Top ten tips for solo women tourists in paris

September 17, 6:14 PMNY Women's Travel ExaminerPhyllis Stoller

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The girls having lunch in Paris with wine of course, taken by the author

• Tips for that Solo Trip to Paris, on a regular woman’s budget.
  
• 1.     Use the Roissy bus from Charles de Gaulle Airport, to central Paris, this is the cheap and a safe alternative to a taxi. It will stop near the Opera, near the Pantheon and a possibly a few other central places. Bring a map so the driver can point to his stops.
• 2.     Choose a hotel on a busy avenue to assure safety at night. If on a charming small street, try for one with a café outside so you know there is pedestrian traffic.
• 3.     Book a hotel  which has breakfast included. Breakfast in Paris can cost from 10-20 euros per day and if booked as part of the reservation, is usually on the lower end of the scale.
• 4.     Go for prix fixe lunches for  value and most comfort eating alone.  Le Pied de Cochon, a famous restaurant, a walk from the Pompidou Center, offers a terrific three-course lunch for 21.5 Euros which includes service.  I saw other women alone having a great lunch experience.
• 5.     Shopping: do it all in one place like Galeries Lafayette or Printemps, to get maximum  on your VAT rebate. Each has a fashion show once or twice a week, which can be booked on the spot. PS one of the great views in Paris is from the rooftop cafeteria of Galerie LaFayete.
• 6.     Museum life: Check out the food hall and shops in the Carrousel of the Louvre, the lovely café in the Orsay, tea room in Jacquemart Andre Museum, and have a picnic in the Parc Monceau after you visit the Nissim de Camondo decorative arts Museum. Below is a photo of the cafe at the Orsay, historic railroad clock says it is lunch time!
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• 7.     Pleyel Hall, La Madeleine Church and Sacre Coeur are easy for women alone to attend. La Madeleine is sometimes free, but Sacre Coeur wins for atmosphere, and Pleyel for variety.
• 8.     Buy a copy of Pariscope for about 50c or $1, for the English language events printed in an insert.
• 9.     Take a walking tour, recommended is http://www.paris-walks.com. Peter and Oriel conduct quality tours and Americans alone will feel they are in good company.
• 10. Buy your gifts and picnics at Monoprix ( food is in the basement), great makeup, dishes, glasswear, food, at “Woolworth” look and prices. Best budget buy: a Beige or Brown large chocolat mug, charming on a shelf in your homebound kitchen. 5 Euros.

 Bon Voyage!