Yahillwe

rny321

For a resident, disruptions in one part of the city or the closure of certain attractions for short period of time isn't something to be overly concerned about. Although I wouldn't be at all concerned for my family's safety in Paris, that doesn't mean that if this was the only time I planned to visit that I wouldn't prefer to wait until after the current protests subside. Even if what his wife is afraid of isn't something that many of us would be concerned about, that doesn't mean that a spouse shouldn't respect those feelings. My suggestion would be to contact providers to see what it would cost to reschedule the trip for a later time. Civil unrest is not normally covered by travel insurance.

bhrubin

GUWonder

Transport worker strikers are way more disruptive to my Paris visits than this Yellow Vest+ protest thing has been. The news makes its money by putting out news that grabs an audience and keeps an audience -- that means bad news and its worst aspects sells more than a "it's 99.9+% fine except for certain days of the week when it's 99% fine and even better if you just check out the websites of the sites you want to see".

JackE

It would be a great opportunity to teach your children about Socialism.

bhrubin

EuropeanPete

craigthemif

This. For 10 or 20 bucks more, you can almost always just book refundable and avoid all of these risks. That extra money is what compensates the hotel for holding your room reservation even though you might cancel only a day or two in advance (depending on cancellation terms).

Consider that your "insurance payment" for future hotel reservations... Safer than relying on travel insurance that won't pay out unless the hotel closes or formal govt advice is given against travelling to Paris. (won't happen)

JackE

In your view, is France more capitalist or socialist?

EuropeanPete

jeanie

While I realize that the majority of Paris is not affected by the protests, as a tourist, a lot of the sites I would want to visit are closed. Maybe that is one of the things the OP is referring to as well. My guess is that this was done on purpose by the protesters to increase pressure on leaders in France.

The closure of major tourist attractions in Paris could definitely affect a vacation. I went to Berlin a couple of years ago, and planned day trips via train to Potsdam and Poland. Then when I got there, there was a Deutsche Bahn strike. While I appreciate there were bigger issues at stake for the locals, it was a big disappointment to me. The train I was going to take from Amsterdam to Berlin was cancelled, I had to buy a last minute flight at top prices, and I wasn't able to go to Poland.

bhrubin

damon88

This fact dawned on me on October 11th when the major tourist attractions in Athens were closed due to a strike. We were only in Athens for 4 days and of course, October 11th was the date we had a long scheduled private tour of the Acropolis. Almost all of the major sites were closed including Delphi which we were relieved to have toured the day prior. That trip required more advance planning and had we scheduled for 10/11 it would have been a major disappointment. We were lucky that we were able to switch the Acropolis to the 12th but I did think about less fortunate travelers who potentially lost a (possibly once in a lifetime) chance to visit such iconic sites.

The list of closures in Paris is actually quite extensive:
Aquarium tropical de la Porte Dorée

Arc de Triomphe

Basilique cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides

Centre Pompidou

Chapelle expiatoire

Ch teau de Versailles

Ch teau de Vincennes

Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine

Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie

Conciergerie

Crypte archéologique de l’île de la Cité

Domaine national du Palais-royal

Fondation Louis Vuitton

Fondation Cartier Bresson

Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain

Hôtel National des Invalides

Hôtel de Sully

Institut du Monde Arabe

Jardin des Tuileries

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais

Les Catacombes

Maison de Victor Hugo

Musée Cernuschi

Musée Cognacq-Jay

Musée d’Art moderne de la ville de Paris

Musée d’Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme

Musée des Arts et Métiers

Musée d'Orsay

Musée de la Franc Maçonnerie

Musée de la Musique

Musée de l'Armée

Musée de l'Homme

Musée de l'Orangerie

Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération

Musée du Jeu de Paume

Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac

Musée Eugène Delacroix

Musée Jacquemart-André

Musée du Louvre

Musée du Luxembourg

Musée du Parfum Fragonard

Musée des Plans-reliefs

Musée Marmottan Monet

Musée national des arts asiatiques Guimet

Musée national de l'Histoire de l'Immigration

Musée Nissim de Camondo

Musée Picasso Paris

Musée Rodin

Opéra Bastille

Palais de la Découverte

Palais Garnier

Palais de Tokyo

Panthéon

Pavillon de l'Arsenal

Petit Palais - Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris

Sainte-Chapelle

Sèvres-Cité de la Céramique

Tombeau de Napoléon et Eglise du Dôme

Tour Eiffel

Tour Montparnasse

Tours de Notre-Dame de Paris

Zoo de Thoiry

Theatre

Accorhotels Arena

Comédie Française - Salle Richelieu

Comédie Française - Studio-Thé tre

Comédie Française - Thé tre du Vieux-Colombier

Cité de la Musique

Crazy Horse

Grande halle de La Villette

L'Olympia

Lido de Paris

Maison de la Radio

Philharmonie de Paris

Salle Pleyel

Thé tre des Champs-Élysées

Thé tre de l'Odéon

Thé tre Marigny

Thé tre du Rond-Point

Restaurants

58 Tour Eiffel

Restaurants on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and in the surroundings

Restaurants on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

Guided tours

Another Paris - Le petit train bleu

Big Bus

City Sightseeing

Foxity

OpenTour

PARISCityVISION

Promotrain - Le Petit Train de Montmartre

Shopping

BHV MARAIS

Boutiques de l'avenue des Champs-Elysées

Boutiques de la rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

Le Bon Marché

Galeries Lafayette (Haussmann et Montparnasse)

Lafayette Maison Gourmet

Printemps

Events

Festival électro, Peacock Xmas Party

Noël des animaux

Festival électro INASOUND


And it isn't just the 8th:
Despite the police controls, some of the protection built by stores and offices were destroyed and several cars set ablaze, mainly in some of the wealthiest neighborhoods - the 16th and 17th arrondissements - as police played cat-and-mouse with small groups of violent protesters around those and other central areas. The protesters started as a peaceful movement against a proposed increase in gas and diesel and has unexpectedly grown into massive anti-government demonstrations expressing general anger and disillusionment with the government and the cost of living. It has turned violent from the participation of more aggressive activists and fringe elements known as “casseurs”(smashers and looters).

There are many of us on this board who have visited Paris frequently. We would be less likely to have our trip ruined because of random closures. But even Saturday closures will impact visits during the rest of the week. (everything will be much more crowded)

Many people I know make one trip to Paris ever. If the hotel is flexible at all OP may want to reschedule the trip if possible.

ITA with others here that this is the reason I never go for nonrefundable hotel rates. I too consider the premium my "insurance" against last minute cancellations.

I also agree with the Poster who praised OP for considering his wife's feelings. Whether her fears are valid or not, if she is nervous about the trip it also could impact their vacation.

MSPeconomist

damon88