I live in this area and absolutely love it !!



I have never felt un safe here and love the fact that there are always people walking around.



I have never been approached on the Rue de Berne, so maybe your encounter was a one off.



The area is very lively, arty, full of bars and cafes etc...



uktheturtle, Mar 16, 2009 @ 16:40

It's certainly a Red-Light district and right next to my office :-)



I'm always being approached walking to pub of an evening .. but as a customer ..LOL



I agree it's a lively area and great for bars and restaurants..
britabroad, Mar 16, 2009 @ 16:49

It's the red light district indeed, but it's still a GVA-style red light district, and in my view it's pretty safe.

True, you might have a higher chance of running into soem drunk folks in Paquis than in other neighborhoods. But I still think the level of safety there is very high.

What you should however take into consideration is that it's a bit noisy and 'happening'. So as UKtheTurtle said - there's always people around. Great for going out, less good for sleep, unless you have a real quite area...

Trev:

What's your going rate for a quickie in Paquis these days? If it's less than a 50, I want to hire you.

Nir
Nir Ofek, Mar 16, 2009 @ 16:53

Nir you could never afford me at any price :P
britabroad, Mar 16, 2009 @ 16:56

i live in this area and find it fine, you do see alot of un desireables but they leave you alone, i have not been approached, after reading these leads im feeling a little left out now :-(

its a good location, close to the lake the station and alot of bars and resturants
peaky, Mar 16, 2009 @ 17:09

Yeah, the funny thing about Paquis is that some women get propositioned there left and right and others never do. I have a friend that lives there who is a rather attractive brunette, but she's never once been propositioned. But I was talking to another friend last Friday night who is also attractive, and she had guys following her into her building, yelling at her on her balcony and so on, because they thought she was a prostitute. She herself was mystified by it, because she didn't dress in any way provocatively. Kind of made me wonder what it is that makes guys think some women are prostitutes and others not...
gkellum, Mar 16, 2009 @ 17:14

I life in Paquis since 2004, a cool, friendly place, with even cooler, friendly people - cool bars, a huge variety of different restaurants, some of the best hotels (Eastwest on rue des Paquis) and so on...



...a few minutes away from the lake, and it has certainly no more drunk people than any other area in town...



Long life Paquis, LOL... :cool: ;) :)
SWISS, Mar 16, 2009 @ 18:40

Helen, definitely agree, EastWest Hotel IS a fantastic boutiquish hotel!  I'd never heard / knew about it until last week when I was invited to an event there.  great management, great tapas food and really reasonably priced drinks. 

back to Paquis, true, a great place for going out to eat! I work near Trev & his lady friends on the corner. It's great fun meeting up with friends for lunch on a whim. :)
YouMeCo, Mar 16, 2009 @ 19:00

i worked in Paquis for 3.5 years and it's a great place. there is crime just like everywhere else, i guess (mostly car break-ins at certain periods), and on certain corners, there are people trying to sell drugs, but there also tends to be a reasonable police presence.



i have loads of friends who live there and find it really nice. i also have a friend who used to live there and was unlucky in that her flat was just above/below a prostitutes and things got quite loud sometimes and when she complained, she did get a harmless but obviously very uncomfortable visit from 'the guy in charge', at which point she decided to leave. but as it stands, she'd the only person i've ever met who'd had a bad experience. i guess all you have to do when looking at flats is find out who your neighbours are (having said that, i don't know how easy/difficult that is).



as Tinkie said, though, it's loud in the summer, so if you want peace and quiet, find somewhere else!
Minda, Mar 19, 2009 @ 15:40

[quote][b]

Minda (19/03/2009)[/b]



on certain corners, there are people trying to sell drugs, but they also tend to be at a reasonable price...

[/quote]



Excellent, Minda! Thanks for the pointer :)
hayes, Mar 19, 2009 @ 18:38

thanks for building me a reputation Hayes! what are you on? :P i would just never say anything like that (but i can see the funny side, don't worry) which you'd know if we'd met, but obviously, not going to no show drinks makes that impossible ;)
Minda, Mar 19, 2009 @ 20:56

Well,lets not forget Paquis IS the biggest neighborhood in Geneva,as it includes St Gervais,Grottes,Secheron,train station area,and a bit more,so to say Paquis has a bad reputation just because of a fiew redish streets is far off,and journalists love to talk about Paquis as a generality.I work there since 2001, there is a lot of places to discover,nice bars,ect..it also has the biggest selection of exotic,and worldwide restaurants in Geneva,and when everything is death in winter Paquis stil alive.
Michel D, Mar 19, 2009 @ 22:51

Gabs: so what did you decide - to paquis or not to paquis?
Nir Ofek, Mar 20, 2009 @ 01:35

[quote][b]Minda (19/03/2009)

[/b]

thanks for building me a reputation Hayes! what are you on? :P i would just never say anything like that (but i can see the funny side, don't worry) which you'd know if we'd met, but obviously, not going to no show drinks makes that impossible ;)[/quote]



Well, Minda the quoted text doesn't lie. It's written up there in blue and white. Technically if you follow the rules of no-show drinks, it does still make us slightly more likely to meet. Eliminating 150 square metres of Geneva does push the probability up a tiny bit. Browsing the Member Activities I do notice some Verteran's Special thing... would it be rude of me to tread on the toes of so many veterans?





[quote][b]mike007 (19/03/2009)

[/b]

when everything is death in winter Paquis stil alive.[/quote]



Nice summary, Bond. Like a few people said: there simply are no rough areas in Geneva; at least compared to what you will know if you've ever lived in a real city. It's not at all seasonal. Compared to the dreary backdrop of the rest of Geneva, Paquis is one of the few places that shows any character.







[quote][b]

Nir_ (20/03/2009)[/b]

Gabs: so what did you decide - to paquis or not to paquis?[/quote]



Decide....? Surely.... nobody actually decides here, do they? That notion of deciding where you're going to live is usually dispelled over the first 4 weeks. Most likely she did what everybody does: spent 4 weeks trying to decide, 6 more weeks panicking, and took the first place she was offered. And was damn thankful to have a roof.



But the sentiment is entirely correct. Come on Gabs78, what's the status?

hayes, Mar 20, 2009 @ 08:40

Nir: first of all thanks to all for the discussion!!!!

Secondly to be honest with you, I did not have much of a doubt I wanted to be in Paquis....I still wanted to have others opinion on it since I could also get it completely wrong.

On the other side...I cannot be in any other place than Paquis...from what I have heard...I am referring to the lively atmosphere ...surely not the 'red one though:P

The trouble here is finding an apartment there...as I have already applied  for one and I am waiting....:hehe:

It is so 'CRAZY' literally to find a place...I hate that! And I was 8years living in London known for being one of the toughest and most expensive in terms of accomodation....Well, I sadly found out that GVA is much worse....

Great weeked to all of you!!!!
gabs78, Mar 20, 2009 @ 09:31

Hayes: I liked your analysis a lot. I think it's so true...(-:

Gabs: I know of an apartment in Paquis' rue Fribourg 11, 2 bedrooms, that's for rent but is not yet on the market. Drop me a mail if you want to see it.

Nir
Nir Ofek, Mar 20, 2009 @ 14:04

[quote][quote][b]hayes (20/03/2009)

[/b]



Well, Minda the quoted text doesn't lie. It's written up there in blue and white. Technically if you follow the rules of no-show drinks, it does still make us slightly more likely to meet. Eliminating 150 square metres of Geneva does push the probability up a tiny bit. Browsing the Member Activities I do notice some Verteran's Special thing... would it be rude of me to tread on the toes of so many veterans?



[/quote]



or maybe it does... lie, i mean.



as for the TD, i think i said something on the lines of some newbies slipping through the veteran net, so come and tread on toes if you want to. but you still have to register formally ;)
Minda, Mar 20, 2009 @ 18:23

[quote][b]Minda (20/03/2009)

[/b]

i think i said something on the lines of some newbies slipping through the veteran net,

[/quote]



Oh, so it does! Guess I didn't bother reading that far down the post... ;)
hayes, Mar 20, 2009 @ 19:10

yuppiiiiiiii!

Only found out today and I got the place....guess where?!:D

In Paquis...so now I will be glad for anyone willing to introduce me to the area...anytime for a dring or so.

I wont be able to move in for a little while till i put at least a bed in...

Sigh:(
gabs78, Mar 21, 2009 @ 01:58

I work in rue de Fribourg gabs,just remember it's not a red street if I run into you and say Hi:)
Michel D, Mar 21, 2009 @ 04:06

Gabs: CONGRATS! We're now waiting for the invitations to the house warming party...:)
Nir Ofek, Mar 21, 2009 @ 11:50

Just watch out for suicides dropping on your head from 5th storey windows.

And next door neighbours being brutally murdered (possibly only happens to the prostitutes.

Paquis certainly IS a happening area according to the papers...
Chrisd, Mar 21, 2009 @ 20:00

Good girl Tinkie,:)

Now that is the most sensible thing I've heard in a while.
Michel D, Mar 22, 2009 @ 01:43

I drop into Glocals every now and then, and wish it was populated by people who had lived in Geneva for more than a year or so. I lived in Paquis from 1992 till 2004, and loved it - but it has changed dramatically since, and implying that it is a safe place for a woman to wander home at, say, midnight or one o'clock (as it was, years ago), is living in cloud cuckoo land. Geneva is not like other big cities but I think that people posting here have a responsibility to others who have just arrived in Geneva to tell it like it really is. Obviously rue de Berne itself has been the red light district for many years, but it was only the prostitutes who would harass you before. The foreign drug dealers have made a big difference, and it is naive to pretend otherwise. I have the impression that most of the posters on this forum are just drifting through Geneva, and will move on. Hence the difficulty in finding any really interesting and relevant information here.
fionas, Apr 6, 2009 @ 01:25

Hi :)



Thought i should share my experience. Sunday morning (5:30 am) i had to walk from home to the Gare Cornavin and get the tram to work. Yes i work some Sundays as well.



While i was waiting for the tram at the station an obviously drunk man approached me and said something to me (i only understood the mademoiselle part my french are not good). I looked at him and just ignored him and that was the end of it. At the tram another guy tried to start a conversation but i pretended not to hear him (i was listening to music) so he stopped trying.



I just want to say that i did not feel unsafe at any time. My approach is look people in a if-you-talk-to-me-you-are-dead way and they leave you alone. Its not an advise i give but it works for me.



Maria_, Apr 6, 2009 @ 09:58

[quote][b]

fionas (05/04/2009)[/b]

I drop into Glocals every now and then, and wish it was populated by people who had lived in Geneva for more than a year or so. I lived in Paquis from 1992 till 2004, and loved it - but it has changed dramatically since, and implying that it is a safe place for a woman to wander home at, say, midnight or one o'clock (as it was, years ago), is living in cloud cuckoo land. Geneva is not like other big cities but I think that people posting here have a responsibility to others who have just arrived in Geneva to tell it like it really is. Obviously rue de Berne itself has been the red light district for many years, but it was only the prostitutes who would harass you before. The foreign drug dealers have made a big difference, and it is naive to pretend otherwise. I have the impression that most of the posters on this forum are just drifting through Geneva, and will move on. Hence the difficulty in finding any really interesting and relevant information here.[/quote]



Interesting... I kind agree, to the extent where I believe that in order to really understand the present you have to understand the past. That's probably the only way to build a reasonably accurate picture of society. But in order to answer this specific question, it's my feeling that it's been answered pretty well by people that have lived in, or spent a lot of time in Paquis during the relevant dates. For instance, how safe the Paquis area was for women during the 1992-2004 period, and how safe Cloud Cuckoo Land was for dogs between 1850 and 1872 are largely irrelevant when gauging what your survival probability would be on Rue de la Navigation at 1h30 tomorrow morning.



Of course a large fraction of people on Glocals are just drifting through Geneva; that's part of the point, isn't it? I mean, targeting the expat community in a city like Geneva, what other demographic is going to make up the bulk of your posters? But those people -- here for a year and posting now -- will have at least been here during the relevant dates. If you want the question answering rigidly, then obviously you should just go and find the crime statistics and forget people's opinions. If you want advice, I can't really think of a better way of doing it. 'Telling it like it really is' as you put it is fine, I agree that posters shouldn't just make shit up but really their duty is to answer the question as best they can from their perspective. Or else keep quiet.

hayes, Apr 6, 2009 @ 10:53

I believe the boudaries on such a answer are not so strongly definied-at the end of the day how can someone be sure on safety?!

...tomorrow the roof can fall onto my head while im walking home ...

So the opinions are to be filtered through people common sense and intelligence.

I thank everybody for the intereting discussion and by the way I am very happy of having found a place in Paquis...where I will move this month!!:w00t:

CIAO CIAO
gabs78, Apr 6, 2009 @ 12:10

Well done Gabs... congrats with your "new" apartment :)

Fionas:

Geneva is like heaven !!!

The only street where they have 3 prostitutes and they call it a Red Light district ???  hahahahahahaha :D

My advice to you : Don't visit Rotterdam or Amsterdam sweety...there they have real Red Light districts.... :D
Arnovd, Apr 6, 2009 @ 15:54

[quote]



For instance, how safe the Paquis area was for women during the 1992-2004 period, and how safe Cloud Cuckoo Land was for dogs between 1850 and 1872 are largely irrelevant when gauging what your survival probability would be on Rue de la Navigation at 1h30 tomorrow morning.



[/quote]



:laugh: god, hayes, you make me laugh! thanks
Minda, Apr 6, 2009 @ 18:56

[quote][b]

Minda (06/04/2009)[/b]



:laugh: god, hayes, you make me laugh! thanks[/quote]



Er, thanks Minda... but the absurdity was actually designed to illustrate a point: that some experience is is more relevant than others, even if the total volume of the less relevant one is greater. Like, y'know, the knowledge attained by someone who had spent a lifetime studying the nature of matter from Leucippus would know nothing compared to someone who had spent fifteen minutes with Nils Bohr.



Anyway, immediately after I hit post I started kicking myself. Who cares about how safe Cloud Cuckoo Land is for dogs? It's the cuckoos that count. And maybe, should you be a follower of the appropriate religion, the clouds.
hayes, Apr 6, 2009 @ 19:11

Hayes, bless you - you are a star! I love your posts... go hayes go :) ;) :cool:



SWISS, Apr 7, 2009 @ 23:01