montmartre mais aussi leur cauchemar quand ils s'aventurent aux alentours... Il est donc importante de sensibiliser les touristes étrangers sur ce point et d'appeler à leur vigilance notamment lorsqu'ils réservent leur hébergement.

[valentinebambou]

Je pense que vous parlez d'une France qui n'existe plus depuis longtemps, malheureusement. A Paris et encore plus en banlieue, on parle fort dans les transports en commun ! D'ailleurs, il n'y a plus aucun respect, ni civilité puisque désormais on brûle les bus et on pille les magasins y compris dans le Centre de Paris (le Forum des Halles a été dévalisé lors des récentes émeutes !). Vous parlez de la France d'Amélie Poulain et d'Emilie in Paris qui n'existe plus que très marginalement. Quant à l'élégance vestimentaire, il faut vraiment se trouver dans le Marais ou aux Galeries Lafayette pour échapper au jogging-basket ! Néanmoins je continue à penser que Paris est la plus belle ville du monde mais il faut être très sélectif et sortir des clichés habituels. J'adore Montmartre, la Butte aux Cailles, le Marais, les Tuileries... et surtout les terrasses des cafés !

[mianziequaglia]

But if it’s a tourist place you tent to accept its their norms. Lol. It’s no difference when you visit New York they aren’t that friendly - why would they? People come and go. So I think French people can just ignore the noisy “us” Americans. Those Americans actually helping out everyone’s economy because we spend so much money even if we don’t need them 😜😜😜..

[qklfier]

And it’s way more disrespectful to tell people how to behave. I’ll be in France in May and I’ll be as American as it gets how about that. Who cares about what people think in the end, right?