Flying
Solo in Paris
The Best Time to go to Paris, is Alone!
Paris is a wonderful place for single women or men armed with an insider’s knowledge of l’affaire du Coeur Français - and for a solo traveller, that is the appeal. You
can stand at a bar and order your petit crème and not feel like an interloper. C’est tout a fait normale (its usual). Bookstores, libraries
and museums are brimming with the independent. (Art and architecture is best
savoured un-distracted). Cafes littered with ‘tables pour un’, jardins, parks and courtyards occupied by lone
picnic-goers, late afternoon concerts a celebration of single buoyancy and live
jazz bars perfect when your minus a conversation buddy. Parisian life is not
solely a deux (couples only). Hurrah!!!
Other things to do in Paris alone:
o
Learn to Cook – Cook’n with Class offers pastry, baking and cooking classes with trips to the markets.
o
Meet the Locals - Pour Vous Paris is a membership organization offering encounters
with Parisians, e.g. crêpe parties, a walking tour, practicing your French in a
café. This is an affordable way to see the insider’s Paris.
o
Go on Tour - A great bike tours or a simple DIY walking tour is best to take in the sights and sounds at
your own blissful pace. The Girls Guide To Paris offers DIY downloadable walking tours.
o
Bookstores - Try Shakespeare &
Co.– a cluttered yet charming librarie and go to a reading at the Village Voice
Bookshop.
o
Meet other Solo Travellers – at Cyber Cafés, Sushi Bars are a great singles
mingling setting and Wine Bars.
Where to stay?
Petite Paris B&B www.petiteparis.com.au
Single travellers feel an important and intimate level of comfort and support in our
B&B services. While enjoying
days of solitary ssightseeing,
an evening of pleasant and intimate company (or dinner) awaits you at your hosted B&B.
Your friendly host
will be happy
to chat about your day, and generally be of good
company. Having a real Parisian home to go back to is a valuable comfort for
the solo traveller
- no cold lonely hotel room, it’s literally a home away from home.
Also benefit from the advice of
Parisian hosts, who are
invaluable resources,
sharing
secret spot and offering personal
walking tours for those who want to see Paris through the eyes of a Parisian - day or night, and market tours - fresh produce, antiques and more.
Tips - How to keep costs down on your own?
o
Sit inside at cafes – it’s cheaper!
o
It’s perfectly ok to
nurse one cup of coffee for hours while people watching and drinking up the
café culture...the locals do!
o
Get a museum Pass www.parispass.com
o
Velib bikes – a cheap option for a
bike tour www.velib.paris.fr
o
Try
a cooking class or art class offered by some of our B&B hosts.
o
OR L’Atelier des Chefs – offers
lunch-hour cooking classes for as little as 15euros www.atelierdeschefs.fr
Precautions for solo travellers!
o
Areas to avoid at night: Les Halles, Chatalet, Gare du
Nord or Northern Paris after dark around St Ouen and Saint Denis – these areas,
although largely safe, do become quiet and sparse after dark and have been
known to have gang activity and hate crime.
o
The Metro is safe at night with lots of crowds at
surprising hours, but of course keep your wits about you and take the usual
precautions. The RER Metro lines are known to be the most unsafe with the
highest number of Pickpockets.
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