-
Step 1
Ask the experts. The NASCA International Swing Club Association certifies swinging clubs all over the world, including several clubs in Paris, Nice and other major French cities. (See Resources below.) NASCA-affiliated clubs tend to be safe places for first-time swingers.
-
Step 2
Dig deeper. The NASCA list also includes several non-affiliated clubs that have websites where you can explore each night's offerings. One such club is La Messaline, which has a pool, sauna and restaurant and is only an hour's drive south of Paris, near Orleans. (See Resources.)
-
Step 3
Zero in on what you want. Clubs-echangiste.com publishes a complete list of swing clubs in France, featuring discotheques, saunas and restaurants. The club profiles contain user-generated commentary, ratings, photos and practical information. Use an online translator, like Google Translate (translate.google.com), if you can't read French.
-
Step 4
Pick a theme. Most French swing clubs have themed nights where swingers of different orientations and preferences can relax among similar-minded partiers. In Paris, Le Nautilus, which is a good club for English-speaking swingers, has nights for gay couples, bisexual couples and swinging novices (lenautilus.net). The No Comment Club, another Paris-based boîte (nightclub) that caters to anglophones, has evenings where all guests must wear black (en.nocommentclub.com).
-
Step 5
Avoid the beaten path. Several of Paris' swinging clubs are located near the tacky sex shops in the glowing neon Pigalle quarter. Gridskipper, an online travel blog, has published a list of less touristy Paris-based swing clubs, including Le Quai 17, which allows swingers to register and chat online before they show up at the club. (See Resources.)
