To have that ✨main character✨ life when staying abroad in France you need to see our tips on what to eat, where to go, and things to avoid saying or doing while you’re there. That is of course if you want the good parts of Emily in Paris, but if you want to mess up dinner reservations or make your boss dislike you, then skip this blog.
What to eat
Lucky enough to intern in Paris? Then you must try Le Fouquet’s the restaurant of choice for ex-presidents and award celebration dinners. Open since 1899, the restaurant offers traditional French cuisine that you must try. Now, another more chic and “youthful” option is Café de Flore. It’s known for attracting the intellectual and artistic kind like Picasso, Sartre, and a more contemporary artist, Karl Lagerfeld.
Now, if you’re outside of Paris, some places you might want to try Bistro B or Le Café des Fédérations in Lyon, Pôp-ô-thym or Maison Cresci in Nice, and Question de Goût or Le New Barocco in Marseille.
Where to go
So, this one is pretty easy since France is one of the most touristic countries in the world. Aside from visiting the cities mentioned above, you should take some day tours to the Palace of Versailles or Évian or Thonon Les Bains. You can also book a wine tour in Bordeaux or Champagne (although it would be a champagne tour if you go to Champagne). Take the ferry in Lac Léman and hop off in Geneva, Switzerland.
Now, if you are lucky enough to enjoy Paris for a couple of days, be sure to go to Montmartre where you will get the best pictures of/with the Eiffel tower. Don’t spend your money on going up the Eiffel tower, rather go to Montparnasse for the view and use your money for shots at Espit Chupitos. Definitely check out Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre. Lastly, have a picnic at the Jardins des Luxemburg.
Avoid these mistakes
Number one we already listed it, don’t pay to go up the Eiffel Tower. Now, another thing to avoid is being afraid of speaking French. Even if you butcher the words, the French will always be more welcoming and thankful if you try to speak to them in French. As foreigners, especially Latinos and Americans, we tend to be loud when we travel, and this is a big no-no in France. Now, something that might come as a shock is not to bring wine to a dinner party, as it implies the host cannot pick a good enough wine for you. Last thing to remember: don’t insult the French, they’re French.
