LIKE many people, I had heard stories of waiters spitting on people for not tipping enough, tourists being abused in the street when asking for directions and generally feeling unsafe when venturing out at night.
In my experience, this was simply not the case.
I came across attentive salespeople who offered helpful advice, and people of all ages in
the street who would stop and give directions.
Although some people said they couldn't help me because they didn't speak English, I just accepted that maybe they didn't.
As for obnoxious, tip-hungry waiters, I didn't see any.
Being surrounded by people smoking at every table while eating in restaurants did take
a little getting used to, but waiters in cafes generally seemed more amused than offended by our pronunciation of French (or lack of).
During my five-day dining experience in Paris, I encountered not one rude waiter.
Verdict: Busted
MYTH: It's too expensive to enjoy and sightsee in
PARIS can definitely leave a dent in the wallet if you let it. But you can also get excellent value for money and enjoy this wonderful city without actually breaking the bank.
Our first sightseeing stop was the Eiffel Tower. The visit is well and truly worth it, even if you don't go up the tower.
Standing beneath it and walking around the huge gardens is a surreal experience.
Being near an icon of which you have seen countless images in movies, television and print media makes you realise you are really in Paris – and a long way from home.
So for those on a budget, this sightseeing marvel can be absolutely free.
The next must-see stop is the Palais du Louvre, which holds one of the finest collections of artwork in the world.
I must come clean: I love art, and may therefore be somewhat biased, but I truly believe that you could have no interest in art whatsoever and still find the Louvre, and everything within its stronghold, truly fascinating.
The Louvre was initially built as a defensive fortress in 1190 and went on to become a residence to the kings and emperors of France.
Words cannot describe the luxurious gold and intricate detail. I had neck cramps from staring up at the opulent ceilings and walls, utterly mesmerised.
The building itself is huge. It would literally take weeks to see everything, but it's a magical place to explore.
Every new room or hallway takes you on a new adventure through time, which I had a limited supply of.
A day was all I could spare, but I would go back to Paris just to revisit this magnificent museum.
My admission fee for the Louvre was nine euros, and we spent more than seven hours there (it felt like about three). So, for a full day's entertainment, you really can't go wrong.
Sightseeing in Paris expensive? I don't think so.
Verdict: Busted
MYTH: No one speaks English
I WAS told repeatedly that no one in Paris speaks English.
Before my visit, I made an effort to learn how to say "Good morning", "Good afternoon" and a few other useful phrases, and found this was enough.
Parisians saved themselves the pain of hearing their native tongue being butchered by my rough Australian accent and gladly gave directions, sometimes in very broken English, but an effort was always made.
Verdict: Busted
MYTH: Accommodation is overpriced, under-cleaned and overrated
THERE'S no doubt the purse takes a punch when converting Aussie dollars to euros, but accommodation doesn't have to be a killer.
Spend some time researching accommodation on the internet.
If you find a hotel that looks good, don't just take the website's word for it, Google the hotel, read reviews on various travel websites and go for position, position, position.
Saving 20 euros a night on accommodation may sound like a better deal, but in some areas it may cost you double that in travel and food costs.
Look for a location close to the underground Metro, as it makes Paris easy to navigate (from my experience, the Metro runs on time, every time).
We stayed at the Millennium Paris Opera Hotel, in the business district and just a short walk from the Louvre Museum and the Champs Elysees.
The minute you walk through the doors, you're welcomed by the friendly concierge.
And the foyer drips with traditional French charm; it's worth taking a seat on the lounge to soak it all up.
We stayed in a traditionally decorated, Parisian-style king suite. Its size definitely didn't tally with what we would call a suite in Australia, being more comparable with a small hotel room, but the hotel's foyer and its facilities were beautiful.
The hotel is surrounded by countless cafes, bakeries and restaurants, so you can have a croissant and a coffee for as little as &euors; 1.5, while partaking in the traditional Parisian sport of people-watching.
We are, however, used to a larger scale of accommodation in Australia, which you simply cannot expect in Paris.
Smoking indoors is commonplace in France, so some hotels and restaurants may have a stale smell, but cleanliness was certainly not an issue.
Verdict: Busted
MYTH: It's the city of love
PARIS has a romantic feel to it everywhere you go.
Maybe it's a combination of viewing art masterpieces, of walking in the footsteps of kings, queens and emperors. Maybe it's picturing the Revolution, or the sacred feeling of standing in Notre Dame Cathedral.
Couples kissing are commonplace. (If you can't beat them, join them!)
A night-time trip to watch the light show on the Eiffel tower makes for a memorable romantic moment – cliched, I know, but put it on your to-do list, because it's free.
Paris is a place for people-watching. Everywhere you go, there are fabulously dressed locals speaking sexily.
You can walk down cobblestoned streets only 100m from a main road and come across tiny parks with enchanting gardens and stunning statues or water fountains.
We stumbled across many derelict-looking buildings only to poke our heads through the door and find a beautiful old church, immaculately maintained inside.
Paris is the city of love!
Verdict: Confirmed!
Regardless of the myths, whether you are a seasoned backpacker, high-end traveller or adventure freak, I would recommend doing some of your own myth busting in the world's most romantic city.
Paris pointers
FOR the best-spent $8 (€5) in Paris, when visiting the Louvre Museum, hire a headset where you can key-in more than 1000 works of art, providing fascinating, easy-to-digest commentary so you can go through the museum at your own pace.
This gives you an understanding and insight into the story behind the pieces, the artists and historical events of the time.
WALKING gave me a great insight into the "real" Paris, and keeps you fit at the same time. Ladies, I recommend buying funky, comfortable, flat-heeled boots so you can explore without pain, yet still have some style in the very stylish city.
WHEN eating out, look around and check out a few menus before heading inside. There are always reasonably-priced places to eat that are often right next door to each other. Many also have an English translation on the menu.
Bakeries and stores in side streets sell delicious, freshly-made sandwiches on panini rolls for just a couple of euros.
The Sunday Telegraph
source:news.com.au
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