Recently in the category : miscellaneous

k&k tourist tips 100 -
what not to miss in Summer

Our final tourist tip, in show 100, covers what not to miss in Summer : restaurant terraces, Gay Pride (last weeked in June), Fête de la Musique ("Musical festival", 21st June), Bastille Day (14th July, big parades and fireworks all over France), Berthillon (ice cream on Ile-de-la-Cité), Paris Plage, summer sales (twice yearly sales start in July), spontaneous picnics on the Seine.
Outside of Paris : tour de France (July), hiking in the Alpes and lavender blooming in Provence.

k&k tourist tips 99 -
what not to miss in Spring

In show 99 we talk about the essential things to do in Paris in the Spring : the gardens (Jardin de Luxembourg, Jardin des Plantes), the museums (Musée Rodin, Versailles), eat chocolate (for Easter!), Nuit des Musées ("night of the museums", middle of May, museums open very late, usually until midnight) and café crèmes in cosy cafés.
Outside Paris : Monet's garden in Giverny (open April-November), Cannes Film Festival

k&k tourist tips 98 -
what not to miss in Winter

In show 98 we talk about what not to miss in winter : ice-skating (rinks set up at the Hôtel de Ville, Montparnasse and other places), Christmas markets ("marchés de noël" set up at various central locations in cities and towns all over France), mulled wine ("vin chaud", sold at any Christmas market), roasted chestnuts (sold on street corners in most cities), department store Christmas windows (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Bon Marché), fondue and raclette (just avoid the tourist restaurants), New Years Eve at the Eiffel tower, take advantage of the twice-yearly sales (usually the first week or two in January) and eat some galette des rois (king cake, sold in bakeries in January).
Outside of Paris - go skiing! Best time is February and March (outside of school holidays).

k&k tourist tips 97 -
what not to miss in Autumn/Fall

In show 97 we're starting our "what not to miss" series by talking about what you really shouldn't miss when travelling to Paris during the Autumn/Fall : Autumn colours (Père Lachaise Cemetery, Jardin de Luxembourg), Nuit blanche ("white night", where the museums are open late), Beaujolais Nouveau (the launch of the wine season, third thursday in November), Vendanges de Montmartre (eating and drinking to celebrate the grape harvest in Montmartre, October), Salons (food and drink expos happening most weekends in October, highlighting produce from all over France, check the Paris tourism office website for dates), mushrooms (after all, it's the season for it!).
Outside Paris : vineyards! the colours on the vines are magnificent! And you might as well drink something while you're at it ;)

k&k tourist tips 94 -
what to do when it's hot

In show 94 we talk about what to do (and what not to do) when it's hot in Paris! Don't eat fondue &/or raclette - do eat some Berthillon ice-cream (on Ile-de-la-Cité). Don't take the métro - do take the bus (but not the batobus). Don't visit stuffy museums - do visit the parks and gardens (or if you really want a museum, go to the Catacombs). Don't sit in your airconditioned hotel room - do sit in the airconditioned cinema. Don't sit inside a restaurant - do sit on a terrace. And finally, don't go to Disney for your quota of screaming children and overpriced novelties - do go to Paris Plage.

k&k tourist tips 93 -
what to do when it's raining

In show 93 we chat about what to do when it's raining and what not to do when it's raining. We highly recommend visiting museums and the grands magasins, and spending hours over lunch and coffee, but we highly recommend against buying umbrellas from street vendors, visiting versailles, the eiffel tower and any other climbable monument, doing the bateaux mouches and riding on the top of double-decker buses, or strolling in the park.

k&k tourist tips 88 -
obligatory paris photo 6 : Notre Dame

In show 88 we talk about another obligatory paris photo shot : Notre Dame de Paris. And actually, we tell you about not one but three angles from which you should try to take a photo of Notre Dame! We promise you won't be disappointed!

k&k tourist tips 86 -
getting online

Show 86 is all about how to get online and stay connected when you're travelling, with internet cafés, wifi hot-spots and more!

k&k tourist tips 80 -
obligatory paris photo 5 : the moulin rouge

Next in our series of obligatory paris photos is the unmissable Moulin Rouge! In show 80, we tell you what métro stop to get off at and when to go to get the perfect shot!

k&k tourist tips 64 -
sightseeing in the supermarkets

In show 64 we talk about a slightly offbeat method of sightseeing in foreign countries : perusing the supermarket aisles. We also explain the different types of supermarkets you can find in France.

k&k tourist tips 61 -
obligatory paris photo 4 : the pyramide du louvre

We look at how and when to take the ideal photo of yet another important Parisian landmark in show 61 : the Pyramide du Louvre.

k&k tourist tips 60 -
prepare for pet friendliness

In show 60 we remind the traveller that pets welcome in lots of places around France - restaurants, shops, public transport, and even some types of accommodation - and that you shouldn't be surprised to see them pop up in interesting places.

k&k tourist tips 59 -
expect the unexpected

Inspired by a voicemail from a listener who recently travelled to France and who also listened to this podcast, in show 59 we talk about being in the right frame of mind for travelling, and knowing how to adjust and adapt when things don't quite go according to plan.

k&k tourist tips 49 -
paris picnicking places part 2 : the buttes chaumont

In show 49 we continue the series of our favourite picnicking places in Paris by talking about a particularly un-touristy park - the Buttes Chaumont (in the 19th arrondissement).

k&k tourist tips 40 -
obligatory paris photo 2 : sacre coeur

The second in our series of obligatory paris photos, we cover Sacre Coeur in show 40. It'll definitely be one shot you'll be proud to show your friends and neighbours when you make them sit through your "yay I've been to Paris slideshow night" (and don't forget to listen to obligatory paris photo 1!).

k&k tourist tips 39 -
postcard pointers

Everyone sends postcards when they go on holidays, and in show 39 we give you a few important pointers on sending postcards in France that you might find useful.

k&k tourist tips 37 -
remember, you're sharing the city

In show 37 (a somewhat tounge-in-cheek episode) we talk about the importance of tourists being aware that people are actually living in the places they're travelling to.

k&k tourist tips 36 -
planning is essential...
over-planning, not so much

We're all about planning trips, but how much is too much? We talk all about why or why not it might be a good idea to schedule your day down to the last millisecond in show 36!

k&k tourist tips 35 - carry cash

In an age where you can even pay for things at the bakery with a credit card, in show 35 we talk about the importance of having at least a little bit of emergency cash with you when you're travelling.

k&k tourist tips 33 -
demystifying the French phone

Need to make a quick call but can't figure out how the public phone booths work? We'll reveal the mysteries of the French phone for you and more in show 33!

k&k tourist tips 30 -
watch where you walk

As you'll find out in show 30, It's worthwhile honing your peripheral vision when wandering the streets of France, given the vast quantities of dog poop you'll find on your adventures!

k&k tourist tips 23 -
paris picnicking places part 1 :
île de la cité

Picnics in Paris are an essential part of any visit to the French capital, and in show 23 we tell you about one of our favourite spots to have a picnic - far away from the crowds, yet right in the very heart of the city, where Paris began, on the Ile de la Cité.

k&k tourist tips 22 -
obligatory paris photo 1 : the eiffel tower

In show 22 we tell you where to get the best (and the most unique) shots of the Eiffel Tower, according to the time of day! It's terribly cliché, but it's an essential tip for anyone traveling through Paris!

k&k tourist tips 2 -
find a place to become a regular

In show 2, we talk about how you can make yourself feel more at home when travelling in France by finding a place to become a regular.

k&k tourist tips 0 -
about the podcast

In this introductory episode, we outline what the k&k tourist tips podcast is, we tell you a little bit about our life in France and why we're doing it, and what you're going to get out of the show.

k&k tourist tips 100 -
what not to miss in Summer
k&k tourist tips 99 -
what not to miss in Spring
k&k tourist tips 98 -
what not to miss in Winter
k&k tourist tips 97 -
what not to miss in Autumn/Fall
k&k tourist tips 96 -
what to do with children

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