Have you been to France?

[sparklyheart]

I am going in June for 2 1/2 weeks. The only things set in stone are that I enter and leave through Paris (family lives there) and I am meeting a friend in Nice the last week.

What did you LOVE doing?
What did you HATE doing?

I hate doing guided tours and prefer to go without plans.. However I do need to figure out some basics of what I need to see and what I can skip! PLus, being June, I'm sure I will have to get through some other tourists to see anything...

My family lives in Paris but has not spent a great deal of time traveling around France.. They work a lot!!

I know there are PSers all over and PSers who travel all over and y'all give great tips so any input in appreciated!!!

 

[kenny]

I DO hope you speak French.
I went once and I would not return unless I learned to speak French.

I think the French are exceeded only buy the Americans in expecting visitors to speak their local language.
IMHO, going to France without being at least functionally proficient in the French language is a mistake.

Don't get me wrong.
I'm not the loud, obnoxious, ugly American who expects the world to speak English.
I spoke in broken French as I tried with my French/English dictionary.
A few times I was allowed to struggle for several minutes to assemble my question in French, only to be answered in English that was better than mine.
I was only in Paris for a day and maybe I just ran into a few Parisians having a bad day.

I'm just letting you know that I have traveled to 20 or so countries and in no other country was I treated with such extreme derision for not knowing the local language.

 

[Jennifer W]

Awesome! I love France, and we have been many times. We went there for our honeymoon, in fact - flew to Nice, hired a car and toured, then few back from Lyon.

Everyone's idea of a good holiday is probably different, but see if you can find a copy of the Michelin Charming Places to Stay in France book. We've stayed in upwards of a dozen of the places listed and never been disappointed - they really are charming!

Long, leisurely lunches and lovely dinners, and of course some fabulous Parisian shopping springs to mind, but the scenery and beaches around Nice are glorious and well worth a few days there.

I hope you have a wonderful time and I would love to see your photos!

 

[sparklyheart]

Kenny, I speak a little but am using Rosetta Stone to become more comfortable with it.. I wouldn't want to go over there without speaking the language!! Especially for that long.. I am of the mindset that if you are going to travel somewhere, it is worth learning the language. Plus, I will be by myself for part of my trip so I want to feel comfortable getting around!

Jennifer, I will check out that book. I love staying in unique little places.. Thanks for the suggestions!!!

 

[Jennifer W]

I DO hope you speak French.
I went once and I would not return unless I learned to speak French.

I think the French are exceeded only buy the Americans in expecting visitors to speak the local language.

IMHO, going to France without being at least functionally proficient in the French language is a mistake.

Don't get me wrong.
I'm not the ugly American who expects the world to speak English.
I'm just letting you know that I have traveled to 20 or so countries and in no other country was I treated with such extreme derision for not knowing the local language.

How unpleasant. I'm sorry to hear it. I don't speak French either, but never got any unpleasant vibe about it. The only time French people were clearly annoyed and upset with me was when I got lost and had a meltdown driving through Lyon. I did not know that sign mean 'trams only' (see speaking French, above) but yeah, I was probably a bit of a menace. Our car had a Paris registration plate, and people in other parts of France were a little bit impatient with us because they thought we were from Paris (I was told) but got much friendlier when they learned we are Scottish.

eta, it might depend on where you're from, actually. DH got a bit more attitude than I do, because he's actually English and has a strong accent. Some French people don't like English people.

 

[yennyfire]

We spent two weeks there (and DH proposed to me there). Started in Paris, did all of the "regular" things, including just wandering around wherever our eyes/nose took us. After 4 days, we rented a car and started driving towards Marseille. We stopped in Dijon for the day, then drove to Beaune, stayed there for a couple of days, then drove to Avignon. We didn't really care for Avignon (DH's pocket was picked), so since we had a car, we just went on a couple of day trips and found the most charming little town called St. Remy du Provence. After that, we drove to Marseille, dropped the car off, spent a couple of days there and then took the train back to Paris, where we flew home. Obviously, we made hotel/villa reservations ahead of time, so we did know generally where we were going.

What I loved about this was that while we had made hotel reservations in advance, we had quite a bit of flexibility in staying somewhere we fell in love with longer than we had planned and cutting our visit short if we weren't as enamored. As a result of this plan, we stumbled on a local festival going on in this tiny town. No one there spoke English and DH and I don't really speak French, but they were so welcoming and invited us to participate with them, even though it was a pot luck event and obviously, we didn't have anything with us. They were absolutely lovely and it's one of my fondest memories of our trip.

As for the language barrier, it wasn't an issue in Paris or in other cities, like Marseille. In the small villages, it was a bit more of a challenge, but we always managed with hand gestures and our handy French/English dictionary. I am so excited for you! I know that it will be a spectacular trip!

 

[chemgirl]

I DO hope you speak French.
I went once and I would not return unless I learned to speak French.

I think the French are exceeded only buy the Americans in expecting visitors to speak their local language.
IMHO, going to France without being at least functionally proficient in the French language is a mistake.

Don't get me wrong.
I'm not the loud, obnoxious, ugly American who expects the world to speak English.
I spoke in broken French as I tried with my French/English dictionary.
A few times I was allowed to struggle for several minutes to assemble my question in French, only to be answered in English that was better than mine.
I was only in Paris for a day and maybe I just ran into a few Parisians having a bad day.

I'm just letting you know that I have traveled to 20 or so countries and in no other country was I treated with such extreme derision for not knowing the local language.

Its not just you! I speak french and was taught Parisian french in school. However, I have a very distinct Canadian accent. People still pretended not to understand me. Funny enough the sales people in high end stores were far less snobby than I've encountered elsewhere. For some reason the ticket counter people for the subway were the worst!

 

[chemgirl]

I really enjoyed Versaille!

I would avoid other places that are extremely touristy because they can get very very crowded.

I loved Montmartre, but areas can be a bit dodgy. There are some great artists and its worth a visit if you're in to arts and crafts.

 

[jaysonsmom]

Yes. Dh and I went to Paris in Sept 2010 for our 10 year anniversary, and we had a great time. I can only comment on Paris because we didn't go to other parts of France. My SIL lives there, but she had just had a baby, so was not able to take us sightseeing due to the inconvenience of having a newborn baby who needed to fed every 2-3 hours. Her husband was at work all the time.

So, armed with a great city map, and their bus passes, we set out to explore on our own. We never walked so much in our lives. You can pretty much get anywhere on foot, and when we got tired at the end for the day, we jumped on the batabus (river bus) that is on the Seine or figure out how to get back by bus with our bus map. On average we walked about 10 miles a day.

We went to Notre Dam, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the St. Germain district, Champs Elysee, Arc de Triumph and all sorts of other museums and landmarks that I don't recall the names of because I don't speak french at all! Our favorite was the St. Germain district with tons of international restaurants, and beautiful cobbled alleys filled with great cafes.

Also, FYI the french were not rude or had expectations for us to speak their language. Everyone we met and spoke to (on English), or asked directions from were so kind and friendly, and helpful! Treat people as you'd like to be treated, and they will do the same back. I smiled, looked people in the face and said Bonjour (pretty much the only french I know) and they treated us wonderfully. The same thing happened in NYC, people warned me about people being abrupt and short, but I never experienced it first hand, I love people and it shows I guess.

 

[decodelighted]

Paris .... flea markets, pastry & flower shops, Le Bon Marche dept. store, bistros, Eiffel Tower, walks along the Seine & a cruise, picnics
If you're going to Nice also (which was nice) -- can you hop over to Monte Carlo? (Grand Casino & incredible shopping!)

I never have made it to any of the real wine country - but hope to someday. Maybe on a bike trip if I ever get fit enough again. Oy.

 

[ame]

No but within a few more years we want to take my MIL. My FIL was planning to take her and he died before they got to go. So we're trying to plot a trip to take her and possibly arrange it with my SIL. I've never been so Id love to. I also would love to have the amount of money I think I need to buy some bucket list items there

 

[chemgirl]

Actually regarding speaking French, you might be better off just speaking English. I think I ran in to trouble because I was "butchering" the language with my Canadian accent. I've found the same thing in Montreal. I get attitude when I speak french with my Ontario accent, but nobody gives a hoot when I speak English. Granted Montreal and Paris are very different places. I'm sure that somebody else will be more helpful.

 

[Skippy123]

I really enjoyed Versaille!

I loved Versailles too; you can rent bikes and ride through the gardens. I would do a day trip there but make sure to go first thing in the morning; we rode the metro there that already had the train ride and price of Versailles included.

We climbed the steps up to the top of Arc de Triumph; I would do that. There is an underground tunnel to the Arc which is a neat view from the top.

I would also do a creperie. We ate at La Creperie Des Canettes; another PS'er, Charger recommended it and it was so cute and yummy!

I liked the Sacré-Cœur Basilica just browsing the Montmartre shops and eating a pastry from the Basilica steps while taking in the view.


we really enjoyed our bike ride; it was on the sidestreets of Paris; Bike About Tours. We also did an easy bus tour where you hop on and off, it is the red bus and it stops at the major sights. One rainy day we went to the 2 major museums the Louvre and the Orsay. Ice cream near the Notre Dam at Berthillon. I love Angelina's for desserts and lunch at 226, Rue Rivoli; the line can be long. Also, Laduree is very nice http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/produits/macarons_accueil.htm they have delicious macarons. To me Paris is about the food!

We were there 3 years ago though.

 

[Pandora II]

I'm a big fan of Normandy: Cream, butter, seafood, Calvados...

My best friend is French (in spite of my being a 'Roast Beef') and she is from Montpellier in the South, I've not been but my sister lived there for a year and loved it.

I spent a fair amount of time in the Jura region. Great cheese and wonderful mountain hikes.

 

[bee*]

My parent's own a house in the Loire Valley so I go at least once a year. It's absolutely gorgeous-lots of vineyards, delicious food and it's so reasonably priced (a really decent bottle of wine is about €2). We go to Paris usually once a year and there is so much to see and do. Another gorgeous city is Tours-it kind of reminds me of a smaller, much cheaper Paris. Where my parent's house is, they barely have a word of english so when they bought the house, it was a lot of sitting around with a dictionary when we were in the local's houses for dinner. You'll have an amazing time.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, my, it has been many, many years but I was there for 8 weeks one summer! We went to every part of France. I liked it all, so it would be hard to choose favorite places, but I've been to most of the places mentioned on this thread. I was with a student group and we had a native French speaking leader, so we had no problems. I wouldn't travel there alone.

I picked up a small piece of Quimper pottery there, and later collected a set of the pottery back in the US. So Quimper is a place I would recommend if you might be interested in French handpainted pottery. The quaint town of Annecy and nearby Geneva, Switzerland were lovely as well. We were very fortunate to stay so long because we went to places that people wouldn't go on the typical 1-2 week trip.

 

[Amys Bling]

I DO hope you speak French.
I went once and I would not return unless I learned to speak French.

I think the French are exceeded only buy the Americans in expecting visitors to speak their local language.
IMHO, going to France without being at least functionally proficient in the French language is a mistake.

Don't get me wrong.
I'm not the loud, obnoxious, ugly American who expects the world to speak English.
I spoke in broken French as I tried with my French/English dictionary.
A few times I was allowed to struggle for several minutes to assemble my question in French, only to be answered in English that was better than mine.
I was only in Paris for a day and maybe I just ran into a few Parisians having a bad day.

I'm just letting you know that I have traveled to 20 or so countries and in no other country was I treated with such extreme derision for not knowing the local language.

I had the same experience...

 

[indecisive]

I had the same experience as Jaysonsmom every time I have been to France (3 times). People we always very helpful and friendly, especially if you even attempt some french, smile, act polite, etc. The trick is sticking close to your husband because french boys are very persistent.

In addition to what others have said I did like the wine area (we go to see where they make Dom Perignon) and also Provence/Arles. I would also recommend doing some souvenir shopping at a grocery store. A lot of things you cant find or are hard to find here. We went to a huge one the guide book recommended in Paris but I can't remember the name. Have fun!!

 

[purselover]

I absolutely loved France, I think it really is one of the most romantic cities in the world. The highlights for me were: visiting vineyards, Normandy beach, Monet's house and garden, Versailles (the hall of mirrors and the gardens in particular), Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower (at night as well as during the day!), the Arc De Triumph, and the Louvre.

 

[rainwood]

I'll limit myself to Paris because that's where I've spent the most time. Here are some less touristy things to do:

1. Take advantage of the time difference when you first arrive and get up really early one morning and walk around at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. before the rest of the city gets up. The light is beautiful, it's quiet and peaceful, and you have most of the city to yourself. I stood in the courtyard of the Louvre (where the I.M. Pei pyramid is) and was all alone. Then get a freshly baked croissant at a bakery and stop for a cafe creme. Fabulous.

2. Buy some strawberries at an outdoor market in the Marais and go eat them while sitting on a bench watching kids play at the Place des Vosges.

3. Go for a Saturday morning stroll on the Promenade Plantee (the entrance is by the new Opera House in the Bastille) and enjoy the fabulous flowers, the peace of being one story above all the traffic, and the Parisien fathers taking their kids out for a Saturday adventure so Mom can have some alone time.

4. If you like to cook or just enjoy the notion of cooking, go to the Dehillerin culinary store on the Right Bank, then stop for a citron presse (it's like a make it yourself lemonade) at the cafe across the street.

5. Make sure you are in sight of the Eiffel Tower at 10:00 p.m. and see what happens. The closer the better but not actually in the Tower itself.

6. Stroll across the pedestrian only Les Ponts des Arts in the evening as it starts to get dark. If you can find an empty bench, take it and people watch. It's even better if you bring a picnic dinner or at least wine and cheese.

 

[sparklyheart]

Wow, thanks for all of the input so far!!

Riding a bike through the gardens at Versailles sounds awesome!! I definitely need to hop on my bike here and get ready for that. Can you rent a bike anywhere in France? I know you can in Paris for sure but I'm not sure about the other cities.. Oh and the walking shoes will be ready to go.

Skippy, Climbing to the top of the Arc sounds so cool as well.. I will definitely have to look into that.

Indecisive, I can't stick close to my husband because I don't have one... but I'll watch out for those French boys!!! I have heard about the persistence..

DS, I will be alone for a portion of my trip.. I'm not sure how much of it though. Any things out of the ordinary I should keep my eye out for? I have travelled alone many times so I'm used to the normal precautions. This is another reason why I want to become more comfortable with my French. I don't want to be completely clueless!! Also, it is nice that you were able to go for 8 weeks!! A lot of people have looked at me funny when I say I'm ONLY going to France for this time.. but I want to be able to see a lot and not just see the major sites.. I like the little places

Bee, thanks for the info on Loire and Tours. I was curious about whether both of those would be nice. I need to do more research on those cities.

Purselover, I had forgotten about Monet's house... thanks!

Pandora, I can always go for cheese and a nice hike!

Amysbling, sorry you had an experience like Kenny's.. I know I can expect that but I'm hoping for the best.

Chemgirl, I'm definitely a little worried about the crowds! Unfortunately I can't go another time of the year so I will just have to plan accordingly...

Ame, I agree, I would like the money to buy some nice items there.. I guess I will have to see how truly frugal I can be over the coming months!!

Deco, how does that work going to Monte Carlo? I will probably spend a couple days in Nice so I might be able to get over there!

Jaysonsmom, it's nice to hear that you got around without speaking French and without a tour guide! My family there is similar in the sense that they will probably not be able to show me around and they themselves have not been able to explore too much. I also don't want them to feel like they have to be my tour guide! That's definitely not an expectation!

Yennyfire, that sounds like my kind of trip! I want to have hotels pretty much lined up but the rest can just be a list of things to do if I have time/the desire... And that's awesome that you got a proposal too!

I'm definitely writing all of these places down...

 

[sparklyheart]

I'll limit myself to Paris because that's where I've spent the most time.

We must have been posting at the same time.. Please don't limit yourself! I love your ideas!! Thank you for sharing.. Now I want a croissant. And a picnic. And the Eiffel Tower.

 

[rainwood]

I thought I'd give my take on the French, and Parisiens in particular, because I disagree with some of what's been said here. The first time I went to France I though the people were rude, just as some of the other posters did. The second and third times I'd done a little more research, and I found the French (including Parisiens) to be some of the most helpful people on the planet.

Here's what made the difference for me. The French customs and etiquette are different than what we're used to. The French tend to smile only when they know who they are smiling at. To smile at a stranger is considered hypocritical because smiling at someone you don't know can't have any real meaning behind it. You don't have to agree with the logic, but that is their custom so that's what they do and it works best to understand that's their starting point. So don't be offended if someone doesn't smile at you. They aren't being rude by their standards.

There are also certain bits of etiquette that help a lot if you know them. When you enter a shop, it is customary to offer a greeting - either "Bonjour, madame" or "Bonjour, monsieur" depending on the gender of the person closest to you. That's all you need to say or is expected. It's rude NOT to do this. It's also customary in many stores that the customers don't self-serve and it is considered quite rude (and gauche) to start helping yourself. Don't go in and just starting handling the merchandise, including food. Watch and see what other people are doing so you can figure out what the right thing is for that store. If you want help, go up to the person (you don't have to smile because they'll just think you're a smiley American) and ask "Parlez-vous anglais?" Then wait for an answer before you start talking. If they say yes, then you're good to go. If they say no, start in whatever French you can muster and then see if they'd rather switch to English. Again, the difference is a discomfort of some people (particularly if they are older) to speak another language if they aren't perfectly fluent in it. And I mean PERFECTLY. Again, it's a French thing. When you leave the shop, be sure to say "Au revoir, madame or monsieur" again depending on gender, and that's it. You've shown that you respect their culture enough (a culture of which they are rightfully proud) to have learned one of the basics.

There are other things as well that help, but I've already written a novel so I'll stop here except to say there are some categories of people on whom no amount of charm or etiquette will work. They include the people staffing the booths in the Metro and the cashiers at grocery stores. Those folks will eat you for breakfast so know what you're doing before you get to them.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

We are going in May, so this thread is timely!

cheers--Sharon

 

[bee*]

another gorgeous place is La Rochelle. I think it's one of the prettiest towns that I've been to.

I agree with rainwood that it's customary to greet the shop assistant when you go into a shop and when you leave and they definitely do appreciate when you attempt to speak in french although apart from in remote areas, I find that you can get by without a huge knowledge of french.

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

I thought I'd give my take on the French, and Parisiens in particular, because I disagree with some of what's been said here. The first time I went to France I though the people were rude, just as some of the other posters did. The second and third times I'd done a little more research, and I found the French (including Parisiens) to be some of the most helpful people on the planet.

Here's what made the difference for me. The French customs and etiquette are different than what we're used to. The French tend to smile only when they know who they are smiling at. To smile at a stranger is considered hypocritical because smiling at someone you don't know can't have any real meaning behind it. You don't have to agree with the logic, but that is their custom so that's what they do and it works best to understand that's their starting point. So don't be offended if someone doesn't smile at you. They aren't being rude by their standards.

There are also certain bits of etiquette that help a lot if you know them. When you enter a shop, it is customary to offer a greeting - either "Bonjour, madame" or "Bonjour, monsieur" depending on the gender of the person closest to you. That's all you need to say or is expected. It's rude NOT to do this. It's also customary in many stores that the customers don't self-serve and it is considered quite rude (and gauche) to start helping yourself. Don't go in and just starting handling the merchandise, including food. Watch and see what other people are doing so you can figure out what the right thing is for that store. If you want help, go up to the person (you don't have to smile because they'll just think you're a smiley American) and ask "Parlez-vous anglais?" Then wait for an answer before you start talking. If they say yes, then you're good to go. If they say no, start in whatever French you can muster and then see if they'd rather switch to English. Again, the difference is a discomfort of some people (particularly if they are older) to speak another language if they aren't perfectly fluent in it. And I mean PERFECTLY. Again, it's a French thing. When you leave the shop, be sure to say "Au revoir, madame or monsieur" again depending on gender, and that's it. You've shown that you respect their culture enough (a culture of which they are rightfully proud) to have learned one of the basics.

There are other things as well that help, but I've already written a novel so I'll stop here except to say there are some categories of people on whom no amount of charm or etiquette will work. They include the people staffing the booths in the Metro and the cashiers at grocery stores. Those folks will eat you for breakfast so know what you're doing before you get to them.

This was my experience as well, especially in Paris. Greet people in French, ask if they speak English in French, if yes, great, if not, I used to fumble around with my French words and mix them up with some English in a French accent. Worked every time!

Sparkly I am so jealous! I can't wait to go back to France. It's my most favourite place in the world!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I just remembered the thing I HATED the most! We went to Notre Dame. Great place to visit but do NOT go up into the towers unless there are few people there! It was in the summer and there is a narrow spiral staircase in a stone tower that seemed to never end and there are people right in front of you and right behind you so there is no way to speed up the walk or escape. Every now and then there would be a square hole to the outside. It was hot and stuffy in there. I'd try to keep calm until I could get to the next hole in order to get some oxygen. I have never considered myself claustrophobic, but boy did I find my limit!!!

I really think you can see a lot in Paris as well as Nice in the time you'll be there. I think I would really focus on those areas since they are the primary places you'll be, and then save other areas for future visits.

Oh, and just watch out for the men. I had a couple try to pinch my rear end. Sorry to be graphic. And yes, I was much younger at the time! They wouldn't bother me now!

 

[Clairitek]

DH and I went from the Italian border to the Spanish border in a car in October. We spent a night in Nice and had the best meal in our entire trip (which spanned Italy and Barcelona as well) there. We did a tasting menu and it was reasonable for the quality of the food.

Link to the restaurant on Trip Advisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187234-d1381908-Reviews-11eme_Art-Nice_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence.html

We rented a car in Nice and drove up to Vaison-la-Romaine. We stayed there for two nights in a bed and breakfast. The B&B was in an old country home with a gorgeous view of the city and Mt Ventoux. We were able to easily drive to do some wine tasting in the Rhone Valley from our spot there.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g196687-d1101369-Reviews-Les_tilleuls_d_Elisee-Vaison_la_Romaine_Vaucluse_Provence.html

The countryside down there is gorgeous. The day we drove from Nice to Vaison-la-Romaine was really great. It was sunny and we did 1/2 motorway and 1/2 country roads, stopping in little villages along the way.


I've been to Paris 3 times, too. My best experiences in Paris have included a good pair of shoes to walk miles and miles in and a decent map of the city following our eyes, ears, and nose. I know others have suggested this method of exploration. When I was a poor student I would pack a couple of pieces of fruit, a couple of drinks, a baguette, and a few croissant into my bag at the beginning of the day and not return back to the hotel until close to dinner. I have so many vivid memories of what I've seen in Paris just walking around!

ETA: For lodging on our European trip we did the B&B thing almost exclusively. I relied on Trip Advisor a lot to help find the best options in each town. It never lead us astray and we only relied on hotels in Cinque Terre (Italy) and Barcelona. I think we saved money by using B&Bs because they always included a meal and were often priced lower than a hotel of comparable quality.

 

[movie zombie]

spent some weeks in the northeast corner of france where the backup language was german as that area had changed hands several times over years of war....and people were surprised that an american was visiting. sort of odd, that. however, we had a great time and did not speak french. i bought a handy little language book that was invaluable for reading signs and menus, did learn how to ask in french if the shopkeeper spoke english. most important was that i learned about the french culture a bit before i went. polite behavior goes a long way and overcomes a lot of language skills. the first bakery i went into i stood in line like the locals, observed their interaction, and mimicked it. saying good morning/afternoon/evening in french, BEFORE asking in french if the shopkeeper spoke english....and making very sure to say thank you in french and goodbye in french. it was obvious that we were in a very small town that most tourists did not even stop in yet we were treated very well. this happened everywhere we went....and usually a local would observe the interaction and volunteer to assist us stating that they didn't speak english very well....and i always complimented them on their english.

Nancy, Metz, Troyer, the Alsace region were all great....especially Strasbourgh which is called "la petite Paris" by the french.

and in a little Alsace town we happened upon a local celebration much like a local "art festival".....live band singing beatles tunes in french, flamekuchen made on a grill, and wine served by a guy who it turns out had retired very early but his business had taken him to NYC and his english was as good as ours.

my advice: keep an open mind and heart. stay polite....it trumps language skills. get off the beaten track and experience some of the countryside. i still don't speak french and i would not hesitate to return.

 

[mogster]

I've been to Paris twice -- the first time with my friends, one of whom spoke French, and then with my family, none of whom speak French. The second time was miserable because I couldn't communicate with anyone, but I knew to greet people with, "Bonjour, parlez-vous Anglais?" (as others have mentioned above) and when they said no, it kind of gave me implicit permission to gesture and point to things. I found people to be sympathetic this way. I did skip eating out at restaurants altogether and bought food from the grocery store instead.

Also, be aware that you need a debit card with a chip to use some of the ATM machines there. It's probably a good idea to carry around some cash, like for the metro for example, the kiosks wouldn't take my debit card.

I found the DK Eyewitness Pocket Map & Guide to be indispensable. It has a detailed fold-out map of the city and of the subway system and also what days and times different attractions are open.