{"id":1923,"date":"2014-01-30T15:57:12","date_gmt":"2014-01-30T15:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?p=1923"},"modified":"2014-01-31T17:11:12","modified_gmt":"2014-01-31T17:11:12","slug":"8-dos-and-donts-to-be-a-good-tourist-in-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/8-dos-and-donts-to-be-a-good-tourist-in-france\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Dos and Don\u2019ts to be a Good Tourist in France"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Frenchdosdonts\"<\/a>The vast majority of people never want to make any tourist mistakes when visiting a new country.\u00a0 Most times offence is not intended, and many people feel terrible when they know they have done something silly or offensive.\u00a0 With most countries having different social norms and expectations when it comes to behavior, it is very easy to make a completely unintended and innocent slip.\u00a0 Follow these 8 pieces of advice and be a good tourist in France:<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tipping is not expected in France as the service charge is included in the final total.\u00a0 Whilst leaving a tip is not likely to offend anyone, it is unnecessary and means you waste money!\u00a0 The worst is that you look a bit silly, crazy, and ignorant about French ways.<\/p>\n

2. Call French \u201cFrogs\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not cute, and it\u2019s not clever.\u00a0 Yes, it is one of those stereotypical global nicknames; it does not mean that French people actually take too kindly to it though.<\/p>\n

3. Accuse French People of Being Arrogant<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a common belief that French people are arrogant.\u00a0 They are often proud \u2013 there is a difference.\u00a0 Remember, you are in somebody else\u2019s country, so act respectfully.\u00a0 Bad manners, as is the case all over the world, are often met with the same.<\/p>\n

Do:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Return Kisses<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not talking full on, uninvited snogs here, but the elegant kisses on the cheek, or air kisses, that are a common French gesture of greeting and farewell.\u00a0 If you make a new friend when visiting France, the chances are that they will kiss you at some point.\u00a0 Whilst you should not initiate the kiss, if a French person moves to do a kiss, go with the flow and participate.\u00a0 The number of kisses varies between the areas; Parisians typically kiss twice, whilst other areas kiss three or four times.<\/p>\n

5. Dress Stylishly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many French people, especially in Paris, adopt a stylish and smart dress code for social occasions.\u00a0 Follow suit, and don\u2019t go to the theatre or a fancy restaurant in your casual clobber.<\/p>\n

6. Control Your Children<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course your darling offspring are the most important things to YOU, but that does not mean that everyone else sees it the same way.\u00a0 French children are generally, as a rule, very well behaved with impeccable manners.\u00a0 Dine in child-friendly places if you think your child is likely to want to run and play or you could really annoy other diners.\u00a0 Similarly, keep them in check in museums, on public transport, and other places where there are mixed groups of families and adults only.\u00a0 Have a quick look at French families around you and see how their children are behaving.<\/p>\n

7. Know Your Tu from Your Vous<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are two forms of the word \u201cyou\u201d in French; one is more formal and used amongst strangers, acquaintances, and when a younger person is showing respect to an elder, and the other version is used in more intimate, friendly, and casual settings.\u00a0 Vous<\/em> is formal, tu<\/em> is familiar.\u00a0 Listen to what the other person is using, and follow their lead.\u00a0 Do not use tu if the other person is not, and if in any doubt, stick to vous.<\/p>\n

8. Learn Some Language Basics<\/strong><\/p>\n

French people are often very proud of their country and language and do not look favourably upon foreigners who do not make any attempt to communicate with them in their own language.\u00a0 If you do try, however, you will find that French people are often are lot more receptive to assisting you, and if you try but are really struggling they will go to great lengths to help.\u00a0 Knowing what few essential French words and phrases <\/a>you already know\u00a0can turn you from an average tourist into a shining individual!<\/p>\n

Follow these tips and be a great tourist in France.\u00a0 Say \u201cBonjour\u201d and \u201cSalut\u201d to La France and enjoy the French hospitality and alluring joie de vivre!<\/p>\n

\"Frenchdosdonts2\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The vast majority of people never want to make any tourist mistakes when visiting a new country.\u00a0 Most times offence is not intended, and many people feel terrible when they know they have done something silly or offensive.\u00a0 With most countries having different social norms and expectations when it comes to behavior, it is very(\u2026)<\/p>\n

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\n\t \t\t\t\tCONTINUE READING »<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1924,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[236,28],"tags":[240,39,66,72,44],"class_list":["post-1923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-must-know","category-culture-travel","tag-france","tag-french","tag-language","tag-tourist","tag-travel"],"yoast_head":"\n8 Dos and Don\u2019ts to Be a Good Tourist in France<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Avoid a travel faux pas and read how to be a good tourist in France!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/8-dos-and-donts-to-be-a-good-tourist-in-france\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" 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