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There are lots of travel gadgets available to help travelers, but nothing is more reliable than a good guide book.
In Parts I and II of “A ‘To Do’ List To Get To Paris,” you:
Part III
16. Get travel apps but don’t rely solely on them. As previously stated, it is good travel sense to have a contingency plan. A smartphone can be lost, stolen, dropped in water, or you could have my experience and not be able to access the internet due to a lack of information provided by the cell provider. Take a travel guide unless your contingency plan is to “wing it.”
New apps become available almost every day. Although I plan to highlight some of them on my blog in the future, it is impossible to keep up with the proliferation of technological gadgets unless that is your sole focus. Here are a few that have caught my attention recently. Don’t be surprised they’ve been around for a while. Note: Most of the descriptions are the official app descriptions, and all are available for Android and iOS phones.
Travel Apps
TripAdvisor. This app includes photos, descriptions and reviews of hotels, flights, restaurants and attractions for locales around the world. You could conceivably plan your entire trip using this app. Note: I am a reviewer on TripAdvisor, and I am not being paid to endorse their app.
TripAdvisor City Guide Catalogue; Paris City Guide. Download the TripAdvisor City Guide Catalogue for a multi-country trip or the Paris City Guide for information on restaurants, attractions, hotels and more, all available offline. Both are free.
Travel App Box. Fifteen tools, including tip calculator, currency and unit converter, phrase and pictography dictionary, and country calling codes. $1.99
Tripit. Organizes all of your reservations – plane, hotel, restaurant, etc. – into one itinerary. Free.
Rail Europe. Check schedules, book tickets and reserve seats on 35 European railroads in 32 countries. Free.
Flight Aware. Tracks flight information, including status of arriving and departing planes, gate/terminal changes, delays, cancellations and connections. Free.
Google Translate. Translates written and spoken words and phrases (64 and 17, respectively), and speaks the translations of 24 languages aloud. Provides phonetic spellings for non-Latin-based languages. Free.
Jetsetter. Alerts members to daily sales and exclusive iPhone deals on high-end hotels, weekend trips, safaris, and other excursions. Booking capabilities plus reviews and photos. Free.
Easy Currency Converter. Live exchange rates for 180+ world currencies, favorites, graphs, available offline. Set up your personal currency list and have them at first glance. Free. (Note: I’ve used this and found it to be accurate.)
Since I don’t have field experience with all of these apps, please feel free to leave a comment about any of them if you have already used one, or use one in the future. Also, if you have travel app suggestions, don’t hesitate to share that with me in the comments section. I would like to give my readers that kind of feedback. Please leave me a comment at the end of this post or click here.
17. Notify your email provider and Facebook (or other social media) of your travel plans.
I put this here as a joke. The fact is, you can’t do this (that I am aware of), but should be able to. Why? My Outlook and Facebook accounts were both frozen shortly after I arrived in Paris. The beauty of these types of accounts is that they are supposed to be world-wide accessible. Yet no matter how many questions I answered to verify my identity, neither account could be satisfied: I was using a computer in a foreign country. I kept getting messages that stated both accounts wanted me to sign in from a computer I had previously used. After I arrived back in the U.S., both accounts unfroze themselves, as if by magic. Outlook, Facebook and other such social media need to have a system in place so their users won’t be frozen out of their accounts that are touted as world-wide accessible. If I am unaware that you can notify social media of your travel plans please leave me a comment at the end of this post or click here.
While I opened a Gmail account when in Paris, I needed access to previous emails to get a resume from my Outlook account.
18. Make sure you have enough medication to take with you if you need it. Some people still recommend that you get a written prescription for any medications you take with you. I wrapped a prescription (from my doctor’s prescription pad) around my prescription bottle with a rubber band and packed it in my carryon. I wasn’t asked about it, but how else would a Border Patrol Agent or Customs Agent know the prescription is mine, and that what I have in the prescription bottle is what it says in the bottle? You can’t be too careful.
19. Write down (or program into your smartphone) the number 17: the number to call in France for 
English-speaking police. I’m not trying to scare you, but I had a frightening moment in a deserted section of Pere La Chaise Cemetery during my last trip. (See future post “Paris Trip Day 10.”) Rick Steves had this emergency number in his 2014 guide book on Paris but unfortunately, I didn’t notice it. If your first language is something other than English, ask for an emergency number when you arrive at your lodging and program it into your phone right away.
20. Make arrangements for pets and/or plants to be taken care of.
21. Cancel newspaper and other publications/services as applicable.
22. Tell a relative or neighbor of your travel plans, and give them your contact information while in Paris. Suppose something happens to your cell phone and a family member needs to get in touch with you? It is always good to let someone back home know where you will be in a foreign country.
Meeting new people is one of the joys of travelling. May you be mindful that you are an ambassador for your country while in a foreign country.
23. Take an attitude of a helpful traveler with you on your trip. No matter how long you stay for, whether for a weekend or a month or year, try to have a willingness to try to see things from another’s point of view. Be mindful that you are a guest in a foreign country, and that foreigners don’t often view situations the same way as Americans. And enjoy yourself.
Salut.
Many people find planning international travel to be a dizzying experience.
In Part I of “A ‘To Do’ List to Get To Paris,” you:
Determined when you want to go — during the busy season vs. slow season.
Applied for your passport.
Determined whether you want to live like royalty or like a commoner while travelling.
Investigated airfare prices for one or two airlines and read the fine print of each airline’s website regarding luggage allowance and their rules of carriage (your rights as a traveler).
Determined whether you need travel insurance.
PART II
7. Buy Rick Steves’ Paris 2015 guide book, or another guide book if you prefer. I personally think Rick offers the best travel advice for first-time and experienced travelers alike – and he’s not paying me to say that. (He does not even know I exist.)
I realize in our digital age many people want to travel without being encumbered by travel books. “A smartphone is so much easier to carry, and I can schedule everything using it,” you say. But what if your phone was stolen? Or you cannot seem to get internet service in Paris (or wherever) – what then? You think that cannot happen in our global, digitized world? It happened to me. Before I left for my trip, T-Mobile told me I would be able to get WiFi service anywhere in France and that I wouldn’t be charged roaming fees. They said that even though they don’t have cell towers all over France, they have partnerships with French companies that do. In places where T-Mobile doesn’t have cell towers, the French partners would provide service; this is why I was supposed to turn on “roaming.” What T-Mobile failed to tell me was that I would need a User Name and Password to access the French partners. As a result, I hardly ever had internet access on my phone outside of my hostel, which provided its own service, was password protected, and free.
8. Determine where you want to stay (your lodging). I looked through Rick Steves’ Paris 2014 Guide Book in the “Sleeping in Paris” section to see where I wanted to stay. I had already stayed in the 7th arrondissement, and in an unknown arrondissement 39 years ago, and wanted to discover another part of Paris. The description of Montmartre (18th arrondissement) intrigued me since it is a village, and sounded like it had its own personality. From there, I narrowed down my lodging choices to six possibilities – three hotels, two hostels, and renting an apartment. (I looked at Hotel Pavillon, Hotel Andre Gill, My Hotel in France Montmartre, The Vintage Hostel & Budget Hotel, Plug-Inn Hostel, and Cobblestone Paris Rentals (apartments)). I decided on Plug-Inn Boutique Hostel because it is easily accessible to Metro (it’s actually between two stops, each close by) and cafes and shops, has a full bathroom in each room, a kitchenette so I could make some of own meals, they provide free breakfast, bed linens, towel, WiFi and internet service, they have showers downstairs for when you want to take a shower while yours is occupied by a roommate, their prices were extremely reasonable, they have no lock-out period (though a chamber maid needs access to clean the room) and they have the most beautiful pictures on their website (which, I should mention, turned out to be realistic). I checked whether they had beds available for when I was looking to travel. But before I made my hostel reservation I booked my airfare. You need to make sure you can travel on your preferred dates before you book your lodging. Another possibility is to pay for 1-2 nights lodging before you see whether you can book your airline reservation during your preferred travel dates, that way you won’t be out much if you have to cancel, but are guaranteed to have someplace to stay for those nights if you can.
This is essentially what I did, though with Plug-Inn Hostel, I was able to make a reservation and pay for it once I arrived. I believe because I was so rushed I misread the reservation (what I printed out), since I mistakenly thought that the total I would be paying for two nights was for one night. When I arrived there, I first paid for the two nights I booked and then for the rest of my stay once I understood my mistake. This is why I had to change rooms several times, and my first Saturday night I had to stay elsewhere. Actually, management came to me before then and said they had a cancellation, which meant I could have stayed there. But I had the opportunity to stay in a 3-Star hotel for half price, and I decided I wanted to see what another lodging in Paris was like. (I was also looking forward to spreading out my belongings on a huge bed and maybe even…watching a little French television to see what words I could pick up. I am not normally a big television watcher, especially on holiday.)
9. Make a list of travel gear you need to buy. At the bare minimum, most people need:
carry-on (check your airline’s baggage regulations);
travel blow dryer;
at least one 220 voltage adapter for electronics;
3-1-1 containers for their personal care items (for your carry-on);
first aid items you often use at home (for sore feet, or if you cut yourself shaving); and,
locks for your baggage.
See future posts “Selecting Your Best Wardrobe & Travel Gear (For Women)” and “Selecting Your Best Travel Gear (For Men),” coming soon.
“A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and Thou.” — Omar Khayyam
10. Strategize your food spending plan. Rick Steves says in his Paris 2015 Guide Book that you should be able to eat comfortably for $85 per day per person, or for $40 per day if you’re a student or tightwad; in his Paris 2014 guide book, those figures were $80 and $40, respectively. My daily average for food was $55 per day, even with a free breakfast at the hostel. On days I knew I would be eating dinner in a restaurant, I skimped on lunch, often with a sandwich (or two) I made at the hostel using a baguette or croissant I got as part of my breakfast (both were provided daily) and produce I purchased at markets. I was amazed at how much produce I could buy for so few euros. (Though markets closer to my hostel were much pricier: I paid $8.00 for a pint of cherries because the larger market didn’t have them.) If you stay at a hostel with a kitchen and food shop at markets for even part of your meals, your savings can add up. Look through your guide book for meal ideas. Remember, in Paris there are 1,773 hotels and 12,938 restaurants (that are reviewed by TripAdvisor). If a restaurant looks too pricey from its menu posted outside, just keep walking.
11. Using your guide book, make a list of the top activities you want to do while in Paris, being mindful of which arrondissement they are in. Keeping in mind I’ve been to Paris twice before, my top activities for this trip besides meeting and talking to Parisians and travelers were: 1) a nighttime dinner cruise on the Seine River, 2) Photographic Exhibit that was there while I was; 3) Eiffel Tower; 4) Arc de Triomphe (top);5) become a regular at a restaurant; 6) a guided bus tour; 7) buy a French cape (on the Champs-Elysees if possible); 8) take the “scenic bus routes” as bus tours; 9) food shop at markets (to live a bit like a Parisian); 10) Christmas market on the Champs-Elysees; 11) Musee du Petite Palais; 12 )Mass at Notre Dame; 13) Hard Rock Café; 14) eat bruschetta; 15)Shakespeare & Co.; 16) Alexandre III Bridge (seen in Midnight in Paris); 17) Pere La Chaise cemetery; 18) take a picture of Moulin Rouge (and many others!); 19) eat a crepe; 20) have a few glasses of wine; 21) drink as much cappuccino as possible.
12. Plan your transportation costs. Many of the activities I planned were clustered together, and I often did at least two things per day when I went out. (I stayed at the hostel some days.) Using your activities list, plan your days for transportation costs. “Metro” tickets are good for bus and subway trips. Some activities, such as a trip to Versailles, will require a train trip (or car rental).
My (ground) transportation costs for a month in Paris were $160.00, which isn’t much. I walked a lot, clustered my activities together, and at times stayed at the hostel during the day. I was there to live and relax, as well as see Paris.
Rick Steves says in his 2015 guide book that you should probably plan for $65 for ground transportation costs per week per person. See my future post entitled “Maps of France, Paris, and the Metro” for more information on Metro and other ground transportation costs.
13. Notify your bank (and any credit card companies) of your travel plans and get it (the fact that you’ve notified them) in writing. Inquire as to whether you will be assessed fees for cash withdrawals and debit/credit card transactions and include these in your spending plan. Banks and credit card companies should be forewarned of your travel plans so they won’t suspect your cards have been stolen once you start using them abroad; you should also inquire about fees for using their card(s) overseas. I called Wells Fargo and gave them my travel itinerary: the countries I knew I would visit and several other possibilities (which were possible day-trips). I also asked them about fees. They said I would be assessed a 1% fee for debit card transactions and a $5 fee for all cash withdrawals. I understood what I was told. Still, once I was in France and thought about it, I was a bit surprised that even though I used ATMs in the Star Network – which Wells Fargo is part of – I was assessed fees. I thought the whole reason a bank was in a particular network meant that you wouldn’t be assessed a fee – otherwise, what’s the point of being in a network?
I paid $60+ for withdrawal and international transaction fees for use of my debit card. Fees might seem like a waste of money, but I didn’t want to have too much cash on hand at any one time, even with a locker. I’ve learned to give myself permission to do what I need to be comfortable.
Fees charged by Wells Fargo wasn’t the worst part: Even though I notified them of my travel plans, and even though I received an email from them verifying my travel itinerary, and even though this travel itinerary was clearly visible in my account documents online, Wells Fargo froze my account twice while I was in Paris. They demanded that I recount each and every transaction I had made (twice) in painstakingly slow conversations that increased my cell phone bill. While the customer service reps (Ha!) told me they could see in my account documentation that I had filed a travel itinerary with them, they COULD NOT tell me why they chose to freeze my account twice; I was even hung up on when I kept asking for the reason. I contacted Wells Fargo about this after I returned to the States: Their regional manager never followed up with me to tell me what he found out about why the bank froze my account, twice, even though I gave them a travel itinerary, and even though I emailed him a copy of my itinerary upon his request.
14. Verify your cell phone plan includes international calling, and how much it is per minute. 
Consider getting a SIM card in France. I had to buy a new smartphone just before I departed for France because mine simply stopped working. I made sure I had an international plan. The employees at T-Mobile told me that customers do, from time to time, mistakenly think they have international calling as part of their plan.
Rick Steves suggests that if you are going to be travelling for an extended time, you should pick up a SIM card (with an activated phone!) in France for $5-$10 and save on calls. If it weren’t for all of my other challenges I would have done this. But too many things went wrong for me to deal with yet something else. Also, when I inquired about this at T-Mobile before I left the U.S., I understood more about it after reading the guide book than the employee I spoke to. He first tried to tell me I didn’t need a plan—my phone activated–to get a SIM card in Paris. Only when I narrowed him down and talked about what I had read in the guide book did he finally state his misinformation succinctly: he said “the plan would come with the SIM card.” “Not for five dollars, it won’t!” was my response.
15. After doing your research, develop your spending plan for your trip. In addition, it would be helpful to give yourself a 10% – 15% cushion for unexpected expenditures, such as lost or stolen items. Also, be sure to factor in cell phone calls (or calls, period). You might decide to try to make as few calls as possible and then have an emergency that keeps you on the phone for an extended time. Sometimes, the best laid plans are all for naught.
The following is my spending plan for my month-long trip during the slow season:
Airfare: $ 850.00 Turkish Airlines
Lodging: 1,015.00* Plug-Inn Hostel
Food: 1,650.00
Clothes/Gear: 500.00 (Baggage, travel purse, other travel gear, clothes)
Passport: 221.85
Transp. 100.00* (Cab, Metro, Bus) (I planned to walk a lot)
Attractions: 60.00* (Attractions are free on first Sunday of the month)
Souvenirs: 200.00* (For myself and others)
Int’l Bank Fees: 50.00* (Withdrawal fees and int’l purchase fees)
Cell Phone & Calls 150.00* (Bill and int’l calls: I planned few calls)
London Trip: 300.00 (Eurostar, Hotel, Underground, Food, Bus to Paris)
Emergency Fund 500.00
Spending Plan $5,596.85
My actual spending in categories with an asterisk* differed from my spending plan. My actual spending is listed below, with marked categories in bold and the reason(s) for the difference in parentheses.
Airfare: $ 850.00
Lodging: 1,102.50* (+ 87.50) (Had to stay one night in a hotel)
Food: 1,650.00
Clothes/Gear: 500.00
Passport: 221.85
Trans. 160.00* (+ 60.00) (Cab to hostel more; van return trip)
Attractions: 38.00* (- 22.00) (I only paid for one)
Souvenirs: 350.00* (+150.00) (Sent gifts and replaced lost items)
Int’l Bank Fees: 61.63* (+ 11.63) (More withdrawals than planned)
Cell & Calls 168.49* (+ 18.49) (Wells Fargo froze my account 2x)
London Trip: 300.00 _________
Actually Spent $5402.47 ($327.62 difference) (From Emergency Fund)
Emergency Fund Left $ 194.38
We will finish your To Do List to get to Paris next post!
Salut!
Image of smartphone (LG-GC900) courtesy of Flickr. Photo by Viewty Smart, taken on 3.21.09. CCBY 2.0.
So you’re planning a trip to Paris! Now comes the fun part…putting all the details together to make it happen. Some people like the idea of travelling until they think of having to plan for it: it can be a bit overwhelming. Since I love details, this is where I can help. This To Do List is what I used to plan my recent trip to Paris, including my spending plan (my more prosperous term over “budget”), which I develop in 3 parts. I refer to Rick Steves’ Paris 2014 guide book because I used it to plan my trip and while I was in Paris to help me navigate. In some instances I have referred to his 2015 Paris guide book.
1. Determine your bottom line total for your trip. This will likely inform all of your other choices.
My bottom line total for 30 days in Paris was $6,000. I had received a windfall at the end of 2014 and I needed a break, so I decided to visit my favorite place on Earth. Paris is said to be a place of inspiration and where people “find themselves.” I couldn’t agree more. As a result of this trip, I decided to follow my heart and go back to my first love, the first thing I ever wanted to do: be involved with France in any way possible. Something got in the way of me continuing with French many years ago, and I have always regretted it. So now I am writing about Paris, and I love it. I have a sense of purpose that I haven’t had in quite some time. While I hope others like the design of my blog – after all, I want to serve others by imparting information – it is important that I like it. And I do. In many ways, this trip saved my life. I am facing very difficult circumstances now, yes, but I have my writing about Paris to keep me going.
2. Determine when you want to go. Busy season (higher prices, warmer weather, longer lines) is generally considered to be May, June, September, October; slow season (more deals to be had, cooler weather, shorter lines) is November through March/April. Generally, airfare to Paris is supposed to go down in winter, though I paid $100 more from the time I first investigated prices in October 2014 to the time I booked my reservation, about two weeks later.
You will pay more for airfare and lodging during the busy season, and while many may not think of going to Paris in the colder season, in my opinion, a bad-weather day in Paris beats a good-weather day…anywhere else. There is always something to discover in Paris no matter the season (such as Christmas decorations during the holidays, for I believe no one does them as elegantly as the French). If you travel to Paris during August, don’t be surprised if you see few Parisians on the streets. Like lawmakers and many locals in Washington, D.C., many Parisians historically vacate Paris in August. When I was there 20 years ago I definitely noticed how uncongested the streets and cafes were; perhaps that has changed somewhat.
In his 2015 Paris guide book, Rick Steves says you should be able to travel to Paris for $195 per day, per person (based on double occupancy). Keep in mind that at the time I’m publishing this post, the exchange rate is better than it was for my trip last year (now, 0.89 euros = $1.00 vs. last year, 1.24 to 1.00). Since the dollar is stronger now you should be able to plan a trip for less than the $195 recommended.
3. Get a passport photo taken and apply for your passport as soon as possible. In the U.S., it usually takes 4-6 weeks to get a passport. See the U.S. State Department’s web site for information on getting a passport. To find post offices that offer and accept passport applications, look at USPS’s web site. For information on where to get your passport picture taken, see USA Today’s travel tips.
My passport picture cost $12.00 at CVS/Pharmacy. (It is a perfunctory picture. For my first passport I had a photographer take my picture.) Since my previous personal passport had been stolen (and the last one I used as a contractor for the U.S. State Dept. I had to turn in), I picked up my passport application at a local post office and called to schedule my interview a week later. (The person I needed wasn’t there when I picked up my application.) At the time of the interview, I not only paid the passport application fee, but also for expedited, overnight service for processing my passport. I had to move by a certain date because the house I had been living in had been sold, so I wanted to have my passport in hand as soon as possible. This way, if my application was lost or mangled, I gave myself a time cushion to receive it in time. My passport came in 2 ½ weeks from the time I turned in my application, but only because I paid for such expedited service:
Passport $110.00
Expedited Processing 60.00
Overnight Delivery 14.85
Execution Fee to Acceptance Facility 25.00
Sub total $209.85
Picture 12.00
Total Cost $221.85
4. Determine whether you want to live like royalty or more like a commoner while travelling. Many people prefer to travel for a short amount of time so as to afford to stay in the best hotels. I understand this, but for me, since I would be travelling alone, I would feel isolated staying by myself. I also wanted to stay in Paris as long as possible, live a bit like a Parisian (grocery shop and use a kitchen), and meet other travelers. I chose to live more like a commoner and stay for an extended period in Paris. This meant I would likely be staying in a hostel or an inexpensive hotel.
5. Investigate airfare prices for one or two airlines and read the fine print on each airline’s website regarding luggage allowance and their rules of carriage (your rights as a traveler).
I travelled on Turkish Airlines for my latest trip and I loved it. They allowed two free checked pieces, each 23 kg (50 lbs.), and a “personal” item, such as a handbag, laptop case, or umbrella, and my baggage arrived in the same condition as when I left. I was shocked at how much space was available in the overhead compartments. The food and service were divine: We were served dinner soon after takeoff and breakfast before we landed, and the food was exceptional, one might say airline-gourmet. I made a special request for a nail file (mine was in checked baggage because it was sharp) and the flight attendant remembered my request, even with everything else she had to do. The flight had to travel in and out of Istanbul because Turkish Airlines isn’t part of the EU, and therefore doesn’t have hubs in Europe. Not a problem for this traveler: I watched several movies to pass the time and I was very comfortable. I felt chillier than I usually do on flights but I was prepared: I had worn an Ann Taylor wool blazer along with my cashmere sweater and T-shirt that I normally wear on flights due to the sweater’s breathability. There were also plenty of blankets to go around.
Travelers tend to consider only the price of the ticket before booking a reservation. Is a non-refundable ticket worth the low price? If you decide to purchase such airfare consider also purchasing travel insurance with cancellation coverage. True, the combination would mitigate part of your savings, but sometimes last-minute deals might be worth it. (See #6 below.)
When I flew to Paris 20 years ago I used a so-called “cheap” airline. The flight left from Boston so I had to connect via Washington, D.C. I don’t remember how crowded the airline’s ticket counter was for the trip over, but I will never forget the scene I saw when I arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport to check-in for my flight back to the U.S. 4 hours in advance: It was like I was at a rock concert and everyone was vying to get to the front of the stage. To say that the flight was overbooked is an understatement: it looked like they had triple-booked it. Was $500 airfare roundtrip to Paris worth it? Only because it is my favorite place on Earth. I had to listen to a male Bostonian mouth off about how the French “are so disorganized” when it was the (U.S.-owned) airline’s fault for overbooking. I hope I don’t ever have to do that again.
6. Determine whether you need travel insurance. Travel insurance is most often purchased to insure against trip cancellation: for example, if a member of your family became ill and you decided you would have to cancel your trip. Trip Cancellation insurance can provide you with lost expenses. Other coverage is available for emergency medical expenses, not only in-country but transporting a patient home; trip interruption; baggage loss; flight accident; and accidental death. Travel health coverage also covers domestic travel, according to Travelinsurance.com.
Your travel insurance rate will vary depending on total trip cost, primary destination, departure and return dates, traveler ages, country of residence, state (U.S.), citizenship, and trip deposit date.
I used my spending plan total ($5,597.00), June 1 (Monday) and July 1 (Wednesday) of this year as my departure and return dates, respectively, with myself as the sole traveler (age 54), and plugged in the information to Travelinsurance.com to see the rates available. (Note: The form would not allow me to input a deposit amount date.) Here is a sampling:
$ 22.00 – “Flight Insure Plus (Single Trip – Flight Only)” by Travel Ex. This offered me:
$300,000 for Flight Accident Protection.
$ 44.00 – “Flight Insure Plus (Single Trip – Package)” by Travel Ex. This offered me:
$ 0 Trip Cancellation Coverage
$ 0 Trip Interruption Coverage
$ 2,500 Sickness Protection per person, $0 deductible
$ 2,500 Accident Protection per person, $0 deductible
$ 2,000 Baggage Loss per person
$300,000 Flight Accident per person
$ 10,000 Accidental Death per person
$ 190.50 – “Custom” by CSA. This offered me:
$ 5,597 Trip Cancellation
$ 8,396 Trip Interruption
$ 250,000 Medical Evacuation $0 deductible
$ 50,000 Medical Protection, per claim
$ 1,000 Baggage Loss per person
$ 50,000 Flight Accident per person
$ 0 Accidental Death Coverage per person
$ 630.00 – “Travel Max” by Travel Ex. This offered me extensive coverage in all categories.
I have never had travel insurance, but I am single and have always travelled alone, and I have no major health problems. However, after my research for this post, I am now a believer in travel insurance, even if the sole reason I would buy it would be for baggage loss (what I believe is most likely to happen). When I travel again, I will likely purchase a policy like “Custom” by CSA, above. If you purchase insurance, be sure to understand what type of coverage you’re getting and read reviews of the travel plan/insurance company, if possible. All of the plans I’ve quoted here offered superior ratings from buyers on Travelinsurance.com.
Films have the ability to influence the human mind for good — or not.
So, you’re thinking of travelling to Paris! Or perhaps someone has asked you to go to Paris and you’re not sure what to expect. Seeing a movie that deals with Paris is one way to experience The City of Light without actually travelling there.
Or is it? Keeping in mind that one of my goals for this blog is to present thoughtful commentary on cultural issues, American films reflect our culture, and our culture has created a lot of myths and stereotypes of foreigners and foreign cultures: therefore, it makes sense that our films would reflect these myths and stereotypes. While some people might say you shouldn’t take what is depicted in a film so seriously because, after all, “it’s only a movie,” the fact is that what is depicted on film has a way of seeping into a nation’s conscience, similar to propaganda used during war. Think of the recent debacle over The Interview that was about a reporter being recruited to assassinate North Korea’s dictator. The film was actually meant to serve as a seed planted into North Korea’s collective conscience to envision a life without a dictator as their leader. Just like war propaganda can be positive or negative, so too can films plant positive or negative thoughts about a foreign culture into our national conscience. Then, without a thought, we repeat ideas and actions expressed on film and accept those ideas and actions as reality. Does this close American minds to travelling abroad? Do American films influence how Americans perceive foreign cultures even if they do travel? Do American films negatively impact the way Americans are perceived abroad? My reviews of the following films are meant to provoke your thoughts on these matters. May you be a more enlightened traveler because of them.
I have reviewed three American films here: 1) Midnight in Paris, 2) Paris, Je t’aime, and 3) French Kiss. My reviews are based on the following criteria:
Midnight in Paris (2011)
The story is about a writer named Gil (Owen Wilson) and Inez (Rachel McAdams), an engaged couple who travel to Paris with her parents when her father (Kurt Fuller) has business to conduct there. The engaged couple meet up with another couple, Paul (Michael Sheen) and Carol (Nina Arianda); Paul is an old flame of Inez’s. The differences between Gil and Inez become more evident when Gil goes out for a walk late at night around the city instead of going dancing with the other three. He is magically transported to 1920s Paris at the strike of midnight, and finds himself mingling with people of his favorite era – Hemmingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, to name a few. In this former era he uncovers some truths about himself and his relationship, and makes changes in his life as a result. His midnight stroll into an earlier era is a metaphor for him looking back at an earlier time in his life when he wanted to be a “serious writer” and write novels instead of being a “Hollywood hired hand” writing scripts.
If you only have time to see one movie on Paris, see this. The first four minutes are the most beautiful scenes of Paris I have ever seen on film. In addition, Paris is a character in the film: some directors use Paris as little more than a backdrop for their stories: in this film, Paris is a character, an integral part of the story. The City of Light draws you in with its splendor and simplicity. If Manhattan is Woody Allen’s love letter to New York, it is probably safe to say that Midnight in Paris is his love letter to Paris. I believe he captures the feeling, movement, energy and charm of Paris and the French people in general. Gabrielle (Lea Seydoux, a Bond girl in the upcoming Spectre film), whom Gil meets working in a shop that sells old records and the like (and is therefore appealing to him since she appreciates 1920s Paris), represents all that is good about the French people: she enjoys what she does, she smiles when she speaks, spends time with friends eating a leisurely dinner, and finds Paris most appealing in the rain.
Woody Allen seems to comment on some Americans’ boorish behavior in Paris. Inez’s flaws remind me of a character in a J.D. Salinger short story: She is a narcissist, concerned with her wants and desires while putting her fiance’s desires second, or maybe even third. (She has a fling with Paul and then tells Gil to “get over it.”) She values money over him being happy, tells him not to wake her up when he will be coming in later than she, and is seen constantly thinking about the material possessions she will acquire as a result of this union. Her father doesn’t respect France’s socialism or political views, even though France is allowing his company to merge with a French company. Her mother (Mimi Kennedy) is a jabbering provoker. The entire family values money over anything else. Unfortunately, this depiction of some Americans’ behavior in Paris is accurate—not only have I been told about it by people of several cultures, including the French, I have seen it firsthand. And, when I asked for feedback about how Americans are perceived by the French when I was in Paris recently, the most common complaint I heard was that Americans “are only interested in making money.” The French value human relationships and enjoying life over striving for the almighty dollar (Euro!). When you go to Paris, take notice of how close the French people sit next to one another, how they lean in toward one another, as though everything they say is a confidence to be shared only with those at their table. French people can sit in a café and talk for hours. The pace of life is slower in France, and is meant to be
Marion Cotillard in a scene from “Midnight in Paris.”
One note about Gil visiting 1920s Paris. He meets a woman named Adriana (Marion Cotillard) and begins to question his life choices with Inez as a result. Gil and Adriana walk from Moulin Rouge, to the Seine River and back again. At night. With her in heels. Take it from me, that is A LOT of walking. If you try to retrace their steps, wear very good walking shoes.
Paris, je t’aime (Paris, I Love You) (2006)
This film is actually a collection of 20, 5-minute films, one for each Paris arrondissement (similar to a county in the U.S.), each by a different director. Some of the stories are more fantasy-based than others. What I took away from this film is that while we have our cultural differences, human nature is the same everywhere. It is a beautiful film on love and the human condition, and I highly recommend it.
Ludivine Sagnier, an actress in the “Parc Monceau” segment (8th arrondissement) made an interesting comment in the interview Extras section: She said that the French don’t renew their city and that they need others to come to Paris and do it. They need fresh eyes to help them see what they don’t. I hope when you go to Paris you will remind Parisians how beautiful their city is, how much you enjoy their food and their company, and what a joy it is to be in a place where enjoying life is paramount.
French Kiss (1995)
Kate (Meg Ryan) is engaged to Charlie (Timothy Bottoms). Kate has a fear of flying and so decides not to go to Paris on a business trip with her fiancé. Charlie meets a French woman (Juliette) almost immediately and proposes marriage. Kate decides to fly to Paris to retrieve her fiancé, but not before meeting a French thief named Luc (Kevin Kline) on the plane. He tells her he will help her win back Charlie while slipping in a stolen necklace in her handbag that he hopes to retrieve. The two have adventures in which they grow as people and as a couple.
Paris serves as a mere background for this film, meaning that the story could have been told in just about any foreign country with monuments. I got the feeling that shots with Paris monuments were mere “establish” shots, such as when Kate is in a phone booth on the Champs-Elysees and the camera captures the Arc de Triomphe in the near-background. Also, when Kate and Luc travel by train they just happen to pass the Eiffel Tower. Worse, these establish shots are fake: I was in Paris around the time French Kiss was filmed, and I never saw a glass phone booth in this location. Also, a train does not travel in front or in back of the Eiffel Tower as depicted. While directors frequently take creative license in such scenes in movies, Paris is one of the world’s most visited cities, so the city’s layout and cultural monoliths are well-known the world over. Although fictional, French Kiss wants to be believed, but the fictional portrayal of storied landmarks gives it an air of unreality.
As I previously stated, films can make an impact on the human mind, and, in turn, influence behavior. One example in French Kiss is the phrase Kate uses that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up: before she calls Charlie’s new fiancée a “bitch” she says, “Pardon my French.” How many Americans are guilty of saying “pardon my French” before or after speaking a dirty word, as though every dirty word is of French origin? The French don’t have a monopoly on dirty words; every culture has them. Yet, generations of Americans have repeated this slur – and why wouldn’t we, since it is often used in movies and television shows to “emphasize the meaning of a less offensive word without violating censorship or rating guidelines” (Wikipedia). And according to the Urban Dictionary, the phrase “…originates from the constant warfare between England and France many years ago (that is, in the 1300s), at [the] time [when] ‘French’ was associated with indecent things and activities (swearing, kissing, etc.).”
Unbelievably, the first Americans left England for the New World long after this warfare ended, and England and France have long had diplomatic relations (!). Since the U.S. is not a part of England and England is no longer at war with France, anyway, how about serving as an example for others and not using this oft-repeated phrase? If you are reading this blog, chances are high that you care something about international relations. Please do your part, small though it may be, and stop blaming the French for every curse word. While we certainly have diplomatic relations with France, the U.S. sometimes seems to be in a culture war with them: we blame the French for being rude while many of us don’t even try to learn basic French phrases before travelling there, we demand them to cater us when we are visitors in their country, and the U.S. treats France as though they are a step-child in world affairs. France has been a major player in world and European affairs: it is a founding member of the U.N. and the E.U., and is a member of many other international organizations, such as NATO and the World Trade Organization. Small countries like France play an integral part in the global community whether the U.S. wants to acknowledge it or not.
As for Kate in French Kiss telling Juliette “pardon my French” before referring to her as a “bitch,” Kate was quite mistaken. The use of “bitch” to describe an objectionable woman has been in use since the 13th century, and according to Wikipedia, likely has its origins in the Old English term bicche, meaning “female dog.”
Salut.
Film posters and clips used by permission of Blu-ray.com. Wikipedia reference to page “Bitch (insult).” Urban Dictionary reference to page “Pardon my French.”
I realize the horrific time has passed but I would be remiss if I did not mention my sorrow surrounding the shootings that took place in Paris this past January after Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine there, published some cartoons that some people found offensive.
My heart goes out to the families of those killed and to the French people in general. France is a peace-loving country that values, above all, human connections. I can only imagine the shock and horror that ripped through Paris and throughout France on the days the shootings took place. As the whole of France grieves, I grieve with them. I am a Francophile: I am part French, have studied French, and I have visited Paris three times, the last time for 30 days at the end of 2014. Many people have asked me (in an “I’m sure I know the answer” manner) if I was glad I returned to the United States prior to the shootings: in a word, no. On the contrary, I told them, I wish I had been able to stay in Paris – not just to work, which is my goal – but to have walked to the Republique in solidarity with the French people whom I care so much about, and to simply offer my support to those grieving. I admire the world leaders that offered their support in word and deed to the French people immediately following the attacks. They are true ambassadors for their respective countries.
I remember all too well where I was when the terrorist attacks happened on September 11, 2001, and how alone I felt. I was home from work having worked the late shift as a financial proofreader, and I hardly breathed as I watched the events unfold on television right before my eyes. My mind did not drift toward terrorist attacks: I thought the world had gone mad. Terror can tear the body to pieces, but what it does to a person’s heart and soul is far worse: it can kill the spirit, and the joy of living with it. That is why it is so important not to become isolated when terror strikes, because terror cannot do its dirty work if people stick together and support each other.
I know the French people are already rebounding from this. I only wish I could be there to offer my support in person.
Je Suis Charlie
Salut.
Je Suis Charlie image “Never Again” by Robert Couse-Baker, Copyright 2015. Used by Permission of Flickr. No changes made. Link to image page. CCBY 2.0