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 could visit the newly restored Notre Dame, or some of the other fabulous and ancient churches in the city. They are amazing.

My daughter goes to disneyland paris on her own. She feels safe. Might be an idea if she likes theme parks

Has she reached out to her friend to see if the trip can be rescued?
If the friend is adamant the friendship is over, then she really needs to make the most of being in Paris on her own - what an adventure she can have!

I’ve been to Paris several times and never felt unsafe. But if she’s alone, she could do things like the boat down the Seine, or the bus hop on hop off. You’ve got a bunch of museums and attractions. She can still do what she wants alone.

It’s important for young people to enjoy their own company. It took me years to be okay on my own. It makes it a lot harder to manipulate you if you don’t care about being alone!

Definitely an open top bus tour. She's see all the best sights and won't have to worry about wandering the streets on her own. She definitely should not come home early if she's only there a couple of days anyway.

Perfect suggestions. Big bus tours give you a picture of the whole city - and a boat tour is beautiful.

The louvre is so worth it.

I was alone in Australia in 1996 during the time of the backpacker murders. I was terrified BUT I was 1000s of miles from home and didn’t want to waste my trip. I had to get out there and do things! I would tell your DD to do the same! She will be a stronger, more confident person for it!

@Bollard Tell your daughter, it does not have to be the big things, breakfast in a local cafe and watch the world go by... there is something magical about a pain au chocolat and a coffee sat on a table ignoring everyone, like a true Parisian.

She is 18!!! If she is uncomfortable using a tap and go public transport system you really need to work on that when she comes home- I can’t imagine how you get to that age and can’t. Also that you are so over involved in her trip from afar.

This is what I like to do. The big touristy things are great, but just sitting and people watching in a foreign city is a great memory to have, you’ll never find photos of that on Pinterest.

I would message the girl's mum to let her know that her daughter has gone off on her own. Keep it neutral but say you are obviously worried as everything has been planned on the basis that they would be there for one another.

Depending upon where she is, if all else fails, The Bombardier pub opposite the Pantheon is an English bar with British and English speaking staff. I am 100% positive that the staff would help her.

Please do push her to be adventurous it’ll be so good for her. She’ll be fine. Love Paris. We have an apartment there. My 17 yo loves going up and hanging about there. So much to do and see. Rodin museum is fab for a picnic. Loads of cool gardens and stuff. At her age in knew it better than London.

Just to add she doesn't need to 'do' anything, she is free to explore exactly as she'd like to. Maybe just a little wander out and a coffee with a book to people watch first of all?

She needs to do her research first in the hotel room and not be seen standing on the street like she doesn't know where she's going. I think if she looks confident and sticks to very populated areas and to central attractions, and is very aware of pick pockets, she'll have a nice time.

What a terrible friend. How bad can the argument be to do that?

Go on the app ‘Get your Guide’ and join some sort of English speaking walking tour. Would she be up for a day at Disneyland Paris?

The friend needs to be ditched soon too. What an absolute bitch treating her friend like that.

She’s going home tomorrow.

Hi OP, I have a close friend living in a busy part of Paris, so I'm used to the 'non-touristy' districts. You've got to have your wits about you in some places, put your bag/backpack under your arm, avoid looking at loiterers' faces. But as long as you do that, you can just go out the door and 'follow your nose' anywhere.
Last time I was there, I went to this museum: https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/
I warmly recommend it. An interesting building and fascinating collections, and the Eiffel Tower around the corner.

She could also see if she can rent a bicycle from the 'velib' scheme - not sure how that works without a subscription, but there may be day passes? Cycling along the Seine bridge by bridge is fun, and the separate cycle paths now make it quite safe.

Near Marais there were a few Moroccan beauty shops giving out free samples last time I was there, my friends teenage DDs (American) were super pleased! Of course they loved the French pharmacies too. And Galeries Lafayette. Sometimes mango and Zara have better fashion than in UK if your DD fancies a clothes shop.