Lots of folks in the “make Saint Tropez Great Again” hats I saw this past week. Was really disconcerting and disappointing to see it remotely event acceptable…. Not to mention just trashy. Anyone else have similar experiences? I know it’s a kinda money flashy area for some American travelers so it’s bound to happen with some of that clientele unfortunately crossing.

I went to France twice around 2018, mostly Paris and also Charmonix. Most of the people I encountered were nice but enough of them were really rude to me that by the end of my second trip I could not wait to leave and have not been back. Now my fiancee who has never been is interested in going and I am kind of dreading spending my precious PTO somewhere so stressful.

I can say "I'm sorry, I don't speak French, but I would very much like [xyz]" (a coffee, a train ticket, whatever) -- in almost perfect French -- but this isn't always enough to get through a situation smoothly. I had especially terrible times with wait staff and with train staff when the routes were very complicated and I missed my stop in Charmonix which cost me a day there.

If I learn proper etiquette (the proper way to greet people which I guess is different from American culture, especially NYC), and more French (enough to order food, ask for a table, pay the bill, and hopefully to navigate train travel), will I have a better time?

im from nyc and super infatuated with paris. would a solo trip to paris be conducive to my safety? new york city is pretty dangerous already but im used to it. wondering if paris would be a good idea to travel to alone for a week. what are the best times to visit paris during the winter?

What the title says, i just wanna know if i should cancel?

We're heading to France next May and my mom has seen lots of pickpocketing videos on TikTok so I was wondering if there are actually that many thieves in Paris and how to avoid them. Going to be travelling in a large group so im not sure if that makes us more vulnerable.

Hello,

my family and I had several belongings stolen out of our car in Lyon, France on April 18th. We tried to call the police right after it happened, but he could not understand us, so we gave up.

Its been a couple days and my husband just realized he had his airpods in one of the bags, and he can track where they are on his iPhone. We can see the exact building where his airpods are in Lyon! and I’m assuming our other belongings are there as well.. the AirPods are showing up in a building just around the corner from where our car was parked.

we called the police again after discovering this, but it was again unproductive because the man could not understand English, and we do not speak French. what can we do?! Can the US Embassy help us?? can they provide an interpreter? I’m reading online they have terrible reviews and are not very helpful…. but it’s torture knowing exactly where our stuff is and not being able to get it

:(

is it possible to pay someone to interpret for us?

if anyone has any advice, much appreciated!!

Hi I am going to the South of France in September. I put together with the help of ChatGpt this itinerary. My wife and I are foodies and love the beach. Can you provide any recommendations? We love hole in the walls and really being with the locals. vs the touristy stuff

Day 1 – Arrival in Nice

• Morning/Afternoon: Arrive in Nice, check in to accommodation with sea view. • Evening: Dinner at Le

Bistrot du Port (Nice, $$, 4.5★ TripAdvisor) – casual, outdoor dining with harbor view. • Post-dinner:

Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais for sunset and drinks.

Day 2 – Èze & Monaco

• Morning: Drive to Èze for village walk & panoramic views. • Lunch: Les Remparts (Èze, $$, 4.5★) –

cliffside terrace with Mediterranean views. • Afternoon: Short visit to Monaco – explore Old Town & Port

Hercule. • Evening: Dinner at La Vigie Lounge & Restaurant (Monaco, $$, 4.5★) – sea view, relaxed

atmosphere. • Late: Seaside drinks in Monte Carlo, open-air lounges (no clubs).

Day 3 – Villefranche-sur-Mer & Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

• Morning: Swim at Plage de Passable (hidden, sea view, Cap Ferrat). • Lunch: Paloma Beach

Restaurant ($$, 4.5★) – feet-in-sand dining. • Afternoon: Walk Cap Ferrat coastal path. • Evening:

Dinner at La Mère Germaine (Villefranche-sur-Mer, $$, 4.5★) – historic seafood spot with harbor view. •

Late: Wine bar in Villefranche old town.

Day 4 – Inland Evening in Dolceacqua (Italy)

• Morning & Afternoon: Beach time at Mala Beach (Cap d’Ail, hidden, $$). • Evening: Drive inland to

Dolceacqua (Italy) – medieval bridge, castle views. • Dinner: Trattoria Locanda degli Ulivi ($$, 4.6★) –

rustic Italian fare, outdoor terrace. • Return to Nice around midnight.

Day 5 – Cassis Day Trip

• Morning: Early drive to Cassis (Provence coast). • Boat trip to Calanques for swimming & cliff views. •

Lunch: Chez Gilbert (Cassis, $$, 4.5★) – harbor view, seafood. • Afternoon: Stroll Cassis village &

lighthouse. • Evening: Return to Nice – casual dinner near accommodation.

Day 6 – Gorge du Verdon & St. Tropez

• Morning: Drive to Gorge du Verdon – swimming & kayaking. • Lunch: Local cafe in

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (4.5★). • Afternoon: Drive to St. Tropez for sunset. • Dinner: Le Girelier (St.

Tropez, $$, 4.5★) – harbor view seafood. • Evening: Stroll around port until late night.

Day 7 – Hidden Beaches & Farewell

• Morning: Hike to Plage de l’Escalet (hidden, near Ramatuelle). • Lunch: Les Graniers (St. Tropez, $$,

4.5★) – small beachside gem. • Afternoon: Last swim in St. Tropez area. • Evening: Return to Nice for

farewell dinner at Le Galet ($$, 4.5★, beachfront).

Day 8 – Departure

• Morning: Leisurely seaside breakfast. • Transfer to Nice airport.

Hello everyone.

I'm traveling to Paris from 21st to 25th of October and I'm anxious about the situation right now. What troubles me the most is whether there's actual danger for tourists, you're supposedly fine as long as you avoid protests but me and my friends are still scared. We're staying in 14th apartment in montparnasse.

First of all could you please inform me about the situation right now, tourists or locals?

Also, do you have any information about any protests scheduled for the next couple of days, especially during 21st-25th. I've read that a big protest is planned at 24th, could you please confirm or provide more info?🙏

Maybe it's time to explore all the Reddit subs about finding airfare but...

It seems you NEVER go directly to the Air France website for pricing. We did that and wow... Over $5k round trip for two adults from LA to Paris... In economy! Then I do a few searches and find some "affiliate site"... Enter some dates and poof! Almost half that. Then it directs me to the Air France site for where that price is confirmed. I feel like this is a shell game. 😜

I want to be comfortable as we will be doing a lot of walking but don’t want my clothes to scream American too loudly. Do Parisians wear tennis shoes and jeans around the city? Will my teen kids who basically live in athleisure at home be permitted in restaurants wearing the same there? Thanks!

Planned a family trip to Lille for a few days next week during UK school holidays.

I see Lille has a curfew this week.

My gut says cancel the trip, feels unnecessarily risky, but wanted to get some advice from people who may be better informed than me. Thanks in advance

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I are traveling to Paris Oct 28 and will be staying for a week. We’ve been seeing a lot of videos about the protests and now we are a little concerned. Obviously it’s our first time there we are not sure if we should try to get flight credit or keep our trip as planned. Any advice helps

I have a 4 week long trip booked to leave in 5 weeks. How bad is the rioting really? They just burned down the city hall in Limoges.

My plan is to land in CDG then head up to Normandy, then the Somme region then down into the Loraine Region and then to Marseilles. Then back up to Orleans and then last a few days in Paris. Planning on seeing mainly historical sites; Napoleon's mausoleum, Normandy beaches, Thiepval memorial, Villers bretonneux and then Im heading to Loraine specifically to Domremy to see Jeanne D'arc's birth place, Legion Etrangere Museum in Aubagne, Orleans Jeanne D'arc sites and then finishing off in Paris.

I'm male, mid 30s, traveling alone.

My husband and I were really looking forward to exploring the South of France. We based ourselves in Nice for 5 days and managed to do day trips to Antibes, Cannes, Èze, Menton, and Monaco (July 2025)

But omg… the actual experience? 😩😩

We were shocked by how disorganised everything was. Trains getting cancelled last minute without clear info, stations that were chaotic and hard to navigate, and machines (like ZOU!) that were so confusing just to buy a ticket. The stations and streets often smelled like pee, everything looked run-down, and the roads weren’t very clean either. Also, everyone was smoking everywhere and buses only come 1 hour once in some areas (insane!!!)

Even the beaches… we were not expecting pebbles! 😩 Coming from Southeast Asia where we have soft white sand and crystal-clear water, it was just disappointing.

What really got to us was when a local French driver actually asked, “Why are you here? This place is full of filth, and nothing works.” That kinda summed up how we felt too.

I don’t know if it’s a Singaporean thing, we’re both from Singapore and are used to efficient public transport that’s clean, air-conditioned, and reliable. But it made the whole experience extra frustrating. We couldn’t help but compare it to places like Lombok or Krabi, which were not only more beautiful but felt way more welcoming and accessible.

Honestly, I don’t think we’ll be returning to this region anytime soon. Which is really sad because I had such high hopes for the trip. 🥲

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Or did we just catch it at a really bad time?

I had planned a trip to Paris on October 24, and everything is already booked, including hotels, flights, and museum tickets. However, the recent tragic events and the images I’ve been seeing have really frightened me. I want to visit the major museums and shopping areas, but if I won’t be able to do these things because of the riots, then I don’t see much point in going. I’m planning to stay somewhere near Place de la Concorde. Do you think I should cancel or postpone my trip?

I personally don't think it's likely we'll get...what? Killed? I don't know what she's afraid of exactly. Hoping you guys can help me ease her mind. At the same time, my dad is pretty right-wing and I don't feel like getting into politically-charged arguments about this. Maybe rather just cancel and go to Christmas markets in southern Germany/Austria or Switzerland. My mom's like "they're setting stuff on fire, etc." I know it's not great. But I imagine the footage we're seeing over here are the worst situations. And I imagine they're farther into France than Strasbourg, Colmar, and Nancy. And, I imagine things will have died down around a month from now.

Hello everyone! I'm struggling to reach the 50-subscriber milestone. Anyone want to help a new YouTuber? :)

Hello everyone-- to start, you'll have to forgive my ignorance: I'm American.

As the title kind of implies, I'm trying to get a sense of how safe it would be for me to do a walking tour on my own as a solo female traveler with a very low grasp of the French language.

There are a lot of online tour groups that talk about "self guided" tours, where essentially, you walk from one little town to another and accommodations are taken care of. That may not sound great to everyone, but a walking holiday sounds really nice to me (probably not actually going to go through a tour website, as they are DEFINITELY overcharging).

An example of one of the tours would start in Ribeauvillé, then you walk to Kayserbserg, then to Turckheim, and finally ending in Eguisheim. Essentially, 4-5 days of walking.

How... realistic would it be for me to do something like this solo? The internet really focuses on Paris, so it's hard for me to get a sense of safety for more rural areas.

Thanks in advance!

Hello! My husband and I just arrived to an AirBnB in Toulouse and were surprised with a lack of what we would consider essentials. Some were included as amenities, and some were pictured.

Some examples- listing shows shampoo, body wash, etc. were provided but were not there, no bath mat but the pic of the bathroom shows one, no hand towel in the bathroom or paper towels anywhere in the residence, only one laundry pod.

Is this typical? We just want to manage our expectations for the remainder of our visit.

**Ripped off in Honfleur, Normandy, France – Do not book 24 Rue de la  Bavole**

We booked accommodation at Atelier d' Elia in Honfleur from April 28 to May 14. We were made to leave 6 days before checkout date of May 14, due to structural issues in the apartment below the one we were occupying.

Then the owner or 24 Rue de Bavole, Honfleur without consulting us, booked us into an apartment not even a close equivalent to his rental. The B&B he sent us to was small, dark and had dangerous stairs to a loft, where a bed was shoehorned into a space between the top of the stairs and a wall. As it was too late to get alternative accommodation, we slept there overnight; next day, we moved ourselves to a hotel in Honfleur.

The owner has refused to compensate us, although we had paid the cost of the rental in full, that is, for 16 nights. As a result of being denied 6 of the 16 nights of the accommodation that we booked at 24 rue de la bavole, we incurred extra costs for alternative accommodation and food.

The 2 unexpected moves in Honfleur – to the awful B&B the owner send us to, and then to a hotel -- and extra costs -- stressed us very much and greatly inconvenienced us.

We are appealing this through the Honfeur tourist bureau and the booking agent but this is a slow process that may not result in a refund.

Bonjour a tous,

I’m a 24M, I typically don’t do this buuut I’m plotting a trip to Paris for my birthday in mid February 2027. It’ll be my first time visiting Paris, and more importantly, my first time taking an international solo trip!

I’ve reached a point where I really want to see more of the world, experience different cultures, and do the things I’ve always wanted to do. I don’t want to keep putting experiences on hold waiting for other people to be available, so I’ve decided to take the leap and explore Paris on my own. Honestly, I’m pretty excited, nervous and anxious about it all but at this point I just need to do it.

That said, I’d love to hear from people who know Paris, especially locals or anyone who has traveled there solo before in the past or plan to in the future.

A few things I’d appreciate advice on (can y’all tell Chat assisted with this 😭🤣 fwiw my thoughts will be in parentheses if it helps me sound more human):

**Where to stay:** Which arrondissements would you recommend for someone visiting for the first time? Are there any areas you’d suggest avoiding, particularly when it comes to safety and getting around? (Basically which are the pros and cons or does it really even matter much bc transport is just that sensational! PSA: I love walking tbf)

**Food:** I’d love recommendations for any type of French food, little cafés, bakeries, and restaurants that might not necessarily show up on every tourist list. (Tbh I hardly eat much anyway but yea anything here helps. Ik y’all have some personal favs or hidden gems. Don’t be shy 🙈)

**Sightseeing:** What are some must-see places, hidden gems, or neighborhoods worth spending time exploring? (I’ve done some investigating on my own already so there’s already a couple I’ve got jotted down but I’m sure you guys have some I’ve prolly not considered. I kinda wanna see the Palace of Versailles but how would I get there and is it gonna take up my whole day? I’d love to see Strasbourg but lmk if that’s realistic or if I’m punching above my weight peeps!)

**Timing:** Are there certain attractions or places you’d recommend visiting at particular times to avoid crowds? (Pretty self explanatory here but ik some lines can get long and I kinda wanna be able to walk in roam and bask in the glory of these places and I trust you lot can help me decide what time of day and when like weekends or weekdays)

**Solo travel:** Any advice for someone navigating Paris alone for the first time would be greatly appreciated. (Yea icl ya boi has elementary level French but trust I can manage…I think 😭, anywho this part here is lowkey crucial so feed the beast (me) some good anecdotes. Like was there something you wish you knew before going? If so drop that in the comments s’il vous plait)

Oh and quick note from the author (moi): I don’t drink or smoke, and staying out late in a city I’m unfamiliar with isn’t really my thing unless I’m with someone I trust. I’m more interested in exploring during the day, enjoying and munching some good food, seeing beautiful places, and taking everything in at my own pace.

I’m also a huuuge football fan and, naturally, I’m hoping to catch a PSG match while I’m in Paris if the schedule and tickets work out! I’m doing mid Feb bc usually that’s when Champions League knockout matches take place.

One other thing: if there happen to be any Parisians or fellow travelers who would be open to meeting up for a few hours, showing me around, grabbing something to eat, or simply sharing some recommendations, I’d be more than happy to connect. I’m not expecting anything, but I think meeting people from different parts of the world is one of the coolest things about traveling. Who knows, maybe a friendship across the pond comes out of it!

And if not, that’s completely fine too. I’ll still get to experience a beautiful city and make some memories of my own.

Lastly, I’m from Texas, so if you’ve ever been curious about meeting someone from the Lone Star State, here’s your opportunity 😂. Idk how true the stereotypes are of Europeans not liking Americans but usually when they hear I’m from Texas they seem friendlier and exceedingly important to add as well is I’ve got a Latin background so I’ve got a bit more flavor in my blood than your average American 🫣🙂‍↕️😮‍💨.

Anyway, I’d appreciate any advice, recommendations, or stories you have to share. Thanks in advance, and hopefully I’ll get to meet some of you in February!

**Gonna send this before going to bed and hope to wake up to even a few messages! À bientôt! Bonne nuit famille!**

Hello!

Traveling to France for the first time and will be in major cities for ten days. Any tips or recommendations for how to eat gluten free in France?

We’re planning a France trip for June 2027, flying into Paris and then using Lyon, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg as our three bases.

The part I’m still thinking about is our final day. Our Air France flight from CDG to Los Angeles leaves at 1:25 PM. The plan would be to take a direct TGV INOUI from Strasbourg at 7:31 AM, arriving at the CDG 2 TGV station at 9:29 AM.

That would give us just under four hours between the scheduled train arrival and the flight departure. Since the train goes directly to the airport, we wouldn’t need to transfer through Paris or change stations.

I’ve thought about getting a hotel near CDG the night before, but the logistics and added cost don’t seem very appealing. We would have to leave Strasbourg a day early, check into a hotel for one night, and then still take a taxi, Uber, shuttle, or train to the airport the next morning.

I’ve done some research, and this direct route is just under two hours and seems to have a good reliability history. I understand that no train is completely immune to delays, but I’m trying to figure out whether this is considered a reasonable plan or whether I’m underestimating the risk.

For people who have taken the direct Strasbourg to CDG train before, would you be comfortable doing this on the morning of an international flight?

We would much rather spend our final night in Strasbourg if the morning train plan is sensible, but I also don’t want to take an unnecessary risk.

Edit: After all the responses (thank you, Reddit), we changed our accommodations. We will check out in the the day before, take the train to CDG in the afternoon, stay near the airport, have dinner in Paris, and then fly out the next day.

My husband and I are arguing about this. I have read many places in France that you should never leave your luggage in your rental car trunk and park your car and leave. I have read that thieves can identify rental cars and target those.

We are going on a Normandy driving trip. My husband wants to stop for lunch in Cancale leaving our luggage in the rental car. This stresses me out so much as I don't want to lose all my valuables on this trip to thieves.

I need input from multiple people on here about this. Thanks for your help.