I sadly do not have the words to tell you all how much I am enjoying this thread.

I have loved Paris since I was a little girl. I did not get to see it until I was 43. It was even better than I had imagined. During that trip, I vowed to see Paris once a year for the rest of my life. My husband likes Paris well enough, but he has no desire to see Paris once a year for the rest of his life (which I hope, will be the same length as mine). So, I sometimes will go with him, I sometimes will go without him.

I am headed to Paris this year with my husband and my two teenage children to celebrate my 50th birthday. Next year I will go to Paris for a month to study tbe French language. My husband will join me for part of the time, and part of the time I will be by myself. I am looking forward to both parts of my month.

Paris is wonderful to visit with friends. Paris is wonderful to visit with family. Paris is wonderful to visit when you are by yourself. Go. Enjoy.

<<My first thought was to immediately go over to the Eiffel tower and pinch myself but now I'm thinking after an overnight flight I may be overly ambitious.>>

I agree with others to leave the tower for the next day. Explore your neighborhood that afternoon, window shop, sit in a garden, find a restaurant or cafe and have lunch and take it easy. Believe me, you'll know you're in Paris.

If your flight arrives on time at 1:00, I think it's more likely to be an hour and half or two hours before you get to the center. A lot of planes land on the tarmac and bus passengers to the terminal, then you have to go through immigration and get your luggage ... then you're good to go.

eliza~ Everyone's different with a long flight and time change. For me, I like to check in to my hotel, have a glass of wine, take a nap for a couple hours, then get up and walk around the immediate neighborhood until dinnertime. Have a nice meal. Then try to go to bed at a normal time (on local time).

Eliza61: I'm glad that you're taking off to Paris on your solo adventure. You'll have a great time. I've already thrown in my 2 cents worth earlier in this thread.

I've been vacationing, in Paris, 1-2 times a year, almost annually since either 1975 or 1976 and love doing it solo. However, on this upcoming trip, a best, male friend of mine will meet me there. But, we'll be fine as we have the same interests. Plus, although he'll be staying with me at my rented apartment in the 6th, we'll have our separate space. He once studied in Paris and has also been back years after completing his studies. Also, he's very independent.

Too bad we'll be there at different times or else we could have possibly GTG'ed it. I'll be there before you though.

Have a great trip and I look forward to reading your trip report. Happy Travel!

I went to paris alone last summer and it was fantastic. I did what i wanted to do when i wanted to do it. Its great not having to listen to people whining and complaining about everything!! Go and have a great time!!!

i love traveling solo. Coming back from Lourdes to Paris, I shared a cab with 2 sisters who were from the phillipines, and they invited me to lunch at their hotel once we were back in Paris. One of them wanted to go sightseeing, and the other one did not. So once we had lunch, me and one of the women went out sightseeing and she was so grateful that she met me, because she did not know the metro system. It was nice to have company for part of my trip.

pdeb69- I think meeting interesting people is one of the benefits of solo travel!

In the past I have been to Paris once with my daughter and once alone. My daughter is an excellent travel companion and we had a lovely time. At the time, I found an amazing cheap deal for our flights, and hubs was not able to take off work at the necessary time frame. I did have to compromise a bit, as daughter was then only 11 years old, so the Moulin Rouge was out. Personally, I saw it as an excuse to return later, so was grateful. I waited 30 years to see Paris, something I had longed to do since I was 4 years old because my aunt had shown me pictures and told wonderful stories when she took French and went with her high school group.

I returned a year later solo because I again found an amazingly cheap flight and hubs was unable to take off work. I again enjoyed an amazing visit. For myself, I enjoy company and love my family, but I am not going to predicate all the joys in my life on having someone with me. I was raised to believe only she who can enjoy her own company is fit company to be with.

As many have mentioned, there are many ways to enjoy the company of other people while traveling, if you desire. Some that I have enjoyed were get together meet ups with groups from Fodors and other travel boards. Day tour groupings and cooking schools would give you people to eat with on occasion. Arranging to have lunch, tea, or coffee with local bloggers might also give you company in the cafes. In Paris, the American Library has all sorts of activities you might join, and the added benefit that you might meet an expat happy to regale you with all sorts of great information on local sights and activities in return for hearing a voice from home. They have their schedule on their website at http://www.americanlibraryinparis.org/ and some are completely free, others would require a very inexpensive short term membership. I attended an author's talk there on my solo trip and ended up dining with the author and a small group after.

I wish I were not on my laptop on a business trip, at home I have bookmarks that would allow me to give more exact information, but there are also several various online persons who host salons in their home where they accept email reservations and everyone gathers to nibble, drink, and chat. Sorry, I don't have a current list, but I am sure other Foderites can help or you can find them via search. There is also a Francophile group that has schools in cities in the US and also a school in Paris. They have regular gatherings at the Paris school where you pay a small fee to cover the food and can gather with travelers and expats to chat, perhaps also improving your French as well.

For myself, I loved my solo visit to Paris. I did visit the American Library, one of the salons, and had a wonderful brunch with a favorite blogger during my ten day stay. I had a great time enjoying Paris exactly to my own whims, but I do look forward to visiting again with my dear husband. Hubby enjoys a much more laid back, relaxed visit, whereas I was so enthralled with Paris I wanted to scurry and see everything, go everywhere. I think we will both be much happier with our trip this next year than we would have been had we tried to go together those first times. Besides, my desire to see Paris with the man I love gives me an excellent excuse to visit again, so aren't I the sly boots?

I really am glad I found this forum! I have been saving my money for 3 years now for a first trip to Paris. I have been hesitent about going cause I cannot find anyone to go with me. Hubby has no intention of ever getting on a plane and most of my friends would not choose Paris as a destination, but I have dreamed of going since I was a teenager. Thanks to all of you who have really made me believe that I can do it myself! I think I may take the leap and do it next year. It would be a great 47th birthday gift to myself.

Hi Lori,
Op here. I've got 16 more days to go. Soooo excited and yes I'll be there by myself for 5 days. One girlfriend is going to meet me there. The members here were awesome and I've got a lot of good information on here. I'll post a trip report.

I am really glad to find this thread too! I will be in Paris on Thursday for a week... I'm traveling on the same plane as relatives, but they are staying in the 15th and I'm in the 6th. This is my 4th trip to Paris but I still wasnt' comfortable traveling completely by myself. I think this is the best deal for my first time solo: having someone there if I need them, but not having to see them for a week if I don't want to

It's great to see a thread with so many comments saying Paris is a great city to see solo, I'm more excited now!!

eliza61,
I can't wait to read your trip report!! I have only been overseas once about 11 years ago on a work trip to England. I loved it. I think I would be fine myself, I come from a small town in Wisconsin, but have been to Chicago many times. I just worry about the language, I plan on taking a French for travelers class and hope that will be okay. Enjoy your trip! So exciting!!

I have visited Paris alone several times over the past 20 years and it has never been a problem. I am from NYC and in my late 40's so being in a large city doesn't bother me. I get to choose where to eat, what to see and do without having to consult with anyone. I have even taken day trips on the TGV as far as Rennes for a change of pace; breakfast in Paris, lunch in Rennes..then dinner back in Paris.. Do not feel inhibited in any way if you end up going alone.. You stand a good chance of meeting other tourists and friendly Parisians who can offer suggestions to guide you should the need arise.

HI: Have fun on your trip. I am going solo on May25th and staying in the 1st. This will be
my 5th trip solo. I just love it. I will be taking day trips out of Paris by train and then after 10
days I will take the train to Strasbourg and then I am on to Munich by train. Have
fun!