• Airfares to France - travel agent or consolidator 2006
• Apartment or pension in Paris 2006
• Small romantic reasonably priced B&B in Paris 2005
• Apartment in Paris for 5 days 2005
• Places for a family to stay in Paris 2004
• Buying French train tickets here 2004
• Paris on a shoestring? 2004
• France with Little Kids 2004
• Medium-term housing in Paris 2003
• Paris with a 6-year-old 2003
• Car rentals and carseats in France 2003
• Trip to Brittany with 7-year-old 2003
• Looking for Apartments, Villas in Paris 2001
• Places to Stay in Paris & South of France 2002
• Contacts for American families in Paris
• International Schools in Paris
• Moving to Paris
• More Recommendations

Airfares to France - travel agent or consolidator

I'm trying to get two adults and four children to France as cheaply as possible this summer. Tips on cheap travel often advise one to find a travel agent or consolidator that specializes in one's destination country. Can anyone suggest an agent whose specialty is France (but not high-end travel)? The agent need not be local. We're also willing to travel via a third country (Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, U.K. etc.) to get lower fares. Any and all money-saving advice is welcome! (I did check the website before posting.) Siobhan

www.kayak.com
www.sidestep.com
www.farechase.com

Apartment or pension in Paris

I will be traveling to London and Paris with my 6 year old daughter In August. We will be staying with my sister in London and I am looking for lodging recommendations in Paris. (We will be there 9 days.) I would like a pension type place or an apartment which is well located...a place where we can really experience Paris. We don't need the Ritz...just something safe and comfortable. Also, I want suggestions on things to do with kids in London & Paris including day trips. I have visited both cities pre-children and am looking forward to taking my daughter. Thanks! Sarah

Small romantic reasonably priced B&B in Paris

My husband and I will visit paris next spring. Does anyone have any suggestions for small, romantic, and reasonably priced hotels or B&B's? We'll also be in Lyon for 5 days if anyone has stayed there as well. I welcome any advice. Thank you. ljf

Somthing else to think about: Craigslist Paris. There are a lot of listings for short (as short as a week usually) term sublets. I think staying in an apt. is much cheaper when you figure in eating. Plus you get to play house... which to me is a load of fun. Shopping for your dinner is the ultimate Paris experience... if you eat at nice restaurants for lunch, and cook your dinner, you will save loads of money.

I have a lot of budget tips for Paris... I have been seriously poor and had the best times of my life. Feel free to email me. Sarah

Apartment in Paris for 5 days

We're travelling to Europe this summer and will be in Paris for 5 days and are looking for an apartment to rent. Can anyone recommend a rental agency they had a good experience with? slpb

Places for a family to stay in Paris

Hi there, My husband, my mother, my two kids, and I will be in France for a few weeks in August. We'll be in Paris from aproximatley the 20 to the 25 and would like recommendations on inexpensive places to stay. The less money the better, although nothing seems cheap in Paris. I'll be staying on for five more days for a conference and if it was cheap for signles or doubles that would be great to. I have heard you can rent apartments I don't know if that would work thought since we will be there less then a week. Any recomendations about activites or places to eat with a 6 and 9 year old would be much appriciated as well. Thanks, Liz

Port-Royal Hotel
8, boulevard Port-Royal
Paris, France  75005

Buying French train tickets here

Can anyone recommend a method for buying train tickets for France before leaving home? (I don't want to use RailEurope.com because of the large markups and the difficulty in using their particular site to arranging exactly the itinerary I need.) A travel agent would be fine, and a website even better. I do know about the SNCF's website, but given that I'd have to pay with a credit card with a U.S. billing address, and the U.S. is a country that the SNCF site does not serve, I can't see how to actually do it. (If you've found a way, please tell me!) I also know that I could probably buy the tickets much cheaper and more reliably after I arrive in France, but the timing of my trip is very tight, and I am afraid to go without a reservation. Siobhan

Even if your ticket goes farther than you plan to travel, perhaps the convenience will be worth it. You can click on a train number and find out every stop it makes.

Even if you are not going to/toward Germany, the site is FABULOUS for info on almost any train in Europe. You can use it to check schedules, connections, how long different options take, etc. You can also link to a page that tells you every train leaving and arriving at a particular station for each hour of the day - for every station in Europe! Enjoy your trip. R.K.

Paris on a shoestring?

Does anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive trip to Paris in early June, with a 2 1/2 year old? We have very little money right now, but are expecting our second baby in early August, and are desperate to have a nice (if fairly brief) vacation before this happens and we are unable to travel again for a couple more years.

We are not ''hostel'' type people (my husband would never be into that sort of ''roughing it,'' as privacy is very important to him.) But I was thinking about trying to rent an apartment for 7 - 10 days. It would probably be easier anyway with a toddler, in terms of cooking more meals, napping, etc.

I'm actually starting to think about willingly going into debt to do this - something I would normally never do! So I figured I really must look into the alternatives to a pricey but comfortable hotel.

Does anyone know of any place to start looking? Know of anyone with an empty apartment they'd like to rent? Does anyone have an idea of the going rates, and maybe neighborhoods that are better than others for both saving some money and staying with children?

Any advice/recommendations appreciated! desperate to get away

If you do a websearch for Paris, apartment and rental, you'll get a whole bunch of sites that offer apartments. I can only vouch for service my cousin used.

The 6th and 7th districts are both decent areas to stay in. We felt safe walking around at all hours. And as long as you stay near a subway stop, everything of interest is easily accessible. And the reality is that just about everywhere is close to a subway stop.

Also, you could get hold of a Rick Steve's book. He usually lists inexpensive, yet totally functional (and non-hostelish) places to stay. I know he recommends one neighborhood that is about halfway between Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower (don't remember the name right now). We happened through that area one day and it was very pleasant. All the grocery shops and cafes that you'd need located in one spot. Bob

BUT (and I'm still not answering your question directly) you might be surprised at how easy it is to travel a year from now, with an infant and a 3 year-old.

I've been to Paris with small children, while living in another part of France. The good news is that the French are wonderful to little children -- nicer to people with children than without.

If you decide to go this year, you can easily get a week's entertainment out of walking around town (bring a stroller), visiting the museums and the Zoo, eating bread and cheese by the Seine, etc. We also spent a day or two at EuroDisney -- even if you HATE Disneyland -- a Mickey Mouse who speaks French, and surly cast members at ''the happiest place on Earth'' is a wonderful experience. Heather

France with Little Kids

My husband and I are considering taking our 2.5 year old and our 6-month-old to France this summer. We'd like to spend about 5 days in Paris and then rent a house somewhere in the country. I checked the website and read the reviews about things to do in Paris with little ones. But I'm wondering first if we're nuts to think this might be a good idea. Second, can anyone recommend a place outside Paris to stay for a week or so with kids? Thanks in advance. Dreaming of Paris

We then took the train to Aix en Provence and drove from there to a little mediviel village called ansouis where we stayed in a little house with a pool and a little plot of land in the shadow of the grand chateau. Everyday we would pack up and go to a different market somewhere. We spent a day on the beach in cassis tasting wine and bouillabase and playing in the sand. We went to the Rhone Valley. It was all great. I rented a car seat with the car so I didn't have to drag mine through the airport. I used my stroller more than the backpack I brought but be warned they don't usually allow you to bring the stroller to the airplane as they do here in the states. I had to make special arrangements to do this and they put it with the regular baggage it isn't waiting for you at the runway like here.

Get a bulkhead seat so the kids can play at your feet on the plane. We foudn our apartment in Paris and the house in Ansouis on www.vrbo.com. They have some great places- the hard part is fidning the right one! I have a friend that rents an apartment in Montmare so if you were thinking of staying there let me know and I'll get you in touch with her. I thought the trip was great and was so glad I got to share it with my son. Even though I know he won't remember it exactly it will still be meaningful and certainly is for me. Have a wonderful trip and enjoy every moment! Juliette

I have several friends (Americans) who have places in Southern France, especially the Dordogne, which they rent. This is a fabulous area for families because of the terrain, the food, the prehistoric sites, canoeing on very gentle, shallow rivers, etc. At most campgrounds, one can find a swing set and an inexpensive eatery. Pizza is everywhere, as well. The main caution is that once you are out of the urban areas, mealtimes are pretty strictly observed, and you may not be able to get food whenever you want it. A place with some kitchen facilites can be quite helpful. If you want info about my friends'places, feel free to contact me. kim

I took my son (and my mom!) to Paris when my son was four. He loved going up in the Eiffel Tower (we went at night) and visiting the many playgrounds (there are playgrounds in great places like the Jardin des Plantes, the Luxembourg Gardens, even a rudimentary one at the Place des Vosges, etc.) There were little carnival rides at one Metro stop (I can't recall which one right now), pigeons to chase on the square in front of Notre Dame, crepes to consume (with Nutella!), Orangina, picnics in really great places for kids to run around (the Rodin Museum -- great garden!). The puppet theater in the Luxembourg Gardens is great -- no knowledge of French required for Punch and Judy (some tolerance for mild violence required, however). If they've been very good kiddles, you can take them to Le Nain Bleu (The Blue Dwarf), toystore heaven. The boat rides on the Seine are OK but can get long for little ones (yes, I do give in to their demands on occasion). But subway rides and train rides are great entertainment. My son liked the heavily armed police on the Metro trains :) Even the Louvre is OK if you head straight for the mummies and don't linger long.

In short, the stuff they love here, they'll love there, and you'll love it more 'cause you're in France. Bon voyage France 4-ever

Bon Voyage -- you are not crazy to go! Email me if you'd like more specifics. Nancy

Here are the tips I can provide about our travels:

1. Our kids' allowable baggage was a stoller only (I think this was because we bought both girls a space in an infant bassinet that hangs on the wall, so their luggage allowance was minimal). But because we were flying internationally, we (the two adults) were allowed two 70 lb. suitcases EACH, and one carry on each. In our carry-ons, we packed all the food, books, diapers, and toys the girls would need for two days. (we also managed to carry on my purse and my husband's camera case without anyone seeming to care that we really had two carry-ons each.) We each packed one suitcase only. In both were clothes for all four of us. This allowed us another ''bag'' each used to check two infant/toddler backpacks (instead of the second 70 lb. bag). We also checked the stroller as luggage.

2. The wall-mounted bassinet was a lifesaver. It allowed more storage space, a place to set the baby down and let her play, and a sleep space. Our girls were about 21 lbs., so they didn't sleep very well in the bassinet (especially on our return trip, when they definately outgrown the bassinet), but it still allowed us loads of space to prepare food, let a girl play, etc. The alternative would have been exhausting: holding a baby each for hours, kicking our carry-ons under our feet, preparing baby food in our laps. Air France charged us on 10% of an adult fare for the bassinet.

3. We used the stoller and the backpacks the entire trip.

4. We found that flying at night worked much much better than starting a flight at the beginning of the day. This was because everyone in the plane, on an overnight flight, settles down and tries to get some rest. This allowed for a quieter environment and our girls slept about five or six hours on the overnight flight. The day flight was much different. As we returned to the US, we found we would land around 5pm SF time, but we were on French time still which would have been around 1am. However, everyone on our plane stayed awake, socialized, mulled around, bumped into us in the aisles while we tried to rock a baby. (I assume everyone stayed awake to integrate themselves onto SF time which was still daylight.) Our girls slept about 45 minutes because of the background noise and the bussle-about everywhere. It was exhausting for us all.

5. We rented convertable car seats from our rental car agency for the price of about $25 for the entire three weeks were rented the car! This was a great deal! Since we wanted to travel with stroller and with backpacks, we didn't have the added luggage allowance to bring car seats.

6. Airline staff were very helpful for the most part, regarding the special needs of our kids and the lack of sleep we were getting. The let us keep the bassinets attached to the wall for the longest possible time before we landed (you have to strap kids without their own seat into your lap on take off and landing) so our girls would sleep (they noticed our girls had been asleep only a few hours). They also kept our dinners warm until our girls went to sleep since we had to hold them much of the time they were awake.

7. The single most difficult travel detail I can remember was that we had no stroller to roll kids from terminal to terminal when we connected from Paris to the south. This was because we *had* to check the stroller as luggage. We begged to carry it on but the airline could not store it on the passenger deck. The lack of a stroller in connecting airports was a real ''bummer'' because we were dragging carry-on's and sleeping kids through an airport (one of you can push the luggage but the other can't really carry two kids).

8. Jet lag: keep your expectations low about getting out and sightseeing for the first four days. Your kids will be jet lagged and waking at California times for two - four days. This is tiring for you too, needless to say. They do adjust though so plan your more ambitious plans for mid trip and late trip. Allow for jet lag when you return too. I'd not recommend returning to work the day after you arrive home.

Hope this helps! travelled with twins

We had been to Paris before and so decided that that part of the trip was our son's. Up til then we took him in to all the tourist places, one of us leaving when he was cranky. He often fell asleep in his stroller, and didn't mind being carted round such places as Mont St Michel (make sure there's two of you to carry).

In Paris, we had ice cream across from Notre Dame on the Ile St Louis - Berthilland, I think is the name. We explored the parks and playgrounds behind Notre Dame, by the Invalides, and by the Eiffel Tower. The latter is terrific - a hand cranked carousel that children can ride without adults standing by them (safety belts) There were also tons of children, all multilingual - Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Italian and English being the most common languages. The Rodin Museum sculpture garden is free and has all the best sculptures, and the kids love to run around in it. We ALL had a magical time.

For a slightly older child there are many things of interest in the museums - the mummies and big sculptures spring to mind. The three day pass to the Louvre allows you to go in and out as you please, and avoid the queue of people buying tickets, once you have bought it.

Packing - by all means have two days supply of milk, snacks, and diapers if required. Don't overpack though - you can buy EVERYthing you need from diaper wipes to diapers to toothpaste to whatever there, and half the fun of the trip will be the odd side trips to find said items in some small town or out of the way corner in Paris. We took one big suitcase with wheels for our clothes, a small duffle for our son, two carry ons, the stroller, car seat, and a ''food bag'' with our sons on board stuff. We were gone for over a month and had a PC and telephone too. That and the cameras took up most of the carry on space. Nancy

Medium-term housing in Paris

I am looking for a medium-term rental in Paris for summer 2004 (6-8 weeks). 1-2 bedrooms, prefer in 3rd 5th or 6th, or close to the Gare de Lyon. Does anyone have or know of or has anyone had experience with (positive OR negative) a rental property or an agency? There are so many sites and ads on the web, I would be grateful for any particular recommendations. Thank you! J

Paris with a 6-year-old

We're visiting Paris this summer with our 6 year old daughter. Any ideas on fun kid things to do? After dragging her to MOMA too many times as a toddler, she doesn't want to set foot in another art museum. moni

When we wanted to go for a little toy bribery, Le Nain Bleu (The Blue Dwarf) was the place -- both wonderful old-fashioned toys and all the modern junk your child's heart desires, on three floors (!) of an elegant building. Wonderful service (you feel like you're in a design clothing store or a jewelry store rather than a toy emporium).

Finally, just life in the city -- running across the grand squares (my son likes to chase pigeons and indulged this on the Place de la Concorde and at Notre Dame), sitting down to dinner at a less formal but still delicious place, snacking on great pastries in the park -- nothing fancy, just life in general -- is great fun.

We went to Disney-Paris, but I wouldn't recommend it necessarily. Big crowds. Some fun stuff like an Alice in Wonderland maze, but I think my son enjoyed the train ride to the park most of all. Trains, subways, and boats! They were good. Amusement park rides... well, we have the same at home.

Bon voyage!

Linda R

On previous visits we've all also enjoyed the ''Cite des Sciences'' which I think is in Vincennes, just outside Paris at the end of one of the metro lines (out of the way, but easy to get to). That is part of a new museum and activities complex which also includes a museum of musical instruments.

Our daughter loved the carrousel and swings in the Jardin du Luxembourg, and there are lots of small parks with play areas scattered around Paris. And I think her favourite thing of all was going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Just don't try to buy anything to eat up there -- the food they sell is overpriced and bad.

A good child-friendly place to eat is the food court in the ''Grand Louvre'' complex. It's like a food court in an American mall, but the food is more interesting. The couscous is especially good, but there are lots of different options. Hannah Ginsborg ginsborg@socrates.berkeley.edu

Restaurants can be a problem for kids in Paris, but there are some kid friendly places. Mine really liked a chain called Hippopotomus.

I think the key to traveling to a place like Paris with a child around this age is that the parents have to realize that they aren't going to be able to do all adult stuff. We tried to work in as many playing opportunities as possible, then hit the art museums while he slept in his stroller.

Vive la France! parent of a world traveler

When my brother and I visited Paris as children with our 
parents, my mother always did a marvelous job of planning each 
day.  I really can not recommend highly enough that you do a lot 
of research and have a coherent plan for each day -- with 
activities for everyone.


Mom's plans generally included a museum or monument, a kids 
activity, and a special treat -- something like a visit to the 
Louvre, sail boats on the pond in the Tuilleries, and indulge in 
hot chocolate at Angelina or a Nutella crepe in the gardens.  
And, every fourth day or so, we would venture out of the city on 
a bigger adventure.


MUSEUMS
Museums really don't have to be drudgery and, even if they are, 
they leave such lasting important impressions. If your child 
reports to despise them now, she will probably cherish the 
memories years later.  Activities to make museums more fun 
include allowing your child to visit the giftshop first to 
purchase a postcard of a work of art.  You can then go on a 
scavenger hunt to find the work.  You can play a similar game as 
you enter each gallery, just scan the room for a picture of 
something that would interest your daughter -- then ask her to 
find the picture with a dog, red flower, etc....


In addition to the Louvre, the Picasso Museum, the Orangerie, 
and the Orsay, you might also consider the following museums:
-- Modern art museum in the Pompideau Center.  Modern art can 
really appeal to children... and the spectacle outside the 
center -- street performers, a children's library, interesting 
water fountains.... is great.
-- La Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie - One of the world's 
largest and most visited science museums is an impressive modern 
site in northeastern Paris. The Parc de la Villette is a unique 
area of culture and leisure in Paris. 
-- If your daughter likes dress-up, you might try The Musie des 
Arts de la Mode et du Textile which houses a collection of 
roughly 30,000 costumes from the 18th century to the present. 


MONUMENTS
All of the regular monuments -- Notre Dame, Sacre Couer, Eiffel 
Tower, Sainte Chapelle, etc... should be relatively enjoyable 
for your daughter. If you have read any picture books with her 
featuring Paris, then she should particularly enjoy seeing the 
real things.  


Additionally, I highly recommend a tour of the Seine on a Bateau 
Mouche.  The tour gives you a great overview of the city and is 
quite enjoyable for any age.


KIDS ACTIVITIES
Believe it or not, Paris really has tons of kid venues.  A few 
ideas include:
- Sailing boats on the pond, a carousel or pony ride in the 
Tuilleries gardens.
- One of the above activities and playing in the park or seeing 
a wonderful puppet show in the Jardins de Luxembourg.
- A couple of years ago, Paris erected a HUGE ferris wheel in 
the middle of the city, I haven't seen it, but it is supposed to 
be fantastic.
-- One of the best parks for kids is the Jardin d'Acclimatation. 
There is an admission charge for the park but it's worth every 
penny. This park is best visited on Wednesday. 
-- What about a Zoo? Though the largest zoo is at Bois de 
Vincennes, the most appealing is the small but wonderful 
Menagerie du Jardin de Plantes in the 5th arrondissement. 


GETTING AWAY FROM THE CITY
Versailles is a wonderful day trip from Paris....  The palace is 
interesting, but the gardens are really the highlight and a 
wonderful place for kids.


I also highly recommend a visit to Giverny (Monet's Gardens).  
This would be especially delightful if your daughter has enjoyed 
the book or video Linnea in Monet's Garden by Bjork.


SPECIAL TREATS
Who can think of France or Paris without thinking gourmet?  A 
highlight of my early trips to France was sampling all kinds of 
gourmet treats.  You might:
- allow your daughter to sample a different fancy pastry each 
day from a pastisserie
- go on a search for the best hot chocolate in the city 
(definitely try Angelina's on the Rue de Rivoli... an ornate tea 
room that serves ''hot chocolate...'' basically a melted chocolate 
bar.)
- Sample a different kind of crepe each day from a sidewalk 
vendor
- Try going to or three times to Berthillion's ice cream on the 
Ile Saint Louis for the best ice cream in the world in original 
and delicious flavors!
- do all of the above!

Bon Voyage!
Connellan

The city website lists all the summer events, including those for kids: www.paris.fr. There are, among other things, free outdoor movies at La Villette (this also happens to be where the Science Museum is). There is also ''Beach in Paris'' where the city brings in sand, parasols and beach chairs and sets up a mini-beach along the Seine.

The Eiffel Tower sparkles for about 5 minutes on the hour after dark, and is quite a thrill.

If it's really hot, there's a fabulous ''dancing'' fountain at parc Andre Citroen in the 15th (metro Lourmel), which kids run around in in their bathing suits--good free activity.

The play structure at the Luxembourg IS amazing, but costs money. Almost every single other park in Paris will have free play structures to climb on--a good one is in the Champs de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower.

Chartres cathedral is only about an hour away by train, and has stained glass windows that entrance even a two-year old, in our experience.

Do six-year olds like shopping? THE street for reasonable kids' clothing/shoes, and some toy stores, is rue St Placide in the 6th (and summer sales last until August 2nd this year). Aimee

Car rentals and carseats in France

We will be traveling in France this summer, and plan to rent a car for about two weeks. Two questions: Does anyone have a positive experience with a particular consolidator or discounter? And, what about rental carseats? We will have to lug our giant Britax with us if we can't rent a seat for our soon-to-be-two-year-old. We'd like to have a carseat rental included with the car, but I'm concerned about the safety and reliability of the seats that are provided. Does anyone have experience with a French childseat rental? Alexa

Also, you might want the Britax for the plane. We were able to use it on every flight we took. Just ask if there's a free seat just before boarding, and you might get lucky. It's a long ride to hold a little one...

Good luck. Again, I say, haul the Britax with you. anon

Trip to Brittany with 7-year-old

I am planning to go on spring break to a village in France called Noirmoutiers which is on an island near Nantes. Does any one have suggestions on travel and places that are interesting to a 7 year old girl in that area. Restaurant suggestions are also appreciated. Also what is the best route, fly into Paris and train to Nantes or Fly into Rennes and drive from there. Thank you in advance for your help. alan

As for getting there, I highly recommend taking the train in. We took it to Rennes, but from the SNCF site, it seems like the train from Montparnasse to Nantes is just a bit over 2 hours. I found it easy (except for my mom beating me at Gin Rummy). Have a great trip! Jennie

I am sure you can find info. on parks, events, museums, local craft studios and other stuff on line. Search under ''Brittany'' and follow links to the different ''departements'' (?) within Brittany. Recently I was able to find a lot of stuff on line regarding Normandy for a friend.

You have probably been to France before and you proably know this already, but just in case....make sure your daughter knows to say ''Bonjour Madam'' to the proprietor when she goes into a store and ''Merci Madam'' when she leaves. It makes such a difference to the French! Have a wonderful time! anonymous

Looking for Apartments, Villas in Paris

I am planning a family trip to Paris next spring, and am looking for recommendations as to an apartment/villa to stay in. Can anyone recommend a place they stayed in, or a website they found helpful? Looking for somewhere that sleeps six and is close to public transportation, in a fun location. Thanks!! Kristin

- Le Palais de la Decouverte (in the "Grand Palais", near Champs Elysees), abit like the Exploratorium in SF but a lot better (more hands on science demos)

- Le Jardin d'Acclimatation / Le Jardin des Plantes: huge natural history museum with dnosaur bones and green houses full of exotic plants from the jungle

- Berthillon: best ice cream/sherbets in Paris, located on Ile Saint Louis

- Bateau-mouche: motorboat cruise on the Seine river (best at night)

- you can also visit the sewers and the catacombs (2 separate tours) for a spooky and interesting side of Paris history, always a hit with the kids!!
Caroline

I lived for several years in the Paris region.
There is also:

- Le Musee d'Histoire Naturelle , after several decades of closure and recent
        renovation it reopened about four years ago, many stuffed animals and
        a dinosour skeleton (I think)
- Jardin du Luxembourg, Park with lots of people and many small attractions for
        kids, might be expensive since you have to pay every time
- Buttes Chaumont, Park with artificial rocks, hills, lake, waterfall, sort of
         "caves", very Parisian atmosphere, from high point view to Montmartre
- Chateau de Versailles

Places to Stay in Paris & South of France

I am going to travel to France for two weeks in June with my two children. My daughter will be almost 9 years old and son almost a year old. The first week I think to spend in Paris and the second week somewhere in the south. Can somebody recommend a good place to stay in Paris, which is comfortable to be in with a baby and in a convinient location? I am not looking for luxurious and elegant place (though it will be an additional bonus :) ) but rather for a comfortable and nice hotel/apartment, near Metro and/or RER station, near park, with easy walk to restaurants and stores. Also would greatly appreciate recommendations on the places to stay in Southern France. I didn't decide on the exact place yet, so open to all suggestions. Thank you. Natasha

Re South of France: That covers a lot of ground. I have one suggestion. I have old friends (a family I spent two summers with as a kid) who run a little auberge (Auberge de la Ferme de la Caille) in a small town called La Balme de Sillingy in Haute Savoie. It used to be a farm, and they still raise much of the produce they serve in the restaurant. There are campsites, several nice rooms to rent by the night, and a dozen or so cabins with kitchens that rent by the week. It is quite reasonable I believe -- perhaps $600/week for the cabins. They have a tennis court and swimming pool, and the town is up against a little mountain that is fun to hike up. The family that runs the place -- a brother and sister (Jean Paul Daviet and Marie-Claude Sottas)-- provide traditional French hospitality and are the nicest people you ever will meet. They live on the property with their families (as does another brother, Francois). There are lots of kids there, mostly from France but some from elsewhere in Europe. Some families have vacationed there for 15 years. My kids took off with a bunch of French kids (some resident and some guest) and disappeared for hours. The food is regional fare, very heavy on the cheeses and potatoes. Annecy, a jewel of a city on Europe's cleanest lake, surrounded by mountains, is about 15 minutes south. If you go there, it will be real French experience -- this is a little place that does no real advertising, no Americans have discovered it, and no one speaks much English. But I suspect it will be a blast. It was for us. The website is auberge-de-la-caille@wanadoo.fr. Phone: 04 50 68 85 21. Tell them Leslie sent you. Leslie

We liked our hotel, Hotel de L'Abbaye, very much. Room was not large, but of high quality and it had the nicest European hotel bathroom I have seen. (Keep in mind our last trip to Europe was the backpacking/hosteling variety). Breakfast room was lovely, service was very good. If you are looking to spend $150-$250 per night, I would recommend, Hotel de L'Abbaye in the 6th. We did see a couple there with a baby who was about 14-15 months old. A major benefit for you would be that it is close to the Luxembourg Gardens where there is tons of open space and play equipment for kids. If you are looking to spend less, you can learn more about other hotels on the Fodor's site. If you want more info, email me and I'll send you my list of restaurants we liked and our best new ''musee'' find. Whitney

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Tom also provides car rentals and train tickets. He found both families terrific deals on cars. I work for the airlines and usually my rates are really great but he got a better deal for me. We paid less than $200 for a station wagon. His number is 1 800 999 0244 or 510 253-7514. His web page is :http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/french_escapades. Lastly, his email address is:100755.2444@compuserve.com. He will also be able to help you out with places to stay in Paris. Have fun! Gloria