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Traveling to France can be a fun and memorable experience. France has a lot of great history and culture and fascinating arts and architecture. Some of the most popular tourist spots in the world are located in France, and these are the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.
If you are lucky enough to embark on a French journey, you need to pack a few essential things. Of course, you need your travel documents and passport, wallet, medicines, bags and luggage, clothes, airline tickets, laptop, some travel coupons, so on and so forth. And you might also need to remember some numbers and addresses, in case you get lost, and you need to list down Air France coupon codes to get airline discounts. Aside from all of those, you need specific things so you can get by safely while traveling in France.
Here is a list of top five must-haves if you are traveling to France.
1. Durable walking shoes
In most big American cities, most people have cars and they drive. But if you come to Europe, particularly in Paris, you will see a lot of people walking. And as a tourist, you are required to bring walking shoes. No, do not bring sandals, do not bring boots (unless it is winter); bring strong and durable walking shoes.
Also, there are a lot of good walking tours in France. In walking tours you get to visit different historic places in Paris and get to see paintings and very old buildings, and maybe even get to taste some fine wines. Walking tours usually last for three to four hours, depending on the distance of the tourist sites and number of tourists.
2. French-English/English-French dictionary
Dictionaries are very important when you are traveling to a country in which the native language is not English. It is much preferable if you know some basic words and greetings in French, but if you do not have time to brush up on basic French then having a complete French dictionary will do.
When buying French dictionaries make sure that the dictionary comes with a pronunciation guide. French can be a frustrating language-- words are spelled in a certain way but most letters are not pronounced-- and you would definitely need some help. You can also look for French phrasebooks that have examples of common conversations. You can use phrasebooks when you are buying in a store, when you are riding a bus, or when you are lost in the streets of Paris. Phrasebooks and dictionaries would be very useful so you can get around France.
3. Talking translator or electronic dictionary
A talking translator or an electronic dictionary is a very good device if you have zero confidence in your French or if you do not want to carry a bulky French dictionary in your travels. A talking translator would save you from the embarrassment of not pronouncing a French word right. You do not have to worry about blank stares from people when you are asking something in poor French.
The only thing bad thing about electronic dictionaries is that they can be a bit pricey. If you are thinking of getting one, you can get discounted ones from stores. Or you could buy them ahead of your travel. You can save on auction websites and online stores. Some online stores have promotional discounts and even offer online coupon codes. This way you can save on electronic dictionaries and other products.
4. Maps and guidebooks
Maps are a necessity when traveling. It is best if you buy maps and guidebooks before you leave so you can study them. Usually airport shops and souvenir shops sell maps. Make sure to buy maps and guidebooks that are written in English, unless you are fluent or can understand map directions in French.
There is no need to get a complete map of France, just a map or a guide of the city or town you are going to. If you are only planning to tour Paris, you only need one map or guide. However, if you are going to the French countryside you might need two maps, one road map, and one town map or guide. This is just to ensure that you will get safely to your destination.
5. Currency converter
If you are going to do a lot of shopping in France, you would also need a currency converter. The currency in France is the euro, which fortunately can also be used in other EU countries, such as Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
Thankfully, you do not need money to get a currency converter. Most mobile phones and PDAs nowadays come with currency converters. These devices will make it easier for you to travel and shop in France.
Now that you know what you must bring in your travel to France, you better start preparing your trip. Pack enough clothes and things that you need, and do not carry too many bags. Do not forget to carry your passport and tickets in a hand bag so you would not forget them. Also do not forget emergency numbers, in case you lose something valuable, and Air France coupon codes, so you can avail of Air France discounts.
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