Paris is a wonderful family travel destination. Unfortunately, Paris also has a bit of a bad reputation. Search “Paris things to do” and instead of being introduced to a beautiful city, your search result will be dominated by MANY warnings and things to avoid.
“Wah, for sure the scammers and pickpockets in Paris targets us Asians”. In many cases, YES Asians can be targeted. In our opinion this is because many Asians switch to oblivious fashionista mode as soon as they arrive in Paris. The kind of tourists who watched “Emily in Paris” thinking that it is the real Paris.
“People in Paris are so rude”. In many cases, again, YES! Restaurant waiters and Parisians in general are not exactly known for their hospitality. As a bonus, taxis can be a bit dodgy, wait lines for many sights can be very long and it rains a lot in summer?!
So how can family travelers enjoy a holiday in Paris? Here are some DOS and DONTS you need to know before going!
PARIS DOS
Do take the Metro
Metro underground train is the most economical and convenient way to avoid Paris’ bad traffic and sometimes dodgy taxis. It is easy to navigate with Google maps. Google Maps will tell you which colour line to take and how many stops are needed to reach your destination. Google will also suggest alternate routes if there are any line works or delays.
To save money, buy a carnet – a set of 10 metro tickets. Children under 4 travel free, and 4 to 9 year olds travel half price. Keep your ticket with you as you will need it to exit the station.
Do learn basic French
In Paris, basic greetings such as “Bonjour,” “Merci,” and “Au revoir” takes you a long way. Locals and the staff appreciate your efforts in speaking French and will give you better service!
You should say these pleasantries when walking in and out of stores, restaurants, or tourist attractions.
Do go beyond Champ Elysees & Chinatown (a.k.a Galeries Lafayette)
There’s SO MUCH more to Paris than just shopping. Explore other parts of Paris, like Marais, Montmartre and Latin Quarter that will give you the more authentic feel of Parisian culture.
Kids will love exploring places like Jardin du Luxembourg, spending a day at Palace of Versailles or climbing to the top of Notre Dame. If you have time, consider visiting Disneyland Paris. Read our full Disneyland Paris guide here.
Do BE ALERT & STAY AWAKE
The most important tip of all is to always stay alert! If you need an afternoon “pick me up” (usually around 3PM), make sure you are well caffeinated and not walking around like zombies as this gives the pickpockets and scammers best opportunity to POUNCE on you. This applies everywhere in Paris including museums and cafes.
Common modes of scams include: petition (survey) scammers, free rose scam, red string (friendship) bracelet and (I found a) gold ring scams.
When you see suspicious strangers coming up to you, yell “NO!” and walk away. Maybe.. you can also use this trick to stop your wife shopping!
For parents with baby & younger toddlers: Do bring portable high chair & light – easy to fold strollers
Most restaurants don’t have high chairs and elevators can be hard to find. Also changing facilities for toddlers in Paris can be another rarity, so bring what you need to make a quick change outside.
Do Pre-book tickets & skip the line
This applies to almost ALL attractions in Paris including Sainte Chapelle, Pantheon, Notre Dame and of course Eiffel tower.
Pre-booked ticket holders will line up in a much shorter lane. Nothing worse than non-stop whining children queuing up to get inside a church or museum (as they will whine again of boredom when you get inside).
For example online tickets for Eiffel tower open 2 months in advance, mark it on your calendar and buy them on the first day tickets are released to secure your timed entry.
Pre-booking tickets for multiple sites will save you a bit.
Do pick the right time of year to visit Paris
June to August is the most popular time to visit Paris but… it rains a lot. Try going in April or May when the sky is blue and the flowers are blooming.
Around these months you will find blooming magnolia and cherry trees. You will find many beautiful spots throughout Paris including Champ de Mars, Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin du Palais Royal, Hotel de Ville, or this one in Les Halles. Hello sakura in Paris!
Do order tap water
Tap water in Paris is perfectly safe to drink. To order a jug of tap water in French: “Carafe d’eau”.
PARIS DONTS
Don’t use “Emily in Paris’ as fashion guide
Just because it’s Paris, don’t wear designer items and jewelry everywhere.
The reality is: day to day Parisians do not wear couture. And IF they do wear designer, it’s certainly not to visit tourist spots! Blinging yourself up from head to toe makes you stand out for all the wrong reasons (Hello pickpockets!).
Parisians typically wear staple pieces, minimalist accessories, and neutral tones. Tres Chic without going over the top.
Don’t wear the beret
Only tourists walk around with them on. Berets are probably more helpful for local scammers to help decide who to target next.
Btw, the beret isn’t local to Paris. It originates from Southwest of France, near the Spanish border.
Don’t get pressured to “tip” at restaurants
In France 15% service charge is added automatically to your bill. So, when a waiter comes up to you and asks you for an extra tip, it is NOT mandatory. They are just being cheeky and trying their luck on naive tourists.
Don’t eat near at restaurants near popular tourist hot spots
… like the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame. These restaurants often serve overpriced and mediocre food.
They will also rush you like there’s no tomorrow to clear the table for the next tourists – NOT ideal when eating out with children.
Don’t show off your designer shopping haul!
Shopping is very tempting in Paris. If you do buy expensive brands, do NOT go parading around Paris carrying shopping bags in your hands.
Go straight to your hotel room and leave them securely there.
Do not sit out at the terrace cafe
Sitting at a terrace cafe is great. But if you and your children can’t stand the smell of cigarettes (and if worried about the dangers of passive smoking), sit inside.
Do not Book a hotel too far from a Metro train station
We stayed at Novotel Les Halles, right above Les Halles station (the biggest underground station in the world!).
Les Halles station has an express RER train line B direct to Charles de Gaulle airport. A direct RER train line to reach Disneyland Paris. And there’s even a Westfield Shopping Centre right below the hotel!
Don’t think Emily in Paris is reality
Have we mentioned this one enough?
For other places we have visited, checkout our website’s travel Destinations section. We buy our travel essentials online via Ebay
