Bosnian Beggars and other Paris, France Warning Or Danger Tips

Beware of young women hanging around Notre Dame and the Arc Triomphe asking, “Do you speak English?” Nine times out of ten, they already know you speak English because they have been watching you. They then show you a card asking for money because they’re Bosnian refugees. They work in groups and they are well dressed. They also circle around you when they question of, will you give them anything, is addressed to you. We did come across older women that also had signs in English asking for money. They also claimed to be Bosnian refugees.

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The famous Samaritine department store has some great (free) washrooms on the 5th floor. The women's room has automatic sanitary napkin disposals (you just wave your hand in front of a sensor), a special liquid to squirt on your toliet paper to clean the seat, automatic sinks and blowers. Beware the if you go to the 9th floor where they sell souvenirs, there are coin machines on the washroom doors.

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Website: www.samaritaine.com

If you have a sleeping child in a stroller and you think that you'll be able to spend some "quiet" time walking around Versailles, be warned! You can't bring a stroller in. You need to check your stroller before you get to the metal detector and x-ray machine. This was heartbreaking to us because we waited for our son to take his afternoon nap to go in. We pretty much walked right in and bought a ticket and got it refunded once we found out that we couldn't bring the stroller. We didn't want to wake him...Well, be warned!

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Website: www.chateuversailles.fr

You must pay .50 EU to use the washrooms at Versailles. The first washroom that we encountered near the bookstore had a long line out of the door. The line consisted of men and women and it was later discovered that men could walk to the front of the line, pay and use the washroom. I got in line and ended up having to leave once I got to the front because I didn't know and I didn't see the sign that said you had to pay. I didn't have any small change on me and I had to leave to find my husband. ONce you pay, you will get a ticket. Keep it, because they could ask you for proof later on. When I was there, there was a man that just wanted to wash his hands. He went in without paying and the attendant yelled and chased after him. She stopped and didn't follow him into the washroom but she then started asked to see our tickets because once you pay and get a ticket, you're still in line for a good 5 to 10 minutes!

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This is a warning/lesson. While in my research phase I decided to email the officials at the Eiffel Tower about if we could bring a stroller up to the top. With the increased security measures and statements on the official page regarding luggage, I thought it was a fair question. To my shock, the person responding to my email said no. I asked about backpacks and they also said no. Everyone on all of the travel sites said no way...In the meantime waiting for the answer I found out that you could take a collapsable stroller (in the FAQ section). When I confronted the official via email they never responded. Sure enough, we went to the E. Tower with the stroller fully opened and a backpack. There were other families there and they had larger strollers too. We had no problems. So, just a warning that we all get SO involved in research that you don't believe everything you are told. Sometimes they are simply wrong.

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When you are in Montmarte you’re not in the best part of town. There are aggressive vendors selling braided bracelets. They will approach you and take your hand and they will start braiding a bracelet for you. They were on each level of the stairs/hill going up to the church, as well as near the funicular entrances and exits. We were not approached since I think they clearly saw that our hands were full with a toddler, stroller, backpack…all in the rain.

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