travel with in french

French translation of 'travel'

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Vocabulary Lesson: French for Travelers

Learn Common French Words You'll Use While Traveling

• Pronunciation & Conversation
• Resources For Teachers

Travelers to France and other countries where French is spoken will want to learn a few basic words in the local language. It will help you on your trip ( le  voyage ) as you make your way around and speak to people.

In this French vocabulary lesson, you will learn how to ask for directions, navigate your transportation options and rent a car, avoid danger, and enjoy local shopping and dining during your stay. It is an introductory lesson and you will find links to other lessons so you can further your studies.

As a traveler ( voyageur ) , you may also want to brush up on French phrases required for politeness as well as a few that are essential and let people know that you are new to the language.

Have a good trip! ( Bon voyage ! )

Note: Many of the words below are linked to .wav files. Simply click on the link to listen to the pronunciation.

Getting Around and Asking for Directions

Whether you are roaming the streets of Paris or decide to take a drive in the French countryside, these simple phrases are useful for those times when you need to ask for help.

Travel Essentials

Every traveler needs know these basic words for their journey.

• Tourist information -  information touristique
• Customs -  la  douane
• Passport -  le  passeport
• Map -  la  carte

Important Signs You Need to Know

Travelers can find themselves in precarious situations if they don't know how to read signs. Some signs will warn you of danger while others simply draw your attention to a simple fact (like the museum is closed or the restroom is out of service).

Before you travel, memorize these simple words and phrases that are found to ensure your trip goes a little smoother.

• Watch out! -  Attention !
• Open -  ouvert  
• Closed -  fermé
• Forbidden -  interdit
• Do not enter -  défense d'entrer
• Out of service -  hors service  or  en panne

In case you should have a medical emergency, get sick, or have a specific medical condition, you will want to review and learn French vocabulary related to ailments and illnesses .

Shops, Restaurants, and Hotels 

In your journey, you will probably do quite a bit of shopping and dining. You will also need to stay at a hotel and all of these require you . The following vocabulary lessons will help you navigate all of these situations.

• At the Hotel
• Banking and Money
• Dining at Restaurants

As a primer to those lessons, you will find that you will need to use these two phrases when making purchases.

Transportation Essentials

You will also need to rely on various types of  transportation ( le  transport )  during your trip and reviewing these French words will be very useful.

The airport comes with an entirely new set of vocabulary that you will want to know for your arrival and departure flights. See if you're ready with this quiz .

• Airplane -  l' avion
• Airport -  l' aéroport

Quite often, you will find that a subway is a great way to get from one place to another. Familiarizing yourself with these words will help you find the subway station.

• Subway -  le métro
• Subway station -  la gare / station de métro

The bus is another great form of local transportation ( le transport local ) and you will want to know just a few words in French.

• Bus - l' autobus
• Bus stop -  l' arrêt d'autobus
• Bus station -  la gare d'autobus

Traveling by train is an affordable and comfortable way to get around France and trains also come with a unique set of vocabulary that you will want to study.

• Train -  le train
• Platform -  le quai
• Train station -  la gare

At the Ticket Booth

No matter which mode of public transportation you choose, a ticket is often required and you will need to visit the ticket booth ( billetterie ) .

• Round-trip ticket -  un billet aller-retour
• One-way ticket -  un billet simple
• Price -  le prix

Renting a Car in French

If you want to break out on your own, renting a car is a great way to do it. This portion of the lesson focuses on what you will need to know about car rentals, including what to ask for and important details in the rental agreement.

When you do get in the car ( la voiture ) , you will also want to know basic French vocabulary for driving .

• Rental -  la location

Requesting a Particular Car

You can make special requests for the car you would like to rent with a simple sentence. Begin the request with " Je voudrais..." a nd specify the style of car you're seeking.

Requesting Specific Features in a Car

If you have special requirements, such as a seat for your child, begin the sentence with  " Je voudrais..."  (I would like...) and ask for one of these.

• Air conditioning -  la clime
• Baby seat -  une nacelle bébé
• Booster seat -  un réhausseur intégral
• Child seat -  un siège enfant

Details of the Rental Agreement

It is vital that you understand your rental agreement and these questions will ensure that there is no confusion lost in translation.

• Extra driver -  un conducteur supplémentaire
• Damages -  les dommages
• Free French Worksheets
• French Vocabulary: At the Hotel
• French Vocabulary: Driving and Cars
• French Trains Vocabulary - Prendre le Train En France
• French Vocabulary: At the Dentist
• Vocabulaire Du Métro - French Subway Vocabulary
• Best Apps to Learn French
• French Vocabulary Lesson: Banking and Money
• French Vocabulary: Illnesses and Ailments
• French Vocabulary: Jewelry and Accessories
• French Vocabulary: On the Phone
• Tips for Learning French As an Adult
• French Reading Comprehension Test
• Telling Time in French
• Taking the Train in France Master Typical French Train Announcements
• French Vocabulary: Physical Descriptions of People

60+ French Phrases for Travel You Need to Know [PLUS Printable]

Order your petit-déjeuner (breakfast) or buy your billets (tickets) to the Louvre all in French! Here are the most useful French phrases for travel you need to know.

Learning some French will offer you further insight into the French culture, mentality, and way of life. The ability to speak even un peu français (a little bit of French) and avoid making these French faux pas will enhance your travel experience and open the doors to unique connections with the locals.

France is the world’s top tourist destination, attracting more than 79,5 million visitors a year! That’s why French is the next language in my travel phrase guide series.

Not only that, but speaking French also comes in handy when travelling to Africa, Switzerland, Canada , Monaco, French Polynesia, the Seychelles amongst other places.

Why else should you learn French? Well, it makes learning other languages, especially Romance languages like Spanish , Italian , Portuguese and Romanian much easier.

Want to have fun whilst learning French? Struggling to find decent French language resources? I recommend getting uTalk . Available as a desktop site and app, uTalk is awesome for learning key words and phrases in French especially if you want to use it for travel purposes.  It’s great for beginners getting started in a language and invaluable for intermediates looking to fill in gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation. 

What I love most about uTalk is that you can jump around their extensive library of topics and choose what you want to learn, when you want, and at your own pace.  Because I believe in uTalk so much, I reached out to them and we’ve teamed up to offer you an exclusive 30% OFF reader discount across all of uTalk’s 140 languages! This offer isn’t available anywhere else! Click here to claim your exclusive 30% discount.

Let’s take a quick look at the French language so you’re a bit more clued up on its origin, use, and vocabulary.

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed bringing it together. If you have any requests for other languages, let me know in the comments section!

Where is French spoken?

That’s a lot of Bonjour -ing!

French is the third most spoken language in Europe, after German and English and has official-language status in 29 countries, including: Belgium , Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada , Chad, the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, France , Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland , Togo and Vanuatu. French is even one of six official languages of the United Nations.

It seems like nearly everyone wants to learn French, it’s the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world!

And the best way to learn it? Well, France operates the biggest international network of cultural institutes, which run French-language courses close to a million learners. My two favourite ways to learn French is by attending language classes – so I’m not only held accountable but also for the social aspect –  and going on language holiday too!

A Brief History of the French Language

The French and English languages have a pretty mixed-up history. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, Norman French was adopted as the language of power on the British Isles.

For the next 400 years, French was the language of the nobility and of most official documents. King Henry V put a stop to that when he went to war with France, but because the two languages existed in parallel for so long, the English language is peppered with words of French origin, many of which can be traced back to French roots. This means that you actually already know a lot of French, even if you don’t think you do.

Now for the tricky stuff!

French Pronunciation Tips

There is a total of 26 letters in the French alphabet. Standard French contains 13 oral vowels and up to 4 nasal vowels, but there are 5 additional accented letters that can be applied to change the sound of a letter.

Here are some helpful pronunciation tips:

Using Liaisons

One of the fundamental rules of pronouncing French (and many other Latin-based languages) is that everything has to flow. That’s one of the reasons why French sounds so beautiful.

If you’re speaking French correctly, everything should sound like a continuous melody.

That’s where liaisons come in.

Liaisons are a phonetic link between two words that may sound awkward if left unconnected.

Let’s take a look at some examples where they are used  when speaking:

• After pronouns e.g. vous avez sounds like vooz-ah-vey not  voo ah-vey
• Numbers and nouns e.g. deux amis sounds like derz-ah-mee not der ah-me
• One syllable prepositions e.g chez eux sounds like shez-uur not sheh uur

And liaisons that are forbidden when speaking:

• When using full names e.g.
• After et (and)

Liaisons may seem complicated at first, but they will become easier the more you listen to spoken French. After a while, you’ll automatically be able to notice where a liaison is needed (and where it isn’t) and how to make it sound natural when speaking.

What Not to Pronounce in French

Much like English, the French language isn’t written phonetically. The same sound can be represented by several different combinations of letters, and there are many cases of silent French letters. Two of the most well known are the silent “e” and the silent “h.”

The Silent “e”

The letter “e” is often silent in French, especially at the end of a word. Here are some examples:

Rue (road/street) is pronounced  roo not roo-ee and inacceptable (unacceptable) is pronounced an-ah-sep-tah-bil not an-ah-sep-tah-ble

Of course, there are exceptions when it comes to masculine and feminine adjectives and nouns.

In the case of feminine adjectives and nouns, this typically means that the final consonant of the masculine form will now be pronounced. So, the masculine ouvert , meaning open in the masculine form and pronounced oo-ver , will become ouverte  in the feminine form and pronounced oo-vert . The ‘ e ’ makes the final letter sounded.

The Final Consonant

As you’ve probably already noticed, there are a tonne of French letters that simply aren’t pronounced at the end of words. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it!

In French, silent letters, or lettres muettes , have rules and exceptions just like many other linguistic concepts.

In general, the final consonants of a word are usually silent in French except in some cases of the letters c, f, l or r .

Just remember this simple rule, the consonants in the word ‘ careful ’ are always pronounced.

For example,

Avec (with) is pronounced  ah-ve k

Cinq (five) is pronounced saan k

Hiver (winter) is pronounced ee-ve r

The general rule regarding French word endings is that when in doubt, you probably don’t pronounce it. But, French is full of exceptions!

The Infamous “r”

For many English speakers, the French “r” can be a source of frustration. To pronounce it, you’ll need to use your throat and imagine you’re trying to gargle. The French “r” is pronounced in the same place as the English “k”, but with your throat closed.

The Silent “h”

As you’ve probably noticed from every French speaker’s failed attempt to say the word “hamburger” in English, the “h” in French is a silent letter no matter where it’s located in a word.

The only exception to this is when the preceding letter is “c,” in which case the “ch” combination makes a “sh” sound or “k” sound.

Here are a few examples of the silent “h”:

Le haricot vert (French bean) is pronounced leh ah-ree-coh ver

Huit (eight) is pronounced weet

Hiver (winter) is pronounced ee-ver

Admittedly there are a few finicky grammar rules to learn, but generally speaking, English grammar corresponds relatively closely to French grammar.

Consider words in English that end with – ible  and -able , these are the same in French, only the pronunciation changes. So, the French word ‘possible’ sounds like poss-ee-bleh and ‘comfortable’ becomes kom-for-tah-bleh .

Then we have English words ending in -ent and -ant which also come from French and have the same spelling and the same meaning. So, the word, différent sounds like diff-er-ohnt  and important  sounds like ahm-poor-tahnt . The ‘t’ at the end is just slightly sounded.

Had enough? Ok, one more! Words in English ending in -ary l ike contrary become -aire in French. So, ‘contrary’ becomes contraire  and sounds like kon-trair .

There are so many rules like this, so you can see just how easy learning French can be.

Here are top 10 French Italian Phrases for Travel You SHOULD Know [& How to Use Them]

Top french phrases for travellers.

Want the infographic to take with you? Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Greetings Essentials Questions Eating Out Getting Around Numbers Days Emergencies

**There are a few places that use unique words for the numbers 70 ( septante ) and 90 ( nonante ), such as Belgium and Switzerland. With the numbers 80 to 89, combine the number 4, the number 20, and the ones.

For example, in French 80 is four 20s, 81 is four 20s plus 1, and so forth. (Unlike most French-speaking countries, Switzerland actually has a word for the number 80. It’s huitante .)

Want more? Learn French with me, with Intrepid French!

Travelling to France? Don’t be treated like a tourist! Live your best travel experiences and learn France for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant or a taxi driver who has “taken you for a ride”.  In addition to my free French travel phrase guide , I’ve made it even easier for you to master the French language so you can create lifelong memories as you mingle with locals , get local tips , avoid tourist traps , and make new friends . Join my popular French course here.

Here’s what my students are saying: 

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I’ve been trying to learn languages using various language learning apps for years now and although I know random words I feel no more confident in actually speaking the language than I was when I started.” – Basil Pereira

Click here more details and get instant access!

Have a laugh with these funny French expressions

Like it? Pin or download this French travel phrase guide

Like it? Pin it for later!

Learning French? Check out these French language guides

• Top 10 French Phrases You Should NEVER Say [& What to Use Instead]
• How to Sound More French: Top 10 French Phrases the French Love Saying
• How a ‘potato’ improved my French pronunciation
• 25 Funny French Idioms Translated Literally
• 22 Most Common French Grammar Mistakes [& How to Avoid Them]

Want to know more about learning languages? Start here!

• 6 Language Learning Tips: How to Learn a Language from Home
• What Type of Language Learner Are You? Your 4-Step Personalised Learning Plan
• 15 Top Language Learning Resources You Should Use
• 44 Best Movies on Disney Plus for Learning Languages
• 13 Ways to Seamlessly Integrate Language Learning into Your Daily Life
• 10 Pro Tips: How to Learn a Language with a Full-Time Job
• 7 Reasons Why You Should Go on a Language Holiday
• Essential Travel Phrases: How to be Travel Fluent in 10 Simple Steps
• 23 Cool Gift for Language Learners They Will Actually Use and Love
• How to Learn Your First Foreign Language in 8 Simple Steps: A Beginner’s Guide
• 11 Life-Changing Reasons Why You Should Learn a Language
• 42 beautiful Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners
• Language learning tips: 11 Polyglots Reveal The Secrets of Their Success
• Top 10 Best Ways to Learn a Language Better and Faster
• How Many Languages are there in the World?

Don’t miss my France Travel Guides

• How to Spend 4 Days in Paris: Ultimate First Timer’s Guide to Paris
• Where to Stay in Paris: A Fairytale Stay at Hotel Trianon Rive Gauche [Hotel Review]
• Where to Stay in Paris: A Decadent Stay at Hôtel Thérèse [Hotel Review]

Over to you!

Which of these French phrases are the most useful? What other languages would you like a travel phrase guide for? Have you been to a French-speaking country? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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Michele creates language learning guides and courses for travel. What separates her from other instructors is her ability to explain complex grammar in a no-nonsense, straightforward manner using her unique 80/20 method. Get her free guide 9 reasons you’re not fluent…YET & how to fix it! Planning a trip? Learn the local language with her 80/20 method for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant Start learning today!

Blond or Blonde: Why Does Grammatical Gender in English Still Exist?

How to sound more french: top 10 french phrases you should use.

This is great. I took years of French when in school, 40-years ago and now want to re-learn and be able to get by when traveling. Merci

Hi! (Sorry for the Failures, I don’t speak english very well because I am french) My Name is Salomé and I am from France. I felt random on your Website and I watched you tables and the picture called ” French travel Cheat sheet “. What you’re doing is awesome because you help people open us to the World. I am proud of what you do. I want to help because I am a native speaker of French not of all the French (Canada, Belgium..) but from France. Salomé

Hey Michele, love the article, love the guide. I think there are some mistakes on the French spelling and pronuciation for the word Right.

Right =droite drrrwa (with the funny r for the French). Apart from that, what a precious website!! Well done!

Hi Monique, thank you for correcting this typo, I’ve just fixed it now 🙂

Hey Michele

This is so cool. Thanks for sharing it. I was I Paris about a month ago and these would have come in very handy. Keep up the good work.

Merci Au revour

Thanks Basil, I’m so glad you enjoyed this post. I hope you’ll find it useful for future travels in Francophone countries 🙂

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Home » Articles » 60+ Essential French Phrases for Beginners to Start Speaking Now

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?

written by Benny Lewis

Language: French

Reading time: 17 minutes

Published: Jan 11, 2021

Updated: Sep 17, 2021

60+ Essential French Phrases for Beginners to Start Speaking Now

What are some French sayings? What are the most common phrases in French? And can learning a few powerful French phrases really help you start speaking right away?

Absolutely!

Even if you'll only be spending a short time in the country, learning a few basic French phrases can be very rewarding and make a big difference to your trip.

Let’s start by mastering some of the most common French phrases you need to know as a beginner:

I've long advocated that set phrases are the best thing for beginners to learn when starting out.

After all, isn't the goal of language learning to communicate?

How do you expect to communicate with anybody if the only thing you've learned so far is a verb table?

So whether you're planning to travel to Paris for a week or move to Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! for the rest of your life, here are the most important and useful French phrases that you should learn A.S.A.P.

Listen to the French Phrases:

Here's a quick “French phrases” video I made that will help you with pronunciation for most of the phrases in this article:

Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online French course, here’s the course I recommend: French Uncovered – Learn French Through the Power of Story, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly.

French Greetings and Polite Phrases

Bonjour – “hello”.

There are many ways in French to say “hello” , but bonjour is undoubtedly the most well-known. It's universally polite and friendly, whether the situation is formal or informal.

Bonjour is a combination of the words bon (“good”) and jour (“day”).

In the evening, you could also say bonsoir (“good evening”). A more casual way to greet people is salut , which can mean either “hi!” or “bye!”.

S'il vous plaît / s'il te plaît – “Please”

As a tourist, the last thing you want to be is rude. So when in France, remember what your mother taught you, and say s'il vous plaît (“please”) when making a request.

You can also say s'il te plaît. What's the difference? It's all about “you”:

In French there are two ways of saying “you”.

Tu is what you'd use when addressing a friend. Vous is a more polite and formal version, best used when talking to a stranger or older person.

( Vous is also what you should use when addressing a group of people in any situation, similar to saying “you guys” or “you all” in English).

So s'il vous plaît and s'il te plaît both mean “please” (literally, “if it pleases you”), but s'il vous plait is the more polite version. If in doubt, use s'il vous plaît .

(Why is it s'il te plait and not s'il tu plait ? It's a grammatical thing that you don't need to worry about as a beginner. Just learn the phrase as a whole for now, and things will become clear later.)

In fact, when asking for something in French – e.g. asking a stranger for directions or asking to see a menu in a restaurant, you should start with “ Bonjour. S'il vous plaît… ” It literally means “Hello, please…”, which would sound a bit strange in English, but it's the normal way to start a polite request in French.

Comment vous appelez-vous? / Comment t'appelles-tu? – “What’s your name?”

When meeting anyone, one of the first things you'll want to know is their name.

In French, you can find it out by asking “ Comment vous appelez-vous? ” (formal) or “ Comment t'appelles-tu? ” (informal).

Literally, these questions mean “what do you call yourself?”. You could also ask “ c'est quoi ton nom? ” – which is a more literal translation of “what's your name?”

If you're on the receiving end of this question, answer with “ Je m'appelle… ” (“my name is”, literally “I call myself”) or a simple “ Je suis… ” (“I am…”).

Oui/Non/Si – “Yes/No”

Two essential words to learn in any language are “yes” and “no”. In French, “yes” is oui and “no” is non .

Informally, it's also common to say ouais or ouaip instead of oui – like saying “yeah” or “yep” in English.

Then you have si . This is a handy little word that has no direct equivalent in English. Use it to say “yes” when someone asks you a negatively phrased question.

To illustrate what I mean, imagine that someone asks you, in English, “haven't you been to Paris?”

If you reply “yes”, it's not exactly clear what you're saying. Do you mean “yes, I have been to Paris – contrary to your assertion” or “yes, you're correct: I haven't been to Paris”?

French avoids this confusion with the word si . It means “yes”, but more specifically it contradicts the assertion in the question. In the above example, if you say si , it clearly conveys that you have, in fact, been to Paris.

Si is one of many linguistic features that I sorely miss when I speak English.

Comment allez-vous? – “How are you?”

This is the polite way of saying “how are you?” in French. Note the use of the polite vous rather than the informal tu .

Another, more informal way to say “how are you?” is ça va ? This phrase is extremely common – when in France you'll likely hear it several times per day.

If someone asks you “ ça va? ”, you can respond with a simple “ ça va bien ” – “it's going well”.

Excusez-moi – “Excuse me”

To get someone's attention, whether they're a waiter in a restaurant or a stranger on the street, say “ excusez-moi ”, “excuse me”.

This is also the polite way to ask someone to get out of your way. For example, if you're trying to exit a crowded train, a soft “ excusez-moi ” should (hopefully) be enough to make people step aside.

Pardon – “Sorry”

Picture getting off a crowded train, being careful you don't bump into anyone as you walk through the crowded metro station. But if a collision does occur, it's fine. Just say pardon , “sorry”, and all will be forgiven.

“ Pardon? ” is also how you'd ask someone to repeat themselves if you didn't hear or understand what they said. In this case, you should say it with a rising tone to indicate that it's a question.

Another way to say this is “ pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ?” – “Could you repeat, please?”

Merci beaucoup – “Thanks a lot”

And of course, don't forget to say thank you!

The French word for “thank you” is merci . Or you can make it stronger by saying merci beaucoup – “thanks very much”.

Use merci in all the same situations you'd say “thank you” in English.

Other Must-Know French Greetings and Polite Phrases:

• Nice to meet you – Enchanté
• How’s it going? – Comment ça va?
• And you? – Et toi?
• Are you well? – Vous allez bien?
• What’s new? / What’s up? – Quoi de neuf?
• Good, thanks! – Bien, merci!
• So-so / It’s okay – Comme ci, comme ça (Literally: “like this, like that”)
• Same as always – Comme d’hab
• It could be worse – Ça pourrait être pire
• You’re welcome – Je t'en prie
• Don’t mention it / You’re welcome – De rien
• Goodbye – Au revoir
• See you soon – À bientôt!

French Phrases for Maintaining a Conversation

Je voudrais parler français – “i would like to speak french”.

The French are famously protective of their language. Sometimes they can be a bit impatient with us anglophones, and reply in English to your imperfect French questions.

It's frustrating when this happens, but if you ever want to make progress in a foreign language, you absolutely must stop speaking English !

Be polite but firm when someone tries to speak English with you – tell them “ Je voudrais parler français ” – “I'd like to speak French.”

Note that, unlike in English, names of languages are not written with a capital letter in French.

Je ne comprends pas – “I don’t understand”

Sometimes pardon doesn't quite cut it. If you really can't figure out what the other person is saying, try telling them “ je ne comprends pas ” – “I don't understand.”

There's no shame in being a beginner! Just remember not to fall back to English when the going gets tough. If you don't understand something, persevere in French anyway – it's the only way you'll learn.

Que veut dire ça? – “What does that mean?”

Maybe the reason you didn't understand is because there was a specific word you didn't recognise. If that's the case, say “ que veut dire X? ” – “What does X mean?”

You can also phrase this as “ ça veut dire quoi? ” – “What does that mean?”

Plus lentement – “More slowly”

Sometimes, vocabulary isn’t the problem. You’d know the words if you could make them out, but you can't because the other person is talking too fast!

In this case, try saying plus lentement – “more slowly”.

Better yet, say a full sentence: “ Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît? ” – “Can you speak more slowly, please?”

Comment dit-on __ en français? – “How do you say __ in French?”

What if you need to say something in French, but the exact word escapes you?

Just fill in the blank in the above sentence: “ Comment dit-on X en français? ” means “How do you say X in French”?

A side note: the pronoun on , seen above, is an interesting one. It’s a colloquial alternative to nous (“we”). However, on is also used to refer to an unspecified person or people in general, like the word “one” is sometimes used in formal English. (If you speak German, note that on in this sense is like the German word man .)

One doesn't use the word “one” very much in modern English – one finds it rather old-timey and stuffy. These days you normally use “you” when you're talking about people in general.

Comment ça s'écrit? – “How do you spell that?”

If you learn a new French word using the phrase above, you might want to write it down before you forget it.

Unfortunately, French spelling isn't the easiest.

The relationship between spelling and French pronunciation can be complicated. Generally, it's easier to figure out a word's pronunciation from its spelling than it is to know its spelling from its pronunciation. I wrote a guide to help you with French pronunciation here .

So if you're not sure, ask someone “ comment ça s'ecrit? ” – “How do you spell that?” Literally: “How does that write itself?”

Or if you don't trust your own transcription abilities, try asking them to write it for you: say “ Est-ce que vous pouvez l'écrire? ” – “Can you write it (down)?”

Other Helpful Phrases for Maintaining a French Conversation:

• Can you speak more slowly please? – Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement s'il vous plaît?
• Can you say it one more time? – Pouvez-vous le dire une fois de plus?
• Do you speak French? – Parlez-vous français?
• Do you understand? – Comprenez vous?
• What do you do for a living? – Qu’est-ce que tu fais dans la vie?
• How old are you? – Quel âge as-tu?
• I’m _ years old – J’ai _ ans
• Where are you from? – D'où êtes-vous?
• I’m from… – Je viens…
• Are you married? – Es-tu marié?
• Are you single? – Es-tu célibataire?
• When can we meet? – Quand pouvons-nous nous rencontrer?
• What’s your phone number? – Quel est ton numéro de téléphone?

French Phrases for Getting Around

Où est… – “where is…”.

Struggling to find your way around? Not to worry. Just get a stranger's attention (remember what phrase would you use to do this?) and ask “ où est X ” – “Where is X?”

“X” could be many things: la Tour Eiffel, le Louvre, Notre Dame … or perhaps something less exotic, like le metro or un restaurant .

Où se trouve la station de métro la plus proche? – “Where is the closest metro station?”

Another way of saying “where is it?” is où se trouve , literally “where is (it) found”.

Here's an example of où se trouve combined with another handy phrase to know: la station de métro la plus proche means “the closest metro station”.

One more piece of useful vocabulary: once you're in the metro station, you might want to ask someone “ où est le guichet? ” – “Where is the ticket window?”

Je voudrais acheter un billet – “I would like to buy a ticket”

Now that you've found the guichet , you probably want to buy a billet – a ticket. But what type of ticket do you want?

• un billet aller simple – a one-way ticket
• un billet aller retour – a round-trip ticket

Make your decision, and tell the assistant “ je voudrais un billet aller simple/retour pour X ” – “I would like to buy a one-way/round-trip ticket to X”, where X is your destination.

C'est combien? – “How much is it?”

France isn't the cheapest of countries – so whether you're at the guichet or elsewhere, it doesn't hurt to be price-conscious.

To ask how much something costs, say “ c'est combien? ” – “how much is it?” You can also say “ Combien ça coûte? ” – literally, “how much does it cost?”

Où sont les toilettes? – “Where are the toilets?”

It's worth learning this phrase, because you might need it in a hurry! Où sont les toilettes means “where are the toilets?”

Although if you want to use a public toilet, you could be searching for a long time.

They aren't very common in France – and if you do find one, you'll probably have to pay to use it. You're probably better off buying something in a café and using their toilets instead.

(Why is it “ où sont “, when previously we used “ où est “? Easy: sont means “are” while est means “is”. Since toilettes is plural, you must use sont , not est – “where are the toilets?”, rather than “where is the toilets”, which wouldn’t make sense.)

À quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? – “What time is check out?”

If you're checking into a hotel in a French-speaking country, one useful thing to know the checkout time.

One way to find this out is to ask “ à quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? ” – “What time must we check out?”

Another similar expression is: “ quelle est l'heure limite d'occupation? ” (Lit: “What is the occupancy cut-off time?”

La carte/le menu, s’il vous plaît. – “The menu, please.”

France is famous for its food, so while you're there, you'll probably want to dine in a restaurant or two!

When dining out in any language, there are usually a few subtleties around how to order. Here I'll explain one of the more important things to know in French: the words for “menu”.

I say “words” because there are two main ways to say “menu” in French.

The general word is carte , which you may recognise from the expression à la carte .

A carte is what you typically think of when you hear the word “menu”. It's a list of individually-priced options; you pick and choose what you want, then add up the prices to get your total bill.

But you can also ask for a menu , which is usually called a “fixed-price menu” in English. When ordering from a menu , you pick an option for each course (starter, main course, etc.) and pay the same, fixed price no matter what you selected.

Whichever option you choose, inform the serveur/serveuse (“waiter/waitress”) by saying “ la carte/le menu, s’il vous plaît ” – “the menu/fixed-price menu, please.”

Je ne peux pas manger… – “I can’t eat…”

This doesn't apply to everybody, but for those to whom it does apply, it's very important: informing the waiter about your dietary restrictions.

The simplest way to do this is to say “ je ne peux pas manger de X ” – “I can't eat X”. Here are some of the more common ways to fill in the blank:

• cacahuètes – peanuts
• noix – nuts
• gluten – gluten
• fruits de mer – shell fish
• œufs – eggs
• poisson – fish
• produits laitiers – dairy products
• viande – meat

If you're vegetarian, say so with “ je suis végétarien ” (for men) or “ végétarienne ” (for women.)

A vegan is a “ végétalien(ne) “, although végan/végane is sometimes used too.

You could also explain “ je ne consomme pas de produits animaux .” – “I don't consume animal products”

Nous voudrions commander maintenant. – “We would like to place an order now.”

To “order” in French is commander , when you're talking about ordering something in a restaurant.

Don't confuse this with ordonner , which is used in the sense of “to order a person to do something”, such as in the military.

After receiving the carte or the menu , and perhaps informing the waiter of your dietary restrictions, you may be given some time to make a decision. When you're ready, say “ nous voudrions commander maintenant ” – “we'd like to order now.”

It’s also acceptable in nearly any restaurant to use on instead of nous for we, as I mentioned earlier: On voudrait commander maintenant.

Or if you're by yourself, say je voudrais (I'd like) instead of nous voudrions (we'd like). Bon appétit!

L’addition, s’il vous plaît. – “The bill, please”

One final bit of restaurant-related vocabulary – the bill (or “check” if you're American) is l'addition .

So when you're ready to leave, say l’addition, s’il vous plaît – “the bill, please”.

You’ll often hear la facture used in Quebec instead of l’addition – however both are perfectly understandable to waitstaff.

Other French Phrases for Out and About in France:

• Can you help me please? – Pouvez-vous m'aider s'il vous plaît?
• I would like… – Je voudrais…
• I’d like one of those please – J'en voudrais un s'il vous plait
• Three: Trois
• Four: Quatre
• Five: *Cinq

Learn more: French Numbers: Counting in French from 1 – 100+

Romantic French Phrases

Je t'aime – “i love you”.

Finally, let’s talk about love.

They say that French is a romantic language, so maybe in your travels you'll find love on the road? Or maybe after you get home, you'll want to use your newfound French skills to woo that special someone.

So how do you say “I love you” in French?

The French word for “to love” is adorer – but you generally only use this word when talking about things rather than people, for example to say that you love a place, book, or song.

When talking to a person, say je t'aime . Aimer usually means “like”, but in this context it means “love” in the most romantic of senses. Use it wisely!

Here are some other romantic French phrases:

• My heart – Mon cœur
• My love – Mon amour
• You’re beautiful – Tu es belle (to a woman); Tu es beau (to a man)
• You’re too cute – Tu es trop mignon
• I like you (Lit: “You please me”) – Tu me plais

Bonus: French Slang

Wondering what a famous French saying is that you could use in everyday life? Or how do you say “cool” in French slang?

Here are some bonus French sayings and slang to level up your French:

• Cool – Cool (yes, really! Just say it with a French accent 😉)
• Awesome – Génial
• That sucks – C’est nul
• That’s great – C’est top
• Don’t worry – T'inquiète
• Losing my mind – Perdre la tête

Over to You

Can you think of any other useful French phrases for tourists? What are the most important words and phrases for beginners to know? Let us know in the comments.

And if you’re ready to learn more French, check out the 111 core French words that are commonly used. Or learn some more fun French slang !

Benny Lewis

Founder, Fluent in 3 Months

Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one .

Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish

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▾ dictionary english-french, travel noun ( plural: travels ) —, voyage m ( plural: voyages m ), transport m, travel verb ( be : travelled , travelled ; ae : traveled , traveled ) —, se déplacer v, parcourir v, se propager v, air travel n —, travel time n —, travel agent n —, travel company n —, travel consultant n —, travel advisories pl —, travel planning n —, personal travel n —, travel medicine n —, travel pouch n —, travel money n —, travel sickness n —, travel trailer n —, travel permit n —, travel diary n —, travel conditions pl —, travel process n —, travel blog n —, official travel n —, travel receipts pl —, travel comfort n —, travel confirmation n —, freedom to travel n —, travel number n —, travel mode n —, travel service n —, travel claim n —, travel price n —, ▸ wikipedia, ▾ external sources (not reviewed).

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50+ Important French Vacation Words and Phrases (With Audio)

Whether you enjoy the feel of seawater and hot sand or the crisp mountain air, there’s nothing like a relaxing vacation.

However you choose to vacation, wouldn’t you love to do it all in French?

Here are 50+ useful French vacation vocabulary words and phrases , with example sentences so you can use them correctly in context.

So grab that passport and let’s get started!

French Vacation Vocabulary for a Smooth Trip

Talking about vacation plans, vacation accommodation, modes of transport, vacation activities, tips to learn vacation vocabulary, drill flashcards before your trip, visualize the vocabulary, watch authentic french videos, start using the words in your own sentences, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

This topic will require you to get comfortable with some basic interrogatives in French .

Common questions and answers

• où ? (where?)
• quand ? (when?)
• avec qui ? (with whom?)
• Comment voyages-tu ? (How are you traveling?)
• Je vais au / à la…  (I’m going to…)
• pendant (during)

Vacation seasons

• les vacances de Noël ( Christmas vacation )
• les vacances d’été ( summer vacation , also known as les grandes vacances )
• les vacances d’hiver ( winter vacation )
• les vacances de printemps ( spring vacation )
• les vacances de la Toussaint ( fall vacation ; All Saints)

Example sentences

Où vas-tu en vacances ? (Where are you going on vacation?)

Je vais à la plage / à la montagne / à l’étranger. (I’m going to the beach/to the mountains/overseas.)

Quand iras-tu en vacances ? (When will you go on vacation?)

Je voyagerai pendant les vacances d’été. (I will travel during the summer vacation.)

Avec qui allez-vous voyager / vas-tu voyager ? (Who are you going to travel with?)

Places people stay on vacation

• un hôtel (a hotel)
• une auberge de jeunesse (a youth hostel)
• un club de vacances (a resort)
• un camping (a camping ground)
• un appartement (an apartment)
• un gîte (a holiday home/cottage)
• une chambre d’hôtes (a bed and breakfast)

Phrases for making a reservation

• Je voudrais une chambre (I would like a room…)
• salle de bains (bathroom)
• pour une / deux / trois / quatre personnes   (for one/two/three/four people)
• du… au… (from [date] to [date])

Je voudrais une chambre pour deux personnes avec salle de bains du 5 août au 12 août. (I would like a room for two with a bathroom from August 5 to August 12.)

Pour mes vacances, je vais loger dans un hôtel. (For my vacation I am going to stay in a hotel.)

Je logerai dans une auberge de jeunesse. (I will stay in a youth hostel.)

L’année dernière, j’ai logé dans un camping. (Last year, I stayed in a camping ground.)

Getting to your destination

• en avion (by plane)
• l’aéroport (airport)
• en bateau (by boat)
• en train (by train)
• la gare (the station)
• le billet (the ticket)
• aller-retour (round trip)

Getting around your vacation spot

• en métro (by subway)
• en bus (by bus) 
• en taxi (by taxi)
• à pied (on foot)

Comment vas-tu en Belgique ? En avion ou en train ? (How are you going to Belgium? By plane or by train ?)

Où est l’aéroport, s’il vous plaît ? (Where is the airport, please?)

Je cherche la gare. (I am looking for the train station .)

À quelle heure est le départ de l’avion ? (What time does the plane leave?)

Combien coûte le billet pour Nice ? (How much does the ticket to Nice cost?)

Je voudrais un aller-retour pour le train qui va à Marseille. (I would like a return ticket on the train going to Marseille.)

This topic is a great opportunity to pick up common French nouns and verbs . There are hundreds of activities that you can add to your vocabulary list. Some common ones include:

• faire de la planche à voile (to windsurf)
• faire du lèche-vitrine (to go window-shopping )
• bronzer (to suntan)
• aller au restaurant (to go to the restaurant)
• nager (to swim)
• faire du ski (to ski)
• faire une randonnée (to go hiking)
• faire du vélo (to cycle)
• visiter des monuments / des musées (to visit monuments/museums)
• participer à une visite guidée (to join a guided tour)

Try to use this vocabulary with different tenses!

Aujourd’hui, je voudrais aller à la plage pour bronzer. (Today, I would like to go to the beach to suntan.)

Hier, je suis allé(e) faire du vélo en montagne. (Yesterday, I went cycling in the mountains.)

Demain, j’irai au restaurant avec mes amis. (Tomorrow, I will go to the restaurant with my friends.)

One of the best parts of going on a holiday in France is getting to eat out and sample food. So, food vocabulary should be in the cards. We’ll give you the basics for a vacation— for an in-depth guide to restaurant vocabulary in French, check out this article.

• le repas (the meal)
• le petit déjeuner (breakfast)
• le déjeuner (lunch)
• le dîner (dinner)
• la salle à manger (the dining room)
• le restaurant (restaurant)
• Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez aujourd’hui ? (What do you recommend today?)
• le plat du jour (today’s special)
• Je voudrais… (I would like…)
• L’addition, s’il vous plaît. (The check, please.)

À quelle heure est le petit déjeuner ? (What time is breakfast ?)

Comme dessert, je voudrais la crème caramel. (For dessert, I would like the crème caramel.)

Recommandez-vous le plat du jour ? (Do you recommend today’s special?)

Je voudrais des escargots. (I would like some snails.)

Make flashcards for the words above and go through them periodically before your trip. You don’t even need to carry around a stack of index cards—there are apps like Quizlet for creating flashcards online and even playing games to test yourself.

French vacation words tend to be highly visual, so consider  making mind maps , or visual diagrams that represent the words you want to learn. There are many examples of mind map templates online.

You can also create a memory palace . The idea of this memorization device is to visualize a location—say, your childhood home—and populate it with the relevant vocabulary. For example, you could visualize a building and each hallway, room or object would be associated with a word you wish to remember.

It’s a great technique for visual learners to create context for seemingly isolated terms.

The best way to remember any new French vocabulary is to learn it in context. And one of the best ways to do that is to watch videos in French from French sources. You can easily find French TV shows and movies on streaming services like Netflix. If you prefer shorter videos, you can find French videos about all sorts of topics on YouTube.

FluentU is another way to hear French how it’s spoken in actual French-speaking regions. It’s a language learning program that uses authentic videos with interactive subtitles as the core of its lessons, along with active learning features like flashcards and quizzes.

The videos on FluentU are sorted by topic, so you can easily find media that’s related to travel, such as news clips about French vacation habits or video tours of French open-air hotels.

You’ll be using the words and phrases below with real French speakers throughout your vacation. So, why not start practicing now?

For example, don’t just learn the word nager (to swim). Start creating sentences, like:

Où est la plage ? J’aimerais nager cet après-midi. (Where is the beach? I would like to swim this afternoon.)

Savez-vous nager ? (Do you know how to swim?)

To ensure your own sentences actually make sense, you can use a grammar checker like Bon Patron . 

Now that you’ve used all the tools and resources at your fingertips and you’ve prepared everything for your vacation, you’re ready to go.

Use your new vocabulary as often as you can and you’ll become good at communicating and recognizing repeated words.

Bonnes vacances ! (Have a good vacation!)

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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French Travel Phrases

The most essential French travel phrases are Bonjour (hello), au revoir (goodbye), Où est? (Where is), C’est combien? (How much is it?) and l’addition s’il vous plaît (the check, please). This page covers over 60+ useful words and phrases which you can use on a trip to France.

French Greetings

If you are going to France it is very important to learn the basic greetings. While you might not speak French fluently just yet, the French people will really appreciate your trying to make an effort.

• Bonjour Hello, good morning, good day
• Au revoir Goodbye
• Salut Hi/bye (informal)
• Merci! Thank you!
• Merci beaucoup! Thank you very much!
• Ça va? How are you? How’s it going? (informal)
• Bien, merci! Fine, thank you!
• S’il vous plaît Please
• De rien You’re welcome
• Enchanté! Nice to meet you!

This page on our site covers French greetings in detail.

Asking directions

When asking directions in France, it’s very important that you know a few basic words. This page on our site covers asking directions in detail.

• Où est…? Where is…?
• Où est la gare? Where’s the train station?
• Où est la gare routière? Where’s the bus station?
• Où sont les toilettes? Where’s the restroom?
• Où est la banque? Where’ the bank?
• Où est un bureau de change? Where’s a exchange counter?
• Je suis perdu I’m lost
• Le plan city map

Asking for things

On your trip you’ll inevitably need to ask for things. This short list of words is a very good start. Learning the verb vouloir is a good idea as it means “to want”.

• Je veux (slightly informal)
• Je voudrais I would like
• Donnez-moi Give me
• Avez-vous? Do you have?
• Auriez-vous Would you happen to have?
• Qu’est-ce que c’est? What is it?
• Nous avons We have
• Nous n’avons pas We don’t have
• C’est disponible It’s available

Restaurant phrases

One of the best places to try practicing speaking French is a restaurant. Here’s a short list of words in phrases you may use. This page on our site offers a very comprehensive list of restaurant vocabulary . In addition, this page on our site covers food vocabulary and this page covers beverage vocabulary.

• Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît A table for two, please
• Je prends I’ll have (from the verb prendre , to take)
• La carte menu
• La soupe soup
• La salade salad
• L’entrée appetizer
• Le dessert dessert
• La boisson beverage
• Le vin rouge red wine
• Le vin blanc white wine
• La a bière beer
• Le café coffee

Taxi/Uber phrases

If you find yourself in a taxi or Uber, some of the the following phrases should come in very handy.

• Je vais à I’m going to
• Je descends ici I’ll get off here
• Voici l’adresse Here’s the address
• Allez tout droit Keep going straight
• Tournez à gauche Take a left
• Tournez à droite Take a right

Hotel phrases

The following is a short list of words and phrases that you can use in your hotel. While most hotel staff speak basic English, it’s still nice to know these words in French.

• L’hôtel hotel
• Une chambre à deux double room
• Un grand lit Double bed
• La réception Check-in desk
• Quitter la chambre To check out
• La piscine swimming pool
• Le petit déjeuner compris Breakfast included
• Réserver une chambre To reserve a room

Miscellaneous words and phrases

The following is a list of miscellaneous French words and phrases which we feel are essential for a trip to France and belong on this list.

• Je voudrais louer une voiture. I’d like rent a car.
• Je voudrais acheter un billet. I’d like to buy a ticket.
• Un billet aller-retour Round-trip ticket
• L’aller simple One-way ticket
• Le passeport passport
• Les vacances vacation
• Je voudrais annuler. I’d like to cancel.
• Un voyage A trip
• Bon voyage! Enjoy your trip!
• Bon séjour! Enjoy your stay!

Further your learning We feel that it’s a great idea to carry a French phrase book while traveling in France. Most phrase books on the market won’t show you how to actually say the phrases. For an audio option, check out French Today’s Modern French Audio Phrasebook !

Discover more:

• Ways to say “thank you” in French
• How to say “hello” in French
• Ways to say “you’re welcome” in French
• Guide to French verbs
• Guide to French vocabulary

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language enthusiast. His head is swimming with words and sounds as he speaks over six languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private online lessons. When procrastinating working on his site, FrenchLearner.com, David enjoys his time skiing and hiking in Teton Valley, Idaho.

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Translation of travel – English–French dictionary

(Translation of travel from the GLOBAL English-French Dictionary © 2016 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Translation of travel | PASSWORD English-French Dictionary

(Translation of travel from the PASSWORD English-French Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

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How to start speaking french before your vacation.

Illustration by Aura Lewis , courtesy of the Bright Agency.

You’ve bought your plane tickets, done your hours of research, and planned your itinerary. You’re just about ready to go, but there’s one thing missing: You don’t speak French. Whether you’re heading off to Paris for some art and culture, Brittany for a breath of fresh Atlantic air, or Bordeaux for the wine tour you’ve always dreamed of, you’ll enjoy it even more if you have a bit of the language under your belt. But where should you begin? Luckily for you, here at Babbel, we have tons of courses to teach you everything you’ll need for your trip.

Learning some French for your vacation will make it easier for you to get around, to order exactly what you want to eat or drink in a restaurant or café, and to really experience the culture by making connections with the local people. Here’s a little timeline we put together to get you speaking confidently in just two weeks!

Days 1-3: Get Started With The Basics!

There are some pretty standard things everyone should know how to say in the local language when they travel to a foreign country. Here are just a few:

• How are you?
• Good morning / afternoon / evening
• I don’t understand
• How much is _______?

To master these things in French, we suggest you start with our French beginner’s courses. They teach topics that range from introducing yourself and asking simple questions, all the way to booking a hotel and finding your way around a busy Parisian train station! You’ll also find a number of lessons focused on pronunciation, so you won’t have to worry about being misunderstood when you speak.

Depending on what you plan to do during your stay, some courses might be more valuable to you than others. Really think about what you plan to do on your trip, and try to come up with a list of situations you can imagine yourself in.  We recommend taking a look at the courses on our web version so that you can see exactly what each lesson contains. This way you can pick and choose which lessons will be the best for you.

Here’s an additional lesson we think is a must-do:

Finish that one, and you’ll have the vocabulary and phrases you need to be the most polite tourist ever!

Days 4-6: Practice Ordering A Meal!

Ratatouille, bœuf bourguignon, crêpes, quiche … the list goes on! France is a veritable wonderland of food and flavor, and you’ll most likely be spending a fair amount of time in restaurants and cafés. That being said, you should plan to brush up on some useful words and phrases for ordering a meal. As menus are often only in French, it’s a good idea to learn as much food vocabulary as you can! After all, you want to make sure you know exactly what you’re ordering.

For example, let’s say you’re craving a nice Surf and Turf with scallops and a juicy steak, so you order the escalope  and  filet mignon. You will be understandably disappointed when you end up with a veal cutlet and a pork tenderloin. But don’t worry, we can help you avoid embarrassing situations like this. Under the “Countries and Traditions” category, you’ll find our “French Cuisine” section, which gives you a rundown of the culinary specialties from the different regions of France. After doing these courses, you won’t be surprised at what you find on your plate when you order  les cuisses de grenouille!

We also have a couple of other courses about food, drink, and ordering. Here are two you should try before you jet off:

These two lessons will introduce the phrases you’ll need in order to understand the menu, order food, and ask for the bill. The satisfaction of getting through an entire meal in a restaurant en français  will make the time you spend practicing absolutely worth it!

Bon appétit!

Days 7-10: Learn To Ask For Directions And Use Public Transportation

Getting lost in a place where you speak the language is bad enough. Now imagine being lost somewhere where you can’t communicate with anyone! Knowing how to ask for help will definitely lower your stress levels if you get turned around.

Now, you should have made it through some of the beginner’s courses, but just in case you missed some of them, here’s a little tip. In Beginner’s Course 2, you’ll find a unit called “Pardon, où est … ?” . These lessons will teach you all you need to know to bravely go where no tourist has gone before! You’ll not only be able to ask for and understand directions but also learn some vocabulary for common locations in a city. Make a list of the places you’d like to visit so you can learn the words for these things as well.

If you still feel like you want a little more practice, then check out these lessons too:

These will help you perfect the skills you learned from the beginner’s course, and also give you more specific information about using public transportation, which can be a confusing affair. It’s also a good idea to learn a bit about French signs and street names. After completing these lessons, you’ll truly be a well-prepared  voyageur!

Days 11-14: Put It All Together (And Have Some Fun!)

With just a few days left before you leave, you’ll want to review everything you’ve learned so far so that it’s fresh in your mind and ready to be used! This is where the Babbel Review Manager will come in handy. All of the core vocabulary and phrases you’ve picked up over the last two weeks have been stored there so you can easily go back over them and practice.

If you’re feeling confident with the basics, then now it’s time to have a little fun! We have a huge selection of courses with interesting cultural and linguistic content that you can find under the categories “Countries and Traditions” and “Specials.” With these lessons, you can get your French slang up to snuff ( cimer! ), find some ideas for sightseeing, learn a bit about true and false friends, and also pick up a few idioms to really impress the locals. We promise it won’t all be  pour des prunes!

After these two weeks, you should be more than ready to communicate effectively during your vacation. Our final tip for you is, of course, to have fun!

Bon Voyage!

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French travel phrases and vocabulary

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You want to travel to a French speaking country and to live there for a certain period of time? Then you should at least learn the most important travel-related words and phrases in French ! In this lesson you can find out how to respond and interact with others at the airport, at the bus stop, in the hotel or in the shop.

First of all, I will show you the most important vocabulary related with public transportation. Afterwards, you will find a list with some useful vocabulary about the topic accommodation and going to shopping .

Lesson outline

• 1. Travel-related sentences
• 1.1. At the airport  
• 1.1.1. Example dialogue
• 1.2. At the bus station
• 1.2.1. Example dialogue
• 1.3. French hotel vocabulary
• 1.3.1. Example dialogue
• 1.4. French shopping vocabulary
• 1.4.1. Exampe dialogue
• 2. Exercises
• 2.1. Matching words: at the airport, at the bus station
• 2.2. Matching words: at the hotel
• 2.3. Going to the shopping mall exercise

Travel-related sentences

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At the airport  

Example dialogue

Marie:   Bonjour, est-ce que vous pouvez m´aider?

Paul:   Bien sûr!

Marie : J´ai oublié ma carte d'embarquement. Qu'est-ce que je dois faire maintenant?

Paul: Vous pouvez vous enregistrer aussi ici, à l´aéroport.

Marie: Donc, j´ai un vol direct vers Paris et j'ai seulement des bagages à main.

Paul : Le bagage peut avoir 20 kilos maximum. Vous devez vous présenter à la porte 15 minutes avant l’heure du départ.

Marie: Merci beaucoup.

Paul:   Merci à vous et bon voyage!

Marie: Good morning, can you help me, please?

Paul: Of course.

Marie: I forgot my boarding pass. What can I do now?

Paul: You can check in also at the airport.

Marie: Ok, so I have a flight for Paris and carry-on luggage.

Paul: The luggage can have 20kg maximum and you need to be at gate 15 minutes before the flight.

Marie: Thank you very much.

Paul: Thank you and have a nice trip.

At the bus station

Travelling with a bus can be another option. To complete this topic, check the lesson before about Asking for directions in French .

Marie: Bonjour, je voudrais acheter un carnet direction Versailles.

Paul: Le prix est  de 10€, le trajet dure 2 heures.

Marie : Bien et pouvez-vous me dire l'horaire?

Paul: Donc, le car part à 10 heures et le terminus pour votre direction est le château de Versailles.

Marie: Merci beaucoup pour votre aide. Au revoir!

Marie: Good morning, I would like to buy a book of ten tickets for Versailles.

Paul: The price is 10 euros and the trip lasts 2 hours.

Marie: Good, and can you tell me the time?

Paul: So, the intercity bus leaves at 10 a.m. and the last stop for your direction is the castle Versailles.

Marie: Thank you very much for your help. Goodbye!

French hotel vocabulary

Paul: Bonjour, je voudrais une chambre à deux lits, qui donne sur la mer et pour trois nuits?

Marie: Nous n'avons pas une avec la vue sur la mer, mais il y a une au quinzième étage, aussi vous avez lnternet sans fil et la terasse.

Paul: Bien, et quand je dois régler la facture?

Marie: Vous devez la régler le dernier jour de votre séjour.

Paul: Merci et à bientôt!

Paul: Good morning, I would like a double room, for three nights and with a sea view?

Marie: We don't have one with a sea view, but there is one at fifth floor, with wireless internet and with a terrace.

Paul: Good, and when do I need to pay?

Marie: You can pay at your last day.

Paul: Thank you and see you than!

French shopping vocabulary

Exampe dialogue

Paul: Bonjour, est-ce que vous avez besoin de l'aide?

Marie: Oui, je cherche un souvenir pour ma soeur. Je voudrais acheter quelque chose d'utile.

Paul: Je vous recommande un chapeau ou un sac avec le signe de la ville.

Marie: C`est très bien, mais quelque chose bon marché s'il vous plaît.

Paul: D`accord, voilà un sac pour 10 euro.

Marie: Parfait, je l'achète.

Paul: Good morning, do you need help?

Marie: Yes, I am searching for a souvenir for my sister. I would like to buy something useful.

Paul: I suggest you to buy a bag with the city sign.

Marie: That's an excellent idea, but do you have something cheap?

Paul: Yes, we do, we have a bag for 10 euros.

Marie: Excellent, I am going to buy it.

Matching words: at the airport, at the bus station

Matching words: at the hotel, going to the shopping mall exercise, what our students say.

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50+ Useful French Phrases For Travelers

By: Author Christine Rogador

Posted on Published: June 19, 2020  - Last updated: January 6, 2023

Are you planning to, or already scheduled to visit France soon? One of the most important things to know aside from your travel details and itinerary is the language.

The French people may speak and understand English but it is considered a basic courtesy to have even a beginner’s knowledge of their language as well.

Things you'll find in this article

French Phrases for Basic Greetings and Introductions

French words for a cafe or restaurant, phrases for direction:, french phrases for the cab, french words when shopping, when you’ve ran out of french, french phrases for basic conversation.

For one, it helps you navigate cities and towns easier. Knowing even a bit of French gives a more authentic local feel to your experience as a traveler.

Locals are definitely more welcoming and accommodating to visitors who speak even a simple Oui and Bonjour !

You do not have to learn how to conjugate or form complex sentences, the basics will do fine.

From greetings to getting around cities and towns to some popular expressions – here are some French phrases that will help you truly enjoy your visit to France.

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These are useful phrases that help you answer simple questions, properly address people you meet, and even introduce yourself.

Oui – Yes

Non – No

Bonjour – Hello

Au revoir – Goodbye

À bientôt – See you soon

Bonsoir – Good evening

Merci  – Thank you

Merci beaucoup – Thank you very much

S’il vous plaît – Please

Excusez-moi – Excuse me

De rien / Je vous en prie – You’re welcome

D’accord – OK / Okay.

Comment vous appelez-vous? (formal) / Comment t’appelles-tu? (informal) – What’s your name?

Je m’appelle… – My name is…

Je suis… – I am … (nationaility)

…American – … Américain

…British – … Anglais

…Brazilian – … Brésilien

….Japanese – … Japonais

….Korean – …. Coréen

….Chinese – … Chinois

….Russian – … Russe

…Canadian – .. .Canadien

Je viens … – I am from (country of origin)

…Australia – … d’Australie

…Canada – … du Canada

…England – …d’angleterre

…USA – … des USA

Je suis ici en vacances. – I am here on holiday.

Je suis ici en voyage d’affaires. – I am here on a business trip.

Read: How To Say Hello In French In Different Ways

France is foodie heaven. One of the best parts of traveling here is being able to sample French hearty dishes and delicious desserts.

The following are a few phrases that will help you when in a cafe or restaurant, from ordering to getting the check.

Où est un bon restaurant/un bon café? – where is a good restaurant or cafe?

Bonjour, une table pour une/deux/trois personnes, s’il vous plaît. – Hello, a table for one/two/three people, please.

Je vais prendre de l’eau / Je prendrais de l’eau . – I will take some water / I’ll take some water.

Je vais prendre du café / Je vais prendre du café au lait. – I will take some coffee or I will take some coffee with milk.

Le menu, s’il vous plaît. – Can I please have the menu?

Avez-vous un ménu en Anglais? –   Do you have a menu in English?

Quels sont les plâts du jour? –   What are today’s specials?

Je prendrai –  I’d like…

Je voudrais – I would like…

L’addition, s’il vous plaît. – The check, please? (when it’s time to pay the bill)

If you or a companion has a food allergy or any dietary preference or restriction, this is an important phrase to remember:

Je ne peux pas manger… – I can’t eat…

The following are some common allergens that you can put after the word manger : 

les produits laitiers – dairy products

le gluten – gluten

la viande – meat

le poisson/les fruits de mer  – fish/ shellfish

noix – nuts

soja – soy

Getting Around The City and Reading Signages in French

Navigating a foreign country via its public transport system can be daunting. This is more challenging if it is a country of predominantly non-English.

How do you get on the right train? What does certain signage mean? How do you tell your cab driver where you’re going?

Here are some phrases to learn that will help you get from point A to B without much hassle.

Je cherche le bus/train/métro. Où est l’arrêt le plus près? – I am looking for the bus/train/subway. Where is the nearest stop?

Comment aller à la station X –  How do I get to X station?

Est-ce le bon sens pour aller à X – Is this the right direction to X?

Où est le guichet? – Where is the ticket window?

Je voudrais regarder l’horaire. – I would like to look at the schedule.

Je voudrais réserver un billet. – I would like to reserve a ticket.

Je voudrais acheter un billet aller simple/aller-retour pour Paris. – I would like to purchase a one-way ticket/a round-trip ticket.

À quelle heure faut-il arriver? – What time should it arrive?

Où est la sortie – Where is the exit?

La Sortie – Exit

Correspondance/s: – connection (transfer line)

Passage Interdit – Forbidden passageway/Do not enter

En Travaux – Under construction

Plan du Quartier – Neighborhood map

Attention, Danger de Mort –  Warning, Danger of Death

Je veux aller en/aux… – I have to go to…

Je dois aller à l’hôtel. –  I have to go to the hotel.

Huge, government-regulated sales, quaint little shops lining streets and harbors, weekend markets, covered or open-air markets – every town or city in France offers shopping opportunities that are hard to resist. Here are phrases that can help you while shopping.

Où sont les magasins? – Where are the shops?

Où est le centre-commercial? – Where is the mall?

Est-ce que je peux payer avec une carte de crédit? – Can I pay with a credit card?

Combien ça coûte? – How much does it cost?

C’est trop cher! – It’s too expensive!

C’est bon marché! – It’s a great deal!

C’est bon/mal/terrible. – It’s good/bad/terrible.

Yes, except that it will happen. You want to say or ask something and you don’t know how to say it in French. You’ll be fine, people won’t expect tourists to know more French than necessary.

However, it does help to know a few ways to express that indeed, you’ve run out if French and you’re about to speak just English, please.

Parlez-vous anglais? – Do you speak English?

Je ne parle pas français. – I do not speak French.

Pouvez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît? –  Can you help me, please?

Je ne comprends pas. –  I don’t understand.

Parlez lentement, s’il vous plaît. – Speak slowly, please.

Répétez, s’il vous plait. – Repeat, please.

Où sont des toilettes? – Where are the toilets?

Où est-ce que je peux trouver un plan de la ville? – Where can I find a city map?

Whether you’re strolling around a neighborhood, browsing items in a shop, having coffee, or on a guided tour, you’ll come across locals.

Locals who will most likely strike up a conversation. It is best to be prepared during such instances with these useful French phrases.

Comment allez-vous? –  How are you? (Formal – used when speaking to a stranger or older people.

Ça va? – How are you? (informal, to a friend or someone you’re already familiar with)

Quel est ton/votre film préféré? – What’s your favorite movie?

livre – book

genre de musique – type of music

émission de télévision – TV show

À tout à l’heure! – See you later!

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Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.

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5 Ways To Say Cheers In French - Journey To France

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[…] – This is essentially a shorter version of à ta santé, as the French love to simplify their words and phrases. This is what you say if you’re not sure whether to say cheers in a formal or informal […]

France in May: Weather, Things to See and Travel Tips - Journey To France

Sunday 25th of July 2021

[…] However, another reason why visitors go here in May is because of the Festival du Mot, or Festival of the Word. This is a linguistic and literary event that honors the French language. […]

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Wednesday 21st of July 2021

[…] cheerful “Bonjour!” is used as a greeting in French, “Bonne journée!” is a French phrase that means “good day!” when you part […]

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[…] and engagements are two of life’s most joyful occasions. Here are some French expressions to use when you want to say that you’re happy for your friends or family. You can use these […]

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[…] might say something like “of course,” “yup,” or “maybe,” or phrases like “of course,” or “I agree”. When you’re affirming a negative […]

Survival French: 120 Must-know Phrases for visitors to France

• Post category: French Language / Travel to France
• Post author: Nassie Angadi

If you are planning a trip in France, you may want to learn a few french travel phrases to make the most of your visit. Travel can be stressful, so there’s no better way to calm your nerves than by understanding the local language .

The French are notoriously shy about speaking English, so a few phrases in French is bound to put everyone at ease. In this article, I will cover some useful phrases in various instances, from asking directions, ordering at a restaurant, going somewhere in a taxi, etc.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top useful French travel phrases for your big trip to France. Allons-y!

Greetings and general phrases

There is quite a lot of different French greetings but the most basic is the Bonjour . If there is only one word to remember on your trip, this is the one.

Asking for help

You can find more information on calling emergency numbers in France here.

At the airport

Food, restaurants and dining out

You can find more French food culinary terms here and top foods to eat in France here.

At a train station

For more numbers in French , you can find my printable here.

In a museum

You can find the top museums in Paris here.

If you enjoyed that article, you may like to download the list in printable format below. You can also read more about traveling to Paris here. A bientôt!

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35+ French Travel Phrases for Beginner Learners

Looking to learn some French travel phrases?

Well, if you’re traveling to France, then you’ll likely need some of these phrases about toilets, money, English and much more.

These French travel phrases also come with key vocabulary breakdowns. Why? So if you forget the phrase, if you can remember the key word, that could be good enough.

So, here are the French phrases that travelers must know.

1. Merci! Thank you!

“Thank you” is one of the most important phrases you need to know. Why? Simple manners. You’ll want to thank all the French people that help you on your trip.

Just remember… “mer-see.” Basic way of saying thank you in French . If you remember only one word from this guide, let it be this one.

Key words and phrases:

• Merci – Thank you

If you want to say thank you very much in French, then…

• Merci beaucoup.
• Thank you very much.

By the way, if you want to hear REAL French, check out this audio lesson by FrenchPod101. Press play below. Why? It’s one thing to read about French and another to hear native speakers — you learn faster!

• How to Say Thank You in French – Learn French in 3 Minutes
• Free Audio Lesson by FrenchPod101.com (click  here to download more fun less0ns)

2. Excusez-moi. Excuse me.

This is one of the most useful French travel phrases. You’ll need to get the attention of waiters, shop staff, stewardesses, and so on, and this is where “Excusez-moi” comes in.

3. Bonjour. Good morning or Hello

Even though French greetings are not really “French travel phrases,” you’ll still have to talk to people in French. And aside from “excuse me,” you can also learn some “hellos.”

“Bonjour” is a formal way of saying hello and also a morning greeting. So, if you have to address someone in the morning, use “bonjour.”

4. Salut. Hi.

If you want something a bit more casual than a “bonjour,” then try a “salut” or “hi.”

5. Bon après-midi. Good afternoon .

Now, what if it’s afternoon? Then use this greeting.

6. Bonsoir. Good evening.

Now, if you need to talk to some shop staff or whoever in the evening, this is the phrase to use.

7. Je suis désolé. I’m sorry.

Chances are you won’t need to apologize. But it’s always good to know just in case you step on someone’s shoe or something.

• Je suis – I am
• désolé – sorry

8. De l’eau, s’il vous plaît. Some water, please.

Whether you’re terribly thirsty or

• s’il vous plaît – please
• l’eau – water

9. Combien ça coûte? How much is this?

Chances are, you’ll probably buy something in France. And so, you’ll want to know much it costs.

• coûte – cost

10. Pourrais-je changer de chambre? Could I move to a different room?

This is a good French travel phrase for a hotel. Just in case you’re having issues with your current room.

• changer – change
• chambre – room

11. Pourriez-vous m’obtenir une chambre non-fumeur? Could you find me a non-smoking room?

The country is known for heavy smokers. So, just in case you notice the “aroma” of tobacco, use this line.

• non-fumeur – non-smoking

12. Cela ne me va pas. It doesn’t fit.

If you go shopping for clothes and have to try things on, you’ll want this phrase.

• Cela – This

13. Avez-vous des chambres de disponibles ce soir? Do you have any vacancies tonight?

•  J’en voudrais – I woud like

14. Y at-il un bus de l’aéroport pour aller en ville? Is there a bus from the airport to the city?

• ville – city
• bus – bus
• l’aéroport – the airport

15. Est-ce le bon bus pour l’aéroport? Is this the right bus for the airport?

When they answer it, listen for the “oui” (yes) or “non” (no).

• bon – right

16. Excusez-moi, c’est combien? Excuse me, what’s the fare?

You already know some of the words and phrases here.

• Excusez-moi – excuse me
• combien – cost
• 18. Je voudrais un siège non-fumeur, s’il vous plaît. I’d like to have a non-smoking seat, please.

17. Je suis allergique aux cacahuètes. I’m allergic to peanuts.

This is a good line to know for restaurants. If you’re allergic to something else, look it up on Google Translate and swap it in place of “peanuts.”

• allergique – allergic
• cacahuètes – peanuts

18. Que recommandez-vous comme souvenir? What do you recommend for a souvenir?

It’s good to get an opinion from shop staff if you want to pick something unique or culturally significant to France. Otherwise, you’ll just end up buying a “I LOVE PARIS” shirt.”

• Que – what
• recommandez – recommend

19. Prenez-vous la carte de crédit? Do you take credit card?

This would be a good phrase to know for shopping.

• Prenez-vous- Do yu
• carte – card
• crédit – credit

20. Ce n’est pas ce que j’ai commandé. This isn’t what I ordered.

This may be a good line to know at a French restaurant. You know, just in case they don’t give you the baguette you ordered.

• Ce n’est pas – it’s not
• que – what
• commandé – order

21. Nos plats ne sont pas encore arrivés. Our food hasn’t come yet.

Here’s another important restaurant phrase. Use it when you’ve been waiting for a while and your baguette  still isn’t here.

• plats – dish
• arrivés- arrived

22. Pourrions-nous avoir le menu, s’il vous plaît? Could we have the menu, please?

The good news here is that “menu” sounds pretty much the same as in English, minus the accent of course.

• menu – menu

23. Où est la gare? Where is the train station?

• Où – where
• gare – train station

24. Le wifi est-il gratuit? Is the Wi-Fi free?

• gratuit – free

25. Je voudrais ceci. I’d like this.

26. avez-vous des recommandations do you have any recommendations.

• Avez-vous – Have you/do you

27. Avez-vous des plats végétariens? Do you have any vegetarian dishes?

• végétariens – Vegetarian
• plats – dishes

28. Pourrais-je avoir l’addition? Could I have the check?

29. pourriez-vous me prendre en photo s’il vous plaît could you take a picture of me please.

This is another important French travel phrase. Because you’ll want to take lots of pics in France.

• Pourriez-vous – could you
• prendre – take
• photo – photo/picture

30. Pourrais-je obtenir un plan? Could I get a map?

• obtenir – get/obtain
• plan – map

31. J’ai une réservation. I have a reservation.

• J’ai – I have
• une réservation – a reservation
• 29. Puis-je essayer? Can I try this on?

Good overall shopping phrase to know.

• essayer – try

32. Parlez-vous anglais? Do you speak English?

Changes are, there’ll be times where you can’t handle any more French… and you’ll need English. So, what do you do? You ask for “anglais.”

• anglais – English
• parlez-vous – speak

33. À quelle heure est le prochain bus? What time is the next bus?

• quelle – What
• heure – hour
• prochain – next

34. Où sont les toilettes? Where Is the Bathroom?

This may be one of the most important French travel phrases here.

• Où – Where
• toilettes – Bathroom

35. Est-ce que ce bus va à …..? Does this bus go to…..?

If you need to ask if your bus is going in the right direction, use this.

• va – go

36. Bienvenue à l’aéroport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle à Paris, France. Welcome to the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France.

Not exactly a French travel phrase.

You won’t be the one saying this… but it’s still a good phrase to know.

You’ll hear this on the plane — even though they’ll likely announce it in English as well. Either way, it’s nice to understand what’s being said in another language.

• Bienvenue – welcome

37. Excusez-moi, j’aimerais aller à l’aéroport, pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment y aller? Excuse me, I’d like to go to the airport, would you tell me how to get there?

• Excusez-moi – Excuse me
• aller – to go
• j’aimerais – I would like
• m’indiquer – indicate me/tell me
• comment y aller – how to get there

38. Où sont les taxis ?  Where are the taxis?

The good news is that “taxi” doesn’t soon too different in French.

• Taxi – taxi

Now You Know Some French Travel Phrases

If you want these phrases to stick better, feel free to print this page and review it as much as possible.

If you want to actually learn French and speak it, then I recommend FrenchPod101 .

FrenchPod101 is a French learning program.  You get audio/video lessons made by real teachers. Kind of like this lesson below:

The lessons get you speaking in minutes and are just 3-15 minutes in length. So, if you want to HEAR real French and learn faster with a program, I recommend them.

Click here to get a Free Lifetime Account at FrenchPod101.com.

101 Basic French Words For Travel In France

Are you planning your trip to France but feel nervous about actually speaking french among the natives? Do not worry. We made a special guide for you to help you during your trip!

Samuel Bonne

Although France lies next door to England, a native English-speaking country, you may not always be able to get by with speaking English, especially if you wish to immerse yourself in the culture or walk around the French suburbs. So, before you plan a trip to Metropolis, it's a smart option to brush up on some fundamental French terms and phrases.

Learning a few introductory greetings and courteous phrases in the mother tongue will make the most of your trip and facilitate your interactions with the locals. Even if speaking the language isn't your forte or you're not too confident, this guide below will help you speak french like a native .

Below are a few that will allow you to communicate and will surely make your vacation worthwhile.

Why Visit France

France has been on each one of us's bucket list. Why not? It is known as one of the most beautiful spots on the planet.

Every tourist will find that the country has a lot to offer. Whether you've come to learn about the city's rich culture and history through its museums and architectural marvels, or you've come on a romantic trip with your loved one in, you guessed it! The City of Lights, Paris, la France has something for everyone.

Paris, as well as Bordeaux, Lyon, Cannes, and Nice, France is known for its magnificent cities and luxurious lifestyle that will certainly capture your heart. It is home to world-famous art and movies; museums such as the Louvre and the Cannes Film Festival , as well as films such as La Vie en Rose and Amelie. Moreover, learning french through art and artists is a fun and engaging way to understand the language.

It should come as no surprise that France and fashion are sides of the same coin, hence prepare to see many shopping centres and boutiques around the region. It had to be, given that it is the birthplace of some of the world's most well-known fashionistas, like Yves Saint-Laurent, Christian Dior, and LVMH.

It's also famed for its delectable cuisine, scenic towns, outdoor sports, and, most importantly, its love language, le français. So, even if you can't fly to this lovely nation just yet, you may begin to feel a connection by growing your French vocab and develop your accent right now!

Basic French Phrases To Visit France

Learning to approach people respectfully in French is the very first step toward feeling at ease in France. It will also enhance the level of service you receive and your interactions with the French overall.

Male and female expressions are generally different, just as there are various definitions of greeting in French depending on how well you know someone.

There are often articles associated with every word, be it an object, a material or a person; they are categorised into masculine and feminine . You can use le (the)/ un (a) for a masculine noun like un garçon means a boy. Likewise, you use la (the)/ une (a) for a feminine noun like une fille means a girl.

Similarly, when speaking to someone you know or addressing a child or an animal, you can say 'tu' , which means you. However, you must use ‘vous’ while speaking to strangers, authorities or your seniors. It is a far more polite and formal way of addressing someone. Remember, it's usually safer to use ‘vous’ as a general rule.

To start a discussion, here are some simple French words and phrases to use:

The Basics Phrases You Need To Know

Common courtesy is fairly serious among the French, so whether you're meeting someone for the first time or conversing with a stranger, it's key that you address them correctly and with the appropriate expression.

Bonjour : Good morning/ Hello Do not forget to say bonjour as you enter a shop or start a conversation with someone!

Salut : Hello (casual way of saying hello)

Bonsoir : Good evening

Monsieur/ Madame/ mademoiselle : Mister/ Madam/ Miss

S'il vous plaît : Please

Merci/ Merci beaucoup : Thank you/ Thank you very much

Excusez-moi/ Pardon : Excuse me Pardon is an informal way. You can use either if you bump into someone or make your way through a crowd.

Au revoir : Goodbye

Bonne journée! : Have a good day!

Je suis désolé(e) : I'm sorry (an e is added if you identify as female)

Making Yourself Understood In French

It is important to make yourself understood if you are a tourist and you are not familiar with the language. Je is used as a subject and it stands for I.

• Je ne comprends pas : I don't understand
• Je ne sais pas : I don't know
• Parlez-vous anglais? : Do you speak English
• Je ne parle pas français : I do not speak French
• Je parle un peu français : I speak a little French
• Répétez, s'il vous plaît : Repeat please You can say this when you have not understood what has been said or if the person might have spoken too quickly, you can say:
• S'il vous plaît, parlez lentement : Please speak slowly

Introducing Yourself In French

• Je m'appelle ... : My name is ...
• Quel est votre nom? : What is your name?
• Comment allez-vous? : How are you?
• Je vais bien, et vous? : I am well, and you?
• Je viens de ... : I come from ...
• Enchanté(e) : Pleased to meet you (an e is added if you identify as female).

Transportation Words In French

The transit system is usually the main mode of transport in the country, connecting the big cities so you will have no problem travelling from one end to the other.

Prices vary over distances and it is a fast and comfortable option. You can even travel within as well as to neighbouring countries. You might need to know certain terms to be able to get your way through!

Le bus : the bus

Arrêt de bus : Bus stop

Un taxi : a taxi

Je voudrais partir à la gare : I would like to go to the bus/train station

Train : Train The high-speed train of France is called Train à grande vitesse (TGV) , you can simply say TGV.

Le Métro : Subway

Un Avion : Airplane

Une Voiture : Car

Un Billet : Ticket

Le Guichet : Ticket window

Quelle est l’horaire? : What is the schedule?

L'aéroport : Airport

La gare : Bus/ train station

Directions Phrases In French

• À gauche : To the left.
• À droite : To the right.
• Tout droit : Straight ahead.
• Où sommes-nous? : Where are we?
• C’est loin/près d’ici? : Is it far/close by?
• La Sortie : The exit
• Nord : North
• Sud : South
• L'Est : East
• L'Ouest : West
• Là-bas : There

Places Or Accomodation Terms In French

As you explore the country, you should have an idea of what certain places are called so that it's easy for you to maneuver around.

L'hôtel : Hotel

L'auberge : Hostel A hostel is usually cheaper than a hotel but you have to make sure that they are accessible and clean.

J'aimerais faire une réservation : I'd like to make a reservation

Je voudrais une chambre pour deux : I would like a double room.

À quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? : At what time should we check out?

La plage : The beach

Les Magasins : Shops

Centre commercial : Shopping mall

L'église : Church

L'ambassade : Embassy

La poste : Post office

Le supermarché : Supermarket

La pâtisserie : Pastry shop

Asking For Help In French

As a foreigner, it is essential to learn how to ask for help if ever you find yourself in trouble, face an emergency situation or simply having issues in finding something. Keep reading to know how to deal with such circumstances!

• Je cherche : I'm looking for
• Où est : Where is... You can say either followed by the thing or place you might be looking for.
• Où sont les toilettes? : Where is the restroom?
• Où est l'hôpital/ la pharmacie? : Where is the hospital/ the pharmacy?
• Aidez-moi : Help me
• Je suis perdu : I'm lost
• J'ai perdu ... : I've lost..
• J'ai perdu mon porte-monnaie : I've lost my wallet
• J'ai mal au cœur : I feel sick
• Appelez une ambulance : Call an ambulance
• Appelez la police : Call the police You might be able to properly explain yourself to authority figures as they usually understand English.

Food And Ordering In Restaurant In France

Home to one of the most popular cuisines, France will surely make your mouth water with its myriad choice of cheese and pastries, not to forget its unique dishes! However, most menus are not offered in the English language, so a few basic culinary vocabulary will make your dining experience more fun. Moreover, you can also learn french by following french recipes yourself!

Le menu, s’il vous plaît : The menu, please.

Quels sont les plats du jour : What are today's specials?

Je suis allergique à ... : I'm allergic to ...

Options végétariennes : Vegetarian options

Je prendrai : I'd like

L’addition : The bill

Est-ce que le service est compris? : Is the tip included? You should remember that tipping is not a common practice in many restaurants.

C’est trop bon! : This is so good!

Le Pain : Bread

Un Fromage : Cheese

La viande : Meat

Drinks Words In French

La carte des vins, s’il vous plaît : The wine menu, please.

Un verre de vin : A glass of wine You cannot visit France and not try a wine collection!

Du thé : Tea

Un café : a coffee

Une bière : a beer

Du jus de fruit : Some fruit juice

De l’eau : Some water

Boisson pétillante : Fizzy drink

Money Terms In French

If you are travelling to France, you are bound to use some euros to enjoy your stay. What better way to start understanding money terms in french than now!

Billet d'argent : Notes

La monnaie : Coins

Combien ça coûte? : How much does this cost?

Je voudrais payer en liquide : I would like to pay in cash.

Acceptez-vous les cartes? : Do you accept cards? It is important that you inquire before paying as many small restaurants do not accept cards. It is also a wiser option to carry cash with you.

Je vous dois combien? : How much do I owe you?

C'est trop cher : It is too expensive

La banque : The bank

Best Places You Need To Visit In France

A vacation to France will keep you busy with all the wonderful activities available.

Since you made it this far, we added 5 more beautiful places to visit in France along with their gorgeous names.

La tour Eiffel : The Eiffel tower One of the must-see locations in France is surely the Eiffel Tower , a real and amazing structural masterpiece. You can mount the Tower and look down on beautiful Paris.

Bordeaux : Bordeaux If you are a wine enthusiast, you may tour the winery in Bordeaux , which is also a city full of history and art.

Le Musée du Louvre : Louvre museum The Louvre, which houses the Mona Lisa, has some of the most renowned works of art in contemporary history.

La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris : Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral Notre Dame Cathedral is a Gothic architectural marvel and one of the most amazing tourist sites you should see.

La plage de Saint-Tropez : Saint-Tropez beach You may also choose between the captivating beaches of Saint-Tropez and the ski resorts of Chamonix , or you can simply do both.

Now, Up To You To Practice You French!

Now that you have an idea of what le français consists of, it is time for you to practice saying these words. You can also improve your french with the tools that Speechling provides.

Remember as many as you can to make the most of your next trip to France!

Speechling is a nonprofit app and website that combines human coaching with technology to improve your foreign language speaking.

Real French for Travelers

On your own schedule. at your own pace..

Real French for Travelers Complete Online Course gives you that freedom. Learn from someone who’s been in your shoes, not from a corporation. It’s easier than you think, especially with short, clear videos that’ll show you exactly how to say things and what it all means.

Choose among three options: the complete course, just the Foundations (Part 1) , or Situational French for Travelers (Part 2) to go deeper. 

Why learn French?

(it’s easier than you think.).

You won’t have to ask, “Do you speak English?” anymore, and won’t that feel good? (You’ll love it. And feel proud of yourself.)

You’ll do things differently than your fellow tourists because you’re making the effort to learn like an insider. You don’t need to be fluent to do this. You can learn a basic French framework then build as you go. Step-by-step.

What’s even better than a phrasebook?

Real French, that’s what.

Get the complete course or just the first (or second ) half.

Scroll down to access two free sessions!

It’s the closest you can come to learning French in Paris.

(Café au lait not included …)

With real French, you KNOW what you’re saying, and others do, too. You can BUILD on what you learn because it’s real French. Real grammar. Real vocabulary.

Real. Isn’t that better? Especially when it comes to communicating with other people.

Read road signs and menus, ask for directions, ask for help if you’re lost or have a problem, or even strike up a simple conversation with a French person. (By the way, they love it if you make the effort to learn their language. You’d feel the same way.)

Real French for Travelers: The complete online course. Or the basics. Or Part 2, if you’ve had some French. Whichever you choose, it’s yours to keep. Review, practice, and master (all for the price of about 4 lessons with a private tutor) in as little as 8 weeks. 

Unlike other French programs, it’s designed specifically for travelers.

I’m Kyle and I’ll be your teacher for this course.

Real French in short, clear lessons. No intimidation here.

A course for travelers..

      Real French for Travelers Complete Online Course

Includes:  , clear, concise videos from zero to past tense. (42 in all), travel-oriented vocabulary covering a variety of situations, dialogues of realistic travel situations, downloadable reference (cheat) sheets, exercises for mastery with answer key, helpful travel tips throughout the course, quick-start phrases after each section give you a head-start in communicating, exercises to help you in listening comprehension, comprehensive pdf workbook that accompanies the videos, full 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the course.

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25 places other than France where speaking French is helpful

Posted: January 8, 2024 | Last updated: January 8, 2024

Speaking another language is always helpful, especially if you love to travel. And French, commonly thought of as one of the most beautiful in the world, is also more useful than you might realize. Here are 25 destinations outside of France where you can put your French language skills to good use!

Home to delicious beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries (no, they actually didn’t originate in France), Belgium is also a French-speaking country. The language is one of three officially spoken in the country; the other two are Dutch and German. French is mostly spoken in the capital, Brussels, and in the south of the country.

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Another multilingual state that borders France, the Grand Duchy has French, German, and Luxembourgish as official languages. However, French is one most commonly used on signs and in written communication in the country. You’ll also find it most helpful for small talk and chatting with residents.

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Switzerland

Yet another European country with French as one of the official languages (the others are German, Italian, and Rhaeto-Romance). You’ll find French most useful in Geneva and the surrounding area, although it’s used throughout Switzerland.

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Many people make the mistake of assuming that this tiny state is a part of France. And while Monaco is surrounded by its’ much larger neighbor and uses the French language, it is a sovereign city-state with a monarchy. There is also a Monégasque language that has official status.

Aosta Valley

This region of Italy is located in the northwest of the country, near France. Latin was replaced by French as the official language after the fall of the Roman Empire and then, in the 19th century, was replaced with Italian. Today, the region is bilingual, and you’ll see French and Italian written on road signs and hear the two spoken by locals.

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The French Empire had a strong presence in North Africa, and thus many nations in the region still use French as an official language. Morocco is one of these, and French is widespread along with Arabic and various Berber dialects. As a visitor, you’ll find it extremely useful when speaking to locals or reading signs and menus.

Algeria’s official languages are Arabic and Berber, but French is also commonly understood. While not as widely used as in neighboring Morocco, it will be your best bet if you don’t speak one of the official languages. 

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Another former French colonial outpost, the language is used and understood throughout the country in addition to Arabic and Tunisian. It’s estimated over half the population speaks French, and it’s the teaching language of high schools in the country.

Cameroon was a colony of both the UK and France in the early 20th century. So, English and French are spoken in the country. However, French is the most prevalent, with eight of 10 regions considered Francophone. Locals also speak numerous other indigenous languages.

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Ivory Coast

Known as “Côte d’Ivoire” in French, this coastal nation uses the old colonial language as the official one. Additionally, numerous indigenous languages also have recognized status in the Ivory Coast.

Senegal has six recognized indigenous languages, the most well-known and commonly spoken is Wolof. However, French is still the official language of the country despite Wolof being more widely used and understood.

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Yet another multilingual former French colony, Burundi has three official languages. In addition to French, Kirundi, and Swahili are recognized by the government. In 2014, English also gained status in the country.

Republic of the Congo

Also known as the Congo or Congo-Brazzaville, it is not to be confused with its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Formerly known as the French Congo, due to colonization, the language is still the official one of use to this day. The local Bantu language, Kituba, Lingala, and numerous other indigenous languages are also widely spoken.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The DRC has four main languages: Kikongo (Kituba), Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba. However, as a former Belgian colony, French is still widely used and understood.

Togo is a very multilingual country, and in addition to the official language, French has over 40 in use throughout the country. Many signs will be in French, and most locals speak some.

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Yet another former French colony, visitors to Mali will find the language very useful in most interactions. Additionally, the country is home to more than 80 other local languages.

The British and French fought over Canada, with the former finally winning out, but the Francophone portion of the population remained influential. So much so that the country has two official languages: English and French, with over 70 indigenous languages in existence. And the province of Québec only has French as the official language (and frequently threatens to secede from Canada). Its neighbor, New Brunswick, is the only officially bilingual province.

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When the U.S. purchased Louisiana territory from the French in 1803, it probably wasn’t considered how long the language would stick around. In the 1960s, efforts were made to revive the language in the state after decades of suppression and Americanization. Now, French is spoken by an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 residents, ranging from traditional and Cajun (Louisiana) French.

The Spanish colonized this Caribbean island before the Brits and French arrived. Then in 1763, France took over, and in 1943, it became semi-autonomous before gaining its current status as an Overseas Department in 1946. French is the official language, and visitors will find it helpful to know basic phrases, but Martinique Creole is unofficially the local language of communication.

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Another current French Overseas Department first colonized by the Spanish, Guadalupe has French as its official language, but like Martinique, Creole is widely used by locals.

French Guiana

This small section of the South American continent, located between far northeastern Brazil and Suriname and Guyana, is a former colony that housed a penal colony of France. Today, it is a French Overseas Department. Thus, French is the official language, but Creole is the language of use by many residents.

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French Polynesia

Colonized by the French, the islands received the name “French Polynesia” after being designated a French Overseas Territory in the '50s. Then, in 1977, the country received autonomy and is now considered an overseas country of the French Republic, with French as the official language.

New Caledonia

The British initially colonized these islands in the South Pacific before the French took over in 1853. Recent years have brought referendums for independence, but a slim majority of the population has voted in favor of remaining part of France. French remains the official language of the territory.

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This Pacific country is very multilingual, with French, English, and Bislama all considered official languages. However, it doesn’t stop there, as over 100 languages are spoken on the island. After centuries of colonization, independence was finally declared in 1980. 

Wallis & Futuna

Made up of the Wallis, Futuna, and Alofi islands, all three were French protectorates and colonies until 1961. Then, the islands became a French Overseas Territory until 2003, when they received status as an Overseas Collectivity. French has been the official language throughout all the status changes.

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St. Barts Is Peak Luxury—11 Outfits I Packed to Fit the Island's Elegant French Vibe

Every person I asked on the four-day trip I just returned from in St. Barts told me that they ended up in the French territory because they wanted to live for a year in a place that always felt like summers do in the South of France . Many had traveled from Nice or Marseilles, planned to stay for a year, and never left. According to them, St. Barts has a bit of everything they love about their hometowns, but on the island, it's August all year long. And now that I've experienced it myself, I know what they mean. From the French pharmacies that carry viral products like Nuxe Huile, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast spray, and Biafine to the tranquil beaches and pastel-colored structures, traveling to St. Barts felt like taking a much shorter trip to the French Riviera from JFK airport, where I started my journey.

Having heard about this ahead of my trip, I knew that I had to pack for the occasion, selecting the same sorts of pieces from my wardrobe that I would if I were heading to Antibes or Villefranche-sur-Mer. I wanted to bring with me all of the colorful items in my wardrobe that don't always make sense for New York City, especially coming out of a very long winter. In a shocking move for a minimalist like me, I brought only one black clothing item—a simple halter top—with the rest of my carry-on suitcase (the Tradewind flight we took from San Juan to St. Barts had a strict weight limit for luggage, so there were no checked bags for me) containing a mix of pink, orange, and red. Given my limited packing space, I only brought along four pairs of shoes: running shoes, a pair of black Prada slingbacks for evenings, The Row mesh flats , and white flat sandals from Larroudé's just-launched collaboration with the Rosewood Le Guanahani resort , which just so happened to be the reason I was in St. Barts in the first place. One purse, minimal jewelry , and lots of skincare were the only other pieces that accompanied me on my four-day getaway in St. Barts.

Below, find the 11 outfits I packed for my trip and a full-on photo dump of arguably the most luxurious destination I've visited— ever .

Upon arrival at the Rosewood, I was escorted to my suite, where the view from the private balcony showed the sun setting over the lagoon. Every second that I wasn't in my bed or getting ready for the rest of the trip, I was outside on one of the sun chairs working, drinking coffee, or honestly, taking pictures of this view.

On our first night, we had a pretty low-key dinner at the hotel's restaurant in the Beach Club. We'd all been traveling since around 5 a.m., so I was more than happy to keep things pretty casual. For the occasion, I slipped on one of my all-time favorite wardrobe items: this Tory Burch sculpted, hook-and-eye minidress from the brand's S/S 23 collection. I own the matching midi skirt as well but didn't have enough room to pack it, which ended up being absolutely fine. I like how it looks as a mini, especially in a tropical setting like this.

Early the next morning, I woke up to grab a coffee in the Beach House before our group yoga class down at the water. Usually in hot weather like this, I stick with shorts for working out, but I knew we were doing yoga when I was packing and chose to go with leggings instead. These are from Nike. With the set and a little Aritzia workout jacket, I wore my Adidas Adizero sneakers that I recently got and have been loving for classes and outdoor runs alike.

Our yoga instructor took us to this wooden platform down by the rocks on the ocean for a relaxing vinyasa class with the sounds of the waves as background music. We didn't get too far here because a quick bout of rain arrived and forced us inside to the spa, where we continued class under an awning. For some reason, the rain just didn't bother us in St. Barts in the same way it does in the city. It rained on a couple of occasions and usually we just stuck it out because it came and went so quickly. Being so close to the water, though, our mats were getting too wet, so we eventually had to switch locations.

After yoga, once the sun came out, I changed into a swimsuit for a day of working by the pool. I've owned this vintage Chanel shirt for about a year now and haven't figured out how to style it. I didn't really plan an outfit around it for this trip but knew that St. Barts was a good place to wear it, so I threw it in my suitcase at the last minute. It's made of a sporty material, so it was really lightweight and breathable on such a warm day. With it, I added one of my favorite floral Tory Burch string bikinis and a white sheer Tibi skirt that I ended up styling in tons of ways throughout this trip.

The whole reason I went to St. Barts was to celebrate the launch of the Brazilian footwear brand Larroudé's capsule collection for the Rosewood Le Guanahani (the same hotel group that owns The Carlyle in Manhattan). This is one of the pairs from the four-piece collection, which also included a purple pair of the same flats and two pairs of wedges, one in white and another in turquoise blue. The colors were chosen to mimic the hotel's 66 total colorful suites. Unlike most hotel boutiques, the one at Le Guanahani, where these shoes are all up for grabs, is heavily curated with resortwear staples like Guest in Residence knit sets, Tropic of C bikinis, and Matteau sundresses. Naturally, these seashell-embellished flats fit right in.

This is the view of the infinity pool and the lagoon from the Beach Club, where the hotel's boutique and restaurant are located. We spent a lot of time down here (when we weren't on the actual beach) having lunch or just lounging in and out of the pool.

This was probably the look I was most excited to wear when I was invited on this trip with Larroudé and the Rosewood. It's from the time of my favorite-ever Prada runway collection, S/S 22, and I scored it at Woodbury Commons, an outlet mall in New Jersey. I tried on the skort version that was in the show at a different outlet during my summer trip to Italy, and for some reason, I didn't buy it, so finding this slightly more practical dress version felt meant to be. With it, I carried the only purse I packed for the trip, a Prada 1995 Re-Edition bag, and wore black Prada slingback wedges .

I wore the look to leave the resort and head to dinner in Gustavia at Bonito , a hillside restaurant with views of the entire island. It's owned by the same restaurant group that owns Betula in Aspen and is definitely one of the go-to restaurants to visit if you're ever on the island.

After a quick workout in the hotel's gym the next morning, I headed to the spa for a 60-minute custom massage. It was a bit wet and rainy, but the sound of the rain ended up being a nice peaceful background for my appointment.

This was after my appointment, thus the messy, oily hairdo. I kept my outfit pretty casual for the spa, choosing a black halter top from Dissh and some new baggy jean shorts from Citizens of Humanity. Once I'd gotten dressed again, I sat for a good hour in a lounge chair in the spa, taking in the surroundings and snacking on coconut water and almonds.

I swear I took this same photo every single day that I was at the Rosewood. The flowers mixed with the aquamarine water and painted suites threw me for a loop whenever I saw it. This was the view as I left my room and walked down to the Beach Club.

Since it was still pretty hot out when we headed into Gustavia, the downtown area in St. Barts, I just threw on an oversize pink button-down shirt from Brooks Brothers and the same white, sheer skirt from Tibi that I wore to the pool a few days earlier. I wore this outfit during New York Fashion Week last September and loved how easy it was, taking the idea from Tibi's S/S 23 runway show to tuck in the tails of the shirt so that the skirt wasn't entirely see-through.

When we arrived, we stopped to get coffees at Bar de l'Oubli in town and then started roaming the streets, popping into Prada and Ralph Lauren, as well as the French pharmacy, where we loaded up on hard-to-find French products. An hour in the pharmacy later, we were late to get back to the hotel to prepare for dinner at La Petite Plage , a Mediterranean restaurant that turns into a beach club at the end of the night.

The next morning was by far the sunniest, best beach day of the entire trip, and none of us had anything to do until the evening but sit by the sea and relax. For the occasion, I wore my all-time favorite bikini from Kōraru. This was one of those perfect vacation days when you read an entire book—I read It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover—and eat lunch from your lounge chair.

Shop the matching Rifu Side Tie Bottom ($55).

Next on the agenda was a sunset boat ride, where we had cocktails and bites to the sound of French house music and took endless photos on a digital camera that one of the other editors on the trip brought. I got this Zara Studio Collection dress after the spring line dropped a few weeks ago and have been searching for a good chance to wear it. And what better chance will I have than a yacht at sunset in St. Barts? It's really beautiful, with a dusty-pink jacquard skirt and a sheer organza overlay. I couldn't wear shoes on the boat, but I originally added my Prada slingbacks with it, as well as my 1995 bag.

This was our last night in St. Barts, so after the boat ride, we headed to the hotel to quickly change for dinner. The theme of the dinner was Slim Aarons, so when I received this magenta shift dress from Liberowe in the mail just days before this trip, I knew it was perfect for the evening. I get the feeling that I'll be styling it in dozens of ways when I get home to the city, but for a beach dinner, I loved the way it looked worn completely on its own with just the Larroudé x Rosewood flat sandals.

Shop more sizes at Liberowe.com .

We didn't have to leave the hotel until 1:30 p.m. the next day for our first flight, so we all decided that we'd spend as much time in the sun as physically possible before heading back to New York. For the first half of the day, I wore a Tibi scarf top with my favorite swim shorts from Galamaar for breakfast and lunch, and then whenever I was in the sun, I switched the top out with a brown Masarà bikini top.

I bought these mesh The Row flats on super sale at the end of 2023 and haven't had a chance to wear them given the winter weather in New York, so I was dying to pack them for this trip. I ended up wearing them a ton, and they were just as great as I expected them to be. I even wore them on both of my travel days.

Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns,  Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear ; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning , Diane Kruger , Katie Holmes , and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits , running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.

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12 Classic French Styles to Buy While They’re on Sale for Presidents Day From $34, According to a Paris Writer

Look like a local with these fashionable finds.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Madison Woiten

I’ll let you in on a little secret: the French never shop full price. They celebrate the twice-annual soldes (sale) season as fervently as Fête de la Musique or Bastille Day. As an American who has spent the past decade living in Nice and Paris , I’ve ever-so-happily adopted the ritual of scouring the sale racks during the weeks-long soldes . But as a travel journalist who often needs a last-minute piece for a trip (say, a pair of ski pants for the Dolomites or strappy sandals for Saint-Tropez), I can’t always wait a whole six months to shop. Fortunately, the American holiday sales are much more frequent, allowing me to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes ( Confessions of a Shopaholic has nothing on me!) from the comfort of my couch in my cozy apartment in Paris’s artsy 20th arrondissement. 

Presidents Day is a great excuse to do some pre-spring cleaning of my closet to make room for a few special finds I’ve snagged on sale. This year, I’ve already narrowed down my picks to a dozen pieces that are the perfect additions to my Parisian wardrobe. From a sailor-inspired striped sweater dress to a Chanel-style tweed jacket and satin Saint Laurent lookalike vest , here’s what I’m stocking up on for springtime in France. 

Sandro Midi Knit Dress

On one of my first trips to Paris, I walked past the vitrine (shop window) of Sandro in the Marais a few times before working up the courage to walk into the boutique and ask (in my mediocre French at the time) to try on the dress in the window. It was cap-sleeved and black, with a bow tied around the lower back, and it epitomized everything I envisioned as French chic. While my style (and view) has changed in the 12 years since, Sandro is still very much characteristic of the Parisian (and my) closet — tailored, feminine silhouettes that look timeless but still aren’t afraid to take a risk here and there.

One style in particular I love is this ribbed midi knit dress, which buttons down to the bottom of its ruffle skirt. The pale shade of yellow is a nice departure from bone white and pairs beautifully with black accessories (which I own a lot of!) and nearly any type of footwear, from sneakers to ankle boots, sandals, or chunky patent leather heels when you want to add some height.

Madewell Satin Cutaway Vest Top

The French are notorious for deconstructing fashion for looks that come off as more androgynous. The best example? Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking jacket — a tux intended for women. Bianca Jagger so glamorously pulled off a tailored YSL two-piece suit when she married Mick, and the look continues to return to runways and serve as inspiration for courthouse weddings in France today. A play on this style that’s easier to sport on an everyday basis is the suit vest, especially this silky satin version that takes a cue from the pajamas-as-clothing trend that isn’t dying anytime soon. 

The form-fitting silhouette is feminine and flirty, and the shimmery dusk-gray color adds the pizzazz you’ll want for a night out in Paris. Tone it down with flared jeans and ankle boots, give it a daytime spin with a cardigan draped over, or go for the full formal look with a matching slip skirt and strappy heels. “I recently purchased this vest top, and I'm absolutely thrilled with it,” says one shopper. “The satin material feels luxurious, and the cutaway front adds a playful touch to the design. It fits perfectly, hitting just at the right length, making it easily tuckable.” 

Abercrombie & Fitch High-Rise ’90s Relaxed Jeans

Abercrombie & Fitch

Since the temperature in Paris can swing from full summer to sweater weather in the course of an hour, layers quickly become your friend. Throughout most of the year, apart from balmy July and August, pants become my daily go-to. One pair that shifts with the seasons and always looks stylish is this ’90s-style high-rise jean from Abercrombie & Fitch. 

Neutral bone is a great alternative to snow white, and the relaxed fit and raw hem add to the laid-back vintage look. The stretch fabric offers enough structure and support yet still molds to your shape. The fact that you can choose the length is a big plus for us petite girls, and the high waist helps shield my curves in the most flattering of ways. I’m not the only one who’s a fan: “These are my absolute favorite jeans ever. I have them in four different colors, with bone being the most recent,” raved one shopper. “I can’t recommend these jeans enough — my best friend ended up getting two pairs after trying mine on.”

Everlane Day Sneaker

My friends know how hard it is for me to find a sneaker I’ll actually wear. I’ve purchased and tried all of the fan favorites: Converse, Veja, New Balance. They’re cool, I know, but just not right for me . When I came across Everlane’s tapered-toe Day Sneaker, I had a revelation. Following the French ethos of “less is more,” these Kalamata olive-colored shoes feel more loafer than sneaker. The matching laces and contrasting rubber outsole pop without trying too hard — they’re very classic in style and look sophisticated enough to wear with tailored white trousers or ankle-grazing denim. While the look is certainly on point, so is the design, which features 100-percent recycled polyester laces and linings, as well as leather sourced from a sustainability-driven tannery. 

“Works for day or evening,” adds one shopper. “Comfy for hitting 25,000 steps in a foreign city.” I think I just discovered my new favorite travel sneakers.

Modegal Satin High Waist A-Line Midi Skirt

Whether I’m heading on an island getaway in the Caribbean or packing for a cozy winter escape in the French Alps, a satin A-line skirt is one of the first pieces in my packing cubes . A versatile day-to-night item that you can easily dress up or down, this is what you’ll find me in for lunch with a flowy, capped-sleeve crop top in St. Barts or at dinner with a thick knit sweater, sheer black tights, and ankle boots in St. Moritz. 

The A-line design is always a flattering look (especially when you’re indulging in cheese fondue!), and the midi length hits right below the knee — fantastic for those of us who are on the shorter side. “Bought this for my wife who struggles to find skirts that aren’t too long, but this one fit her perfectly,” one shopper said. Another raved : “Love that there's a little flare in the skirt and that it's very stretchy and forgiving in the waist. I wear it long or sometimes I roll it up and wear it shorter under a sweater — it works well both ways.”

Madewell Denim Motorcycle Jacket

A cropped motorcycle jacket — especially in denim — is one of the best pieces of outerwear you can sport in Paris in spring. Softer and more lightweight than leather, the biker-chic style looks fabulous over a silky slip dress or fitted tank and jeans. I’m a big fan of denim on denim, but with this faded black wash, you have the perfect contrast if you’re wearing blue jeans or a denim mini skirt. 

“Finally, Madewell doing what they do best — staple pieces with a twist that won’t date,” declared one shopper. “My usual size fits me perfectly, ever so slightly relaxed but not at all oversized.” Play on the biker theme with a white ribbed top and black leather skinny jeans, with red lips serving as your sole accessory. Throw on a pair of Chelsea boots and you’re ready for a day (or night) out in Paris.

Everlane Olive Lug Chelsea Boots

Lug-sole boots have been declared the look for the season, and I couldn’t be happier. Parisians don’t follow trends, per se, but when it comes to footwear that’s practical and stylish, they’ll hop right on board. These chunky sole Chelsea boots are a more elevated take on the traditionally punk style — especially in this hunter green “beech” shade. Pull-on tabs make them easy to take on and off, which is something that comes in handy while shopping and trying on clothing or traveling and having to quickly slip off shoes at security. 

“Bought burgundy first and got beech as soon as I received the burgundy, which showed how much I liked the boot,” said one shopper. “Besides being comfy, it looks handsomely elegant and durable.”

River Island Long-Sleeve Rib Midi Striped Sweater Dress

France is a country where it’s year-round sweater weather — the main difference each season is the style of sweater you’re sporting. As we ease into spring, those thick cableknits are getting packed up and put into storage until fall. We’re embracing the new season with lightweight, fitted silhouettes instead. This ribbed long-sleeve sweater dress is my version of a compromise — it’ll keep you just warm enough (add on a leather or jean jacket if it’s a breezy day) while still looking fashionable enough for everything from a day of gallery hopping and lunch on a terrace to date night or a weekend trip down to the French Riviera. The goldtone buttons paired with the more modern take on sailor stripes is just the nautical look I love for an afternoon in Monaco sipping rosé by the sea. At 45 percent off, this is one of the best sale finds I’ve come across this season.

Bostanten Leather Bucket Bag

Bucket bags continue coming back into fashion, but in France, this style has long been a staple. The issue in a city like Paris, however, is that an open purse attracts pickpockets on the métro and in bars. This tote-sized bucket bag at Amazon provides the ideal solution with a removable zip pouch that’s large enough to carry everyday essentials like an iPad, sunglasses, umbrella (these are crucial all year long), and perfume. The pouch even makes it easy to pack into a carry-on without having to remove any items from your purse. 

With two interchangeable guitar straps (one leather, one woven), you can keep switching up the look depending on your outfit or where you’re heading. More than 8,000 reviewers agree: “It's a great size, feels great, there are pockets inside for small items, a clasp to keep it closed, and don't get me started on the fine quality and design,” raved one shopper , who declared it the best purchase of January. “This brand is top-notch for Amazon handbags,” adds another . “The quality is amazing and rivals designer brands [in my opinion] — now I want it in more colors.”

Abercrombie & Fitch Collarless Cream Tweed Jacket

Chanel’s 1920s tweed suit has become as essential a staple and signature piece in the French wardrobe as the Hermès Birkin bag or monogrammed Goyard tote. Continuously reinterpreted and adopted by everyone from Saint Laurent to Sandro, this iconic item is one that you don’t have to spend thousands on to achieve the same look. 

Take this collarless, cropped cream version from Abercrombie & Fitch, which has a more approachable, younger feel to it. My favorite way to style a jacket like this is simply over straight-leg jeans and a cream-colored bodysuit or tank, but you can also give it more edge with denim shorts and ankle boots. “It’s an easy work outfit — goes perfectly with high-waisted skinny or tapered trousers,” attested one shopper. “True to size and worked for me even though I’m short.”

Bueno Mustard Crisscross Strap Leather Sandals

As soon as we get that first glimpse of sunshine in spring, the boots are off and Parisians are parading through town and along the Seine in strappy sandals. Since I’m often stacking coffee dates, errands, and drinks back-to-back on the weekend, I need comfortable shoes for a day running around town and still look stylish for an evening out, if I don’t have time to go home and change. These slip-on slingback strappy sandals have a slight heel that’s balanced out by the super comfortable padded footbed and open round toe. 

“The leather is buttery soft, and there's a bit of cushioning in the soles,” said one shopper. “It feels like you're walking on two beautiful little clouds.” Considering the number of steps I get in each day in Paris, I couldn’t ask for anything better.

Free People Bunny Slope Printed Ski Pants

Free People

By Presidents Day, my friends are already discussing summer plans: a villa on Crete, sailing in Croatia, sunbathing on the Amalfi Coast. And while resort wear is perhaps my favorite type of clothing to purchase (and pack!), I’m still plotting my seasonal ski trip to Verbier or Val d’Isère, since the snow is usually at its best just before Easter approaches. A look that goes from tearing up the slopes to après-ski, these high-rise, straight-leg Free People ski pants are at the top of my list this season. 

The color (dubbed “mountain sage mist”) is my version of winter white — stylish but with an extra edge thanks to the subtle print. Water- and wind-resistant, these beauties will keep you protected from even the strongest gusts of wind while on the mountain. As someone who gets cold easily, the insulated interior is a huge bonus for me — plus, they have all sorts of other practical design details like boot gaiters and an adjustable waistband, so you’ll be more than comfortable whether you’re snowboarding, snowshoeing, or simply sitting on the slopes with a glass of vin chaud (mulled wine). 

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Pocono Travel Network visits The Lodge at Woodloch, French Manor spas

POCONO MOUNTAINS, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- If you're looking to get away and get a little pampering, the spas in the Poconos have a number of options for peaceful tranquility.

The Lodge at Woodloch is a destination resort that offers top-of-the-line cuisine, luxurious rooms, mind and body experiences and spa services you'd expect at a high-end resort.

The Lodge at Woodloch | Facebook

109 River Birch Ln, Hawley, PA 18428

The French Manor is an inviting place to visit if you want to have a girl's weekend, enjoy a romantic dinner or just get away.

The French Manor Inn and Spa | Facebook

50 Huntingdon Dr, Newfoundland, PA 18445

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When stay-at-home mom Ashley Marie Marks wanted to exercise her entrepreneurial muscle, she looked no further than her own knowledge base and homeopathic routine.

As a certified aromatherapist, she named her line of body products The Aroma Alchemists .

She sources the purest essential oils to create formulations of inhalers, mists, bath salts, candles, diffuser blends, and more - all with therapeutic properties.

The Aroma Alchemists | Instagram | Facebook

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