Daughter alone in Paris after falling out with friend on holiday

[Bollard]

My DD is in Paris with her friend. They are only there for a couple of days. They have fallen out and the friend has ditched her. DD is in the hotel room, wanting to come home. She doesn't feel confident going around Pars on her own and feels the trip is ruined. Any ideas for anything she could do alone, any group thing she could join? She might feel able to do something in the day, but I don't like the thought of her being out alone at night. I don't know Paris at all. She's staying centrally.

She's an adult and this is a good thing for her to deal with. I was travelling round eastern Europe alone at that age, and with no smartphone.

She looks more adult than she is

She literally is an adult, though. She's 18 years old.

Honestly, this is a good opportunity. An 18-year-old should be capable of getting round a city and using a Metro system, at least during the day. She's university age and she needs to learn to get around by herself and to stretch herself out of her comfort zone a bit. Going to a museum in a European capital city should absolutely not be something that an 18-year-old can't manage alone.

Millions of 18-year-olds live independently at university, have full-time jobs, go backpacking round the world. This is the point at which you should be encouraging your daughter to use this situation to her advantage and to be more independent and start navigating adult life a bit more.

@Bollard

She could download Citymapper; it's so useful, gives very clear walking instructions wherever in the city she may be.

Just get her to pop her phone in her bag/pocket and listen through her headphones

My DD did a months work experience in Lisbon at 19. She was living with a group but during the day she had to navigate everything on her own. She was used to the tube in London (taking it to school) so just had to get her head around a different system. It was an amazing experience and she’s now (at 21) heading off to Columbia for six weeks! Your DD will gain so much in confidence!

I know. I think I’d rather be / would rather my daughter was on a metro with lots of other people than on her/my own in a car with a random bloke.

If she's supposed to have been coming home tomorrow anyway there is absolutely no need for her to use this as any kind of learning opportunity, navigate the metro, buy bus passes or anything at all out of her comfort zone. There are absolutely tons of things accessible from her central Parisian hotel by walking, thousands of other locals and tourists around and she can pass the day very easily. She could spend all day in the Louvre if she wished and still not see everything!

The friend’s stuff is still in the hotel room. She took herself off, not all her stuff.

In her shoes I would absolutely make the most of the situation. I was 19 when I first started travelling alone but things are so much easier now with modern tech.
Im going to repeat what others have said probably because I've not read the thread but I would keep my self busy from straight after breakfast until late evening if she doesn't want to be our late. The sun isnt setting until nearly 22:00hrs.

I would use Ai to plan an itinerary specific to her circumstances eg ' im alone in Paris until tomorrow what can i do that is is free or cheap and intersting. I like to walk, I like art ( or whatever) and see what it comes up with.

Another one that is surprised you have not contacted the mother of the friend. You know where your daughter is - put yourself in her position, wouldn't you appreciate a call

Personally Id stay out of it. Its two adults that have fallen out. They are in Paris, not Iraq. If anything further develops or comes to light later on then maybe bur not over a fall out.However they are due back tomorrow.

Im surprised that she is 18 and cant figure out a city and metro, especially with Google maps.

There's a great boat trip from pont neuf, cheap and always has space. If she does one later tonight she could see the Eiffel tower sparkle in a safe way.

Agree with the PP who said everyone has different experiences!

Mine was really positive: I was roaming Paris alone from the age of 16 (my parent had to spend a lot of time there for work and would sometimes take me with but leave me to my own devices once we got there). This was before smartphones, maybe even before we had mobile phones, not sure.

The worst thing that happened to me was seeing a severed chicken head that someone had impaled on a metro gate (sorry for the visual, I've never forgotten it).

However, I could still speak French reasonably well back then (if only I had kept it going...) and was generally confident with travel and unfamiliar places, so I can see why it might feel daunting for your daughter.

As others have said, though, this will be a great way for her to learn and grow!

I think any 18 year old should be capable of using the Metro. Perhaps this will be a good experience for her.

For all those saying this is a learning curve and she should be able to go round a foreign capital on her own, please have some empathy. I know on MN the second someone turns 18 they have to be tough and with it, but this is a girl who has just finished college, is on a trip without family, is upset because her travel companion has upset her and left her, and she is alone in a place where she doesn't speak the language.
I feel for her. Yes, she can go and explore but have some empathy!

You have said the are both a bit 'unwordly', that she has been a 'bit dopey' about the trip. Honestly they don't exactly sound well prepared.
I would be concerned for her friend's welfare, an think you absolutely MUST contact her mother. (You would want this if it was your daughter who had
gone (what is, effectively) missing in a large, unfamiliar city.

I agree that you should cotact the other mum.

Although what was the fall out about? Because if your DD has been hesitant and not engaged in planning and resistant to things, I could see that being the reason for a fall out. It's good that she's getting out and trying things because at 18, in a city like Paris, staying centrally, there is no reason an 18 year old can't be out and about and enjoying it, especially in this day and age of instant google translate for signage or talking to people, and AI to help you figure out how to get around.

It isn't any different, to the UK, in terms of areas were groups of men hang around hoping to pick off lone/vulnerable women. However, generally, my DDs and their friends found it very sexually threatening. They were constantly approached and had to be very forceful in telling men to get away from them. They have been to nearly all major cities, Mexico, North Africa and Nigeria. Then, as said, there's the pick pockets.
@NoelEdmondsHairGel if it wasn't for another group of German men staying in the hotel, my DDs wouldn't have been safe. The staff, or police wasn't interested and there's still a lot of internalised misogyny from the women. Hopefully the Gisèle Pelicot, case has started discussions and things will change.

The CityMapper app works really well. Sorry if you are worried about her that’s not nice for you. I do despair for today’s youth though - the centre of Paris is quite safe. The river is there as a landmark. She can spend hours walking around, stopping for a coffee/ cocoa cola etc.

@Bollard Did they just fall out this morning? If so, she'll be back. If they fell out last night I would definitely be contacting the other girls mother, just to check that Mum has heard from her and she is ok

This.

The Paris metro is as easy to use as the London underground - just a slightly different system. You orient yourself in the direction of the end of the line on which you are travelling. The maps look a but daunting as they are laid out in a different way. Once you have made a journey its quite straightforward. Nowadays there are apps to help you. My advice would be to eat in or near to the hotel in the evening. You need to develop the art of "not noticing" anyone who tries to hassle you. Not catching their eye or finding something of immediate attention elsewhere.

Oh come on.
She only has to put where she wants to go on Google map and it will her exactly which metro line to take, down to where in the carriage it’s best to go (front, middle, back).

Yes she is feeling a bit lost but she CAN do it!

I am rushing out so apologies have not read the whole thread (yet) but would she be up for an EMILY IN PARIS TOUR tomorrow at 10h00.

The Official Emily in Paris Locations Walking Tour - 2026 (Verified Reviews)

Can give you more suggestions too after my meeting ...

She could also pop in to SHAKESPEARE & CO and W H SMITH (THE ENGLISH BOOKSHOP) and THE AMERICAN CHURCH too.

Hope she is Ok and her friend too, even though she has ditched her.

If you’d want the other mum to give you a heads up in similar circumstances it’s only right that you get in touch with her. Some insight into the exact nature of the falling out might be helpful as well.

agree, there is no need to ditch the Louvre if they booked. There may even be free guided tours if she wants company. If the hotel is central it won’t be that far even to walk. She needs to get going though it is already early afternoon there!

Hope she enjoys the louvre

If she isn't comfortable eating out by herself, there are loads of lovely boulangeries that will do amazing sandwiches and patisserie, or the street crepe vans are great.

The Jardins du Luxembourg are nice to wander round- lots of families there so she should feel safe

Whatever you do, don't watch Taken.