Paris is easily recognizable by its tall church steeples and well-known attractions, such as the Louvre Pyramid, Eiffel Tower, and Arc de Triomphe. Upon reaching the French capital, a sense of excitement and eagerness compels you to quickly explore all that it has to offer. With touches of romance and opulence, Paris features delightful riverside cafes and bars along the Seine River, as well as graceful tree-lined avenues, establishing itself as a premier global destination. To maximize your time in Paris and truly immerse yourself in the city like a seasoned explorer, steer clear of these common blunders. Let's dive right in!
So what are the common mistakes to avoid while visiting Paris?
1. Skipping the Paris Pass
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For those new to Paris looking to make the most of their time and money while sightseeing, the Paris Pass offers entry to more than 60 top paid attractions and museums for a single fee. Choose a pass valid for two to six days based on the length of your stay, and save time with fast track entry, avoiding the often long lines. Spend your afternoons exploring iconic artworks at the Louvre and marveling at the intricate stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle depicting biblical scenes across 15 panels. With transportation included on buses, Métro, and RER lines, the Paris Pass is a convenient choice for visitors keen on experiencing all the city's popular attractions.
2. Overlooking complimentary attractions
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Despite the luxurious appearance of Michelin-starred restaurants and upscale designer boutiques that line the streets, the French capital of luxury offers many free attractions. Veer away from the crowds to uncover Paris beyond the famous Eiffel Tower, and enjoy a glass of wine on the steps of Sacré-Cœur on top of Montmartre hill in the 18th district instead. Montmartre, frequented by street performers and live musicians, is a vibrant area that provides a stunning panoramic view of the city. For fans of literature and music, a stroll through the resting places of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde at the historic Père Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th district is a must. Paris, known for making culture and knowledge accessible to everyone, invites you to explore its Roman roots at the 2nd-century Arènes de Lutèce amphitheater and immerse yourself in the art scene at the Petit Palais – all at no cost.
3. Confusing the Métro with RER
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Even though Paris's famous attractions are spread across the city's 20 districts, they're easily accessible via two train systems. Rather than getting stuck in traffic by driving or taking a cab, immerse yourself in the daily life of Parisians by using the Métro or RER lines. The city has two train systems in operation – the Métro, comprising 16 lines with close station intervals, and the RER, which consists of five lines that are faster than the Métro and have fewer stops. While both networks cover central Paris and can be used interchangeably, the RER extends its services to the city's suburbs. If you intend to use both systems, ensure that your ticket is valid for the extended zones of the RER.
4. Neglecting to learn dining etiquette
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Servers quickly approach customers at eateries in Paris to offer them the choice between sparkling and still water as they kick off their meal. Surprisingly, tap water in Paris isn't only safe and easily accessible but also free of charge. Locals tend to prefer carafes of tap water over bottled ones, which helps reduce the total bill by a few Euros. Moreover, restaurant prices in the city already include a 10-15% service charge, so there's no need to tip on top of that. Parisians usually round up the bill and leave the remaining small change on the table, but giving extra tips isn't customary.
5. Trying to fit too many activities in a single day
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Paris is a dynamic city filled with incredible sights and sounds, dotted with famous landmarks and overflowing with unique experiences. While it may be tempting to try and see all the must-visit attractions in just one day, it's important to allocate enough time to explore the charming hidden alleyways, hop between outdoor cafes and trendy wine bars, and enjoy some people-watching. Make sure to spend an afternoon savoring the iconic culinary delights of Paris with a picnic filled with delicious treats, perhaps grabbing a wheel of brie from a nearby cheese shop, strolling along the Canal Saint Martin or up as night falls.
Travel confidently with convenient parking: choose ParkingNearAirports.io for ease!
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Along with our ultimate travel guide, we would like to share an additional valuable suggestion. This advice will prove beneficial for individuals who opt for air travel.
If you get to the airport by car, you always need to find a good parking space for your vehicle to leave for the period of a trip. In most cases, airports have special on-site parking for that purpose. However, such a parking lot is pretty costly most of the time, and people aren't ready to spend a lot of money at the beginning of a trip. So is there any solution?
The best way to solve this problem is to choose off-site parking. Why, you may ask? We will explain.
There are many reasons which can prove the benefit of this parking type. Here are some of them:
- Affordable Rates. Depending on the duration of your trip, you can choose between short-term and long-term airport parking. Anyway, an off-site airport is much cheaper, so you can save your money and spend the most considerable amount on things you really want to see or try while traveling.
- Fast Service. In contrast with on-site airport parking, which can take quite a long time, off-site parking offers you the convenience of driving directly to the entrance and having a staff member pull your luggage out of your vehicle and load it into the shuttle. Then they will park your car for you. After your baggage is loaded, you can take your seat in the shuttle, which will bring you and your bags to the airport. It's a hassle-free option that is usually faster.
- Convenience. When people travel, they may be stressed about making it to the airport on time. If you use off-site parking, you will definitely make your travel experience more convenient, as you use the service of a private company. Even though you may be able to park on-site at the airport in a short-term or long-term airport parking lot, consider using an off-site parking lot service.
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We are glad to say that our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers travelers online reservations for parking just outside airports that are convenient and affordable. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing travelers parking options at over 100 airports in the US and Canada. The app allows customers to search and compare parking rates at up to 70 percent savings compared to the cost of on-site parking at all major airports.
With our platform, it only takes a few clicks in the app to reserve a parking spot. Guests receive a booking confirmation and a guaranteed parking space upon arrival at the off-airport parking. In addition, the app helps customers locate the most convenient lots to the airport. Cancellations are easy if plans change with hassle-free, refundable cancellations.
Besides this, we also offer services for top cruise ports in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas.
Now let's take a good example. Imagine that you're planning a trip to Paris, France. So if you're flying from San Diego, California, USA, you can use cheap San Diego Airport valet parking. If you're coming from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, you can choose affordable parking near Mitchell Airport. It just depends on the place you're flying from.
You can always find everything you need on our official website: the best deals for parking near US and Canadian airports, airport parking cost, and much more.
