Last week I updated my list of 6 Paris Safety Tips and I was prompted by an incident by one of my tour clients to add one more important tip. I had a very sweet couple from San Francisco last week on their honeymoon and they took the RER train (the commuter railroad train) from the airport to the city at about 2:30PM. Unfortunately the woman had her purse stolen during the ride. Two men entered the train a few stops after they boarded and came close to them and then one of them accidentally/on-purpose dropped a bunch of change on the floor, which sent my good-natured clients scrambling to help him pick up the coins. Of course they were distracted, and the other guy made off with her bag before she realized it. The poor thing was barely in Paris for 20 minutes and her wallet with all her credit cards, I- Phone, and passport were stolen. (Luckily she had no cash in her wallet and she had a copy of her passport, so it wasn't that hard for her to replace her passport).
So here is my 7th tip: Either avoid taking the RER or just be very careful.
I have taken the RER numerous times from the airport and have never had a problem, and I actually find it the quickest way to get to the city, approximately 35 minutes. However, if you want to be safe or safer, take the Roissy bus that goes to the Opera or the Air France buses that go to Gare de Lyon, Etoile/Arche Triomphe & Porte Maillot, or Gare Montparnasse, which take about one hour. The RER costs 9.50 euros, the Roissy bus 10 euros, and the Air France bus 15 to 16.50 euros.
Below is my list again of my 6 Paris Safety Tips
1. Never carry your passport. Have a copy of it in your bag or pocket or you can keep the number in your phone or on a slip of paper in your wallet. You don't really need it as long as you have another photo ID such as a drivers license. Also, you don't need your passport to get the VAT refund at shops, as long as you have the number to put on the VAT form.
2. Always keep cash in your front pants pocket or a money belt if you are not wearing pants. Don't put cash in a purse, hand bag, or knapsack.
3. Beware of pickpockets in busy tourist areas/attractions like the Louvre, Notre Dame, outside Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower,the flea market, and the Champs Elysees. Also beware in the metro and train stations Gard du Nord, Montparnasse, Gare de Lyon, etc.
4. The ring trick. Beware of men and women who come up from behind and "discover" a gold ring on the sidewalk in front of you. They will innocently tell you that you should keep it and then try to extract money from you. Just ignore them. Also beware of people coming up to you and asking if you speak English. Again, they will try and extract money from you and just ignore them even if you think you are being rude.
5. Unfortunately there has been a rash of I-Phone and smart phone robberies on the metro lately. I just heard of a friend who took his I-Phone out on the metro to call someone and thieves grabbed his phone as the doors were closing. Try and not take your phone out in the metro or on the platforms unless it's absolutely necessary, especially at night. Also, don't leave it out on the table at a restaurant or cafe. There's a new trick where someone will come over to your table and lay a newspaper or magazine over your phone and start to talk to you and then they will quickly grab the newspaper or magazine with your phone and leave.
6. Beware of small groups of teenage girls who gather at popular tourist sites with clipboards who pretend they are deaf and ask you to sign a petition. They are not deaf at all and will try to extract money from you, acting all innocent. Just ignore them.
In addition to my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, we now offer Eye Prefer New York Tours, 3-hour walking tours of New Yorkís best neighborhoods including Soho, Meatpacking/West Village & Tribeca. Tours cost $195 for up to 3 people and $65 for each additional person.Come take a bit of the Big Apple on an Eye Prefer New York Tour!
Come experience my blog ìliveî with my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I lead. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris. www.eyepreferparistours.com
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
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