10 Paris Travel Mistakes You’re Probably Already Making

Paris has changed a lot in the last few years, and in this video we walk through the Paris travel mistakes that cost visitors time and money today. If you are planning your first trip, or coming back after a long break, this is our checklist.

Arriving and choosing where to stay

Most US flights land early in the morning before your room is ready, so we like a later evening departure that lands around 10 a.m. Check the calendar too: Fashion Week, Roland Garros, the Tour de France and school holidays all push up prices and crowds. When picking a hotel, check reviews for a working elevator and air conditioning, and consider booking direct so the hotel can change your reservation. Expect a city tourist tax per person per night (5.53 euros when we filmed), and verify any deposit request directly with the hotel, since fake deposit emails exist.

The mistakes we see most

• Taking a ride from someone who approaches you at Charles de Gaulle. Official taxis use a flat rate (56 euros to the Right Bank, 65 euros to the Left Bank when we filmed).
• Waiting too long for Louvre and Eiffel Tower tickets: they open 60 days out and go fast. Buy on official .fr sites or a trusted aggregator.
• Forgetting that a lot closes on Sundays and Mondays, while some museums stay open late.
• Carrying your passport every day. Keep a digital and a paper copy instead.
• Not claiming your VAT refund on bigger purchases.
• Feeling pressured to tip: service is included in France, and tipping is up to you.

Food, shopping and health

Book a food tour at the start of your trip, not the end, so you know what and where to eat for the rest of your stay. Reserve the restaurants you really care about, arrive right at opening for the others, and look for the weekday lunch formula. For souvenirs we prefer the covered passages, Galeries Lafayette and museum gift shops. If you feel unwell, start at a pharmacy (look for the green cross).

Ready to plan? Book the Devour food tour we mention, browse our 125 best restaurants in Paris guide and our Paris hotel guide, and see our selection of things to do in Paris. Everything else is in our Paris Guide Bundle.