to be a little scared of going to paris

[breathing]

As ive heard its a very unsafe city.?

[Mishy1234]

It's a while since I've been, but I didn't feel unsafe at all.

I DID feel extremely unfashionable and clumsy though! I remember seeing this amazing looking girl in the most incredible dress (think Audrey Hepburn) walking along and was looking around for the cameras, sure that she must be getting filmed or something. She wasn't.

[follygirl]

We took our 2 dc (6 and 4) to Paris for 4 days during October half term. They had a fantastic time and loved travelling on the Metro.

Top tips: We went on the Eiffel Tower, you can actually pre-book a slot online if you don't fancy queuing. We went to the Louvre which was amazing. You can actually borrow prams at the museum which was useful as our 4 y o got a bit tired with all the walking around. We took a boat ride along the Seine which was lovely and enabled the kids to rest. If you are going to use the Metro a lot, buy a 'Carnet de dix' which means 'ten tickets', it's cheaper than buying them individually.

I lived there for a while in my student days and loved it. It's a fantastic city.

Enjoy yourself and more importantly relax.

[MainlyMaynie]

I had a bad experience in Paris and it does make me feel more unsafe there than other major cities. But rationally, I know it could have happened anywhere. The foreign office advice for Paris is virtually the same as for Amsterdam and I feel perfectly safe in Amsterdam! I think once you've been there a few days you'll feel fine with it. Good luck!

[Susiewho]

YABU.

[LynetteScavo]

So where is dangerous to visit?

(Or is that a whole new thread?)

[PassTheTwiglets]

Vinestein, I do find it amusing that you think you can call someone ridiculous and then sweetly say "I don't mean that in a bad way"! :)
Some people are nervous of travelling, especially if they haven't travelled much - it's not necessarily a rational fear but then neither are many fears.

Anyhow, OP, I agree with everyone else that Paris is no more dangerous than any other big city, though I do feel nervous on the Metro at night. That's not because of any real threat, I think it's because I find it hard to naigate and I worry about getting lost/stuck somewhere strange at night. Oh and avoid the Pigalle area - that isn't very nice. I am not a fan of Paris in general though (though ther are some lovely bits). I know I am massively in the minority there but I just find it a bit... I dunno... big and impersonal?. Give me Venice any day...!

[Anniepops]

Hi - I've been to Paris twice with husband and two kids. I've loved it both times and would love to go again. I had an image of it being "bad for pickpockets" before we went but can honestly say didn't once feel scared or on edge while there. YOu are more likely to get fed up with beggars coming up and handing you bits of paper telling you about there 13 starving kids etc, particularly when visiting the bit visitor attractions. As nearly everyone has said just be sensible as you would when visiting any other large busy place. Don't keep all your money/ valuables in one place. I always use one of those money belt things that go under your clothes for cards etc, and always keep a purse with change and a few small notes in my bag so in the very unlikely event of anything happening (which to be honest can just as easily happen outside your front door) you can 'give it up' without it being a major crisis as well as a terrible shock! Am very jealous of your planned trip, Paris is lovely x

[SpringFollows]

Oh you are so lucky breathing! Paris is lovely. I had a few days there last week. Glorious, just wish it had been longer. i have no idea about St Denis, I stay in the Madeleine area.

Just enjoy it, and if you need to be a bit conservative in your activities because you are worried, fine. Expand yourself when you are ready. But enjoy it.

Natural to be worried about new experiences and new places.

Oh you are lucky. i wish so much i could go again,but not likely until next year at the earliest.

[breathing]

I have actually travelled extensively. We dont tend to go to cities and the ones I have visited were a long time ago. I dont have city anxiety at all...just heard paris wasnt safe but now corrected :)

[vinestein]

I didn't mean that in a bad way either breathing, I just think of all the things to worry about this is not one. I'm not here to be your friend, you posted on AIBU- and yes, you are being unreasonable. You did mention anxiety, and you have had anxiety about other cities as well.
I used to have anxiety issues myself so it wasn't a criticism, andto me from your posts it genuinely sounds like you might have a problem, that's all.
I hope you have a lovely trip- please don't worry about Paris. Live your life and all that..

[onceamai]

Oh no it is the most wonderful city and I would love to go again. The only problem is I have the best and most romantic weekend there with previous significant other in 1985 and DH had a similar weekend with is significant other in 1987. Somehow having had romantic weekends there with other people neither of us feel like stomaching it again together.

But.. the louvre, versailles, sacre coeur, the left bank, the sienne, Notre Dame (where my faith was rekindled because I thought I could reach out and touch God) the little picture of the lady in red next to the mona lisa which is so much better. Oh please, go and savour and enjoy every minute.

Oh we did Eurodisney with the DC and that was FABULOUS too!!!!

[breathing]

Should have said my "worry".
I appreciate people letting me know its fine...Ive stopped looking at the websites etc , caution to the wind

[DoubleDegreeStudent]

I'm a student in Paris at the moment so do quite a bit of travelling around at ungodly hours and as long as you avoid the first or the last metro/RER you'll be fine (even that is just to be on the safe side, because there are still loads of people around).

One of the things that freaks me out more is that cabs can be few and far between. In London I feel safe in the knowledge that there is probably one a few minutes away, whereas in Paris you can go an hour without seeing one depending on where you are. Get a taxi number from your friends and you might feel more relaxed? They are expensive though.

Just enjoy it - it is a busy city with people around on metros and buses 24/7 so there will be help there if you need it. Just make sure you have a bag that zips all the way across and you keep your hand on the zip, then YOU know your things are safe, and that is what matters

[breathing]

My apologies...I did mention anxiety

[breathing]

The "anxiety" is of your own perception. I just said Im a little bit scared and had heard its unsafe. Hardly worth medicating.

[vinestein]

I didn't mean it in a bad way- I meant that out of everywhere where, yes, there are problems- Paris is the best place and the place where I've never had a problem. If she'd said Naples or somewhere then all responses would have been different. I was trying to illustrate that I'd been to safe places and unsafe places and Paris was , more or less, my favourite of all.

I think OP needs to get a little perspective, she is way too anxiety ridden and as a consequence was scared of going somewhere where, if she stops worrying, she'd have a great time.

So, OP, get a grip and have a nice time

[capricorn76]

@Vinestein. You're so cool and worldly. I wish I was like you and yes I'm taking the piss.

[ChippingInMistressSteamMop]

God, some of you are so bloody horrible, it's like a high school class in here some days, there's just no need for it. It's disgraceful from supposedly grown women.

Breathing - it's a beautiful city, one that I have visited many times (usually in white trainers :)) and have never felt unsafe. I have been to many other cities where I have felt more 'aware' of trouble/aware of my bag etc. I found Italy to be much worse for unwanted male attention!!

[LynetteScavo]

I bet they don't have a law on not letting your dog poo. Personally I have never been anymore bothered about dog poo in Paris than London. At least in Paris they have street cleaners to hoover it up.

[vinestein]

hahaha you are ridiculous. Sorry but I have NO sympathy whatsoever. You sound as if you need some anti-anxiety medication and some therapy. Paris is wonderful.
I live in London which frankly, by comparison, is an unsafe and fungusy armpit.
I lived in Naples on my own when I was 17 where I was mugged 5 times- once at knifepoint-
I have lived in c.america and I have been on my own to the most dangerous border cities. I've been to s.africa, the us, india, bahrain, all sorts of other countries..

PARIS is my favourite place in the whole wide world and it's the place where I feel most safe. Just chill out, be confident, don't look like a tourist

[LynetteScavo]

You have no idea why you have holidayed in a country covered in dog poo every year, or why France is covered in dog poo?

[PinotGrigioBlush]

Most if France, IME, is covered in doggy doodoo. Every place I've ever been - and we've holidayed there every year since I was tiny.

I have no idea why.

It's like a poo chicane in Perpignan.

[LynetteScavo]

DarthNiqabi I once read that 365 people in Paris a year go to hospital due to dog poo related accidents. I also read there as many trees in Paris as there are homeless people living on the streets.

I have no idea if either of these is true.

[PinotGrigioBlush]

Oh you needn't worry too much - I found they delighted in practising their english with my kids.

Can I recommend Avenue d'Montagne just off the Champs Elysees - it's chockablock wall to wall designer boutiques but friendly ones as it's not full of tourists. The lady in Prada even gave my kids a lolly each :)

Teach your boys to say a few polite words and enjoy :)