Paris Strikes

Jenn

We fly into Paris on Saturday and I’m getting more and more worried about how the ongoing strikes might affect our travel plans. https://apple.news/AvVIsRK8hRWOhZ9F1r2Sv1w

We’ve already rearranged our itinerary so that most of our time in Paris will be at the end of the trip rather than the beginning, but I’m starting to wonder about the disruptions to travel networks, even heading into and out of the country.

Has anyone navigated Paris during a general strike? How bad is it?

2 years ago

Off Topic

11 replies

Latest reply was from Runcarla

Helena

Veteran

No wisdom to share, but sending positive vibes Jenn that you get to enjoy your long-anticipated trip. x

2 years ago

pirouette

Veteran

I was booked to go to Paris on 27 th but I cancelled due to protest and strikes. I have family living in France and they warned me not to travel. I subsequently fell and fractured my foot so I wouldn’t have been able to travel anyhow. We rebooked for later on when hopefully this protest and strikes will be settled.

2 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Not exactly what you asked, but my impression from being at last week’s Paris protest (not on purpose) in the early hours of it was that the police had the situation well under control long before many protestors got there. Kind of a ‘controlled burn’ where a large area including bridges was blocked off and metro stations closed, with a ton of police presence around the square, just waiting for the crowd to form. Our transit around Paris was affected that day (specifically we didn’t make it to Versailles by train because it wasn’t running when we got there, and the later metro closures), but we were able to happily work around it all. I might have felt differently if we only had a few days there and had personal must-sees, but our plans and outlook were flexible. And most days we were not at all affected, except for the garbage issue. However I do understand this may be a situation of escalating unrest and unpleasantness.

We did need a full three hours to get through CDG airport on our way home. I might even give it more time if you are anxious about it.

2 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

That’s good insight about CDG, Jules! I’ll definitely make sure to allow extra time. We have no specific itinerary in Paris and have been there before so aren’t attempting to checklist any big tourist spots, so it sounds like that flexibility will help.

Pirouette, at this point, we won’t be in Paris proper for another three weeks, so I guess till just keep watching the news and, worst case scenario, we just stay in Belgium until time to fly home.

(And thanks, Helena! I know we’ll enjoy ourselves regardless!)

2 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Yes, I think flexibility, some basic familiarity with Paris and not being anxious to make it to specific spots will help for sure!

2 years ago

cat2

Veteran

WorldinParis.com has good strike updates and explanations.

2 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Hoping it works out - my best wishes for your trip Jenn! I look forward to some reports of street style

I have been following the news too - I can't offer advice but pleased Jules has been able to.

2 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Yes! I was in Paris in 2007 during a transport union strike and it was a nightmare. No trains or buses and almost impossible to get a taxi. In terms of sightseeing we walked to everything as there was no available public transport.

Thanks to our lovely hotel concierge we got to the airport to fly out and got bumped off our flight and spent two days waiting at the airport trying to get on a flight - we would get our tickets reissued only to be told that we were not able to fly - two days in lines and the airport was chaos. The lost baggage situation was bad too as the baggage handlers were on strike. Piles of luggage everywhere. We kept our luggage with us.

Paris is a beautiful city, but that experience was hellish. I hope it is not like that for you, it was at the end of our trip and we arrived home frazzled and despondent having endured a marathon to get back to Australia.

2 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

That’s exactly the kind of scenario I’m worried about, Bijou! We can adjust other parts of our itinerary, but the airport is really unavoidable. Fingers crossed things calm down a bit in the 3.5 weeks between our arrival and departure, and thank goodness we squeezed everything into our carry-ons!

2 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Fingers crossed for you two over here as well, Jenn!

2 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

We cancelled a trip abroad after 9/11, and when we did rebook (after several years) there was a series of bombings in London 3 days before we were due to arrive. Our trip took us up to Scotland first, with London scheduled for the end of the 4 week trip. Security was heightened everywhere and there was no access to lockers at travel hubs, nor were there trash receptacles anywhere. Once we got used to the increased security presence, everything was fine and we actually felt more secure/safer.

Yes, the airports were slower to navigate - but not impossible. It is probably different because the overriding emotion of the local population in France is probably anger (whereas during our trip it was more fear (?j)

Roll with it, and it will become a part of the adventure. (DH and I were in Ireland in 2010 when volcanic eruptions in Ireland interrupted air travel. Trains and ferries were suddenly booked to capacity and getting about was a ‘mare - but also an adventure. We didn’t even know if we would be able to fly home when it was over!)

Have a grand trip!

2 years ago

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