Planning a trip

Planning a trip

Understanding Cultural Aspects of Travel

  • Familiarise yourself with the concept of “flâner”, a distinctly French cultural idea of leisurely strolling and soaking in the city vibes.

  • Get a grasp on the importance of French national transport services like the SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français), responsible for France’s national rail services, and the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse), France’s high-speed rail service.

Key Destinations in France

  • Understand why Paris is called the “City of Light” (‘La Ville Lumière’) and what significance the Eiffel Tower (La tour Eiffel) and the Louvre Museum (Le Musée du Louvre) hold in French culture.

  • Get to know about other prominent French cities such as Nice, Bordeaux, and Lyon, each with their own unique cultural significance like the vineyards of Bordeaux or the bellecour square in Lyon.

Food and Hospitality

  • Appreciate the prevalence of cafés and bistros in French culture and the importance of patisseries, boulangeries and fromageries.

  • Register the concept of “Auberge”, country inns in rural France, offering a traditional ambience and often home- cooked meals.

Travel Vocabulary and Phrases

  • Brush up on vocabulary related to travel like ‘le voyage’ (trip), ‘le billet’ (ticket), ‘la valise’ (suitcase) and so forth.

  • Practise phrases that are often used while traveling, like “Excusez-moi, où est la gare?” (‘Excuse me, where is the train station?’).

Travel Etiquette

  • Be aware that French people value politeness. Always say “Bonjour” (Hello) and “Merci” (Thank you) when interacting with locals.

  • Understand that in rural France, businesses often close for a “siesta” in the early afternoon before reopening later in the day.

By grasping these aspects of French culture, you’ll have a better command over the topic ‘Planning a trip’ in French.