Reddit mentions of Rick Steves' Paris 2013

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.