Reddit mentions: The best french travel guides

I didn't see your r/travel post, so I can't interact with anything that was said there.

English is less widespread in Morocco than Europe or even other Arab countries. Moroccans generally interact with tourists in French. That said, you will find English in all expensive hotels an most inexpensive ones. Most "tourist" places will speak English at varying levels, and tourist shops will speak English, especially in the big cities. However, I highly recommend getting a French phrase book. It will open a lot more doors. If you don't like learning language, or it makes you feel stupid, get the Rick Steves' French Phrasebook:

http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-French-Phrase-Dictionary/dp/1598801864/

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If you like learning languages, get something more comprehensive like Lonely Planet:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1864501529/

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If you are kind of a bad-ass, get the Moroccan Arabic phrasebook:

http://www.amazon.com/Moroccan-Arabic-Lonely-Planet-Phrasebook/dp/1740591879/

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That's actually a great phrasebook, and will let you have a rudimentary conversation with ANYONE in Morocco. Using a phrasebook is a little bit of effort, but will greatly improve your trip. Moroccans love it when you use a little bit of Arabic, especially their dialect of Arabic, so try it!

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All point-to-point taxis (Petite Taxis) have meters. You will save money by having the driver use the meter, rather than a preset price. They have to use the meter if you ask. They do have the right to charge a little extra for a bag on the roof.
The larger Mercedes taxis have set rates to travel between cities or for long travel within cities.

They cram 7 people into the "Grand Taxi", but between towns you can buy two seats if you like to make it more comfortable for you.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Taxicabs_of_Morocco

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Ramadan will be a problem. I am sorry, but it will change Morocco a lot and it will affect your trip. There will be a lot of stuff that is closed during the day, or open only at irregular hours. Moroccans will be tired and irritable, especially if they are normally smokers.

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The website for train times:

http://www.oncf.ma/

It is often down, and the English site doesn't work (although it used to work). Use the French.

Second class is fine to use. I use second class for short trips, but first class for long trips. If you buy second class and don't find a seat or change your mind, you can walk up into first class and find a seat, then buy the upgrade from the ticket checker. He will give you a receipt. In fact, you can just board the train without a ticket and buy one from the ticket checker. Have your change ready.

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Climbing Toubkal was a lot of fun. You can do it on your own, but I would at least find a guide in Imlil (where the road ends). From there you hike to the refuge on the first day, then hike up the mountain and back to Imlil on day two. If you are in really great shape, you could do it all in one day, maybe, but check the distances. This is a fairly inexpensive. I think I paid 70 dh for a night at the refuge, although they will ask for 300 or more. You have to negotiate beforehand. I paid my guide 200 dh I think for all five of us, and he was awesome so we tipped him another 100 dh or so. You can just walk in to Imlil and find a guide; they will swarm you even in Ramadan.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Jebel_Toubkal

I don't see any good prices online to give you.

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Tip: few places will want to give you change. You will get large bills out of an ATM, then need to break them in convience stores (called a "Ha-noot") or other places that might have change. Keep some small change ready for taxis and tips.

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There are camel excursions closer to Marrakesh, so you probably won't have time to go all the way to Merzouga, but that desert is pretty awesome. An overnight excusion into the desert is fun:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Merzouga

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A lot of the ferry traffic in Tangier goes through the new port, which is harder to get to than the old port using public transportation. Know which company you bought a ticket from, and which port you need to go to.

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Lonely Planet forums are hit and miss, but worth a visit:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/forum

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Let me know what else you need.

Well, you can't mask your accent. I would maybe watch your slang terms and contractions? Try to limit your y'alls...? I just got back from Paris and my best advice would be to learn enough conversational french to at least get past greetings and up to "I'm sorry, I don't speak French." Most everybody in Paris speaks some English, almost all the places have English menus printed out, but it's a show of respect to them that you try. It is France, after all. Most places we went to the people were very polite and hospitable to us, switching to perfect English after we'd politely reached the end of what French we knew. Several times we were sitting near other Americans who didn't try to speak French and the difference in the reception they got was huge. Just remember they put a lot more stock manners than we do. Not just "Bonjour", but "Bonjour, monsieur/madam." Where we would think someone was a fucking pod person if they walked into a GAP and said, "Good morning, sir/madam!" the French tend to find our casualness rude.

Also, you can never say "Merci" enough times to a waiter/waitress.

Also, Also This. This goddamned thing was a life saver. His rome book was also a lifesaver for us and I can only assume his Amsterdam book would be just as helpful.

Well, it might be a bit much for elementary- but EYEWITNESS PARIS has great, digestible information and great illustrations. I loved it. You'll probably both end up fighting over the book!
http://www.amazon.com/Paris-EYEWITNESS-TRAVEL-GUIDE-Tillier/dp/1564581853

It;s also an app!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paris-dk-eyewitness/id403266639?mt=8

--Don't think speaking French will solve your problems or that not speaking it is the reason for them-- instead, read Polly Platt's book "French or Foe" (single most helpful guide to French thinking; my neighbors from the UK were given the book by the embassy before they moved) and David Applefield's book "Paris Inside Out" which has lots of practical tips (and as many others as you can-- ignore the "I adore everything about Paris" ones, those people just haven't lived here long enough, and anyway if you adore everything about Paris, you don't need advice)
--If you move in September, there is a big moving-to-Paris weekend conference for Anglophones every year in October at the American Church, called Bloom Where You Are Planted, with lots of helpful tips and organizations. Bloom also produces a book most years with advice for newcomers.
--Paris expats' blogs are great for finding tips about cafes, bars, places to eat, fun things to do, etc.
--Get to know the Pariscope, the weekly 40-cent or so guide to what is on that week
--Get to know your Mairie, the town hall for your arrondissement. They propose lots of help for foreigners and often have a group of French volunteers [http://www.mairie11.paris.fr/mairie11/jsp/site/Portal.jsp]
--If you are ever really angry-- speak ENGLISH rather than stammer in bad French (everyone in France feels they *should know English)
Have a great time in Paris!

[http://www.amazon.com/French-Foe-Getting-Visiting-Working/dp/0964668424]
[http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Inside-Out-7th-Insiders/dp/B001PIHTVY/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310645374&sr=1-15]

so you missed his talk? that's too bad, it was pretty awesome. if you had gone you'd now know what legalization of marijuana has to do with travel. Congressman Earl Blumenauer did the introduction. it was enlightening and a good time was had by all. i even won his book in the trivia contest. yes, the book by "Rick Steves", Travel as a Political Act. http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Political-Act-Rick-Steves/dp/1568584350#

Here are some French learning items that I recommend:

• CliffsNotes French 1 and French 2, which are available online for free or as a book.
  
  
• Berlitz Self-Teacher: French
  
  
• Learn French in Your Car Complete (You can download it, if you want)
  
  
• Speak in a Week French Flash Cards
  
  
• OR Speak in a Week French: See, Hear, Say & Learn
  
  
• Any French Phrase Book & Dictionary, I have Frommer's (They all seem the same to me)
  
  
• Rosetta Stone (Which can also be downloaded)
  
  
• Michel Thomas Method French For Beginners
  
  
• Capritz Method on YouTube... All the videos were recently removed! But you might be able to find them.
  
  
• French Radio
  
  Do all of those, thoroughly, and you'll do pretty well for yourself.
  

Do you have any specific questions? For general advice, pick up a guidebook, it will tell you everything you need to know. Also, TripAdvisor is pretty good.

Have fun.

Not at the moment. Maybe one day I'll expand my empire lol.

But for Paris I recommend a book called Don't be a Tourist in Paris, and you could try Venice Insider though I don't know much about it.

Rick Steves' Best of Europe 2012

I can personally vouch for this guide book. Great information for an ex-Cast Member, especially if it's your first time - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Independent-Guide-Disneyland-Paris-2016/dp/1516989236/

That's the best decision you will ever make.

I cannot recommend Rick Steves' Guidebook enough.

I just picked up this book "Gluten Free Guide to France" for my upcoming trip to paris. It's got lists of restaurants in paris and all of france that can accommodate GF requests. It also has a section with detailed translations of how to ask about GF options.

The Paris section is really quite large, and it was updated in 2013.

My wife and I are doing the same. We are using Rick Steve's travel guide. It's cheap, you can bring it with you to read, and it's always good.

https://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Paris-2019/dp/1631218344/ref=sr_1_3?crid=HFGCXBEDSMP1&keywords=rick+steves+paris+2019&qid=1565961487&s=gateway&sprefix=rick+steves+paris%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-3

I've got something that will blow your mind.

I was recently in Paris and did see gluten-free products. "Sans gluten."

This place is gluten-free.

This book might be helpful.

The only kind of up to date one I know of is: The Independent Guide to Disneyland Paris (2018) https://www.amazon.de/dp/1977989268/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jgOKBbW6CFC0Y

Went to corsica last year, this book was invaluable. Long live klaus! Corsica: The 75 finest coastal and mountain walks - Rother Walking Guide - with GPS tracks https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/3763348190/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tmTzDbV7P82C4

ah. it was paris/London specifically not Europe.

http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-Paris-95-Day/dp/0764598937
http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-London-Day-Donald-Olson/dp/0471747025

but both are old books


er wait here it is. but from 2004
http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-Europe-85-Day/dp/0764568906/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369661824&sr=8-2&keywords=frommers+Europe


They probably just don't put the dollar figure in the title anymore!

Very sad that the historian Andrew Tallon died.

At least the scans live on.

The book continues to exist.