Pick up a copy of LGBT monthly Tetu (en francais) to catch up on all the current events around town. Where you should stay: Checkout vacation apartments as an alternative to the cramped hotel room. For Shopping, you must visit the treasure chest known as Colette. Colette, pricey, yes, so bring your sugar daddy.

For nightlife, checkout Queen, the most famous gay club in Paris is a Champs-Elysees mainstay that features some of the craziest nights out in the city. Check out the insane Sunday night "Overkitsh" party for proof. Locals avoid this tourist trap, but stop by for the hot go-go boys around shaking their groove thing to the latest in Euro-House.

The Mix Club's Sunday tea parties attract the gays likes bee to honey. The space is constantly pumping with the best DJs. Mix Club, for the Lesbians, the hippest Parisian ladies enjoy the vibe.

Cell phones in Paris use the GSM technology, though they do not necessarily use all the same frequencies used in North America. If you would like to buy a pre-paid local SIM card to put in your unlocked before you leave for Paris. If you are planning on using your non-French based GSM phone with your roaming plan from home, be aware, that they will charge you for any minute of airtime used - and will charge your through the nose for data roaming, unless you have an international plan.

What does this mean? It means that if your phone is on in Paris, and you receive a call, but do not answer and let it go to voicemail, You are still being charged until the person hangs up on the voicemail. Another option is that of the telephone card, so that you can make calls from a public phone.

In order to survive you need to know basic gay Paris etiquette so here are a few tips.

1. ALWAYS say "Bonjour Monsieur" and/or "Bonjour Madame" when entering a Paris store or Paris restaurant, or first speaking to someone (i.e. waiter, cashier etc.). Even if you just intend to browse around a Paris store on your own for 30 seconds.
2. When leaving don't forget to say goodbye, "au revoir Monsieur" and/or "au revoir madame."
3. Expect to be misunderstood, but use what French you can, whenever you can. Just go with the flow, and do your best to speak as much French as possible.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - A Gay American in Paris

About the Author

Rita Borges is a Paris Lifestyle Expert, she inspects and reviews apartments for Paris Luxe Apartments, http://www.parisluxeapt.com in New York City