Paris trip!

zoe55

Hello!

Long time lurker, first time poster!

I would like to try the solo travel thing. I think it would be good for me, increase my confidence and feel it's something I want to experience.

Since this is my first time, I'll play it safe and stick to Paris. I've never been before and it's only a train/plane ride away.

I'm looking to stay there for three maybe four nights. Small, steady steps! Not for too long and don't want to do anything too wild.

Can anyone recommend any sight seeing tips? Especially when I only have four days? I know I won't be able to see EVERYTHING but that's okay. All the more reason to go back!

Is it safe/normal for a young twentysomething to be out there on her own? Won't people think it's weird if they see me dining alone, sitting at a bar alone?

I don't speak a word of French. I just can't get my head around the pronounciation although, I picked up Italian and German fairly easily. Would this be a problem? Do many french people speak English? Also, are all the menus in French or do they supply English ones? Can someone teach me to say I'm allergic to shellfish and celery? :o:o

I'll be taking cash and a credit card. Would this suffice?

Also, I'm looking to go around late September. What would the weather be like? Don't want to go when it's too hot but don't want to walk around in the rain either. I don't mind the cold though especially since I'll be visiting museums and drinking all the cafe au lait I can!

I feel quite comfortable booking my tickets/hotel through lastminute or such other site so don't feel as though I need an agent to book. But I'm not sure about travel insurance. Where would I purchase this from? And is there anything else I'm forgetting?

I'd appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

Thanks!

SavingPennies_2

I'm sure you will have a great time, there will be plenty of tourists so I doubt anyone will notice or think it's odd you are on your own. Just watch out for pickpockets and those people who try to flog you stuff in the touristy places.

Its been a few years since I went but the Palace of Versailles, Louvre, Sacre Coeur, and of course the Eiffel Tower are all must sees, you could also do a cruise on the Seine. I'd just buy yourself a travel guide for Paris and see what you fancy, the bonus of travelling alone is you can see and do exactly what you want!

I would try and pick up a few words of french, even if its just hello, thanks, that sort of thing. In my experience many of the locals will understand your English but may still reply to you in French, and often the menus are in French only.

Kynthia

Good on you, I think you'll have a great time. No one will think it strange that you are eating alone although some people do feel more self concious, but your phone or a book will keep you occupied between courses. Lots of people travel alone for pleasure and for work, so in business type hotel the restaurants will have lots of lone diners.

You can find travel insurance from comparison sites or try direct with companies that do home and car insurance like Aviva and the post office. I'd look for independent travel cover as you aren't booking a package holiday.

I went to Paris the summer before last and I don't speak a word of French. I learnt a couple of phrases and had a go without any problems. Also it seems important to the French that you say bonjour as you enter every shop/bakers/restaurant/etc and then say merci au revior as you leave as they find it rude otherwise. I did this and found the Parisians very friendly.

There are lots of scammed targeting tourists there. Read TripAdvisor forums on Paris for advice, say no to people asking you to sign petitions or fill in surveys (people kept approaching ne asking if I spoke english and i'd just say no in an accent and walked away and even pretended to be Swedish at one point). Good advice is to keep your insurance details and a photocopy of your passport in your hotel room, in a separate location to where my passport was. Also I'd keep one of my credit or debit cards in the safe while taking the other out with me. This meant I'd have access to money if my wallet or bag was taken.

I downloaded a food guide to my phone that translated menu items for me. This is because a literal translation doesn't always explain what the food is as sometimes meals have names, for example can you imagine if a French person got a literal translation for Toad in the Hole? I doubt they'd know it was sausage.

PeacefulWaters

I don't speak a word of French. I just can't get my head around the pronounciation although, I picked up Italian and German fairly easily. Would this be a problem? Do many french people speak English?

Many French people speak excellent English.

But not until you've attempted to speak in French first.

I'll be taking cash and a credit card. Would this suffice

Yes. Look into Halifax Clarity. And take a backup card just in case. It's not a cheap city.

I'm not sure about travel insurance. Where would I purchase this from?

You should be able to get cover for well under £20. Do you have cover with your bank account? Get a free EHIC card too (from the official site).

skint_chick

Shellfish are 'fruits de mer' (fruits of the sea!) prawns = crevettes crab= crabe, mussels = moules, squid = calmar
celery = c!leri

Je suis allergique à c!leri/ Je suis allergique aux fruits de mer

I have allergies so understand your concern about this but it should be quite easy with the allergies you have to avoid any food issues. If you speak German/Italian then why not go to Berlin/Rome or somewhere else in Germany or Italy - it's only a short plane trip and maybe less nerve wracking if you understand things a bit more. Most people also speak English in Italian and German cities. I've been on holiday a lot myself and once you get used to it there's no need to worry - I usually bring a book for dinner. If you stay in a hostel you can meet other people to go for dinner with - you can get single rooms rather than a dorm. I usually stay in the Ibis chain because you know what you're getting as they're all pretty similar. Maybe look at Air B n B where you can rent someone's spare room or a whole studio apartment for similar prices to hotels then you don't have to eat out if you feel weird about it.

Look at inyourpocket.com for a free downloadable guide to Paris with cheap suggestions - also hostel world website has a 48 hour cheap city guide with suggestions of free/cheap places to visit and cheap eats.

Tell your bank you'll be away/check if your phone provider has free/cheap use abroad e.g. 3 feel at home/borrow a guidebook from your local library

zagfles

zoe55 wrote: »

Hello!

Long time lurker, first time poster!

I would like to try the solo travel thing. I think it would be good for me, increase my confidence and feel it's something I want to experience.

Since this is my first time, I'll play it safe and stick to Paris. I've never been before and it's only a train/plane ride away.

I'm looking to stay there for three maybe four nights. Small, steady steps! Not for too long and don't want to do anything too wild.

Can anyone recommend any sight seeing tips? Especially when I only have four days? I know I won't be able to see EVERYTHING but that's okay. All the more reason to go back!

If you haven't already, sign up to the tripadvisor forums. Read peoples' trip reports, you'll likely see plenty from solo travellers. They usually have a "Paris in 3 days" type guide, have a look at that.

Is it safe/normal for a young twentysomething to be out there on her own? Won't people think it's weird if they see me dining alone, sitting at a bar alone?

No it's very common, loads of people travel alone and just as many women as men IME. Also business people travelling on business often eat alone, you won't stand out.

I'd suggest staying in a hostel rather than a hotel, people are much more friendly and chances are you might meet someone to go eating/sightseeing with, female solo travellers in particular do seem to pair up quickly. If you want to... Hostels usually have private rooms if you don't want a dorm.

I don't speak a word of French. I just can't get my head around the pronounciation although, I picked up Italian and German fairly easily. Would this be a problem? Do many french people speak English? Also, are all the menus in French or do they supply English ones? Can someone teach me to say I'm allergic to shellfish and celery? :o:o

Take a translation app for your phone/tablet. IME in France and sometimes Germany you can get people who will be awkward if you don't speak their language, or at least try.

I'll be taking cash and a credit card. Would this suffice?

Generally best to have a backup card as well, and tell the banks you'll be abroad.

Also, I'm looking to go around late September. What would the weather be like? Don't want to go when it's too hot but don't want to walk around in the rain either. I don't mind the cold though especially since I'll be visiting museums and drinking all the cafe au lait I can!

Probably similar to here. Though we went in October and it was freezing.

I feel quite comfortable booking my tickets/hotel through lastminute or such other site so don't feel as though I need an agent to book. But I'm not sure about travel insurance. Where would I purchase this from? And is there anything else I'm forgetting?

Get an EHIC card from the official site (they are free DO NOT pay, only scam sites will ask you to pay).

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx

Have a look on the usual comparison sites for travel insurance, it'll be cheap at your age assuming no pre-existing medical conditions. Watch out for "under the influence" exclusions if you're not a tee-totaller!

TBagpuss

Have a great time.

If you can learn a little French before you go it will help - even if it is simply 'Bonjour Madame / Bonjour Monsieur'
'Merci' (Thank you) and 's'il vous plait' (please).

You may find it helpful to make or download a card / cards setting out your allergies, particularly if these are severe (one option here - https://www.brokerfish.com/food-allergy-translation-cards)

If you are under 26 then you may be able to get free or reduced price admission to museums and galleries (free to EU citizens on proof of age and citizenship)

I agree that hostels can be a good way of meeting others if you wish to do so, or if you think you might want company part of the time, for instance to go out for a drink or meal with in the evening. Larger hostel may also offer organised trips of days out.

Enjoy!

BillTrac

I don't know where you are travelling from but if you can use Eurostar it takes you directly into Gare Du Nord station. Then you can decide how to get to where you're staying/ Taxi/walk/metro/bus

If you fly into Charles De Gaulle airport you have to get to your original airport, fly to Paris, wait for any luggage, then transfer into Paris. Then decide how to get to where you're staying/ Taxi/walk/metro/bus

I used to do a lot of weekends in Paris, leaving midday Friday and arriving back home tea-time Monday. I gained almost half a day each time using Eurostar
And as previous posters have said, learn the basic few words and you'll be fine

Chlorine7

I have recently just done this. I only did a day trip rather than overnight as I've been a couple of times already. I'm in my early 30's and a single female. It was perfectly fine. You get spoken to as a tourist rather than male or female.

I bought a day travelcard from Kings Cross to save me some time and effort at Gare du Nord but it was a waste of money since I walked everywhere and got on the metro 3 times.

I walked and ate alone and there was no issues whatsoever. I'm not a confident person and do get worked up sometimes at what people think of me. I also found that people were a lot more pleasant and helpful to me on my own than they were when I wasn't alone.

One man could see I was a bit confused as to where I was going and first spoke in French and then English when I didn't understand. He was really sweet and confirmed I was in the correct place to get home

I didn't need a phrase book but then I didn't try to speak to anyone so an app or book would probably be reassuring for yourself just in case.

I picked up a map from Kings Cross, which turned out to be a lifesaver but a hotel should have one too.

The weather will be very similar to the UK.

Go to Pierre Herme for macarons and not La Duree!

Cash and card are just fine for Paris.

Some other tips:
Download a pdf of the metro to your phone so you can easily look it up as metro maps are usually on the back of street maps and it's such a pain to keep flipping around etc.

I find travel blogs are incredibly useful for sights, tours, itineraries and eateries.

Assuming you are taking the Eurostar - Magenta metro station is around the corner so you could easily walk around there if Gare du Nord ticket machines are ridiculously busy

natbags

rick steve (rick steve . com) is a brilliant website and you can download an app with different locations - it will even provide the audio for tours around popular places. It was recommended to me on here for Rome and was invaluable for tours around Colosseum etc...

maman

Try downloading the Duolingo app. It's great for learning a bit before you go.