Single senior woman wants to tour Paris Christmas week.

Hi Barb and welcome to the forums -

First things first? You are sort of late to be trying to make arrangements for Paris this Christmas or finding a companion. Have you booked flights or hotels yet? Is there any reason why you must go to Paris this holiday season? Could you go later this year?

You also sound like you are very insecure about traveling to Paris by yourself. You do not need to worry about scams and pickpockets if you do some research in advance and take the easy precautions but, well, you want to travel very soon so you'd need to do a lot of reading quickly! You'd also need to research and book your accommodations, if you've not yet done so.

Reading menus: this is where a good guidebook with a translation section comes in. Alternately, if you have a phone, ipad or other device that works abroad, you can use online translation tools, like google translate, if you can access the Internet.

Jet lag is the least of your worries. If you're tired, then get to your hotel and either take a nap or do something outside to stay awake until the normal bedtime hour. That's what we do. Not all of us experience lag extreme enough to be an issue, and if you try to adjust to local time as quickly as possible, it shouldn't bother you beyond arrival day.

Based on what I've been able to sense from your post? You are a good candidate for an organized tour. Traveling with a group and an experienced leader would provide the extra support and security that I think you are looking for. Rick's week-long Paris tour for the Christmas season looks to currently be waitlist only - meaning there are no openings unless someone cancels - but if you were willing to go later in the year then you could sign on for a different week these tours are offered. Take a look?

2020 dates:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/france/paris

2019 waitlist:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/france/paris-2019

I’d agree with Kathy that you might enjoy a Rick Steves Best of Paris tour. I did this tour several years ago and gained so much confidence from my guide. One of the things the RS guides do is teach tour members how to manage local transportation as well as restaurants etc.

It looks like everything is wait-listed the rest of the year, though!

By the way, you’ll have no problem finding vegetarian or fish meals in Paris. I’m vegan and do OK. Rick sells a small phrase book which is handy.

I don’t have cell service in Europe but I am able to access wifi from my hotel (or museums and restaurants) on my phone.

Happycow dot org is a website that has been listing vegan and vegetarian resraurants and stores in most global cities for years. It might help you find restaurant choices though most restaurants should offer something, The EU, which includes France has a Vsymbol with a leaf on the right hand branch as their Vegetarian symbol. Elsewhere I read that many in France assume vegetarian is 'pescatarian' so you would be in luck. And any guidebookmyou check out of the library would have a dictionary of foods you can copy and carry. Or buy Point It which is a small book of photos of everything from food to emergencies to drug store items. Language barrier broken.
Consider some group event or class that you can get to with arranged taxi if dusk or dark concerns you, but consider the streets will have working folk getting home and other travelers on the sidewalks. There is no harm using the hotel restaurant for meals until you feel more comfortable.

Thank you all for really good advice and I appreciate it! I can also look for Asian or Chinese restaurants for meatless entrees.

Barb, I'm not a vegetarian of any sort, but generally prefer fish or seafood to meat. I think this year, spending four weeks in France, I probably didn't have meat more than 3 or 4 times. Egg, vegetable, fish, and seafood dishes abound on French menus.

Google Translate can work offline -- you just need to download the language while you have internet connection (almost all hotels have Wi-Fi.)
If your phone is unlocked, you can buy a SIM card that can roam across much of Europe for local (European) calls. Set up WhatsApp with family/friends to keep in touch by text.
I hope you are not talking about Christmas 2019 -- strike activity may limit your enjoyment of this wonderful city.

I hope you are not talking about Christmas 2019 -- strike activity may
limit your enjoyment of this wonderful city.

Ah, a good point from Laura. I nearly forgot about the potential strike looming over there.

Yes, I was thinking about this Christmas, but the possible strike could be a real problem!
Thanks for all your ideas and experiences, so helpful!
Barb

Sorry, I would not try to visit Paris for the first time when there is a possibility/likelihood that not only will all the transportation workers be on strike, but also the staff at state museums and those not involved in that strike will have difficulty getting to work. I also would not try to visit for the first time with only a month to make plans.

If you're nervous about walking alone when the sun sets early, is there some reason why you want to visit Paris during Christmas week - when the sun sets the earliest? You might be happier taking your trip in April/May or September/October.

People are different, but I am always exhausted after an overnight flight to Europe. For that reason, I try to avoid arriving in the morning hours, when it could be hours before we can check into our hotel.

Buy or borrow a couple of travel guides. The Rick Steves books are great for practical information, but they generally cover the attractions that are the most popular with American tourists. That's why I also use the Lonely Planet books to plan European vacations.

I am assuming that you don't live in a major city in the US? If so, it wouldn't bother you, walking in the early dark evenings. Keep in mind, cities light up in the dark! It's just something to experience to feel comfortable. I think once you are in Paris and get the feel of the area, you will see people are just out enjoying their free time. I'm not sure about Xmas week, but most other times of year, people are just commuting and performing their errands. Keep in mind that other religions will be continuing on with their life or enjoying their free time as well. Later in the evening you're likely resting for the following day, anyway. Personally, I enjoy traveling in winter because there are fewer tourists crowds, and the dark evenings don't bother me solo, and the windows are pretty, etc. If you go to the theatre or symphony, etc. then just take a taxi back to your hotel if that makes you more comfortable.

I understand being fearful of the unfamiliar. Consequently, I would suggest the Rue Cler area, (which I don't usually recommend, but I stayed there on my first Paris trip in 30 years in 2000 to get my 'sea legs' back so to speak). I think you will find more Americans out and about during those hours in that area, which might make you more comfortable? Plus there are easily accessible tourist and (partially) local restaurants and food shops.

Now as far as the possibly extended strike, if you are just staying in Paris I would make that part of the excitement of the trip, as Paris will be different and the same, and not something to make me stay home. It's just part of the experience of travel and the result is sometimes fun stories.

There's no shame in being fearful of the personally unfamiliar, but just push through it, if you can. You'll feel the thrill of conquering a fear, which will make you ready for an even more adventurous trip elsewhere. IMO. Traveling solo is great fun. And the Parisian holiday decorations are lovely...slightly more elegant than other cities. Enjoy your trip!

PS, I'm mostly a vegetarian. I have no trouble eating in most countries, including France. Their produce is lovely. Their cheese is lovely. Their bread is lovely... I could go on, but won't, as I'm starting to drool. And, of course, there are so many ethnicities in Paris as well.

Also, if you can find a flight cost with which you are happy, I'd go for it. I just ran one hotel and they had plenty of openings for the week Sat. to Sat. with Xmas in-between. Have you looked at the facebook page for women over 60 traveling solo. It will give you much confidence as there you will find women traveling all over the world by themselves and loving it, along with women who want to get the nerve up to do so. I think Paris is a wonderful city in which to start your solo travels, and you can plan it this close to the event, as well with no real issues...if airfare works for you. IMO.

Thank you all for the wonderful and informative posts and I get it about the general transportation strike, which will affect the metro, buses, trains, flights etc. etc.
So I will wait until the strike is over and I love reading the posts snd learning about your experiences, and it gives me confidence about traveling.

Barb, it looks like you're a quick learner which will help. I am your same demographic and feel quite safe walking in tourist areas of major European cities at night. It's not at all like the US. I'm always tired after the overnight flight because I don't sleep on the plane-that is more of a problem than jetlag. Plan in advance how you will deal with unlikely problems-like getting sick(hotel can find you a doctor that speaks English), being pickpocketed(less of a problem if most important items are in money belt) and less likely to happen if you don't set your purse on the table where someone can swipe it, losing passport(go to embassy in Paris for another). In 14 trips to Europe, none of these things have happened to me. Also, if you are on Medicare, you will need additional insurance since it doesn't cover you outside of the US. I bought GeoBlue. You also need to be sure you can handle your luggage yourself, including possibly having to lug your carryon up steps to get on the plane if you fly an airline that's too cheap to pay for a gate at DeGaulle.

Senior too and have traveled solo for many years by choice. I’m an early riser so not a night person but when I travel I do go out to theatre, to see the nightlights, or have an occasional late dinner. Therefore I have walked back to my accommodation in such cities as London, Paris, Havana, Istanbul, Belfast, Rome, and Amsterdam to name a few. In fact one of my favorite walks is in the park adjacent to the Tower Effiel. Watching it light up as sun sets is a wonderful sight to experience.

I’m all most always traveling off season
and Thus have on a coat and a pair of jeans.

I have never carried a purse although I have a small Baggallini backpack. Between a money belt, the back pack and interior coat pockets, my passport, money and cell phone are secure from pickpockets.

In all honesty from experience I’d be more fearful walking in downtown Los Angeles after dark then any of the cities mentioned above.

Paris is lovely in Spring. Go!

Another thing to be aware of is that restaurant's will be closed on the 25th and may be limited for the 24th as well. If you want to see Paris in a Christmas mood I'd actually suggest a week to two weeks earlier. The Christmas markets are up and running, the street lights are up, the Galleries Lafayette and Printemps have their Christmas trees up and windows decorated. It's a really lovely intro to Paris and the Christmas season.

keporter, that's a great idea!