
Your ultimate French travel cheat sheet
C. L. Thompson
2/25/20252 min read
1. Getting There
Whether you’re jetting off or strolling the streets, you need the right vocab. Here’s how to ask key questions:
✅ Je veux aller à ___.) (I want to go to ___.)
✅ Combien coûte le billet pour Nice ? (How much is the ticket to Nice?)
✅ Où est l’aéroport, s’il vous plaît ? (Where is the airport, please?)
✅ À quelle heure est le départ de l’avion ? (What time does the plane leave?)
How do you like to travel?
En avion (by plane)
En bateau (by boat)
En train (by train)
En métro (by subway)
En bus (by bus)
En taxi (by taxi)
À pied (on foot)
Key travel words to save the day:
L'aéroport (airport)
La gare (train station)
Le billet (ticket)
Aller-retour (round trip)
Le musée (the museum)
La plage (the beach)
La gare (the train station)
2. Nailing Your Stay
First things first — you need a place to stay. Here’s how to ask for a room:
✅ Je voudrais une chambre... (I would like a room...)
✅ Pour mes vacances, je vais loger dans un hôtel. (For my vacation, I am going to stay in a hotel.)
Now, what kind of place suits you?
Un hôtel (hotel)
Une auberge de jeunesse (youth hostel)
Un club de vacances (resort)
Un camping (campground)
Un appartement (apartment)
Une chambre d’hôtes (B&B)
3. Ordering Food
Craving confit de canard or in the mood for macaroons? Here’s how to order like a pro:
✅ Je voudrais... (I would like...) Une table pour une / deux / trois / quatre personne(s). (A table for 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 people)
✅ Avez-vous des options végétariennes ? (Do you have vegetarian options?)
✅ Je ne peux pas manger de... (I can’t eat...)
✅L’addition, s’il vous plaît. (The check, please.)
Drinks to order:
Un verre de vin (a glass of wine)
Une bière (a beer)
De l’eau (water)
Un jus d’orange (orange juice)
Meals and Courses to remember:
Le petit déjeuner (Breakfast)
Le déjeuner (Lunch)
Le dîner (Dinner)
Une entrée (starter)
Un plat principal (main course)
Un dessert (dessert)
Essential travel words to keep in mind for your next trip ✅
Un passeport 🛂 (passport)
Une valise 🧳 (suitcase)
Un sac à dos 🎒 (backpack)
Un sac 👜 (bag)
Des bagages 🧼 (baggage)
Un billet 🎫 (ticket)
Une réservation 📅 (reservation)
Ready to Start Learning? 💫
If you're looking for an engaging and effective way to build your French skills, check out my new book: Beginners French Language Learning Story: A Hitchhiking Adventure. Tailored for beginners, it's designed to make learning immersive, fun, and practical.
Follow Vincent and Amélie as they hitchhike from Paris to Switzerland, encountering inspiring characters, real-life conversations, and plenty of useful vocabulary along the way.
Planning a trip to a French-speaking country? Don’t let the language barrier spoil your adventure! With just a few key phrases and essential vocab, you’ll be booking rooms, navigating cities, and impressing locals like a seasoned traveller. Let’s dive in!
Top words and phrases for your travels
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