You’ve been saving money, doing research, and waiting excitedly for your first trip to France; don’t let all that preparation go to waste by committing a first-timer faux pas. Truthfully, even if you don’t plan your trip perfectly, or even if those plans go awry, chances are good that you’ll love your trip anyway. That being said, there’s no reason you shouldn’t do everything in your power to make this trip as easygoing as possible. Make sure you don’t succumb to the mistakes of the tourists who came before you, you’re smarter than that. Read on for tips on how to avoid committing one of the seven sins of tourism.

1.)    Don’t be stingy with time.

Try to allow as much time as your budget allows for your trip. If possible, try to be creatively frugal in other areas of your trip (see number 3) in order to extend your stay. The average hotel stay for a foreigner in the city of lights is 2-3 nights, that’s hardly enough to get familiar with the area; don’t leave wishing you’d stayed longer.

2.)    Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

It’s a pretty common mistake to try and see as much as you possibly can. Don’t. If you keep your itinerary jam-packed you’ll run the risk of whiplash from how quickly you go from place to place. No matter how many days you have, try to only plan for a few “big” activities a day, that way you’ll have time to move things around if you need to, or just relax and take in your surroundings instead of worrying over your next event so much you can’t enjoy the current one.

3.)    Don’t overspend.

The fact of the matter is: every tourist destination is going to be more expensive simply because it can be. Don’t fall prey to unfair pricing on everyday things—like bottled water—at gift shops, instead head to the local grocery stores and markets to stock up on things that would otherwise cost you an arm and a leg. You can save a fortune by purchasing your sight-seeing snacks ahead of time, or packing a homemade lunch every now and then instead of eating out all the time. The same goes for things like sunscreen, try to buy it where the locals shop. As for transport, instead of using costly cab services, try using cheaper public transportation options like the bus or metro system.

4.)    Don’t look like a tourist.

The Eiffel Tower alone sees over 24million tourists every year, add to that the tourists visiting other attractions, and locals who sight see as well, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the amount of money moving in and out of the tourist hot spots. What this means is that along with all the happy foreigners there to see the sights, there will be even happier pickpockets roaming around looking for easy targets. Don’t be one of them. Try to dress as inconspicuously as possible. A good rule of thumb is to pretend you’ll be visiting an older relative, nice but understated. If you plan on carrying a bag with you opt for a messenger style instead of a backpack. And if you’re taking lots of commemorative photos, put your camera away when it isn’t in use.

5.)    Don’t act like a tourist.

The easiest way to misunderstand people is to prejudge them. I’m sure you’ve heard the adage about assuming things, so don’t assume that people in France will speak English. If you need help learning a bit of French, then feel free to Contact Us for information on lessons. Also, it’d be to your benefit to learn a bit about the culture; don’t assume all the same rules apply there. French people have a way of doing things that may seem strange or awkward to you, but if you want locals to react favorably towards you then you should learn the local customs, like saying hello and goodbye to shopkeepers among other things.

 6.)    Don’t feel obligated.  

That is, don’t feel obligated to do things you don’t want to do. If art isn’t your thing, then don’t feel like you HAVE TO visit the Louvre just because it’s what everyone else does. Guess what you aren’t everyone one else, so go see and do whatever inspired your trip in the first place! So if you’d rather see the Paris Sewers Museum instead of the Eiffel Tower, don’t sweat it, no matter where you decide not to go you’ll be granting peoples wishes for one less person in line.

 7.)    Don’t forget to relax.

The most common mistake made by tourists is also the worst one. Too often people get too caught up in all the logistics of their trips and forget to take it all in. Make some time in your itinerary to slow down and take a stroll in an area that isn’t so overrun with tourists, or sit and people watch as you get a “feel” for the rhythms of the area. Breathe deeply and say to yourself, “I’m really here!”

If you want to get a better understanding of the French language before you go, visit us at Easy French for information on classes in your area.