Driving in Paris - Paris for Visitors

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Top 11 Tourist Mistakes in Paris
(and how to avoid them)

Introduction

Paris traffic

ABOVE: A laissez-faire approach to traffic control in Paris.

Mistake #8: Driving in Paris

If you're intimidated by the thought of driving in Paris, consider yourself lucky: You'll save money, time, and stress by taking the Métro or bus and leaving the driving to Gus.

Motorcycle and car in Paris Driving is hard enough if you're a Parisian who knows the local streets--but if you're an out-of-towner, having to cope with a road system that incorporates medieval lanes, angled avenues and boulevards, and frequent roundabouts without lane markings (see photo above) will put you, your passengers, your car, and other road occupants at risk.

But avoiding crashes is only half the battle: When you've had your fill of Parisian traffic, you'll need to find a place to park your car. That can be a nuisance, especially if you lose a side mirror or you're obligated to pay damages to your car-rental firm after you've made the mistake of parking on the street. Don't take our word for it--just look at these photos, which illustrate common Parisian parking techniques:

	LEFT: Note the squashed parking bollards between the the minivan and the car behind it.
	LEFT: Another nose-out parker, with the rear bumper jammed against a vehicle that's parked in the wrong direction.
	LEFT: This parking example gives new meaning to the term "post traumatic stress."

Next page: Mistake #9: Overspending on local transport

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Need a car in Europe?

Auto Europe guarantees the lowest rental rates for standard cars, sports cars, SUVs, luxury cars, chauffered sedans, and RVs. Its Web site also has driving information for 38 countries.

If you live outside the EU, a tax-free Renault or Peugeot tourist lease can be cheaper than renting. Minimum driver age is 18, there' s no upper age limit, and rates include insurance. See: Short-term car leasing.

River Baroness

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