My travel guide to France as a female and an American

I am a 22 year old female from New England and at this point I'd like to say I'm a pretty experienced world traveller. My father is a pilot. For those of you that are unaware, this means I get to fly standby. What is standby? Basically, it means you fly for free as long as there are extra plane seats. I've visited France three times, and lived/worked there for 8 months. I understand there are actual French people who live in France in this sub, but I thought my experiences as a woman and foreigner might help others. I hope that this isn't too presumptuous.

I've been to 23+ towns/cities in France. I speak a decent amount of French as well and pretty fluent at an intermediate level. Here is my guide. Please feel free to add to this if anyone is interested.

Places

• Nice - Stick to the old section. Nice is great to use as a hub to visit other cities for day trips. I made Nice my "home base" and got a hotel near the train station. Each day, I'd use that station to visit a different nearby city (Monaco, Cannes, Grasse, etc). The art museums there are definitely worth a visit.
• Bordeaux - The city of duck ('magret de canard'), caneles, and wine! This is definitely one of the most underrated cities in France. Place de la Bourse is lovely in the summertime when there is actually water to create that magical reflection.
• Monaco - a playground for the rich. The casino is amazing, but Monaco should only really be a day-trip unless you have money to blow. It is, overall, quite bland. However, it's on my people's "check" lists so to speak. It'd be wise to dedicate one day to visit both Monaco and one other nearby place, rather than investing a full day there. If you can, a really cool time to go might be during the Monaco Grand Prix, although as you can imagine, it'll be expensive and the city will be PACKED.
• Antibes - A colorful coastal town that's a lot of fun to get lost in. I particularly enjoyed the Picasso museum. The market there is lovely as well.
• Villefranche-sur-Mer - Another picturesque tiny coastal town, a true hidden gem. There isn't much to necessarily do, but if you want a relaxing day trip to marvel at the sunny architecture and relax with the sea breeze, it's the place to be.
• Montpellier - I lived in Montpellier for an extended period and I am not a fan. The city has essentially one large center (known as Place de la Comédie, which is quite pretty with the fountain). Outside of this center, the quaint architecture begins to turn ugly and is reminiscent of that which you'd see during the 70s (lots of concrete). However, Montpellier boasts Des Rêves et du Pain, which has been recognized as the greatest bread shop in all of France. For a city of it's magnitude there is not much to do.
• Grenoble - I've also lived in Grenoble. It is known as a bit of a wealthier city, given that it is near the mountains and is recognized as a ski town of sorts. (Definitely try to go skiing if possible.) The old section is beyond gorgeous, and the city itself is lovely and accessible. The fête de la musique there is amazing, if you have the opportunity. If you go, you must try raclette, St. Félician cheese, and their signature chocolate covered clementines (they may be mandarins). Les bulles/the bastille provide a lovely view and Chartreuse is nearby (definitely worth a visit and a taste) as well as the Chateaux: Sassenage and Vizille. There are also three nearby mountains: Vercors, Belledonne, and Chartreuse which make for incredible hikes. The pizza in the old section across the river is pretty great too.
• Lyon - (I cannot truly speak much to Lyon as I did not see enough of it. However, from what I did, it is nice and very, very large, almost overwhelmingly so.)
• Paris - Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc du Triomphe, Versailles, Ladurée... Paris has it all. I won't beat a horse to death, when the internet has already done so. I loved Paris, but it was a bit overwhelming and chaotic at times for me. You could spend a full week there, doing different things each day and exploring each individual arrondissement.
• Loire Valley - What can I say? It's home to some of the most beautiful castles in the world. Picnicking there was a dream, and each castle is magnificent. I went to a nearby small town's market and purchased a bunch of food so I could picnic at one of the castles, in a field of wildflowers, surrounded by butterflies. Yeah. It was that good. This short description doesn't do it proper justice, but it truly is incredible.
• Carcassonne - This is one of the coolest cities I've ever been too, and similar in a way to Uzès, given its old age, southern-french feel, and the amount of cobblestone/stone everywhere. It makes for a great day trip (but I'm talking about at least one full day). It can be touristy in the summer, but is a really fascinating destination.
• Narbonne - The Les Halles market is one of the best in France, and Narbonne's canal (Le Canal de la Robine) is gorgeous, especially in spring/summer. The cathedral there is nothing to laugh at, and Narbonne isn't too touristy. It's a real hidden gem, especially in comparison to Carcassonne which is nearby but much more visited.
• Uzès - This is a little sought after town that is tiny but gorgeous. It's in the shape of a circle (roughly) and it's famous for its early morning market. The Place aux Herbes is unique and lovely (and the café there is wonderful), as is the castle there and the gardens. I strongly recommend you visit the cathedral. My best tip: I go to the market there, buy some food for a picnic, then visit la vallée de l'Eure and eat there. Sitting there, eating fresh baked bread, charcuterie, and cheeses while watching the swans makes you feel like some kind of royalty.
• Grasse - This is, possibly, my favorite place in France. It is known as the perfume capital of the world. It is famous, therefore, for its perfume museums and flowers (which grow in abundance). If you want to see quintessential southern France in all its glory, go here. I cannot praise it enough. I still can't fully believe this is a real place.
• Menton - If you want to visit Italy without visiting Italy, visit Menton. It smells like fresh oranges, it's colorful, it's coastal, and the food and language there have strong italian ties.
• Chamonix - This place has become a bit touristy, but is still worth a visit I believe. It reminds me of Switzerland due to its mountainous terrain. Mount Blanc (the tallest mountain in Europe) is here. When I last went, I saw people paragliding through the valley/mountains and honestly, if you're an adrenaline junkie, I can't imagine a better place to do it.
• Annecy - This is another one of my favorite places, although it has also become a bit touristy (not as bad as Chamonix). The cascade d'Angon (which is nearby) is pretty neat, and the old section there is particularly beautiful.
• Toulouse - I did not care much for Toulouse. The art museums, however, are wonderful and the candied violets (for which the city is famous for) were spectacular. Otherwise, I was not too fussed. The architecture there is incredibly unique, as its predominantly brick, and is reminiscent of Boston and perhaps Quincy market for this reason. The subway there is very convenient and easy to use.
• Cannes - (See Monaco, just even more bland.) The promenade is nice, but that's about it unless you're drowning in money. However, it was fun to window-shop and try to guess how expensive things were.
• Camargue - Horseback riding here, on the beach, while on pure white steeds, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, unless you like just sitting on the beach or in a low-key café, there isn't much else to do.
• St. Lô - I worked here. Normandy is really interesting region, full of fields of grass/grain and bordered by the sea. This town is tiny, and is known for its national stud farms, which were created under Napoleon. If you are obsessed with horses, I strongly recommend you tour the stud farms of France. However, it is worth mentioning that part of the Haras National du St. Lô recently burned down. I'd also recommend: The Haras National du Pin.
• Bayeux - A fairytale town famous for its tapestry. The cider, like in most of Normandy, is excellent. You may have heard of Bayeux from WWII accounts as well. Bayeux War Cemetery is the largest Second World War cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France. It was also the first major town secured by the Allies during Operation Overlord. The beach is not far from here. Sainte-Mère-Eglise, which is also nearby, is famous for cathedral where American WWII soldier, John Steele, got trapped. His parachute got caught on the church during the assault and he essentially was stuck there. Fun facts.
• Giverny - Famous for Monet's Garden, it is touristy but absolutely worth it. You can physically see the inspiration for many of Monet's paintings here. There is a restaurant and museum, and Monet's house is open for visitors.

Traveling solo

Traveling solo (especially if you're a women in a foreign land), can be dangerous. Without getting too serious or scary, here are some tips

• Clothing - blending in is key. If you look like a tourist, you're more likely to be target by pick-pockets and other shadier individuals. For women, I have more advice below. For men... maybe don't wear baseball caps, as typically they're viewed as a more American item. Try not to wear flashy brand names, as brands unique to America (vineyard vines, etc) might clue others in.
• Wallet and phone - DO NOT place either in your back pocket or on a table, especially in a city. Common sense here.
• Train knowledge - I've had relatives get items stolen on trains and public transport in general. Public transport is PRIME for thieving, as everyone is sandwiched together. Try to lock what you can, hold on firmly to your purse, try not to leave items unattended.
• Feel free to add other additional tips!

Traveling as a woman

• Clothing - In France, specifically Paris, I've noticed women tend to wear black. In general, they wear quieter colors (neutrals, more muted shades, etc). Focus on clothing that fits well. Women here DO NOT use a lot of makeup. Red lipstick, mascara, and covering blemishes will do the trick. All-black outfits are acceptable; they like to play with different materials/fabrics. Leather jackets are IN. Do NOT wear leggings (tight jeans are the go-to). In more conservative areas like small towns, try to wear clothing that isn't too revealing, as it can be attention-grabbing. Also, don't wear huge heels; it's not practical with all the stone streets!
• French men - Eye contact with French men is something that as an American woman, I picked up on big time. In France, people understand that "checking out" other people is a very human and very normal thing. This means that men may stare for extended periods of time, and periods that are actually much longer than what would be considered acceptable or common in the west. French women don't smile as much as American women, and so be aware that smiling may invite conversation. In public transportation, try to stay around other women, as it's just usually just safer in general. If you would like to express interest in a glance, you can literally look a guy up and down. He'll get the message.
• France is a multicultural place! Be aware that there are some cultural groups here that tend to dress more "modestly", as well as older generations that are simply more conservative. Going back to clothes, just keep this in mind at times.
• Be careful at night, please. Walk with purpose, keep your phone on you, and just play it safe. It's much like any other place in the world, however, you're at a huge disadvantage given that you aren't familiar with the streets and you may not speak the language fully.

Traveling as an American

• Volume - Americans, whether they realize it or not, tend to speak loudly. On public transport, this is unacceptable, and usually, people are near silent. Be considerate.
• Try not to mention you're American - This will be controversial. In my own personal experience, the second I mention I'm American in France I tend to get two responses. The first is that I'm dumb. The second is that, being a young American woman, I'm a slut. Some, definitely not all, French men think American women lean towards being more promiscuous. In general, Americans aren't always well-received and the difference I see when I say I'm Canadian instead is marked. I'm truly not one for being dishonest, but it's saved me from getting ripped off a couple of times. Americans, understandably, aren't too liked in some places.
• Practice the language and use your manners - This is common sense! French people are nearly always pleased to see someone doing their best to speak their language. However, be advised that some people may not be too thankful if you have a strong accent. Nevertheless, it's important to try being a good global citizen. And besides, the best place to practice a language is where it is most used! However, a word to the wise: sometimes, people will recognize your accent and realize you're not a local and use this as an opportunity to rip you off.

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I hope this helped, and I hope that this wasn't too controversial or presumptuous. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts, opinions, and recommendations. Thank you! Bonne voyage et bon courage!

Submitted May 23, 2020 at 09:10PM by Violetteia https://ift.tt/3cTFNpT