Immerse Yourself In French Culture With Rick Steves' Humble Approach To 'Finicky' Locals

France is the most exciting country in Europe to visit, and the world's most popular tourist destination, a gorgeous, romantic place defined by its extraordinarily influential gastronomy, its foundational wine culture, and the stunning beauty of its landscapes and historic architecture. France is the country of love, haute cuisine, sophistication, and fashion; a place where taking anything less than three hours over lunch is considered a faux pas of the grandest scale. 

But despite the delightful nature of the country and the many attractions it offers tourists, there's no getting away from the fact that the people can be tricky to deal with at times. The French have a reputation for snobbery, arrogance, and haughtiness that, while not always totally deserved, has a firm basis in reality. Difficult interactions with the locals can have a negative impact on a French vacation, and feeling small, ignorant, or looked down on isn't what most people look for when choosing their escape.

Renowned European travel expert Rick Steves describes the French as having "a Michelin Guide–certainty in their judgments and are often frank in how they convey their opinions", which can come across as rude and arrogant. But France remains one of his favorite European destinations, and he says it is important to embrace, rather than worry about being "a cultural bumpkin." For Steves, traveling is all about learning, and by immersing yourself in French culture and taking a humble approach to the finicky ways of the locals, you can enhance your experience rather than being put off.

The first thing Rick Steves suggests to do if you want to get more out of a French trip is to slow down and savor the experience. There's a whole lot to do in France, and all too often, visitors try to take on far too much in a single trip, meaning every experience is a little more shallow and superficial than it should be. Decide what type of vacation you are looking for, and begin by really exploring a single city or region, truly immersing yourself in the richness of the culture. 

Steves also mentions the importance of learning the language. You only have to look at the Académie française to know how much weight the French place on their mother tongue, and having a few essential words and phrases will go a long way to making life in France easier. No one is expecting fluency, but being able to be polite with a few simple pleasantries and show that you are making an effort is a great way to get better treatment. 

Of course, there are plenty of simple ways to make more of a French vacation that can be applied to most European destinations. Steves recommends seeking out sightseeing passes and combo deals to get the most out of a day touring Paris, as this ensures you can pack a bit more into your trip without breaking your budget. He also recommends buying the Passe Navigo, which covers bus, metro, train, and tram travel within Paris and to the various châteaux and attractions just outside the city.

The best way to make a French vacation a more rewarding experience is to connect with the locals and lean into the things you don't know. Choosing accommodation that lets you engage more directly with the locals, like an auberge in the countryside or a family-run B&B, is a great way to get to know how things work on a day-to-day basis. Experiences like cooking classes and casual wine tastings are also enjoyable, and an important part of a culture that places such significance on the art of living well. 

Rick Steves describes how it can feel daunting when confronted by French expertise in things like food and drink. He has plenty of anecdotes about how mortifying it can be when you suggest the wrong wine to pair with snails, or don't know how to react when confronted for the first time by the "gooey, stinky, and moldy" mess that is an artisan cheese board. French social etiquette norms can catch you off guard, and Steves says, "For a long time, I thought there was something affected and pseudo-sophisticated about all this finicky Frenchness." But rather than getting annoyed by this sort of thing, embracing what you don't know and seeking to find out more can be hugely rewarding. As Steves says, "when we have the opportunity to meet an expert in good living, it's a pleasure to be a student."