the news out of France

Tim, other than a possible planned strike on October 12, what "news" are you referring to? Yesterday's strike is old news. If you are looking for a current discussion on future strikes in France, you might check the forums at fodors.com. There appear to be several discussions of this topic.

You are overreacting. It would be a bigger disappointment to cancel a long-anticipated trip because of a possibility that something might happen. Something could always happen, and strikes happen in France (and elsewhere) with relative frequency.

Hi Tim, I too will be traveling to France next month and the news of the heightened terror alert and national strikes is a bit unsettling. There were a couple of bomb scares in Paris last week, I think resulting from the recently passed law banning full face veils and burqas in public. While it does bother me, I am not going to cancel my trip because of it. And as for the strikes - I was in France in May and June of 2003 and there were strikes going on the entire length of my vacation. It was annoying, but I was able to manage around them. If they handle the strikes the same way as they did then, there will be information on the news letting you know who will be on strike and when. Crazy, I know, but La Poste will be out one day, then SNCF will be out the next day, Metro will be out another day, etc. Like I say, annoying, but I was able to work around it. Just be ready with a backup plan. If your trip involves much train travel, then you may have problems. I had a rail pass that I was not able to get as much use out of as I had planned. We ended up keeping our rental car longer to get around. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth...

It doesn't seem, though, that these strikes are going to be as extensive as they were back in 2003. I'm not too concerned about it.

There is a need to be aware of the strike situation, but, as others have noted, there are ways to cope. As for the recent bomb threat, remember that, in the past couple of days, there have been bomb threats in Phoenix, Atlanta, Somerville NJ, Miami, Crossville TN, Columbus OH, Thomaston CT, Louisville MD, and Sapulpa OK.

I was using "news" generically. I know that there is no other specific strike news other than the 12th but there's plenty of speculation about the coming weeks/months. I know that they strike often in France and other parts of Europe but, as I said, this one seems like it could be a bigger deal. I've heard it compared to the situation that took place in the '60s when they actually shut the country down for the better part of two weeks with continuous strikes. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it unfolds. Anyway, we probably won't cancel our trip. Certainly not right now.

"I've heard it compared to the situation that took place in the '60s when they actually shut the country down for the better part of two weeks with continuous strikes." Wow...you must tell me where that analysis came from. The massive strikes and protest of May 1968 were more political than economic, or rather, more over what direction France's political economy would take. Leftist students, Maxists, and left-wing labour leaders tried to wrest control of the country from the center-right administration of Charles de Gaulle through national strikes and massive demonstrations, but they failed. Marxist and leftist organizations were very strong in politics, universitiies, and trade unions at the time....they're now a shadow of their former selves.

Tim - I came to this forum yesterday expecting other posts on this topic as well. I leave for France tomorrow (returning October 4th) and although we did not decide to cancel our trip, we did alter our plans. Originally we were going to spend 5 days in Paris - but since we've been there before, we decided to skip Paris altogether and rent a car to see the countryside. Perhaps we overreacted - but it is the only vacation we will take all year, and I don't want it to be spoiled by strikes or (far worse) terrorism. It seemed like the safer bet.

Tim, I was thinking of making a trip to Boston. However, I've heard rumors that that "T" might go out on strike sometime, and you know, a couple of those 9/11 planes took off from Boston meaning there are terrorists in your city and there could be a terrorist attack. So, I think I'll cancel my trip.....Now, if that was real, wouldn't you think I was overreacting? Wouldn't you say nothing is definite so why be fearful? Wouldn't you say there are other ways to get around the city and that the chances of a terrorist attack occurring near me is pretty small?....I've been in London when IRA bombs went off, I've been evacuated from airport terminals, train stations, and public buildings when there were "suspicious" packages, I've gone through heightened security checks when warranted. An inconvenience, yes. But did it make me stop traveling and stay behind locked doors? Heck no. I'm cautious, I try to stay aware of my surroundings and what is going on around me, and I enjoy life.

"I've heard it compared to the situation that took place in the '60s when they actually shut the country down for the better part of two weeks with continuous strikes." Heard where? Who is saying that? Yesterday's strike was about retirement dates and pensions. Yes, they say that a millions people or so were in the streets, but they can't possibly carry the passion and fire that were displayed in the 60's over politics. . . . We were in Italy on the day of their general strike over the same issue (delay of retirement dates to a later age). That was June 25, and by pure chance we happened to use a rental car that day instead of traveling by train. As a result, we only knew of the strike when we saw some people gathered around an orator in the streets of Siena, and we stopped to listen. Everyone was very good-natured and friendly, and nothing was closed (shops, restaurants, etc.) I'll be one of many to tell you theres at least very little need to worry.

And my son is in Paris right now. I'll ask him what he thinks and ppost back if he says there is anything to be concerned about.

We arrived in Paris Friday morning at CDG. There were no problems. We took the RER B and metro to our hotel in Vincennes. We have never been here before but were able to navigate the airport and buy tickets for the RER & metro, and everything went smoothly, even though we were in rush hour. We have not been in the heart of Paris yet but so far no problems. Will post further if something comes up. Great time so far.

Gary - Good report and that you made it over there to Vincennes without problems, ie., smoothly. The worst time to take the Metro with luggage is rush hour around 18:00, on Friday, in the summer. And, it's the worst time to take a taxi too because you and everyone else, all the locals, tourists, Americans are thinking the same thing.

Tim, there's no way I'd cancel a much anticipated trip simply on the basis that there might be strikes or terrorist activity. I've found that the impact of strikes can be minimized by being flexible and working around the situation. ¶ A few examples to illustrate the way I tend to deal with these. First, On a trip to Rome a few years ago, there was a huge "Manifesto" that shut down all the transportation (never did find out what it was all about?). I learned that the demonstrations were "roving" and were going to target different areas of the city, so I just went inside Termini and had a fine hot meal until things settled down in that part of the city. Also, I went to Greece this year, despite all the warnings and had a great time. A lot of people asked me if I was "worried" about travelling in Greece (and especially Athens), but I had no concerns at all (and no problems). ¶ The terrorist threat is potentially more of a problem, but since there's no way of knowing WHEN or IF it will actually take place, I wouldn't let it control my touring plans. If an attack does take place, it will likely be in a high profile, crowded location (better media value) so I'd minimize my time at the more famous locations and focus on less crowded sites. That's not to say I wouldn't visit the well known sites at all, but just wouldn't spend any more time there than necessary. Good Luck!

Thanks Ken for your reply, especially about Greece. We will be ending our trip in Greece (3 days Mykonos, 4 days Athens).

The terror alert in Paris has been raised to Red- second highest level. I received an email from the State Department about it a couple of days ago (I registered my December trip, so I get updates, now.) I pondered whether I should do something differently, but I lived in Germany during times when Americans were targeted (and sometimes killed) for political reasons, and we visited London during IRA activity (a bomb threat closed down part of the city the day of our arrival), so I guess risk is part of life. I will just be vigilant about what I am doing with my daughters and try to avoid larger crowds.

Wasn't the US on an orange alert for years? Isn't that the second highest?

What you might want to do, especially if the strike involves a protest parade, is to take a couple of minutes to watch the shenanigans. It's pretty neat. First comes the fuzz leading the way with sirens, then sometimes a fire truck, then the protesters with their chants and banners. Don't leave yet; bringing up the rear is a garbage truck with a platoon of green-suited street sweepers cleaning up the mess. Pretty good street entertainment, actually. It's a shame it's all over in an hour or so and everything goes back to normal. Quit worrying about it.

Tim, I'm in Paris right now. Was traveling from Aix to Paris on Friday via TGV one day after the greve (strike) on Thursday. No problems at all - everything ran exactly on schedule. I understand about half the flights were affected and that can certainly be a problem. But, in most cases, they generally plan these strikes in advance to happen on one day only. So unless your flight is scheduled for the day of the strike, I wouldn't worry. Headed back to Boston myself on Monday.

The strikes don't really bother me that much, but I was wondering if someone could help me make plans for the 12th. I live in easy walking distance of some sites, including Luxembourg Gardens, Cluny Museum, Notre Dame, and some others. Do they usually close museums during strikes? Do you think that maybe just walking everywhere that day would be a good idea. About the terrorism threat-I won't lie, it makes me quite uneasy. But the fact is, no one knows when or even if it will happen. There is one level above red in the French terrorism scale-scarlet. Scarlet means that there is a severe risk of terrorist attacks and they will close down some heavily-populated Metro stations and sites as a preventative measure. So there's that, at least. I might try to minimize my exposure to big crowds as long as it's still reasonably convenient and inexpensive to get to where I need to go via an alternate route.

We were in Paris 9/20-26 and weren't even aware of the terrorist threats. There were soldiers in camo w/ rifles around Eiffel Tower and Louvre, but nothing happening to scare us. The strikes are usually announced ahead of time and are an inconvenience, but don't shut everything down. Museums were closed or had limited hours, buses were limited. You just go to "Plan B". It only lasted one day. The TI wouldn't sell us a museum pass though so we had to pay full price for the Louvre. Belgium, on the other hand, had an unannounced air traffic controller strike which shut down the airport in Brussels. We left the next day and had to wait over 7 hours for our flight, but we made it home. Don't miss out on a wonderful trip you've been planning...just be prepared to have a back up plan.

We arrived in Spain ahead of the Iceland volcano. Friends at home were scrambling to find flights to Madrid (wedding). One of the couples cancelled their entire trip and missed out on the time of their life. Nobody could have predicted this act of nature. Luck is still a big part of life. Good luck to you, don't worry and go enjoy your trip!

I thought this post was long buried so I was surprised to see the latest notification of a reply in my inbox. Thanks Carol for the info from the frontline and everyone for your imput. I must admit that, while most of the posts reflect sincere attempts to reason or reassure, I sense more than a bit of judgement in a few others. But a little time has allowed me to gain some perspective and I most assuredly have no intention of canceling my trip out of fear of the strikes ruining my vacation. And, unless the US State Dept issues an advisory to do so, I will not let the threat of terrorism keep me away either. I don't, however, see my questions as misguided overreactions. My original post was a reaction to a reality that I was not anticipating until it reared its ugly head; the impact was sobering and disappointing, albeit momentarily so. When one is planning a trip, particularly an expensive, special one, the focus is usually on the positive and exciting aspects; who wants to factor in the spector of air traffic controller strikes and suicide bombers? But them, when one is on vacation in the real world - as opposed to a Sandals resort - one should expect to have to deal with the occasional inconveniences of real life. But I felt that something that was potentially more than a minor incomvenience required a little more thought. Frank II, with all due respect, I perceived a bit of condescension in your response. I felt your analogies were contrived and I see no reason for your cavalier attitude about the threat of terrorism. The threat is, in many cases, a real one. I lived and worked in NYC for years; I was there, further uptown, on 9/11/2001 and for several years after that. I only wish SOMEONE had taken those warnings seriously. No, you can't live behind locked doors but there's nothing wrong with asking questions and exercising prudence in an effort to keep yourself and your loved ones as safe as possible.

I agree with you, Tim. I think people who travel frequently tend to be more cavalier about certain risks than people who save for years for a once in a lifetime trip. I don't know where you fall on the spectrum, but if you're spending a lot of money for a vacation, I think it makes sense to consider risks like these. But if you decide to go, which it sounds like you will, don't worry - just roll with the punches. I hope you have a great trip!

Tim I appreciate your statements.

In April I was traveling in France during a strike....I was never sure exactly who was on strike, but the trains were running.....There was nobody punching tickets on the trains.....I had a ticket purchased in advance and ended up getting my $ refunded, even tho I rode the train....In Nice the trains were running but no tickets were being sold....I got another free ride.....In my experience, in both France and Italy, some trains run even during strikes.....This business is an agrument against having hotel reservations all lined up; if you can't get to the town you are aiming for, just stay in a hotel wherever you are stuck....

I was in Paris several years ago, and there was a small bombing on the Champs Elysee the night before I flew out. Don't think anyone was hurt, but, then again, the news was in French, I didn't understand all that happened. How it affected me was the increased security at the airport. This was pre-9/11, so having 2 security screens seemed excessive at the time, but it was a reaction to the bombing.... We had also planned a trip to Madrid, which was supposed to take place 2 weeks after the train bombings in 2004. We were traveling with our 2-year-old. If it was just us, we probably would have still gone, but with having the responsibility of a little one's safety, we scrapped that part of the trip (ETA and Al Qaida were still fighting over who did the bombing) and went to France instead....All that being said, YOU have to determine your comfort level with the terror alert.

You can't worry about buttheads. I went to Istanbul the week after 9/11 (scheduled for the day after, but there wasnt' much moving). There weren't but maybe a dozen people in the cheap seats; we upped the armrests and had beds the whole way. I can't imagine how many people were holed up at home under the covers. Press on.

Ed, in retrospect, the days immediately following 9/11 were probably the safest to fly/travel as ever were but I can't honestly say as I woulda gone. Good for you! Anyway, in essence I agree with you and I do plan to press on. The point that I was making in my latest "treatise" was that I was just asking the questions and there was no need to respond as if I was absurd to even be thinking about it. I do, however, appreciate (most of) the feedback and encouragement as canceling my trip is pretty close to the bottom of the list of things I want to have happen in my life at this point.

Well, Tim, I'll reply. My response to your request to "Tell me there's no need to worry" was to try to put things in perspective. ......I'm a born a raised New Yorker. While I currently don't live there, I visit NY and DC quite often. Both places are still major targets. Does it stop me from going? No.....Experienced travelers on this board will tell you that travel never goes 100% as planned. Sometimes you have to make changes along the way. Strikes, floodings, equipment breakdowns, accidents, cancellations, suspicious packages, and more can cause changes to your plans. Most of us roll with it and do our best to make alternative arrangements. We don't let it ruin our vacations. As for fear of terrorist attacks, well, we all have our own threshold of how much risk we're willing to take. I have no problem going anywhere in Europe at this time. Terrorist alerts will be with us for a long time. My opinion is if you let these threats change your plans, the terrorists win.

BTW[INVALID]if I hear of a "possible" problem, the first thing I do is come up with a contingency plan "just in case." In fact, I have contingency plans for most of my travel[INVALID]especially when it comes to transportation issues. I like to know my alternatives.

Not trying to ratchet up Tim's paranoia.....but this article is a bit alarming: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_europe_terror_threat