Traveling to France for women?

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WISE OWL

I am still laughing at Mustang's answer.....
"Taken " was a sick sensational film that was deliberately meant to shock and frighten. You can see what the critics thought of it:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/26/thriller.actionandadventure
In one word "Rubbish!".
Those tales of abduction, white slave trade, rape, sheiks and harems, etc... exist in all capitals and countries. My mum told me not to speak to anyone I did not know whilst travelling in the USA, and NEVER step into Central Park alone.
I am a woman and I have travelled safely on my own all over France ever since I was a teenager, without ever being importuned, molested , kidnapped etc... and it is not for the lack of good looks either. I have several daughters who have done the same, studied in French universities, and they have never had any misadventures of that kind. Yes, one of them had her bag cut from the leg of the chair on which she was sitting in Mc Donald's Art Nouveau restaurant in Paris, and I had a purse stolen in the underground, but the same thing can happen anywhere in the world where there are crowds and tourists to be preyed upon. Men are as often the target of pickpockets as women.

If you are walking in Paris on your own you may be accosted by various people in tourist hotspots who try to sell you a "gold "object, which is totally valueless. Just refuse with a firm "Non merci". It is a well known scam. Likewise the "Smell the bottle of perfume, which I am selling at bargain price". Ignore beggars and do not reach for the place where you keep money so as to show opportunists where it is.

Leave your valuables and important papers in the hotel safe whilst you are exploring and never take a lot of money with you. Keep your credit card in an inside pocket. If you must have a handbag, carry it to the front of you, not at the side, when you are in a crowd, in the subway, in a queue or in a touristy place and do not leave it on the back of a chair or on the floor in a public place.
There was a gang that made the headlines when they robbed people who travelled at night in a couchette on a train, but this has not happened recently.
Obviously do not wander at night in unknown or doubtful areas on your own. You do not want to be mistaken for a "lady of the night".

France is as safe as any other civilised country. When in large cities, just take the normal precautions you would take if you were in Chicago , San Francisco or New York, and do not encourage strangers or travel companions with too much familiarity. Do not engage people in conversation, and if you need directions do not pick just anyone. An elderly lady with her shoppping bag is obviously a local for instance. If there is a hotel on your path the porter will not know you are not a customer and will give directions, or ask a local shopkeeper who is familiar with the area. If you carry a map or a guide book, keep it out of sight so as not highlight the fact that you are a tourist and consult it discretely. In provinces there are less opportunists than in huge cities and in small towns there is no worry.
Remember there are thousands of single women of all ages living, working and travelling in France alone daily, and perfectly safely.
If you are a student, choose your friends carefully. Think of that poor English girl who was studying at the well known university of Perugia in Italy and who shared accomodation with an American girl who is now being on trial for aiding and abetting in her rape and murder. That was Italy but could happen in any university anywhere: just look at the shootings that have happened regularly in American universities of late. Wherever you go in life there is an element of danger and just stepping out of your front door may be a risk, but you have to take the chance otherwise you would never do anything.

la vita e bella

It's pretty safe, I backpacked through when I was 19 and never had a problem. If you're on your own just take precautions when you're out late at night (or try to avoid being out too late at night) stick to the more crowded areas, but it really is safe--since I backpacked through I've been back about 7 times and have never had a problem.

Sabine

Depends where you are. If in a big city, take normal big city precautions. Elsewhere, it's more relaxed. I've been to France a coupla dozen times and been fine. Do beware of pickpockets through.

Lyuda

make sure u have a great time thats all it needs....)))) good luck

Bec

metro stations that are probably best avoided at night include:
Chatelet-Les Halles
Chateau Rouge
Gare du Nord
Strasbourg St-Denis
Reaumur Sebastopol
Montparnasse Bienvenue

beware of picpockets and handbag theifs
places to be especially careful include: under the Eiffel Tower, in Montmatre (especially around Sacre Couer), Pigalle, the areas around Forum des Halles and Centre Pompidou, the Latin Quarter (especially the rectangle bounded by rue St-Jacques, bd St-Germain and quai St-Michel) and on the metro during rush hour

if you get unwanted male attention while walking down the street (rude comments, wolf-whisels etc) keep walking and do not speak unless necessary as a foreign accent may attract more unwanted attention

thats about it
hope this helps =)

mustangcrazy00

I am not try to scare you or anything like that, but...

did you ever see the moive 'Taken'? If you have not, go rent it and you will see. It is more so for younger women (under 25). But this is completely real.

Crime over there can get bad. And it gets complicated when it involves people who are citizens in other countries that come there.

I doubt it (like the movie) would ever happen to you, but just watch your back. Don't accept taxi rides, drink, food, or anything else from anyone. Watch out for pit-pockets, there are 1,000's of them over there and they making a living at what they do.

Other than that it is a fun place to vist, lol.

Good luck and stay safe :)

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