katya3d

We are supposed to be flying to Charles Degaulle on June 14. AirBnb non refundable lodging. No travel insurance on the Paris portion of our trip. I have 2 bulging discs in my lumbar spine, so it was never going to be an easy trip.

After 8 days in Paris, we were to take the train to Aix, then rent a car and do Provence and the Côte d'Azure. Return the car in Nice, then fly to Rome. After a family wedding on Amalfi coast, we were flying back to Paris for one night to get the Air France flight back to US.

In view of the floods and the strikes, should we can the whole thing? We will lose thousands of dollars, and miss our nephew's wedding.

But a nightmare experience is not something I need right now with a bad back.

We are staying in the 5th Arrondisement. I would greatly appreciate opinions from those who are there now.

Milles Mercis!

annhig

Why don't you go to straight to Italy after your Paris stay? or earlier if you get fed up with the problems there? you could go to the italian riviera [google it here - Sandralist once did a great piece about it] - and then onto the wedding.

you might lose a bit of money but not $8K

fuzzbucket

There is no flooding in Paris. No water in the streets, never has been. The bateaux mouches are still not running yet, but might be able to start in a few days. Museums are open.

The garbage strike is over.

There are no soccer hooligans in the streets of Paris. They are all in Marseille.

The RER system is running at a reduced schedule, the Metro is unaffected.

The intercity trains are still running at a reduced schedule, but the strike might end before you leave for Aix. If the strike is still on, and you miss the train you have tickets for, you can get on the next one with no penalty - though you won't be assured of a seat.

AirBnB - you're on your own with that one.

socaltraveler

We are in Provence right now, looks pretty ok to me. I do not see why you should cancel everything, lose 8K and miss your nephew's wedding.

kerouac

I'm meeting a friend arriving on June 14th. Do you need me to meet you as well?

All is normal in Paris except for the 'rich' arrondissements that still have a garbage problem. We folks in poortown have sparkling clean streets.

StuDudley

We're heading out on the 14th also - and I never gave a second thought to cancelling our trip. We've been through various strikes in Paris (metro & garbage) and gas, air traffic controllers, & ATM machine strikes all over France. Except for a 2 night "add-on" at the end of our trip in Paris because of an AF strike in 2014, we've really had no problems getting around. We fly to France twice a year for 1 month on each trip. We've been "doing so" since 1999.

The strike stops at the end of day on the 14th. You'll arrive in Paris on the 15th if you are flying from the USA.

Stu Dudley

StCirq

The worst decision you've made is to rent a nonrefundable place from AirBnb. The rest of your fears are totally or mostly unfounded.

annhig

looks like you should go and play it by ear once you're there, Katya.

joannyc

OP never mentioned $8k, where did other posters come up with that amount?

OP did mention 8 days and thousands of dollars but never $8k.

Kathie

I wouldn't consider canceling. The only concern I'd have is the non-refundable AirBnB, which is, no doubt, an illegal rental.

Given your back problems, I might simplify the itinerary a bit, cutting out Provence and Cote D'Azure, but no reason I can see to cancel.

Whathello

Indeed OP didn't. But does it make a difference if it is 5k or 8k or 10k ?

Even if the strikes were still going on it would be a bad idea to cancel. As it is I've been traveling into Paris as usual for the last weeks, during a national strike in France, a ntaional strike in Belgium, a train strike in Belgium and a train strike in France (we didn't have panic buying for fuel since our supplies were never cut).

I didn't encounter any problem (well yes, I had to board the next (Thalys) train that actually left at the exact time as my scheduled train.

As for floods, I had to drive through some inches of water (say 10, maybe 15) but it was also in Belgium. All my colleagues arrived at work. Sometimes they needed more time.

Macross

I would go but bring something to put behind your back on the plane. When you get to Paris go to the pharmacy and buy voltaren patches, they come in two sizes. They are wonderful for pain. You will still have bulging discs if you stay home so do it.

PalenQ

katya - the news coverage may be worse than what is happening and our imaginations run wild - you are highly unlikely to encounter any strikes or problems and if so they can be overcome easily.

DON'T CANCEL - YOU WILL REGRET THAT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES!

PalenQ

The only concern I'd have is the non-refundable AirBnB, which is, no doubt, an illegal rental.>

No doubt- lots of doubt -to say such a thing is just rubbish from what I know - plenty of airbnbs the city of Paris is fine with - it is the biggest airbnb market in the world - they are not all illegal - I guess I may be wrong so please so give some proof of a statement that seems to be false.

janisj

>>I guess I may be wrong <<

Yes, you are wrong -- and there have been plenty of threads about this - I suggest you read them.

katya3d: I wouldn't cancel -- hopefully your airbnb works out. It probably is illegal but it is the owner, not you, who would be breaking the law.

Are you on any sort of pain management for your back? Maybe talk to your doctor re meds to help for the flight.

katya3d

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE!!!

I am getting lots of pain patches, back pillows, etc, and, unless the MRI results (I don't get until tomorrow afternoon!) show that I need surgery, I am going to take your advice and GO FOR IT!!

Life is short, so we've got to do what we can do for as long as we can!

My husband is just freaking about what to do with a wife in severe pain if flights are cancelled, trains are double-booked (which happened to us in 2003, when I had a herniated cervical disc. Had to lie down on the floor of the train since our first-class seats were already occupied.) Nevertheless, we had a memorable trip, and lots of stories afterwards.

Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me to follow my heart, and not my mind or body.

I'll let you know how it all works out. I'm sure there will be adventures.

And I will never again fail to purchase travel insurance for Airbnb!

Merci!

janisj

Just take it easy and good luck!

StuDudley

>>And I will never again fail to purchase travel insurance for Airbnb!<<

Does anyone have first-hand knowledge (or is an insurance expert) as to whether insurance will cover an "illegal" apartment that was rented by the insured person??

Stu Dudley

katya3d

Our apartment was not in any way illegal that we know of.

We had to have an extensive contract signed and faxed back. It took quite a few back-and-forths.

The owner seemed more interested in making sure we were legit than in proving that she is. She owns 3 apartments in the same building that she rents.

Why would anyone assume this is illegal?

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20823

I just forgot to get travel insurance in case of last-minute emergency.

Airbnb is stricter in this area than VRBO or HomeAway.

indyhiker

Even if you'd purchased insurance, it likely wouldn't have covered your cancellation unless it included "a cancel for any reason" rider. It sounds like your back problems were a pre-existing condition and it doesn't appear that any of the strikes are guaranteed to threaten (rather than inconvenience) your trip.

And your rental is likely illegal. Your contract says nothing about the apartment's legality. You should do some reading (there are plenty of threads on Fodors' forums) about the status of short term rentals in Paris.

Even if you rent a legal short term rental, pay close attention to the cancellation policy and buy appropriate insurance.