My friend has a theory: London and New York are boy towns, while Paris is all about being a girl. Judging from all the fashion, pink pastries and charming men around, I think she may be onto something. Paris is the ideal destination for a girl getaway. Even if that girl is alone.

Paris is a safe city, so you can stay in just about any neighborhood that fits your budget and strikes your fancy. I would avoid a hotel near the metro stops from Pigalle to Barbès-Rochechouart (on line 2) because of the crowds; when I am alone I prefer lively, animated areas like the Latin Quarter and the Marais, but that is not a safety issue. Before moving to Paris I would often stay at the Hôtel Lindbergh, and I loved its location in the St. Germain quartier so much that I moved next door.

The majority of Parisiennes—that is to say, more than 50 percent—are single, and they all have to eat, which means sightings of women dining alone are common. The staff does not mind and they will frequently go out of their way to make you feel welcome. And the great thing is that we are often just what the restaurant needs to fill a canceled reservation or an awkward nook, so women alone can sometimes get lucky at restaurants that are booked months in advance.

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