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Travel Tips to Save Your Vacation to France
Common Courtesies
The key to understanding the main cultural difference that exists between the French and the rest of the world is the word “guest.” In the United States it is considered good service for the shop keeper or store employee to greet the customer, but in France it is just the opposite. Cafes, bistros, boutiques, hotels, and even supermarkets and department stores are considered to be private spaces in France. For this reason it is expected that the guest, or customer, will be the first person to offer a greeting, just as if we were entering someones’ home. So when entering a building in France, look at the shopkeeper or hotel clerk, smile, and say “bon jour.” When leaving the establishment we are expected to say “au revoir.” After six in the evening replace both bon jour and au revoir with “bon soir,” unless it is very late at night, in which the final bon soir can be replaced with “bon nuit.” France is a very polite society, we are also expected to say please (S’il vous plait). Here are the definitions of those useful phrases.
Bon jour: Good day.
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Paris – Shopping Top 4 For Fashionistas
Known worldwide for its savvy trends and head-turning designs, Paris is the place to visit if you want to update your wardrobe in style. However, if you don’t know where to look, your trip may turn out to be more exhausting than you would think. Do some research beforehand to get an idea of what you are looking for before you plunge into the sheik capital, where you may be easily overwhelmed.
1) Fashion Avenues – Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Avenue Montaign and Les Halles