France train strike December 5, 2019
Nov 29th, 2019, 06:46 PM
#1
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France train strike December 5, 2019
Arriving in Paris Dec 4
We are a couple in our 70's - have been to Paris multiple times - the main purpose of this trip is to see the Christmas decorations
Concerned about walking if metro or other means of transportation are not available - one of us has a prosthetic leg which does limit how far we can walk
Read online that bikes and scooters might be an answer but those will not work for us
Any suggestions - should we postpone our trip ?
Thanks
We are a couple in our 70's - have been to Paris multiple times - the main purpose of this trip is to see the Christmas decorations
Concerned about walking if metro or other means of transportation are not available - one of us has a prosthetic leg which does limit how far we can walk
Read online that bikes and scooters might be an answer but those will not work for us
Any suggestions - should we postpone our trip ?
Thanks
Nov 30th, 2019, 09:46 AM
#2
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I think it’s hard to say. If you’ve been before then you likely know where your lodging is, and whether it would be doable without transit.
One option would be to change your lodging. Stay very near where you want to spend most of your time.
but you know yourselves, and you know Paris. Will the lack of transit put a real crimp in your plans or be exceptionally frustrating?
One option would be to change your lodging. Stay very near where you want to spend most of your time.
but you know yourselves, and you know Paris. Will the lack of transit put a real crimp in your plans or be exceptionally frustrating?
Nov 30th, 2019, 03:50 PM
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I think it’s hard to say. If you’ve been before then you likely know where your lodging is, and whether it would be doable without transit.
One option would be to change your lodging. Stay very near where you want to spend most of your time.
but you know yourselves, and you know Paris. Will the lack of transit put a real crimp in your plans or be exceptionally frustrating?
One option would be to change your lodging. Stay very near where you want to spend most of your time.
but you know yourselves, and you know Paris. Will the lack of transit put a real crimp in your plans or be exceptionally frustrating?
Now we have a new problem - my sweet husband has developed sharp pain in a lower molar. Dentist started him on antibiotics and wants to see him first thing Monday morning do "possibly" doing a root canal.
Here is my concern. Dentist thinks the procedure can be completed in one visit - my husband can continue on antibiotics and pain killer and we can STILL make the trip to Paris on Tuesday .
Help- is the dentist being overly optimistic ? I told the dentist we have trip insurance but he seems reluctant to get involved . If the dentist does not write a note , insurance will not process our claim .
Any one have any experience trying to cancel a trip and file insurance claim ?
Should we cancel flight and hotel now or wait and see how the dental work goes?
I do not like being in limbo as you can imagine
Dec 1st, 2019, 04:14 AM
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There are excellent dentists in France, should you need one, and their services will cost you a fraction of what you'd pay in the USA.
I doubt that the taxis G7 will be striking, but if they are use Uber.
I doubt that the taxis G7 will be striking, but if they are use Uber.
Dec 1st, 2019, 05:16 AM
#8
My husband is having an epidural in his back right before our trip to Germany as his Doctor is trying everything before surgery. He is the best in central Fl. He takes care of the Magic players. He told him if any problems go see a Doctor there as they are some of the best in Germany, not a third world country and Paris is the same. Stop worrying.
Dec 1st, 2019, 07:19 AM
#9
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Last December, I developed a serious tooth infection during our four-week Paris trip. I was treated by this dentist: https://dr-benichou-bernard.chirurgiens-dentistes.fr/
I was able to get a next-day appointment. The drugs (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and painkiller) took care of the infection until I was able to see my regular dentist back in Basel.
FWIW, I booked a car service for my trips to/from CDG last month. More expensive than regular cabs, but it added only a very small amount to the total trip cost, so I opted for convenience.
I was able to get a next-day appointment. The drugs (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and painkiller) took care of the infection until I was able to see my regular dentist back in Basel.
FWIW, I booked a car service for my trips to/from CDG last month. More expensive than regular cabs, but it added only a very small amount to the total trip cost, so I opted for convenience.
Dec 1st, 2019, 05:40 PM
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I don't think this is the time for any tourist to visit Paris. I was set to arrive with my daughter on December 5th and we decided to postpone our trip. No matter how fit to walk anyone is, the disruptions with street demonstrations and not being able to move around are just not worth the hassle. Waste of money. Taxis and Uber are going to be hard to find, and who knows how expensive it will be if everyone is trying to catch a ride. I wouldn't waste my money.
Dec 1st, 2019, 05:50 PM
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Under normal circumstances, I would agree Uber is convenient. But I wouldn't count on it considering the strike situation. Everyone in Paris will be trying to catch a ride. Be prepared to wait a long time IF you can get a ride, and it will cost you much more than you are used to. It won't be pretty in Paris for the next couple of weeks.
Dec 2nd, 2019, 03:49 AM
#13
With the aging population, there are now dozens of walk-in dental clinics in Paris. One of the larger chains is Dentego -- https://dentego.fr/
As for Uber, if you plan to use it during the strike, I hope you have deep pockets. During the last strike the surge pricing was as high as 400%.
As for Uber, if you plan to use it during the strike, I hope you have deep pockets. During the last strike the surge pricing was as high as 400%.
Dec 2nd, 2019, 06:05 AM
#14
TravelParis, I started to develop a tooth abscess the first day of a trip to Scotland. I had antibiotics with me and they took the ache away until I got home. I was concerned about cabin pressure flying home causing trouble, but no problem.
If your DH has the first visit to drain the tooth, antibiotics should be just fine. I have a mouthful of root canals, and have never had any issues whatsoever after the first appointment. A bit of tenderness maybe depending on where the tooth is and how many canals. I would try not to worry about that, especially since you have received great info from WeisserTee and Kerouac and will be armed with antibiotics.
So, no, I don’t think your dentist is being overly optimistic at all. Good luck to you!
If your DH has the first visit to drain the tooth, antibiotics should be just fine. I have a mouthful of root canals, and have never had any issues whatsoever after the first appointment. A bit of tenderness maybe depending on where the tooth is and how many canals. I would try not to worry about that, especially since you have received great info from WeisserTee and Kerouac and will be armed with antibiotics.
So, no, I don’t think your dentist is being overly optimistic at all. Good luck to you!
Dec 2nd, 2019, 08:56 AM
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I've had a couple root canals and extractions and none of them took more than an hour or two, I would think it could certainly be done in one day with no problem. Now of course there is follow up work for getting a crown or whatever, but the root canal itself generally only takes one session. I think the problem is that they can't often tell until doing the procedure if you have the problems that would cause two sessions, would be if the infection was so bad that they needed to pack it with medication and then wait to seal the tooth (a week or so? after that is cleared up), versus sealing it at the same session. I think some other endodontists also don't pack the tooth during the first session. I had one root canal that failed, it does happen, but I didn't know that right away. Meaning that even though there was a root canal and it was cleaned out, the infection returned. You'd think there would be nothing left to be infected, but my endodontist said this is rare but can happen, then they needed to drill a hole through the top side of the tooth or something and try to inject antibiotic again? Luckily that worked.
Personally, having had a lot of teeth problems (extractions, root canal, implant) and would never in a million years let a dentist do that kind of work, I only go to a specialist. My dentists have always referred me, also, none of the two I've had in the last 20 years suggested they would do this kind of surgery, which is a real specialty..
Your dentist probably just doesn't want to get involved for a couple reasons. One, it's just work for him/her, so what's in it for them? But at this point, the dentist has no idea what is going to happen anyway (regardless of what they say), so they couldn't write an excuse at this time. No one is going to write an excuse saying you cannot travel due to this if, in fact, it turns out to be a simple one visit procedure.
Personally, this isn't a great time to go to Paris, as far as I'm concerned due to the strikes and in your condition, it may be difficult to get a taxi due to demand. I don't know what money you have invested, if nothing much (you didn't prepay a hotel, did you?), I'd probably cancel if it were me given both the situation over there and this dental issue. I did cancel a trip to Paris at end of October, you can always apply the value of the air fare to another ticket with a change fee, that's what I did. And you don't have to do it at the same time, at least on United, you basically bank the money and can use it for a year. I get TV5Monde in the US and watch the French news almost every night, they are full of stories about this transport strike, a lot of French people are having problems figuring out what to do, also. In some cases, people have already told their employers they won't be able to get to work.
I don't know what kind of insurance you have, but it's obviously not cancel for any reason so right now I don't think you have any grounds to make a claim.
Personally, having had a lot of teeth problems (extractions, root canal, implant) and would never in a million years let a dentist do that kind of work, I only go to a specialist. My dentists have always referred me, also, none of the two I've had in the last 20 years suggested they would do this kind of surgery, which is a real specialty..
Your dentist probably just doesn't want to get involved for a couple reasons. One, it's just work for him/her, so what's in it for them? But at this point, the dentist has no idea what is going to happen anyway (regardless of what they say), so they couldn't write an excuse at this time. No one is going to write an excuse saying you cannot travel due to this if, in fact, it turns out to be a simple one visit procedure.
Personally, this isn't a great time to go to Paris, as far as I'm concerned due to the strikes and in your condition, it may be difficult to get a taxi due to demand. I don't know what money you have invested, if nothing much (you didn't prepay a hotel, did you?), I'd probably cancel if it were me given both the situation over there and this dental issue. I did cancel a trip to Paris at end of October, you can always apply the value of the air fare to another ticket with a change fee, that's what I did. And you don't have to do it at the same time, at least on United, you basically bank the money and can use it for a year. I get TV5Monde in the US and watch the French news almost every night, they are full of stories about this transport strike, a lot of French people are having problems figuring out what to do, also. In some cases, people have already told their employers they won't be able to get to work.
I don't know what kind of insurance you have, but it's obviously not cancel for any reason so right now I don't think you have any grounds to make a claim.
Dec 2nd, 2019, 01:15 PM
#16
Well I'm more worried about traveling internationally with a bad tooth than facing a transit strike, but I seem to be alone in that opinion. Of course there are good dentists in Paris, but is that what you really want to be doing on your vacation?
Dec 2nd, 2019, 04:53 PM
#17
If the op is staying central it isn't really that big of a problem. We were there during the yellow vest protest before and managed to get around all the hoopla and so enjoyed exploring our neighbourhood. I only felt bad for my sister in law who didn't get to go to the Opera and she was staying right in the thick of it the week before us. lots of police and sirens but we were ok. I wouldn't let it stop me.
Dec 3rd, 2019, 05:39 AM
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No, of course visiting a Parisian dentist isn't going to be a fun part of a visit to the City of Light, but frankly it might be more interesting than dealing with a transit strike. In my fairly vast experience, French doctors are pretty amazing. Trip reports would be so much more interesting if they involved doctor visits instead of eating French pastries.
I would not want to be in Paris this week, but I imagine it will be manageable.
I would not want to be in Paris this week, but I imagine it will be manageable.
Dec 12th, 2019, 03:10 PM
#20
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Dentist would not allow my husband to fly after the root canal
Never canceled a trip before - takes some work to notify family and friends, post office, newspapers, etc. while caring for my sweetheart
Happy to report we are getting ready for Christmas but not in Paris as we dreamed
Never canceled a trip before - takes some work to notify family and friends, post office, newspapers, etc. while caring for my sweetheart
Happy to report we are getting ready for Christmas but not in Paris as we dreamed
