The outdoors in Paris
Outdoor Tours More tours- RealAdventures.com - This is not a tour operator or travel agency, but rather a clearing for independent tour operators, local adventure outfitters, and vacation agencies to offer their trips and tours direct to consumers. As such, it offers a potpourri of trips around the world, from single-day experiences to two-week tours, and they run the gamut from ballooning or biking to walking holidays, cooking schools, and much, much more.Partner
- Infohub.com - Not a tour company, rather a kind of aggregator of trips offered by tour companies. it casts one of the largest nets over the industry, listing some 14,000 tours offered by 4,000 operators in more than 100 categories—everything from artists' workshop to llama trekking, nudist resorts to biblical tours, language schools to personal guide services. InfoHub's search engine returns results listed by trip rather than by company. Still, I guess if you could care less the name of the outfitter and are just looking for a selection of 10-day bike tours across the Dordogne, or Mont Blanc hikes, this is the best way to do it. You don't book trips directly. You are essentially sending away for a brochure (or a contact) from the actual tour companies.Partner
- Viator.com - Best place to search for one-day active and outdoor adventures (along with a few mutli-day treks)—from hiking and biking to kayaking, surfing, fishing, caving, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, sailing, skydiving, off-roading, and more.Partner
- Rei.com - America's greatest co-op chain of outdoors gear stores also offers active vacations. They hit all seven continents, and are better than most at offering a variety of domestic adventures. They also run shorter, 3 to 4–day trips for long-weekenders. It tends to be pricier than most, but with impeccable credentials, and is ideal for those for whom being active is as important as the destination.
- intrepidtravel.com -
Intrepid Travel is one of only two only major tour outfits I know (along with G Adventures) of that makes a concerted effort to travel like real independent travelers—small groups (usually a max of 8 or 12 people), staying in mom-and-pop accommodations and getting around by public transport rather than a big tour bus.
Partner
This fantastic Australian company marries an independent travel style with the expertise of truly knowledgeable guides and a focus on the cultural experience of travel.
Intrepid really does run a different breed of group tour. Let me put it this way: When my parents—who travel widely and on their own and normally would never have even considered taking a group tour—suddenly found themselves with airfare to Japan but no time to plan a trip, I suggested they try booking with Intrepid. They did—and they've raved about it ever since. (They stayed in touch with their guide via email for years.) - Gadventures.com - G Adventures boasts 1,000 trips in 100 countries, from the more tour-like Comfort and Original trips to the gnarlier Active and Overland ones. No airfare (yet), and quoted prices are not as inclusive as some others (read the fine print to find out about on-the-ground costs, often including most meals). Partner
- Djoserusa.com - Perhaps since they're Dutch (and Europeans get longer vacations), Djoser offers longer trips and looser schedules, admirably not trying to pack too much into too short a time. You get to pick your group style: travel with other North Americans or with an international group (some conducted in English, others in Dutch and English).
- Sierraclub.org/outings - Yes, the premier outdoors network of the USA also plans lots of trips abroad, including ones in Europe.
- Exodustravels.com - Adventure travel and trips, including self-guided walking adventures around the world.
- Activegourmetholidays.com - Mixing active pursuits—walking and biking, mostly, with some golf and yoga—with one-day cooking classes, longer cooking courses, wine tasting, and other culinary adventures. Nifty idea—Though far from the cheapest out there.
Useful French for rail travel
English (anglais) | French (français) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
Where is? | Où est? | ou eh |
...train station | la gare | lah gar |
train | train | traah |
ticket | un billet | uhn bee-YAY |
ticket counter | les guichet | lay ghee-SHAY |
departures within the hour | départs dans l'heure | day-PAR dohn luhr |
local departures | départs banlieue | day-PAR bahn-LYOO |
long-distance departures | départs grandes lignes | day-PAR grahnd leenyh |
departure time | heure de départ | uhr de day-PAR |
arrival time | heure d'arrivée | urh dar-ree-YAV |
first class | première classe | pruh-mee-YAIR klahs |
second class | seconde classe | say-COHN-duh klahs |
one way ticket | un billet simple | uhn bee-YAY SAHM-pluh |
round trip (return) ticket | un billet aller-retour | uhn bee-YAY ah-LAY RAY-tour |
I would like to reserve a seat | Je voudrais réserver une place | dzuh voo-DRAY RAY-sair-vay ooun plahs |
I have a Eurailpass | J'ai Eurailpass | dzay ao-rail-PAHS |
sleeping couchette | une couchette | ooun koo-SHET |
berth in a sleeping car | une place en voiture-lit | ooune plahs uhn vwa-TOUR-lee |
track | voie or quai |
vwa or kay |
car / carriage | voiture | vwa-TOUR |
punch your ticket | composter de billet | cohm-poh-STAY de bee-YAY |
departures | le départ | luh day-PAR |
arrivals | l’arrivée | lah-ree-VAY |
connection | correspondance | ko-ray-spon-DOHNZ |
coming from | en provenance de | un pro-veh-NONS de |
going to | a destination de | ah des-tee-nah-tzee-YOWN de |
Is this the right platform for the Paris train? | Est-ce que c’est le quai pour le train de Paris? | es kuh say le kay poo-rh leh traah de pah-REE |
delayed | en retard | hn ruh-TAR |
information | information | een-for-mah-tzee-YOHN |
left luggage | consigne | cone-sah-NYEH |
exit | sortie | sohr-TEE |
Useful French for air travel
English (anglais) | French (français) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
Where is... | Où est? | ou eh |
...the airport | l'aéroport | lair-oh-POR |
the airplane | l'avion | lah-vee-YOHn |
terminal | terminal | tehr-me-NAHL |
flight | vol | vohl |
gate | porte | pohrt |
customs | douane | do-AHN |
to the right | à droite | ah dwa-t |
to the left | à gauche | ah go-sh |
straight ahead | tout droit | too dwa |
departures hall | Hall de départ | ahl de day-PAR |
arrivals hall | Hall d’arrivée | ahl da-ree-VAY |
exit | sortie | sohr-TEE |
delayed | en retard | hn ruh-TAR |
on time | à l’heure | ah LOUR |
early | en avance | hn ah-VAHNS |
check-in | l’enregistrement | lun-rej-ee-stray-MUN |
immigration | l'immigration | lim-ee-grah-SYON |
security check | le contrôle de sécurité | luh kon-TROLL de say-cure-ee-TAY |
shuttle | la navette | lah na-VET |
boarding pass | une carte d’embarquement | ooun kart dem-bark-eh-MUHn |
baggage claim | la livraison des bagages | la lee-vray-SOHn day bah-GA-j |
carry-on luggage | les bagages à main | lay bah-GA-j ah meh |
checked luggage | les bagages enregistrés | lay bah-GA-j on-ray-jee-STRAY |
Useful French for car travel
English (anglais) | French (français) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
car | une voiture or une auto |
ouhn vwa-TOUR or ouhn ow-TOH |
scooter/motorboke | une moto | ouhn mo-TOH |
gas station | station-service | stah-see-YOHN sair-VEES |
gas | de l'essence | deh lay-SAWNS |
diesel | le gasolio or le gazole |
leh gah-SOL-lyo or luh gag-ZOHL |
Fill it up, please | faire le plein, s'il vous plaît | fair le plahn seel voo play |
Where is... | Où est? | ou eh |
...the highway | l'autoroute | lao-toh-ROOT |
...the road | la route | lah root |
...the street | la rue | lah roo |
...the road for Paris | la route de Paris |
lah root de pah-REE |
to the right | à droite | ah dwa-t |
to the left | à gauche | ah go-sh |
keep going straight | tout droit | too dwa |
to cross | traverser | trah-vair-SAY |
toll | un péage | uhn PAY-ahj |
parking | stationner | stah-see-yo-NAIR |
road map | carte routière | kahrt roo-tee-YAIR |
roundabout | rond point | rohn pwea |
junction | carrefour | cah-ruh-FOUr |
Typical road signs
English (anglais) | French (français) |
Speed limit | Limit de vitesse |
Slow down | Ralentissez |
Stop | Arrêt |
Exit | Sortie |
Give way | Cedez le passage |
Give way to traffic coming from the left/right | Priorité à gauche / à droit |
No passing | Interdiction de doubler/dépasser |
One-way | Sens-unique |
No entry | Sens interdit |
Road closed | Route barrée |
Detour | Déviation |
Risk of ice | Verglas |
Dead-end | Impasse |
Speed camera | Radar de vitesse |
Pedestrian crossing | Passage piéton |
Parking prohibited | Stationnement interdit |
Pedestrian zone | Zone piétonnne |
Basic phrases in French
English (anglais) | French (français) | pro-nun-see-YAY-shun |
thank you | merci | mair-SEE |
please | s'il vous plaît | seel-vou-PLAY |
yes | oui | wee |
no | non | no |
Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais? | par-lay-VOU on-GLAY |
I don't understand | Je ne comprende pas | zhuh nuh COHM-prohnd pah |
I'm sorry | Je suis desolée | zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY |
How much does it cost? | Combien coute? | coam-bee-YEHN koot |
That's too much | C'est trop | say troh |
Good day | Bonjour | bohn-SZOURH |
Good evening | Bon soir | bohn SWAH |
Good night | Bon nuit | bohn NWEE |
Goodbye | Au revoir | oh-ruh-VWAH |
Excuse me (to get attention) | Excusez-moi | eh-skooze-ay-MWA |
Excuse me (to get past someone) | Pardon | pah-rRDOHN |
Where is? | Où est? | ou eh |
...the bathroom | la toilette | lah twah-LET |
...train station | la gare | lah gahr |
Days, months, and other calendar items in French
English (anglais) | French (français) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
When is it open? | Quand est-il ouvert? | coan eh-TEEL oo-VAIR |
When does it close? | Quand est l'heure de fermeture? | coan eh lure duh fair-mah-TOUR |
At what time... | à quelle heure... | ah kell uhre |
Yesterday | hier | ee-AIR |
Today | aujoud'hui | ow-zhuhr-DWEE |
Tomorrow | demain | duh-MEHN |
Day after tomorrow | après demain | ah-PRAY duh-MEHN |
a day | un jour | ooun zhuhr |
Monday | Lundí | luhn-DEE |
Tuesday | Maredí | mar-DEE |
Wednesday | Mercredi | mair-cray-DEE |
Thursday | Jeudi | zhuh-DEE |
Friday | Vendredi | vawn-druh-DEE |
Saturday | Samedi | saam-DEE |
Sunday | Dimanche | DEE-maansh |
a month | un mois | ooun mwa |
January | janvier | zhan-vee-YAIR |
February | février | feh-vree-YAIR |
March | mars | mahr |
April | avril | ah-VREEL |
May | mai | may |
June | juin | zhuh-WAH |
July | juillet | zhuh-LYAY |
August | août | ah-WOOT |
September | septembre | sep-TUHM-bruh |
October | octobre | ok-TOE-bruh |
November | novembre | noh-VAUM-bruh |
December | décembre | day-SAHM-bruh |
Numbers in French
English (anglais) | French (français) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
1 | un | ehn |
2 | deux | douh |
3 | trois | twa |
4 | quatre | KAH-truh |
5 | cinq | sank |
6 | six | sees |
7 | sept | sehp |
8 | huit | hwhee |
9 | neuf | nuhf |
10 | dix | dees |
11 | onze | ownz |
12 | douze | dooz |
13 | treize | trehz |
14 | quatorze | kah-TOHRZ |
15 | quinze | cans |
16 | seize | sez |
17 | dix-sept | dee-SEP |
18 | dix-huit | dee-SWEE |
19 | dix-neuf | dee-SNEUHF |
20 | vingt | vahn |
21* | vingt et un * | vahnt eh UHN |
22* | vingt deux * | vahn douh |
23* | vingt trois * | vahn twa |
30 | trente | truhnt |
40 | quarante | kah-RAHNT |
50 | cinquante | sahn-KAHNT |
60 | soixante | swaa-SAHNT |
70 | soixante-dix ‡ | swa-sahnt-DEES |
80 | quatre-vents ‡ | kat-tra-VAHN |
90 | quatre-vents-dix ‡ | kat-tra-vanht-DEES |
100 | cent | sant |
1,000 | mille | meel |
5,000 | cinq mille | sank meel |
10,000 | dix mille | dees meel |
* You can form any number between 20 and 99 just like the examples for 21, 22, and 23. For x2–x9, just say the tens-place number (trente for 30, quarante for 40, etc.), then the ones-place number (35 is trente cinq; 66 is soixsante six). The only excpetion is for 21, 31, 41, etc. For x1, say the tens-place number followed by "...et un" (trente et un, quarante et un, etc.).
‡ Yes, the French count very strangely once they get past 69. Rather than some version of "seventy,' they instead say "sixy-ten" (followed by "sixty-eleven," "sixty-twelve,' etc. up to "sixty-nineteen.") And then, just to keep things interesting, they chenge it up again and, for 80, say 'four twenties"—which always make me thinks of blackbirds baked in a pie for some reason. Ninety becomes "four-twenties-ten" and so on up to "four-nineties-ninteen" for 99, which is quite a mouthful: quartre-vingts-dix-neuf.