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Upcoming trip to France next week - wondering what the situation on the ground is!

Upcoming trip to France next week - wondering what the situation on the ground is!

Old Mar 17th, 2023, 06:31 AM
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Upcoming trip to France next week - wondering what the situation on the ground is!

Hello everyone!

We are set to fly to Paris to celebrate a milestone birthday on March 22 (next Wednesday). With the protests happening in Paris, we are not sure if there are safety issues to consider. Can anyone in Paris help us by letting us know what the situation is looking like please?

Thank you!
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Old Mar 17th, 2023, 07:28 AM
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I leave tomorrow *Sat March 19) and was just about the post the same question. I also would like suggestions or ideas if situations occur how to get by with no local transportation other than taxis. So arrive at airport and no means to get to city center? Yikes!
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Old Mar 17th, 2023, 07:41 AM
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The news on CNN showing garbage and fires said massive strikes are planned for next Thursday, but there may be a vote of no confidence or retraction of the bill before then.
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Old Mar 17th, 2023, 03:07 PM
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Thanks both! Does anyone else have observations/ thoughts/ suggestions please?

@jan47ete, hope all goes well for you tomorrow - please keep us posted here if possible!
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Old Mar 17th, 2023, 08:13 PM
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The big question is whether our flight from Heathrow to Nice will actually take place.
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Old Mar 18th, 2023, 07:00 AM
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Underhill and jan47ete were you able to travel? Hope all of you are safe!!
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Old Mar 18th, 2023, 08:13 AM
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Not time yet.
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Old Mar 19th, 2023, 06:18 AM
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For what it's worth - I had shared back in January that our train from Barcelona to Montpellier was canceled because of the strike in France. It ended up being canceled for a second day, apparently because equipment and/or people weren't in place even after the one day strike ended. As a result, we spent an unexpected night in a hotel in Barcelona and then took a bus from Barcelona to Montpellier. I filed a claim with my travel insurance company for the cost of the hotel room, which was pretty pricey because of some huge convention that was going on in Barcelona that week. My insurance covered trip disruption because of labor activity, and I was reimbursed for the full cost of the hotel. The process of filing a claim online was very easy and the check arrived just weeks after I filed. The insurance company is Allianz.
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Old Mar 20th, 2023, 04:38 AM
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Bumping this thread up. We are a couple of days away from our flight and are wondering if we should cancel our trip. Our plan was to spend 5 days in Paris and then take the train to Amsterdam for 3 days. Are trains running? Another option, if the flights and trains are operational, is to fly into Paris and take the train to Amsterdam (without spending any time in Paris). Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Old Mar 20th, 2023, 12:53 PM
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You could break up the trip in Belgium. The Thalys to Brussels is only an hour from Gare du Nord. If trains won't be running, French strikes are pre-planned and they advise in advance if trains won't be running.

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Old Mar 20th, 2023, 12:57 PM
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https://www.sncf-connect.com/aide/in...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

Here is a page from the SNCF that talks about disruptions to services. I think the last is for 20 March. If you can't read it use Google Chrome (translation tool in the bar where you type in the address) or use Google Lens / Google Translate on your phone and hover it over the screen.


And here a site that talks about upcoming strikes:

https://www.cestlagreve.fr/greve-generale-23-mars-2023/

Lavandula

Last edited by lavandula; Mar 20th, 2023 at 01:06 PM.
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Old Mar 21st, 2023, 09:04 AM
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Beware also of the projected strike by security services at Heathrow, scheduled around Easter.

When and why did Easter become such a target for strikes? Maximum disruption?
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Old Mar 21st, 2023, 09:27 AM
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I am on a blogger's email address and she said the below:

In the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 17th, and 20th, public servants work with Syctom to collect refuse; in the other arrondissements, including mine, four private companies are responsible for garbage collection.

I take that to mean if your hotel is in the 1-3-4-7-10-11-13-15-18-19 you might not have as much garbage to deal with nearby. I have to wonder when Paris will deal with the backlog in the affected arrondissements.
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Old Mar 21st, 2023, 07:26 PM
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Thanks everyone for all the information and the suggestions. Seems like protests are still ongoing and likely to continue? Is it safe to walk around the city as a tourist?
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Old Mar 21st, 2023, 10:46 PM
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It does not look good in Paris.
Only time will tell if this is a longer term protest.
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