SanDiego1K

We head to Europe this summer. We chatted about it, but only in the way that of course we will go. I think that Mariah Carey was smart to cancel her concert. I wouldn't want to go to an event that would be such an obvious target. Otherwise, I'll carry on as usual. I lived in London in the early 90s at a time that the IRA was targeting London. Over the course of a few months, attacks literally surrounded my flat. It never occurred to me to change my patterns nor did it for any other London resident that I knew.

FlitBen

Of course there are roving gangs of all kinds, and not just the usual organized thieves around civic areas. But they are generally not a problem to visitors except maybe on public transit.

http://plus.lefigaro.fr/note/who-are...0110318-425702
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/tr...fel-Tower.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/wo.../28france.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmGXk_G4xbA"]Marseille gangs out of control? - THE DEBATE part 1 - 06/27/2013 - YouTube

GUWonder

Fox News says there are roving gangs in Baltimore and various other places in the US. Roving gangs in Paris? Can't say I've ever seen them there, because I haven't.

Can't say that I've ever felt at least as safe in Baltimore (or even parts of NYC) as I do in Paris -- even when passing by the poorest areas around Paris by rail. That's probably because Baltimore and parts of NYC are more dangerous than Paris; that, and the US has no less of a "roving gangs" issue than France.

FlitBen

Maybe you're ok because you don't carry yourself like an obvious tourist. Well-dressed Asians are often targeted, and not just by the "gypsy" clans. I could tell a litany of stories...

But the ghettos and their rebellious migrant frenchmen are there. The youth gangs and Islamist sympathizers are just kept away from la vie en rose by the apartheid-like security regime, which is the most rigorous in Europe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/12/wo...ear-paris.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32778505
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30653784
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30924409


Yeah, Baltimore has had that rep for the longest. Although NYC has much improved since my first stays there in the 1970s. I haven't been to the East coast recently, but I've also heard from friends and relatives that Baltimore's inner areas have gotten worse. You should post this stuff on the USA threads for the benefit of travelers.

yolandearagon

I travel to Europe about ten times a year and find it generally much safer than being at home. I would allow extra time, especially in France and Belgium, and might stay away from Brussels right now -- more because many things have been closed. I am a single woman who has also traveled to the Middle East, and I have never had a problem anywhere. So go and enjoy!

Alex71

Sometimes numbers can help. The overall homocide rate in the U.S. is more than twice as high as the one in Belgium, almost four times as high as in France and almost five times as high as in Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._homicide_rate

Even if you factor in the recent terrorist attacks, you will be traveling to much safer countries and decrease your risk of being killed.

Tamino

Amen.

Mike Jacoubowsky

Just a couple weeks after the nightclub massacre, my daughter and I altered our plans to specifically include Paris for our trip to Greece. Seemed like the thing to do, not let the terrorists win by scaring people away. Had a great time.

stimpy

I live in France (far from Paris) and other than some bag checks in the weeks following the Paris attacks, nothing at all has changed in the way of life here.

Mike Jacoubowsky

Roving gangs as a regular thing? No. But I can't recall which year, maybe July 2005, when I went out about 8:30pm and had to backtrack due to a minor riot (could a riot be considered "local?") that was going on. This wasn't in a "bad" section of town. Paris has had its share of demonstrations and small riots over the years. However, in 15+ trips to France, most of them spending some time in Paris, this was the only time I came across anything like that.

Since I keep coming back, obviously I don't think of Paris, or France in general, as being unsafe. Then again, I don't think of the US as unsafe either. Many areas that are supposedly dangerous to go through... I think it's more a case of people being uneasy around others who don't look like them.

The only two places I've been where I felt at all uncomfortable were parts of Egypt (and not something far off the beaten track either...) and Nairobi. Those are the only places where it was pretty obvious one had to be a bit careful and very observant of their surroundings. France? Never.

Alex71

Just spending the long weekend in Paris with my family. We've noticed frequent bag checks (when entering museums, churches, certain shops, boats, etc.). Other than that, everything seems normal and perfectly safe.

WorldLux

To answer the OP: Currently everything is fine in the south of France. You see occasionally a pack of soldiers (4-6 soldiers), but that's it. It's not safer/more dangerous than 1 year/5 years/10 years ago.

I would however expect more military presence in France in the near future. Police enforcement (Police nationale, police municipale, gendarmerie, army etc...) will probably increase presence as of June and for the duration of the UEFA EURO '16.

I suspect that terrorist threats are certainly going to rise during that period (not only in France, but in Europe as well).

Palal

That was there beforehand.

stimpy

I arrived at LYS yesterday and there was armed military in the baggage area walking about. I don't recall seeing that before. Usually you only see them up in the check in area and even then it wasn't every day I saw that at LYS.

WorldLux

It was pretty similar in MRS two weeks ago. Heavily armed CRS (somewhat a special forces department of national police) at the baggage claims and soldiers arriving in a mini-van just outside the exit of terminal 4.

But outside the airport, the South of France is as pretty and calm as always.