Well, posted something earlier, but it apparently didn't go through. :|
I just returned from spending a week's vacation there -- most of it in Paris with a two day trip to the Burgundy (Bourgogne) region of Dijon/Beaune.
Sorry to say but with only three years of French, you're going to have a hard time. It's usually not a matter of not knowing the language but of being able to understand them. I took two years in junior high, three years in high school and two years in college and was woefully unprepared for speaking it when I went for my junior year in college. I knew the grammar well enough, but my accent was atrocious and comprehension non-existent (speaking/listening). It's a fault of most American language programs that the emphasis is on grammar and NOT communication. I'm not trying to scare you, but I'd rather you feel unprepared and be ready for some difficulties than the reverse.
However, outside of Paris, they are nice people and patient (except for nearly everyone who works in a train station). In Paris, you'll find a lot of pricks. If you want to give them attitude right back, don't speak English when they do (they hear your accent and speak English right away in many cases). Just keep speaking French.
Some suggestions on visits: If you have two days in Nice, check out the Chagall museum (very small but quite interesting), and
DEFINITELY make a trip to St. Paul-de-Vence which is a small hilltop village that is extremely picturesque. There's also apparently an excellent Matisse museum in Nice, though I've never been.
If you are in Dijon, rent a car (if you're not) and drive down to Beaune and visit some of the vineyards. BUY A LOT OF WINE!
It's ridiculously cheap and amazingly good. We just bought seven bottles from the town of Auxey-Duresses -- visit M. Roy if you have the chance. The vintners are very nice people and very friendly, but do be considerate -- if you taste, buy something. Check out the Swiss army knives in Dijon -- some good buys to be found with the proximity of Switzerland. I bought a locking blade one (the larger kind) for $22, which normally sells for $30+ here.
In Normandie, eat at a crepe restuarant (creperie) since that's the regional specialty. The local alcoholic beverage is calvados brandy, which is very good and is wonderful for cooking as well as drinking -- it can be quite strong though. :Q
In Paris, you can buy Metro passes that are good for unlimited trips for a specified number of days. The one day pass is only 30F, which is worth it if you plan on making more than five trips per day. Also check out the museum pass, which is cheap and lets you bypass many lines (unlimited access to many museums, including d'Orsay, Louvre, Cluny [medieval museum -- excellent and small] and numerous others). Make sure to check out the monument to the deportation of the Jews at the eastern end of the island behind Notre Dame. Very simple and very quick, but quite moving.
Two restaurant recommendations for you: L'Auberge de la Reine Blanche on Ile-Ste-Louis (the other island in the Seine) and Au Chien Qui Fume about two blocks north of Notre Dame (Rive Droite). The first is a favorite of mine that has been consistently good for the last 9 years at least, while I went for the first time to the second one last Tuesday. Yes, it does mean "At the Smoking Dog". It was VERY good.
I could go on, but I'll stop for now. Email if you want additional information.
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