I can't undestand all the hatred for Paris on MN

To be fair I think it’s the same people who think London is a no go zone and the second you step off the train you’re going to get stabbed

Lots of Irish people aren't keen on Dublin either (like me), just as lots of British people aren't fond of that London.

Paris is a major world city, not a tourist resort. Just like Londoners, they are generally indifferent, they are just getting on with their lives which are generlaly too busy to give a shit what tourists think about them.

And Dublin is hated too. The capital city of France and Ireland disliked by UK folk, go figure..

I don't hate Paris. I just find it unfriendly.
With the whole globe to choose from, why would I want to return to somewhere that doesn't welcome visitors?

My favourite chocolate shop is in Gare du Nord station.

The French can be insufferably rude. I recall waiting in a queue at the Chamber of Horrors with my holiday friend Aude as a teenager and we had some rude French teenagers behind us talking rudely and loudly about the English. The look on their faces when she angrily rounded on them in French! 🤣

They do not expect you to speak it. They expect you to at least try some words and phrases and find it rude if you don’t. In fact if you try and are friendly they’ll often be patient with you. So my French friends tell me.

Indeed. I think there was a thread asking people to list things that we are supposed to love, but found disappointing and Paris appeared as a top target. Once one PP mentioned it, there was a torrent.

It has definitely changed in the 30 years since I first went, but it is still a beautiful city. Locals have always been charming when I have fumbled my French (despite the narrative of Parisians being foul to anyone by Parisians and a hold a special, heightened level of disdain for the English). Everywhere has changed, cities are vibrant, organic places with a life that maps society. I’d happily buy an apartment there if I won the lottery!

I like Paris and am visiting in a few months.

I haven’t seen this hatred you speak of

I don’t hate it. My aunt lives and works for herself there and loves it (she’s English). There are some scummy and dirty places though, I saw rats in one open popular park (forget the name). However London can be similar in terms of areas and locals. And other big cities too. I have found some Parisians to be openly very rude in the past. Helps a lot if you attempt at least some French though. Which I do. Was almost fluent at one stage (not now).

This is one of the few topics where I agree with the mumsnet majority.

It's absolutely awful. I can't think of a single thing I like about it and my being English endures I'm spoken to and treated like utter crap. I've never known a country that expects tourists in it's capital to speak the local language.

Haven’t seen much hate on here tbh, so YABU.

You are also being disingenuous to say that Parisians aren’t rude to visitors to the city. They’re notoriously (and almost proudly!) rude!! I find it quite funny.

Love Paris and Dublin - each to their own.

What about an Emily in Paris-themed tour wearing a pink beret? And defying the love locks ban and clamping a padlock inscribed PARIS JE T’AIME on the Pont des Arts?

Ah good point. That means we’re near the event horizon where the kudos lies in liking only the lamest things about Paris. Personally what I love the most is taking le Metro straight to the Eiffel Tower, pulling my camera from my fanny pack, and grabbing a selfie where I’m taller than the tower!!!!!

Well, they’ve got that one wrong, then, as they appear to be a vocal majority on Mn, like posters who confuse ‘introversion’ with ‘misanthropy’ and pride themselves on never answering the door.

Paris is OK, it’s the French people that are intolerable.

Paris is fine, not my favourite French city by a long shot but it isn't a crime infested hellhole (the guys who hang around outide the Gare du Nord are a pain in the bum though).

I can't understand all the hatred for Paris on MN

Half of the internet exists for people to play status games inside their own heads. There’s nowt to be gained from being someone who likes obviously nice things, but there’s a tiny bit of imaginary kudos to be scraped from being the Person Who Hates Paris.

Thats what those posters are chasing. I suggest we bow to them and accept them as our superiors.

Yeah, I've come to the conclusion that I just disagree with most of Mumsnetters about travel.

<whisper> I don't think Puerto Pollensa in Mallorca is all that. It just didn't seem anything special when we went, was just 'meh'. There are plenty of nicer places in the Balearics.

I also despair when people seem to think Spain is just a huge collection of all inclusive hotels where people go to lay by the pool drinking only getting up to go fight over chips at the buffet. The cities, museums, galleries, ancient ruins, history, villages, nature, mountains, hiking, cycling, water sports etc barely get an acknowledgement.

I'm ambivalent about Paris, it's quite nice, but I've not really spent that much time there and I do plan to go again. I spent a couple of days just wandering around alone when I went with DP who was working there, it never felt unsafe or 'grubbier' than any large city.

I just think that a lot of people don't get out much and have limited experience. I went to another European capital city and people both IRL and online made out like I would be mugged the second I walked out of the main railway station, but it wasn't like that at all, despite me arriving at dusk and walking nearly a mile to my hotel on my own.

I was meeting a colleague at the hotel and she nearly lost her mind because I stopped for a drink at a bar on the way and didn't text her by the time she thought I should arrive so she was convinced I'd been kidnapped 'as it was so dangerous on the walk to the hotel', which wasn't my impression at all, I walked through one of those studenty 'cafe culture' areas where people were at pavement bars and on their apartment doorsteps just enjoying the cool evenings at the end of a hot day so to me it felt really safe.

I once asked for UK holiday recommendations on here. I used to live in Paris and love the place, nice and grotty bits. I got recommended a Haven holiday park then called a snob for saying that was my idea of hell! I ate lunch at one once when the coast park went through it, and I'm certain it's not for me. I take all travel recommendations with a pinch of salt now.

My only criticism is the lack of London cab type taxi.
The taxi we got was ridiculously expensive and a proper taxi outside gare du nord

Exactly!!!

Never seen any hatred. J’aime Paris!

We have just been it's stunning. I had forgotten how dense with stunning old buildings it it. Everyone was so helpful and kind esp the bus drivers !
Id go every few months if euro star was cheaper