A Woman traveling alone iin Europ

Absolutely not. Your daughter will spend so much money on the fantastic shopping and delicious food that she risks seriously damaging her credit rating in the future. Kidding! It's safe. Just as safe, if not safer, as she'd be in any major city in the U.S. I have traveled alone to Paris. None of the areas that tourists will go are dangerous with regard to violent crime. The biggest risk is being pickpocketed, having your purse stolen, or falling prey to a scam. With a little knowledge (there are sections on this website about avoiding scams and theft) it's not worth worrying over.

Janie, Paris is very safe for solo women travellers, all they need is common sense. I travel there alone and I come from a small hick city in Canada,,so pretty sure your daughter will be fine. Speaking french is not neccesary but its nice to be able to say please and thank you etc.
How old is daughter( please don't say 30, lol )

Yes, Paris is a safe place to visit. Your daughter will love it. Had to chime in because I used to live in Bonita Springs! Way back in the early 70's, working at the dog track.

She'll be fine! I've traveled all around Tuscany alone and wouldn't have any qualms about doing the same in Paris. You just have to be mindful and cautious, the same as if you were in the US. Solo travel can be a wonderful experience and give you a real feeling of independence.

Hi! I went to europe alone at first when I was 23, I'm 27 now and go whenever I get the chance. I have never had a problem travelling alone so don't worry about your daughter. She should be aware of her belongings and of frenchmen hitting on her but other than that paris is an excellent place to start.

I'm 63 and have been going alone since my mid-20's. Early on I learned to say, 'Plus lentement, s'il vous plait. Pardon mon mauvais Francais, mais il est vieux et je parle Francais plus bien que j'il comprends.' It says something like, 'Slower, please. Pardon my terrible French but it's old, and I speak French better than I understand French.' They are delightfully appreciative of politeness and any effort to speak their language endears you to them. She'll have a ball. But a week is too short!

I travel alone all the time. Mind you I'm in my mid 40's but have been doing this since my 30th birthday. If she's got good street smarts at home, she'll be fine in Europe. We often forget in our own surroundings that we should be mindful of our safety but we don't. I think it's just a matter of kicking that mindfulness into gear. Think of it no different than visiting New York or Los Angeles for the first time. Get to know the lay of the land, connect with the front desk at the hotel and don't be afraid to ask questions, advice or help if you think you need it. There are a few things I do to ensure I don't scream tourist. There are no longer any Canadian flags on the backpack and I cover up any guidebooks with craft paper so no one sees I'm reading an English text. I rarely use those hop on, hop off buses as I prefer the subway. It's also a great way to meet locals. I hope she has a wonderful time. In fact, I know she'll have a wonderful time!

Just had to add my little bleep too. I have been traveling for the past 12 years to many places in Europe. Just this year I turned 68 years young. I have been traveling alone during all this time. I would suggest getting a money belt or one that hangs from the neck. I hope she has a wonderful time. I will be visiting France in June of this year too.

I'd say it depends on her age and how much she has traveled in her lifetime. Personally, I would not let my granddaughter travel alone in any large city in the USA, and not Euope either. I have gone to Switzerland as a single older person and am very comfortable there as most people serving the public speak English.

Geraldine,, so people who speak english make you feel safe???????????????

Geraldine, does your granddaughter actually ask your permission to travel? How impressive .... I guess.

A lot of potentially "unsafe" situations (in any given city) can be avoided with a little common sense and awareness of one's surroundings and belongings at all times. If it was my daughter, I'd be happy to let her go but just remind her to be cautious with drinking or doing anything else that may cause her common sense to go right out the window. I think the grandma from Athol must just be of the opinion that only an older woman will be safe traveling solo in the cities. It has zero to do with chronological age. I know 10 year olds who take the city bus or subways alone to get to/from school and after school activities on a daily basis, and I know 40 year olds with zero common sense who couldn't find their way out of a shoebox, or who wander about with their purse hanging open and they are oblivious to what's happening around them as they are too busy texting or talking on their cell. If my grandmother had been alive when I was 17 and off to Europe on a solo trip after graduating high school, or at 18 when I went to Mexico, I would have respectfully told her to stuff a sock in it if she tried to convince my parents it would be unsafe just because I was going to visit a city or go someplace where people don't all speak English. And unless you (as a parent or grandparent) are financing the trip, you can voice your concerns to the solo explorer, but there's little you can do to stop her if she's old enough to make her own choices.

GASP! Have you warned your daughter of the risks of Cheese Bloat, Pastry Overload, Baguette Binging and Choco-mania?! Paris is a hotbed of risk! And that's not even mentioning Debilitating Shoe Lust and a generalized danger of Fashion Frenzy. Seriously, it's safe, safe, SAFE and fun, fun, FUN! You don't mention her age, but even if she's a teenager she should by now know the warning signs of a Not Great Neighborhood. And if she's going to be in the major tourist areas of the city, no worries about that. I've traveled alone in Europe and had a blast. The only "trouble" I experienced was the same stuff that young women get here in the US of A - wolf whistles, cat calls, and guys hitting on me in bars. Frankly, she doesn't even need to be able to speak French in Paris (although all travelers should be able to say please and thank you and so forth) - and her conversational French will make the trip just that much more delightful for her!