Bonjour, i am french i don't speak a good english but don't forget that many many french people don't speak english. And there are 3 magics words "bonjour" "merci" "aurevoir" and we will open our door to you and help you as possible

Bienvenue en France and enjoy your stay

Jud974

This is true. Just pick up a Rick Steves French Phrasebook (http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Fr.../dp/1598801864), memorize the basics on the flight/train over. All you need is bonjour, bonsoir, Parlez-vous anglais, Oui, non, Merci beaucoup, au reviour and I find desole (I'm sorry) works well. Such as:

Bonjour. Desole. Parlez-vous anglais ?
Good day. I'm sorry. Do you speak English ?

The French (and rightly so in my book) don't like it when you assume they speak English.

Have a great trip. Cheers.

I have seen many encounters take a bad turn because of this. Always ask first.

Enjoy your trip!

I'm just back from a vacation to Paris. I find this really a joke and misleading to say the Metro system in Paris is wonderful. The trains itself are also poorly maintained. It's positively primitive compare to the tube system in London or nicer subway systems in other big cities. Sure there are connections to get you to where you want but the actual metro station itself is always dark, dirty and crime infested and pickpockets everywhere. Every french person or regular tourist that I have come to speak to while in Paris can recall at least one or two experience of being robbed or pickpocketed in the metro station.

The people are not friendly. You can say Bonjour all you want but unless you personally know them, or perhaps speak fluent French, they are generally not helpful. Some are downright rude and go out of their way to treat tourist and foreigners with contempt. Sure sights like Effiel and Lourve are beautiful places to visit but the city itself is not a welcoming place, pretentious, dangerous, crime-infested city. The food and most of the restaurants are not what it is made out to be, with mediocre food quality at inflated rip-off prices. The shopping is not also not what it is made up to be. Everything they have in Paris including supposedly high end brands are available outside of Paris as well and with much better service. Once is enough I think. Been there done that and probably not coming back.

During the same trip, I also visited London and comparing these two cities, London is far better by miles. The people are way more friendly and helpful, the public places clean, the tube system efficient and actually more things to do and see.

This is a Paris forum and I think my opinion is not going to be popular but I am just saying what I feel from the perspective of a first time visitor. My apologies if I caused any offense.

Dear BENLEE

i am sorry you did not enjoy Paris and Parisians.
it is interesting to read your opinions and i of course respect this, so no offense here

Yes the metro system in Paris is efficient but yes it can look dirty, old and is infested with pick pockets...mais c'est la vie however i never let them any chance to try robbing me

i hope one day you will consider to visit again Paris and the rest of France

regards

Mud

I tend to think that a lot of people who are treated rudely get what they ask for. I have seen some "ugly Americans" treat French, Spanish etc... RUDELY and then whine "people were rude to me" GEE... If your attitude is it's "crime infested" etc... it will be self fufilling. (And BenLee you have not talked to me. As a regular tourist I have been to Paris more then 10 times and NEVER been the victim of a crime. I have gone with friends, teen agers, coworkers etc.... no crime. As a matter of fact I have TWO crime stories over lots of Europe travel. One happened in the Tube you think was so much better. Traveling companion was a pickpocket victim. The other was in Spain same deal!)

And the "metro" is less advanced then the tube OMG that's so funny! The tube is pretty much admitted to be outdated and full of issues (by the British who are busy working on it because it breaks down all the time etc... they promised the Olympic committee it would be better and hopefully will make thier goal, but having been there this summer when several parts of it were closed for "repairs" I don't think they are there yet!)

If you go with a chip on your shoulder expecting "American" outgoing then you will be disappointed. It's a different culture where "reserve" is expected. They aren't your "friend" until they know you. That's not rude it's thier culture!

I have stayed at this hotel numerous times and really like it. You will see lots of AA flight crews.

Attitude is everything in life. If you go expecting "just like home" then probably the thing to do is stay home, you won't be happy! If you go with an open mind and realize "just because they don't slap you on the back" doesn't mean they are rude, it's just thier culture....you will have a good time.

(And get off the main tourist drags for food. It's great and affordable if you don't eat where they have 10,000 other tourists!)

Mrs jacknyoc and i have been to Paris...and other parts of the French countryside...on three somewhat extended trips over the past few years. We have done the tourist stuff...and have done a lot of non-tourist stuff. We have encountered a wide assortment of local residents...in shops, restaurants, in parks, on the streets, etc. We have nothing but fond memories of them and have no outstanding "Ugly French" stories that so many people seem to crave. We're always quite amazed when we hear about how rude the French are...and the surprised reaction when we tell our own stories. maybe it's one of those things that if spread around enough, people will believe it rather than experience it themselves. go to Paris...go the the French countryside...enjoy it all...and stop looking for excuses. it's different...it's supposed to be...that's why we travel. now, if you want to talk about rude people, our local grocery stores and roadways were pretty full of them over this past holiday weekend : )

I can only comment from what I experienced. And the impression is not good. By the way, I got my wallet stolen/rob at a Paris Metro and has aggravated me a lot and caused me a lot of trouble. The police wasn't helpful at all and even try to laugh off the incident. They are more interested in enjoying their morning coffee than to file the police report for me.

Those French people that are nice are only those in my hotel, and one or two exceptions. But the vast majority I encountered, the waiters, taxi drivers, museum attendants, common people on the street, airport officers are all very rude. I am a well traveled person and never experienced such in any other cities except Paris.

I maintained my views that Paris is a crime infested, unwelcoming city full of very arrogant shallow people that think too highly of themselves. For those that think I was having the wrong image to begin with, no, my views of Paris were not formed before I go there but after my trip. Perhaps if I had this view, I will be more careful and not let my wallet be stolen. And because that is what I experienced, I don't think I will come back again. For those who are defending this city, good for you and glad you can continue to enjoy your visits to Paris.

What makes you think I am American? I am from Asia by the way, not American. So this post is not another American tourist ranting about the misunderstood French. Based on what I saw, the metros in Paris are definitely filthy, dark places. Even the doors on the trains, you have to physically open it most of the time. The London tube is way more advance and pleasant. No contest. I took the tube everyday while in London. No breakdowns or delays. They only closed certain parts for upgrading.

The comparison between the tube and the parisian metro is either a joke or a big misfortune.
I really don't know where to start. I will not argue with you as you have your own opinion based on your experience.
I am sorry you have been robbed, but it is possible in all big cities, except in Japan and maybe some other countries. But your words say it is typical and I can assure you it is not. Friends have been robbed in Madrid, Rome, NYC.
Which lines did you use in Paris. Some lines are being upgraded with new trains and the RATP is finishing an important work in almost all metro stations in Paris. You cannot say it is dark places.

I will stop here as it would be too long otherwise.

I am really sorry you did not like your experience in Paris. But to be honnest, either you were unlucky, either you did not behave well.

True, every big city have criminals, but only in Paris do you see the Metros and popular tourist destination populated with hordes of scumbags and lowlife criminals out to pickpocket or scam people or cause a nuisance to the public. And worse, the police knows about these people and yet do nothing to clear them out, and so does the city government. So the problem fester and so does the crime rate that comes along. Do you deny this? I heard the government even provide welfare for these people. Perhaps in the name of Human Rights? Even the locals I've talked to knows about this situation and complain about it bitterly because it's their tax money that subsidies this.

I didn't behave badly, and to be honest also, I think it's presumptuous of you or anybody to say so without evidence. I was trying to be nice to everyone, including greeting in Bonjour. What I got was at best indifference and at worst, like I was intruding or bothering them with something when what I want to do is just to place my meal order or ask some questions about something I want to buy. It's just really not welcoming. I can go into details but it's pointless since I am not going to change opinions here. That said, there are some exceptions, but few and far between.

Perhaps I was really unlucky. In any way, this discussion is mot, I am not coming back. All of us are shaped by our experience and perhaps there are many nice friendly French people out there but I didnt encounter them. There are far better places for me to spend my $$$ without putting up with sour long faces everywhere and getting stress up at the risk of being a victim of crime.

BENLEE's rants about crime in Paris are not supported by either common knowledge or even details of his experience, which I imagine we'll now have to plow through since I've noted that shortcoming. Pickpockets in Metro? Sometimes but most cases are naive tourists who leave their valuables easily accessible. Robbery? I've never heard of a robbery in the Paris metro, at least not in any stations where a visitor is likely to go.

BENLEE had better also stay out of Italy as well as all the Mediterranean countries, as they make Paris seem like Disneyland. Disneylands, however, are quite safe, the people are polite and I believe the one in France has a patisserie on Main Street.

BENLEE, you seem to know a lot about French political situation for a tourist!

I am sorry if you understood I said you behave badly. I said "not well" and there is a difference, at least for me.
I am glad to help tourists in the street when they are lost. But not in all circumstances and especially not if I am "attacked" by them. I do not say you did that.
Moreover, you visited Paris during summer, so a lot of us are on vacation. Maybe, the people you met were resentful they were not somewhere else.
Next time (but I do not think that will happen), call me!

Dear GuillaumeD,

No problem. We are just having some exchange of opinions. So perhaps if I will to go to Paris again, however unlikely it seems now, I can hire you as my friendly French bodyguard and tour guide

So true, esp. if the visit was in August. Every time we visit France in August, we end up just spending a few days in Paris (where our favorite restaurants are all closed of course), then meeting up with French friends wherever they are vacationing. IMHO a nicer time to visit Paris would be spring or fall. That said, even with just basic high school French, I've always had a great time in Paris the 11-12 times I've been. A little effort with the language can go a long way.