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Is Paris really smelly and rundown?

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Is Paris really smelly and rundown?

Travel Tips

Yes, it's a dump.
If you want a fun game to play when visiting, then "count the dog turds" will keep you amused for hours. You can even play when you get back to your hotel room by taking your shoes off and turning them over.
Also, bring a portable oxygen tank for the metro - unless you like the smell of urine, that is.
Forget the standards of customer service that you are used to at home... the only way you'll get half-decent service is by paying a fortune for stuff in a tourist trap.
If you can't pee while someone is watching you, you will be in for a tough time. Lots of restaurants don't have real mens/womens toilets, a room with one cabinet and a urinal in one corner is usual. Don't expect hot water or soap either, over 80% of French people don't wash their hands after going to the toilet so the restaurants don't spend money needlessly.
Be ready to be accosted by dodgy East Europeans speaking dodgier English trying to make you spend lots of money. "No thanks, goodbye." is the limit of any conversation you should hold with someone who approaches you and starts to speak in English.
If you're not white, get ready to take a trip back in time. France is one of the most racist countries in the Western world, and racism isn't a topic that most people want to discuss - so no-one has for 100 years!
Hope I've convinced you to spend your money somewhere else. Source(s): I live near Paris. Hopefully leaving for somewhere more civilised before the end of the year...
Other Travel Tips

Smelly, yes. Rundown, not exactly. It's just like any other city in the world: it has good parts and bad parts. But yes, the smell is universal. It's due to the fact that Parisians feel that the natural body aroma is the best pheromone. It has been stated that the average family of four uses one bar of soap in a three-month period. But it's not just BO, the cheese doesn't help at all. But, wow, the subway in the summer, that is the absolute worst!
Lived there for 5 years
I dont think so, it is a lot cleaner (in terms of litter etc) than London, thats what most tourists say

its a huge capital city, of course it has some run down suburbs , but you would have no reason to go to those areas in particular
Compared to where?
It has deteriorated significantly since the tremendous influx of immigrants over the last few years. However it is worth visiting as it is still a beautiful city
I d not think it so worst as coovum& adayar rivers in chennai?When Will I get the chance to visit Paris?