Scared of going to Paris Alone

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I know this is late and you have already been (hope you had a lovely time) but I have travelled many times solo and would much prefer to get public transport at all times of the day so that I am with other people than get in a taxi on my own. That seems so much more of a risk than the metro imo

I always book a hotel as close to a tube/metro stop as possible so there are people milling around

The UK bit? The Eurostar terminal?

if that is the UK bit, I will now call the after security area of St Pancras the French bit.

I lived in Paris and two other major world cities. I went to eurodisney a couple of years ago and felt really unsafe at gare du Nord with pickpockets ramming into me and the kids! So avoid that area and generally use common sense - money and phone in bum bag and out of sight. Travel with minimum luggage.

@maslinpan what's wrong with chalet les halles

@Aquarius1234 How did you get on?

Just go. It will be fine. Do you speak or read a little bit of French? Its a safe city in Western Europe with good public transport, lots to see and do, plenty of tourists. Nothing to worry about. You're making out like you're spending the weekend in Caracas.

Fabulous! Hope you have an amazing time!

@Aquarius1234 enjoy! You can look forward to a tasty dinner!

Enjoy!

You go girl!

I’ve been recently with my DD. I was nervous as first trip without DH or friends in years. It was so easy. We arrived at 8pm on Eurostar and found the metro easily, it felt very safe. DD navigated round with a Dorling Kindersley Top 10 Paris book and pull out map. Everything felt walkable but we did get the metro a couple of times and it was fine.

I think a really key thing to feel safe as a solo traveller is booking a hotel in a safe neighbourhood that gets good reviews. Once you are there, the hotel staff can help with recommendations for transport, eating out etc. I chose a hotel over air bnb for that reason, also because I’ve had some iffy air bnb check ins from time to time and I didn’t want to risk arriving and not being able to get in.

I did split cards up and keep passports in hotel safe and had travel passes saved to both of our phones just in case one of us lost a phone/bag or had one stolen but it was fine. We weren’t hassled anywhere.

The little bistros are great for dinner, we enjoyed eating out in the ones in the quieter neighbourhood we were staying in. The one day we ate out by the Seine we had rude service from waiter and not great pizza but what do you expect from a tourist hotspot.

I researched places to eat in advance for evenings on Google maps to check for good reviews and saved them, meant I could do that at my leisure and have a few options up my sleeve, that helped me feel organised and calm.

Sometimes if I am anxious it helps me to write in my notes app on my phone an outline plan for the day with lunch / cafe / dinner options and transport details. Not very spontaneous but it keeps me calm and I quite enjoy planning trips anyway! Maybe it would help you?

Enjoy, it’s such a beautiful city!

It’s more ‘old socks and a hint of sewage’.😀

OP, you seem to be building the Métro into some kind of demon to be avoided. Do you use the tube if you’re in London? It’s exactly the same level of ‘peril’, and actually easier to navigate as a tourist if anything — as all lines are numbered, and signposted with the end of the line stations at both ends (no need remember a name for a tube line or whether you’re going north, east etc)., so you’ll be taking line 10 in the direction of Boulogne Pont de Saint Cloud and getting out at the Porte d’Auteuil stop.

I presume the people that live Paris cope

@Aquarius1234 I'm not sure what you are worried about so it's hard to comment.

I did a day trip to the French Open once. That was fine (and unforgettable). easy to get to from the metro station. Lots of tennis going crowds all walking in the same direction. Not much shade so go prepared. At no point did I feel unsafe in the area near the French Open because there were so many people around - really didn't occur to me.

Eurostar - I'd arrive 90 mins before in case queues are massive. it reduces stress. There is a cafe past security if you are tight for time.

I don't think you've mentioned where your accommodation is (or if you've booked it) but some areas are not so great - this is the one thing I'd plan the area carefully.

Food - loads of bistros everywhere which are usually tasty and well priced; plenty around the main train stations (for example). I can't see that being a problem to get a table for one. Get breakfast and possibly sandwich lunch from a bakery.

I agree. Former Paris resident here. The only downside of the Metro is the smell of old socks!

I walked to get some fresh air after a delayed Eurostar, and to see a bit of Paris en route to the conference hotel. On the way back I got the metro as timings more predictable and quicker than taxi!

You need to stop this mindset otherwise you're going to really work yourself up. I used to travel every day on the metro. There's nothing to be avoided. It's absolutely fine. No one is walking around paris to avoid the metro. Taxis are fine too but can take forever to get anywhere cos it's so busy.