It looks like I'll be taking my first trip to Paris alone : (
I truly have mixed feelings and feeling maybe I should wait for a travel companion. Have been researching where to stay and what to see and am feeling it won't be much fun to do alone. Also, I would need to budget travel and am afraid if I go alone I won't venture out much for fear of getting lost. I have longed to see Paris forever and having recently retired feel this is my time. I have read about others who have done it alone and was getting pumped up to go but now I am getting cold feet. Any suggestions for this chicken?

Only you know how important company is to you, but in terms of the practicalities, you needn't worry too much. Getting lost is unlikely to be an issue.

Find a hotel with a helpful front desk - there are plenty of suggestions here.

There are plenty of local tours if you prefer the safety of a group, and hop-on hop-off buses to help you orientate yourself.

Even if you haven't got a comprehensive guidebook, you can get plenty of varieties of map locally; every Metro station has maps of the surrounding streets; most bus stops have maps and route plans. If in doubt, retreat to a café for a drink, a sit-down and a consultation of the map. Don't forget, a "Bonjour" and "S'il vous plait" go a long way toward breaking the ice of asking for help from a local.

If in doubt, head for a main road and look for a traffic intersection - if it doesn't have a metro station, there'll probably be a bus stop nearby, and if there isn't a bus stop there will be a café.

My guess is, within the first day or so you'll be wondering why you ever worried....

http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php?langue=en

Many people here travel solo, and Paris is one of the cities that is especially conducive to this.

Travelling solo gives you the flexibility to apln your trip...for you. You can see what you want, at your pace. If you want to stop for a cafe creme at the local cafe, you can. Want to just wander one day, you can. See a particular museum...

Paris ia a great walking city. There is so much to see just wandering down little streets (cobblestone in some cases), small shops, tiny restaurants...as well as grand boulevards and fantastic architecture.

The Metro is..everywhere. If can undertand it, and it is not that complicated, you can get anywhere, and get back from anywhere. I carry with me a map, and use the Metro to start and end my day.

Eating? Do not worry, At first, I worried about eating alone. Until I saw that lots of people did. From the little old lady upstairs from the restaurant, to the business man starting his day with a coffee at his local cafe, it's very common. I bring a journal, or a guidebook to keep me occupied, but often there is enough to see around me that I never get to them.

English...if you just use a bit of basic french (hello, goodbye, thank you), the rest will happen in English. We'll even help with a menu translator.

Go...please go. If it is your dream, you must. It's a beautiful place that will stay with you.

We will help you pick a hotel, set up an itinerary, give you some restaurants, some cultural tips, what museums to see, where to walk,how to get around, some books to read beforehand,etc..

You could even plan around being there when other Fodorites are going.

So...when are you going? Make the committment today!!!!

You might want to look at http://www.ourparisforum.com

We are an international group who all love Paris and quite a few of the members travel solo. Always lots of good advice available

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement, I will definitely do it!

If you carry a card with the name and addresss of your hotel, you can always take a taxi, show the driver the card, and be back quickly if you start to feel lost or overwhelmed.

Michel_Paris

Thank you so much for your kindness! I plan to go in mid to late November, don't have my air fare yet because I am undecided as to air & package, finding an apart etc. As I stated, am definitely on a budget,was looking to stay in the Latin Quarters but may be too expensive. I would truly appreciate any and all assistance you offer. I will flying out from Washington Dulles Airport and my time I'd very flexible... Thanks again!

My time is very flexible ( spellcheck on Iphone often takes over) lol

<< I won't venture out much for fear of getting lost >>

What's so bad about being lost? I get lost all the time!

First, you'll see things you never planned to see - an added bonus.

Second, you'll find your way back to wherever you want to go.

Third, you say you're retired which means you're of a certain age. Have you never been lost in your life? You probably have been lost and yet, here you are, back home at your computer - you found your way.

Forth, nobody dies from being lost.

You should read my Czech Rep trip report, driving solo, where I was lost daily (or several times daily) and survived and had fun and saw some great things!

Don't let fear of the unknown stop you from your dreams.

I travelled for 6 weeks one time by myself through Germany, Yugoslavia and Greece. On one leg of the trip I met some English schoolteachers who were also on their way to Greece, and we joined up later. As someone said, only you can decide how important it is to have someone along to share the trip. In some ways, I enjoy being alone. In others maybe not. I would not let it stand in my way IF I really wanted to do the trip. I think Paris is very safe. Just as ANYwhere, including my southern home town, just be aware of your surroundings and be alert.

An amusing story - when I went to Portugal last year I memorized three phrases before I left and some Portuguese folks at the airport gate before boarding helped me pronounce the most important phrase - estoy perdida - I AM LOST. They laughed at me and asked if I really expected to use this phrase and I assured them that it would be very helpful. Other than "good day," this was the phrase I used the most. I build extra time into the itinerary for getting lost! LOL

Thanks again to all for your encouraging responses.

adrienne, your first post made me smile and see how silly I was being.

Michle_Paris, I certainly will take you up on your offer to help me with my itinerary.

LOOK OUT PARIS HERE I COME. I AM EXCITED!!!

I definitely want to see all the major tourists sites but am very interested in thrift shopping for clothing. Locating flea markets, thrift stores, consignment shops, etc would be a plus. I read somewhere about under ground shopping???

I think I meant under rail???

I don't know what you mean by "under rail," but the only underground shopping I can think of in Paris is the Forum des Halles, which isn't at all bargain shopping. Far from it.

Designer depots, which is what consignment shops are called in Paris, include:

Griff-Troc, 119 Boul. Malesherbes in the 17ème
Priscilla, 4 rue Mouton-Duvernet in the 14ème
Le Jupon Rouge, 9 rue de Rochechouat in the 9ème.

Don't expect the kind of bargains you'd find in the USA. At all.

The flea markets at St-Ouen, Porte de Vanves, and Porte de Montreuil are OK, but I've never found a real bargain there, either, compared to what I can find at a brocante in the countryside. It's worth a trip just for the atmosphere, though.

Generally speaking, nothing you'll find in Paris will be anything like the kind of bargains you can find in the USA at Goodwills and thrift and consignment stores, in my experience.

StCirq thanks for the heads up and locations. I would still enjoy looking.

Another idea...fly into London, then take the Eurostar train to Paris. Fly home out of Paris. Going into London, you land in a place that is not totally different from home. You get your Europe "legs", get over jet lag, then on to Paris.

Shopping is not my forte. I know that the market at St Ouen/Cligancourt is well know and large.Been once, as a rookie. Now, I'd go with a map.

Hi Chyonijp,
I'm very excited for you! You will have a fabulous time.

If you want to stay in an apt, this company has a very good reputation http://www.parisbestlodge.com/ Thierry is very helpful and responds very quickly to emails. Unfortunately when we were in Paris last August they were out of town so we could not rent from them. Very disappointing.

We really enjoy apt rentals as it gives you your own space to come back to at the end of the day. Fixing a few of your own meals is also kind of fun...shopping for food in the local markets is interesting.

Have a great time. And remember, the Fodorites are right here to help you through your times of uncertainty.

Hi, Chyonijp!

You can totally do this and Paris is really the place to do it. I noticed you said that you have an iPhone.

A couple of hints - If you're on a budget, call AT&T and have them walk you through how to turn OFF international roaming and only have on wi-fi. There's a special way to do it and I can't remember the steps.

Also, there is a RATP tube/rail station map for iPhone with major streets on it if you search for RATP Official Map. Also, there was a free French/English trnaslator on iPhone that I found.

Check hotels that you particularly like for location and call to see if they have a single room. They sometimes do not advertise these and offer them at a reduced rate. Try the Hotel Du College, the Hotel Minerve, or it's less expensive sister next door, the Hotel du Familia. These are tourist class hotels, but the locations are very good. There's another one with some very ugly but very clean rooms called the Hotel le Home Latin. My parents used to stay there for its proximity until they found the Hotel du College.

Michel may have more/better recommendations. These are just some we've stayed in when on a budget over the years. I have other suggestions in other parts of Paris.

I would consider a flat or apartment if I were going to be there for any length of time, but you will have to be a little more independent to do that. You might enjoy having a front desk and concierge for suggestions.

We've done the London to Paris via the channel tunnel and it was easy. You can do it!

Don't discount still seeking a travel partner. One just might turn up!

Oh - and one more thing... traveling alone can be such a joy! You can read every sign in the museum you want, spend three days wandering about the Louvre, linger over that last bite of omelette, sit for too long in Notre Dame, stand in front of the Hediard store wondering who drinks all of that and how much can you bring home? If you buy an organic bottle of bordeau in the Marais and keep it in your room, you'll know that when you return later, no one else will have had the last glass. No one will suggest it's time to turn off the light when you finally get to page 17 of Moliere. Flirt with the waiters with no shame because there's no one to judge you. Wear that scarf that's so out of character. Buy that handbag that you deserve.

Really. You can do it!!

Thanks again to all for the great advice and encouragement.

Michel_Paris, I read taking that route through RyanAir would be much cheaper, is that your logic as well?

Michele_d, thanks, checked Thierry's place out on yesterday and it's not in my budget : (
It is lovely, though.

mom23 rugrats, I think you are right about the need for front desk assistance and that I should probably stay in hotel for interaction with others. Thanks for the AT&T tips, hotels and the hopes of a travel companion possibly turning up.

I have been researching, researching, and am becoming as ovewhelmed as I am excited. But, I know things will fall into place. I am so excited and tickled.

Should I purchase Museum and train passes, if so where?