Book Lovers Inc.
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Paris for One: Tips for Heroines Traveling Solo by Angela Henry + Giveaway
We are very happy to welcome author Angela Henry here at Book lOvers Inc today. Her latest novel The Paris Secret was released in January and today she is here to tell us about Traveling alone as woman. Please give her a warm welcome and stayed tuned till teh end for a chance to win her book.
In 2007, I took a solo trip to Paris. It was the trip that inspired my romantic suspense thriller, The Paris Secret. Like my heroine, librarian Maya Sinclair, I was apprehensive about going alone to a foreign country where I barely knew the language. But I did my homework before I left and discovered some very valuable tips. Many of these tips I shared with Maya. But I kept a few to myself in order to make her trip much more exciting.
1. Never leave your bag (s) unattended-This should be no brainer whether you’re traveling abroad or to the grocery. Pick pockets are out in force in Paris. Keep an eye on your bag (s) at all times. In other words, don’t be like Maya!
“Has anyone seen a brown canvas bag with a long strap?” I asked. No one answered.
I sat and tried to calm down. While I’d unnecessarily involved myself in Juliet’s business, someone had stolen my bag.
As I rushed over to check the hidden compartment in the bottom where I kept my passport, my feet got tangled in the straps of a black bikini top that must have been Juliet’s, and I tripped, almost knocking my head against the desk. I angrily kicked the top across the room and then searched my suitcase. My passport was still there.
“Thank God.”
3. Know where to go for help-You are subject to the laws of the country you’re visiting while you are there. If you do your homework on the culture and customs before you arrive, you shouldn’t have any problems. But if by chance you encounter legal trouble, seeking help from your country’s embassy or consulate would be your best bet. Just make sure that you’re aware of their hours and you make an appointment.
But by the time I finally located the consulate it was closed. The hours posted indicated that it was only open from 9:00 a.m. to noon. I was more than two hours too late. I sagged against the door. I’d just have to come back tomorrow.
4. Don’t make eye contact on the metro-You probably shouldn’t do this on any public transportation. This was actually a hard one for me. I love to people watch. I’ll let Maya explain why you shouldn’t do this.
One of the things mentioned over and over in all the books I read before coming to Paris warned tourists who wanted to remain unnoticed by muggers and pickpockets not to stare at people on the metro.
5. Keep a first aid kit in your bag-No matter where you go you should always have some kind of first aid kit on you even if it’s just a plastic baggy with some band aids and antiseptic cream. You never know when, like Maya, you’ll fall flat on your face on the pavement and skin your knee.
I gingerly rolled up my pant leg to examine my skinned knee. The fabric of the pants had stuck to the dried blood. I held my breath and tugged it free, causing it to bleed a little. I fished out the first aid kit in my bag and squeezed on some antiseptic gel before covering it with a large square bandage.
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I like to travel to a lot of places, but where I longed to visit again for some time now is Ireland.
danaan at gmx dot at
i've always wanted to visit Greece and Egypt someday! they're so steeped in history, myth and magic! thanks for making this international c",)
aobibliophile(at)boxbe(dot)com
Hello, Angela! You are a woman after my own heart : ) I have recently really surprised myself with a desire to visit France. To enjoy Paris, the wine country, the art, the opera, the food and etc! How terrific it would be to make the journey with a charming companion who had the same interests. If he was fluent in French, tall, masculine and courtly, so much the better. If he was all those things, plus spoke French in a deep, sensual voice…je ne regrette rien (I regret nothing)!
US Resident, GFC Follower, Subscriber
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Great advice Angela!
I have been to London, Barcelona, Paris, Rome & Venice. Because my husband was in business meetings I was by myself during the day. Each city had different levels of friendliness & helpfulness toward a woman on her own. Dressing like a local helps too. I always try to learn the basics of any language before I go. Everyone is more willing to speak English if you attempt to speak their language first!
GeishasMom73 on twitter
I got mugged outside Notre Dame (true story). Paris is still one of my most fave cities. I'd travel back there in a heartbeat.
Paris is awesome..
GFC follower
vidishamun[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi Guys!
What great comments!
Virginia C-Go to Paris! You won't be sorry. I went alone because I couldn't find anyone to go with me and still had a great time.
Liz-How horrible! I hope you weren't hurt.
GeishasMom73-I actually did learn some French before going to Paris. But every time I tried speaking it, the person I was speaking to switched to English. So I know my French must have been really bad! LOL!
I like to travel to a lot of places( Spain, Paris, South Africa, China…..)
artgiote@gmail.com
I'd love to go to Italy, Spain and Canada. Tickets, anyone?
k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
So many great travel choices. I'd love to go to Paris & London, Germany & Austria, Japan and Australia. Thanks for a good post.
Right now, I'd just like to go anywhere and have some fun.
Oh, and I always thought you'd look the person in the eye if you thought they were following you. I did that in TX once because I could tell he was casing my cousin and me to see what he could steal. I just looked at him in the eye and smiled. He knew I could identify him and he left us alone.
books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com
I would love to travel to the island of Maui!
kissinoak at frontier dot com
I'm planning to go to Chicago in August!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
There are so many places I want to go: Europe, Japan, Hawaii, California, Thailand, and Australia.
iqb99@yahoo.com
Years ago, I went to Europe alone. I spent a couple of days in Paris with my sister and her then boyfriend (the only one who could speak French and German) and then we went to Munich for a couple more days. After that, they left so I went to Spain by myself. Traveling by myself was interesting but I didn't mind it. As long as I had a map, I was good to go. The various public transportation systems weren't a big deal (given that I grew up in New York City) as long as it was either flat-rate or in a language I could read (and I use that term very loosely).
I had a lot of fun in Barcelona and Gibraltar by myself and I've always wanted to go back there again, alone or with friends. Or perhaps I should learn another language first (aside from my rather bad Spanish).
I am an unashamed fan of Lord of the Rings – books & movie trilogy. New Zealand – the home of the Hobbit, so to speak, is top of my list.
marypres@gmail.com
I'd love to travel to a lot of places, especially countries in Europe so Paris is actually one of the destinations that I hope to be able to visit one day. So thanks for those tips, especially #4 about not making eye contact with people on public transportation – was not aware of this at all.
Thanks for the giveaway!
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to go to Italy and Hawaii. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read your book. It sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com
I'm a girl and I gotta say I've been around Europe a lot (mostly on my own) and I did learn a few things (and I always have tons of photocopies of everyhting that might be relevant). Also, I always try to find out where the hospital is and the emergency number wherever I go, you never know!
My top destination is Australia: it's been ages I'm trying to save money to go there!
aliasgirl at libero dot it
love from italy
I like to travel a lot of places, I have benn in Paris, Madrid and Córdoba.
I would travel to Australia or New Zeland.
I would love to travel to Australia sometime.
littleone AT shaw DOT ca
I would love to travel to Denver and see the American Rockies – a few years ago I did the Canadian Rockies (Jasper & Banff) and loved it. I want to see what they look like furtehr south! 🙂
Great post! I would love to travel to Japan – I've always been fascinated by their culture.
smaccall @ comcast.net
I would absolutely LOVE to go England to travel on my own. I have always wanted to see the castles and the cathedrals that were around during the reign of the Tudors.
kimbers10[at]yahoo[dot]com
Hey! I must say that I love the cover of The Paris secret! Makes me want to go to Paris right NOW!<3 Anyway, Europe is really beautiful and I'd love to go to Prague – maybe on the summer holidays….*dreamy sigh*
andreea(dot)c88(at)gmail.com
xoxo
I would love to travel to Egypt and Japan. I hope to go there one of these days.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
I always wanted to go to Paris. I would also like to go to Denmark and Sweden.
elena.cacahuete(at)gmail(dot)com
Nice post!! Thanks for sharing.