My sister, a friend and I (all females)will be traveling to Paris the last week in June. Our ages are 17, 18, and 20, respectively. We have traveled to europe before, but with our parents. This is a first for us. Safety is a major concern. What areas of Paris would be considered the safest to stay? What areas should we avoid? Any suggestions on safe, moderately priced hotels? Only one of us can speak any french - marginal, at that. Any help would be appreciated.

jeanette: <BR>Hi, relax. I was fortunate enough to live in Paris when I was a young woman (to mis-quote Hemingway), and never found it to be unsafe. I even had occasion to wander the streets late at night after the metro & busses stopped running; the streets remained alive. I remember waving and exchanging greetings with the milkmen and with a group of men warming themselves over a fire. I'll ammend that I was not really "wandering," but walked steadily and with a purpose. Anyway, the streets were safe. I would, however, caution you not to follow strangers into a strange building (duh?) or allow strangers to mix you a drink (duh again?). But the public spaces are all ok. <BR> <BR>Sorry I can't be more helpful with specific recommendations; all my tips are a few decades (!!) old. <BR> <BR>s.

Perhaps I am reacting too much like a parent, grand parent even, but I would not like the idea of three daughters of mine wandering the Montmartre area at night. I also think it prudent to keep out the Les Halles metro station area at night. <BR>This may be too protective a stance, but it is my reaction. I think some other folks will have some ideas.

I agree with Bob, times have changed all over the world and unfortunately it is not as safe as it once was in most cities. However, I don't imagine you'd just be wandering aimlessly in the middle of the night. If you have been to see a show or eaten out there would probably be lots of others about too. The Quartier Latin is pretty much thronging with people well into the wee hours. Not just tourists, but students, so lots of people in your age group.

I'd definitely recommend the Latin Quarter(5th or 6th arr.) or the Marais (4th arr.) as safe, lively, atmospheric areas with plenty of moderately priced accommodations. Do a search on this site for "Paris hotels" and you'll get lots of good information.

First of all there are 3 of you - there is safety in numbers! Seriously, just use common sense and keep your wits about you just as you would in any city anyplace in the U.S. If an area/place does not look "right" to you stay away from it. When in doubt, don't if you know what I mean. As for speaking French, nearly everyone in Paris speaks some English and most of the people in hotels, etc. do as well so you will not have a problem there. You might practice a few common phrases - it never hurts to at least say "merci". Get yourselves a good street map and Metro map and you should be fine. Considering your age the Latin Quarter area probably would be best to stay in, it's loaded with students. As in any major city I would not roam the streets during the wee hours of the morning so just let common sense prevail and I'm sure you will have a good time.

I'd suggest you stay in the 5th through 7th arr for convenience and safety, maybe parts of the 4th. I wouldn't recommend you stay in the 10th-12th or 18th-20th, nor 13th or 15th. Some of these for safety reasons (ie, 10th-11th) as there are rougher parts which you wouldn't know as a visitor, so I'd just recommend you not stay there, it's easier. Others are just less central and not as interesting for visitors, or have poorer public transportation (ie, parts of the 15th, 13th, etc). You'll find plenty of moderate hotel choices in the 5th, I'd go with the consensus and just look for a hotel there; hotels tend to be a little cheaper there than in the 6th. Also, I've been around Paris in the middle of the night after the metro stops running, and wouldn't say that's a perfectly safe and risk-free thing to do anywhere, even in the 5th, as you tend to get certain kinds of people (eg, young hooligans) roaming about in the middle of the night who may be up to no good or just be punks; I wouldn't characterize the streets as being lively at 3 am in very many places in all of Paris, either, only in very central business/nightlife areas. Personally, I'd avoid staying out past the time the metro stops running as nighttime buses are few and far-between and it's more work to learn their schedule, unless you're within walking distance of your hotel. Although some tourists seem to like the Marais, personally, I find a lot of that area as rather boring and/or pretentiously hip and expensive, and wouldn't recommend that as a top choice for someone your age. Go with the 5th -- good, budget, choices -- actually, if you search Fodor's miniguide for budget hotel selections in the 5th, they have several pretty good choices, as I recall. Here are several good two-star hotel choices off the top of my head in the Latin Qtr (5th arr): the Familia, Home Latin, Sorbonne and Cluny Sorbonne (both next to each other on rue Victor Cousin, a great location just behind Sorbonne square), the College de France, Hotel des Mines, Hotel Minerves, the Jardins du Luxembourg, and Grand Hotel St-Michel on rue Cujas. Personally, the Familia is a little more out of the way for my taste, I'd prefer the others, as is the Hotel des Grandes Ecoles which is also a good deal in the 5th.

General rule but there are exceptions (and use common sense): the further out you go from the river, the dicier it gets; the 5th and 6th arrondissements are at the river, very active (people live here, work here, eat here, party at night here) and pretty safe. Bob's right about Les Halles and Montmartre - no wandering, no subways at night. If you are going to a cabaret or show, getting there by metro is fine; coming home, get a cab. <BR> <BR>If you are going to go drinking, have a designated walker. Yup, one of you drinks coca-cola all night so you all get back to your hotel safely. <BR> <BR>If you've hung out together, then you probably have established "rules"; if not, then sit down and decide things like going to parties if you're invited by strangers, letting somebody buy you drinks, etc. This is serious stuff... nothing can ruin a trip/relationship faster than 2 girls saying "oh c'mon let's go with these guys" and the third girl saying "no you go ahead; I'll take a cab home" and then crying herself to sleep. Talk it all out ahead... <BR> <BR>Decide how you want to pay for things: split everything evenly? each pay her share? we use a kitty - we each put in the same amount (usually before we head out for the day), then one of us holds it and pays for everything from the kitty (there's no scrambling for change, "all I have is 100ff note", etc.). <BR> <BR>If you haven't traveled or slept over together, then discuss things like who gets the bathroom first, window open or closed?, who snores?, etc. You don't have to make a formal list or anything, just get together and talk. <BR> <BR>Make a rule: NO WHINING. Have it understood that it's ok to speak up if you have a complaint/concern and the three of you will work it out. Keeping quiet and stewing solves nothing and creates an unpleasant situation. <BR> <BR>A threesome can get unpleasant if it becomes 2 and 1: be aware if you're huddling with one girl, leaving the other one out. Make it an equilateral triangle. <BR> <BR>Keep your sense of humor; bring extra socks; SHARE SHARE SHARE; keep journals; take lots of pictures. <BR> <BR>A hotel we use (right at the St Michel RER stop) is the Delhy on rue Hirondelle. About $40 per person, cheaper in a triple and off-season. <BR> <BR>

As usual, Elvira is right on target. <BR>Me, I guess I have been married too long to the same person. I never think about those things!! But, I have the world's best traveling companion!! Whether going to the Opera de la Bastille, attending a formal banquet, scrambling up an Alp or slogging through a sleet storm at 9,000 feet, I diligently follow in good humour!!

Just a thought. Have you considered a Contiki Tour...www.contiki.com Our daughter who is older than the three of you, went to Australia and Europe and love them. Not too restrictive, but all your arrangements are made for you. Check it out.

I agree with the other "posters" - use basic common sense; after all, you are in a major metropolitan city, just like Chicago, New York, etc. Trust your gut - if it doens't feel right, don't do it. As a single woman who's spent quite a bit of time in Paris in the last five years, I can say that there is safety in numbers - try to stay together and keep your wits about you (i.e. don't drink too much). One thing I can tell you to be aware of is: French men LOVE hitting on women in cafes and following them down the street, especially if you're alone and/or they think you're a tourist, i.e. don't look French. I think it's the male's favorite pastime in Paris! At times it can be flattering, other times irritating, sometimes a bit frightening., although basically I think they're pretty harmless. Best line of defense: don't blatantly look like a tourist (good advice in any city) - check out your map disceetly, etc, and learn a phrase or two to dissuade unwanted advances, i.e. "We're waiting for our fiancees," or "I'm in a hurry, please stop bothering me..." All in all, Paris is a relatively safe city and I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun!

You all are posting excellant advice that I certainly support. But all I can think is CAN I GO TOO? Or more importantly, can I be 20 again and go too? Follow everyone's advice, make yourselves some memories, and have a blast for all the over-40 married women who remember the wonder and freedom of being 20 and hanging out with a bunch of girlfriends! (Being married and 40 is wonderful too, don't worry!)