French Traveler's Expressions

When traveling to France or another French speaking area for an extended amount of time, you'll need a repertoire of French travelers' expressions that goes beyond a small collection of simple French phrases. While a dictionary of phrases can be a handy thing to pack, it's worthwhile to learn a fair amount of phrases before you even go. Although the book is handy, you don't always have time to look up what you'd like to say when you want to say it.

Even if you don't speak French very fluently, you can learn enough common expressions for travel situations to be able to get through many encounters in French. From the moment you arrive in France, there will be several situations that will require interactions of a business sort. While many people learn restaurant vocabulary in French class as a preparation for traveling to France, other travel situations, such as renting a car and checking into a hotel, are often not covered.

Depending on how fluent your French is, you may want to perform some of these transactions in English (you will get better service if you first ask, in French, if the person speaks English). For example, when renting a car or performing other business that requires signing a contract, it may be a good idea to simply begin in English. Even if you have learned a long list of phrases that are useful when renting a car, that doesn't mean you will be able to understand the answers to the questions you ask. If you want to attempt performing all transactions in French, learn the vocabulary below before you get on the plane.

Some situations are more likely to require specialized vocabulary than others. The situations below are some of the things that tourists do most often; however, learning all of these expressions in French class is uncommon.

If you're not planning on staying in Paris for your whole time in France, you'll probably be thinking about renting a car.

Unless you are camping in France, you will need several words to make yourself understood to your host(s). Also, remember that many hotels in Europe do not have complete bathrooms in all rooms. If you'd like your own shower, be sure to ask for it; most standard hotel rooms have a sink in the room, but a toilet and a shower are not standard.

When traveling, you frequently have to ask for directions. While in French class you may have mastered the phrase Où se trouve…?, but many students don't then understand the directions that are given to them. The following phrases pop up often when somebody gives directions.

The more French travelers' expressions you know, the more you are free to enjoy all the great experiences of traveling without worrying. Everything from finding those famous French monuments to checking into your hotel will be made easier by brushing up on your vocabulary before you start your trip.

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