help in Paris without an organized tour

Your hotel staff should be able to help you find medical care, law enforcement assistance, or things like that. Your embassy is another resource, and you can register with the US State Department's STEP program. Maybe other posters know of organizations like you describe, but I don't.

Thanks, Dick. I didn't know about the STEP program. I'll look into that.

Choose your travel medical insurance provider wisely. Many will offer assistance in a medical emergency, help you find an English speaking doctor,...

Thanks, Chicagoland. That's very reassuring.

Agree with Dick about the hotel staff. Stay at a hotel with a strong front desk/concierge presence by reading views on sites like TripAdvisor. Usually a hotel with pride in customer service can help with issues that may befall you. Although more and more I’m seeing rave reviews about customer service written by first-time reviewers, I pay attention to those reviewers who have a history of reviews…folks who know great service from mediocre especially in times of crisis. You can always float your choices on this forum to get feedback from travelers here.

We stayed at Hotel Monge in the Latin Quarter at the beginning of June and I cannot say enough great things about the staff. Our train tickets were cancelled due to the nationwide train strike on June 10, and I was frantically trying to rebook onto a regional train using the SNCF app. For some reason it wasn’t letting me select our seats or move forward with the reservation; meanwhile the few available seats were booking up really fast. Florian, who was staffing the desk in the evening, used my phone and made everything work. When I thanked him, pretty overwhelmed with relief, he said something like “You’re on vacation— your job is to relax and have fun. My job is to help you.”

BTW I highly recommend this hotel. Walking distance to many sights with a major metro line one block away. Beautiful rooms and spacious well equipped bathrooms. And absolutely wonderful staff!

Thanks, Helen and Ruth. Very helpful!

Also check your credit card, some offer travel emergency services (my Chase Visa does). My health insurance also has a travel assistance program. Both will assist finding services but you are liable for the full cost of whatever is needed (e.g. medical, etc.) Be sure you take the non-1-800 contact number with you as those don't work from overseas.

Since you are already experienced travelers, these suggestions may be redundant, but I offer them up anyway.

1. Carry backups. Carry back up credit and debit cards and split them between the two of you. Remember you should have more than one account so if one gets locked, the other is still valid.
2. Cross pack. Don’t have his and her checked luggage. Mix it up enough that if one bag didn’t make it through, the other has clothes for both of you.
3. Have working telephones. Wi-fi isn’t enough in a pinch or out on the street. Many international plans only charge you for the days you use your phone. I keep my line off (but availabile) and use an ESIM most of the time. There have been times where being able to activate the line has saved me in a situation and well worth the $12 I paid for that day.
4. Know what your insurance (regular health insurance, travel insurance, credit card) coverages are in advance and put the telephone number you would need to call to get any authorizations into your phone contacts in advance.
5. Make sure family or friends know your itinerary.
6. Manage your possessions carefully out on the street or in the metro. Money belts, neck pouches, cross body bags with locking zippers are some ways to reduce theft.

You are planning on Paris, not some remote location. There will be help available to you if you need it.

I knew Rick's Forum would have answers! Thanks, everyone.

Untours is an American company that offers an apartment and transportation, either a public transportation pass or a rental car, and airport transfers. There is an on-site person who will greet you at the airport, show you around the neighborhood, take you on an excursion later in your stay, and be very helpful in emergencies. We have used Untours many times over the years, but now that we are old we find the company especially valuable.

Thanks, LP. I will definitely look into this!