France with 6 year old - Paris and south

We are considering a trip to France next summer with our six year old. Possibly 5-7 nights in Paris,and a few weeks in a low-key beach town in the south of France somewhere. We are looking for suggestions on where to stay in Paris, and also where to stay in the south of France. we are trying to combine some relaxing beach time, with getting to experience French living. We are not interested in the big resorts, etc. in Nice or elsewhere, but would prefer renting a cottage in a small village where we could walk around, enjoy some beach time, and possibly take day trips to other local towns. anon

We didn't go to museums much (my husband and I visited Paris before, and my son wasn't that keen on them). If you ask my son, the best thing about Paris was Parc Asterix (he happened to get into the Asterix comics books right before we went). It's an amusement park centered around the characters from Asterix, with rides and shows for kids. Beware: if you buy tickets in advance and it happens to raing, THERE IS NO WAY to exchange them though.

Tour Eiffel is a must, and we all enjoyed the Paris Canal boat tours of Canal Martin.The nearby metro stations are Porte de la Villette and Porte de Pantin. The guide book recommended taking it from Parc de la Villette. I don't remember why they liked that direction better, but it could be because of the way the locks can be seen. One can also take the same tour from Musee d'Orsay though. Here is the link to the tours by Paris Canal, and also by Canauxrama which is another boat company: http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/st-martin-canal-cruises.htm

OTher kid-friendly destinations are Versaille where our son loved the boat ride on the lake with swans (there was a swan nest right on the edge of the lake!). France Miniature is a little ways away from Paris, but you get to see the whole of France at once and it's kind of nice.

The only issue was that our son really missed playing with kids, and we were so happy to find a huge playground at Jardin du Luxembourg, next to the puppet theater. There's a small admission charge, but the park is large and clean, and full of kids from ALL countries. My son managed to communicate by pointing, laughing and trying to speak whatever language other kids knew. That also happens to be the park with the old fashioned carousel I've mentioned. take us with you!:)

[Editor] for more responses to this question, see Visiting France

Family Friendly Recommendations for Paris, Venice

We are planning on taking our family to Europe this summer and would like to get recommendations for hotels and attractions in Paris and Venice that would be interesting and attractive for our three children, ages 6, 10 and 16. thanks!

editor note: reviews also received for Venice

Paris with grandma and 5 kids

My sister and I are thinking of a Thansgiving trip to Paris with 5 kids aged 2 mos to 7 years. Yes, we are crazy. We are also planning to bring the 78 year old active grandmother. Although we would prefer to do Paris in a completely different way, this is our situation.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay...hotel accommodations or finding an apartment, and things to do...any pointers on flying besides packing the kids in the cargo hold while the adults fly business class?

I lived in Paris for 6 months 20 years ago and have made several ''adult'' visits since. I do prefer the 16th Arrondisement, and would like to be by the park. -Wish me Bonne Chance!

Paris and Barcelona with 6 and 9 year olds

We're finally going to Europe with the kids (ages 9 and 6) this summer! We'll have a couple of days in Paris and a couple in Barcelona, along with a cruise. What are the ''must see'' things (kid-friendly) in either place? Any other recommendations? We've booked an apartment in Paris in Arrondissement 4. We'll only need a 1-night stay in Barcelona, but I've not booked that yet (2 hotel rooms is too expensive, so we'll be looking for an alternative since there aren't many rooms they'll allow 4 in). Thanks in advance for your suggestions. c_s

Paris with a teen - Which neighborhood?

We're planning a trip to Paris this summer, and I know nothing about the city. Would like to recieve recommendations on which neighborhoods are convenient and fun for tourists. Will be traveling with a teen too. hb

Paris with Teens

We are heading for Paris in March with our 17 yr old boy and 15 yr old girl. Any suggestions on things that might interest them (beside the usual amazing museums etc)? j

Paris without kids - nice 3-4 start hotel?

We are going to Paris without kids in June for 4 days. Anyone have any good recommendations in either St. Germain or the Marais districts for a good, clean, middle of the road hotel?

Researching an apartment rental in Paris

I am planning a 2-week trip to Paris with my Girlfriend and her 5 year-old. I have found a few differnt services that offer short-term apartment rentals (which I have heard are a much better deal, and consequently offer a more personal experience vs, hotels). The two sites I found with the most information were: http://www.welcome2france.com and http://www.paristay.com
Does anyone have experience with apartment rental services in Paris? recommendations? Advice? Is it better to stay in the heart of the city or in a suburb? Thanks! Charles

Buying a vacation apartment in Paris

My husband and I are thinking of investing our small inheritance in a small vacation apartment in Paris. We'd be very interested in hearing about anyone's experiences in buying, renovating and renting apartments in Paris; i.e., useful real estate agents, property managers, closing costs, rental streams, up and coming neighborhoods, etc. We have two small children - 6 and 2 years old - and probably wouldn't be able to visit more than once or twice per year. We have no relatives or friends in Paris, so we'd be heavily reliant on the local real estate agent and property manager. Thanks in advance for any information Paris lover

There was an article in the SF Chronicle back in 2005 on this subject. In it, the author gives 3 or 4 companies that help Americans buy Parisian apartment. The link to the article is given below. If the link doesn't work, go to sfgate.com and search the archives for Paris apartments...the article ran on July 27, 2005, and it has ridiculously long title: ''Finding the American dream in city of light With costs similar to New York, some see opportunity to buy homes.'' The link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/27/HOGDVDTLRV1.DTL&hw=apartment+rental+paris&sn=004&sc=680

Paris for a week with kids + grandma

Hi there, I have checked the archives and have gotten lots of great ideas, but i have a few more questions. My husband and I, our kids (8 and 10) and my Mother in law are going to be going to Paris for a week in mid June. I know I can buy museum tickets online, but I haven't been able to find ways to reserve places or buy tickets for other activities. Is this just something I can do there? I'm worried it will be so busy there that we won't get a chance to do the things we are excited about. I want to make sure the kids get a chance to go to the Catacombs and see the underground sewers. If you know any "off the beaten path" places for us to check out I'd love to here about them as well.

Also, my husband and I will get a chance to go off on our own for a night -- we need some ideas as to where to go. We can rent a car, or take a train, or, ideally we would bike somewhere. If you know of anything really cool, special or unique with in a few hours of Paris please let us know! Thanks cris

A few things I would do with kids are both near the Bastille. One is a boat ride on the Canal St-Martin. The boats are smaller and less touristique than the Bateaux Mouches on the Seine (although those would be fun too, especially at night), they go through locks and the canal goes through more residential areas of Paris and the ride stops at Parc de la Villette which has an Exploratorium type museum, movie theatre, etc.

The other, since you mention biking, is a bike rental store right along the marina. I would rent bikes on Sunday (?) the day that the roads along the Seine are closed for bikers, roller skaters and pedestrians. Attention-you need your passport to rent the bikes.

As for your date night, I would not leave Paris! I would go to a nice restaurant and stroll all night, but that is just me! For an all-family country day trip you could take the train to Giverny and visit Monet's house and gardens. Bon Voyage allison

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



Paris on a shoestring?

April 2004


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


A good combination of the privacy of a hotel with the pricerange 
of a hostel might be the Centre International de Sejour de Paris 
(C.I.S.P.) http://www.cisp.fr which is more like a 
dormitory where you have a private room and shower.  My husband 
and I stayed there for 10 days in spring of 2000.  We stayed at 
the Maurice Ravel location, which is a short walk from the 
Metro.  They have a second location, but I have not stayed 
there.  The rooms were simple, but very clean and bright.  The 
pricing includes breakfast (croissant, boiled eggs, orange 
juice).  According to the website, a room with a shower and 
toilet is 30 Euros per person, if you take a room with a shower 
in the room, but no toilet, the price is 24 Euros per person.  
This is what my husband and I did, and found it very easy.  The 
toilets are ''dorm style'' with a long row of stalls.  Those also 
seemed quite clean.  We didn't have any problems with noise when 
we stayed there, and there was a wide mix of guests -- a study 
abroad group from UC Santa Barbara, an Italian high school girls 
soccer team, young families, etc. etc.  We found it a great, and 
affordable way to be able to see Paris.  Actually, can I come 
with you? :-)  Please feel free to contact me with questions.
Thanks!
Jennifer

Try rentparis.com.  I stayed in one of their apartments in the 
Marais last summer.
Jennifer 

Would you consider a home exchange?  There are lots of 
Parisians who want to come to the Bay Area.  We've had great 
experiences with home exchanges.  It's free, you get the 
experience of living the way the ''natives'' do, you get a free 
housesitter for your own home, and you make new long-distance 
friends (even if you never get to meet them in person).  It's 
especially good when you're traveling with kids.  You can 
exchange with someone else who has kids, which means you'll 
have toys, a crib, a stroller, etc. where you're staying.


There are lots of WEB sites for home exchanges.  I can 
personally recommend www.homeexchange.com.
Patty 

My cousin has used rentvillas.com to get an apartment in Paris 
(and later Florence) near Musee D'Orsay.  I stayed with her in 
Paris.  The apartment was nice and she had no problems with the 
agency.  It was in the 7th district.


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 


I'm hesitant to respond to anything but your direct question, 
but want to warn you that some airlines may be unwilling to 
fly you at 7 months into your pregnancy. The cutoffs seem to 
vary by airline -- having flown ''very pregnant'' I can tell you 
that it won't be comfy, even if your husband is taking care of 
the 2 year-old.


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


I recommend to look into house swapping, a great site is 
www.digsville.com It takes a bit of planning but it is a great 
alternative to staying in a hotel or rent an appartment.
Nicolette 

Have you considered a home exchange with another family who lives 
in Paris?  There are programs on the web that advertise such 
arrangements.  I have heard positive feedback from friends who 
have made such arrangements - saved tons of money and got homey 
accomodations suitable for families.  You could even negotiate 
exchanging vehicles and pet care. Bon voyage!
Liz D. 

has a pond where you can rent toy sail boats. It used to be the 
royal gardens.  The Eiffel Tower can have a long line, but she 
should enjoy the view from the top.  Also, try a street market 
like the one on Rue des Mouffetard. And, she might enjoy 
a trip to Versaille (a REAL castle) that also has alot of 
grounds/gardens. Oh, and a boat trip down the Seine.
Karen H.


Our then-6-year-old loved the science museums in the Jardin des 
Plantes: there is a paleontology gallery with skeletons and 
fossils, basically the same display that's been there since the 
nineteenth-century, and a flashy new ''gallery of evolution'' in 
the main building with dramatically lit displays of animals and 
lots of audio-visual stuff.  Nice snackbar too.  Both galleries 
are also interesting for adults.  There is a geology gallery as 
well but we didn't  have time to visit it.  They are all under 
the aegis of the ''Museum d'histoire naturelle'' but there is a 
separate admission fee for each.


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


We have taken our son, now 5 years old to Paris three times now.
There are loads of things to do in Paris for children that age.
Especially check out the Luxembourg Gardens. They have an truly
fabulous park with amazing climbing structures to work off
energy. My son enjoyed looking at the cathedrals. The stained
glass windows facinated him. Also consider taking some day trips
on the train. We had good success at Versailles, for example. He
enjoyed having his own earphones to listen to the tour, although
when he got tired, he had some trouble. There are loads of other
nice parks too and carousels galore.


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


We went to Paris two summers ago with our two boys, then 9 and 
5.  We had a wonderful time.  I bought a book -- 60 Things to Do 
in Paris with Kids (or something like that) -- and gave it to my 
9-year-old with the mandate to plan our activities.  Only 
EuroDisney was off limits.  He picked some great things.  Some 
were obvious -- like the Eiffel tower and the Louvre (where we 
spent most of our time searching for the mummies).  But the off-
beat things were best.  Both kids loved the creepy tour of the 
catcombs -- a series of underground tunnels with walls made of 
bones.  The tour of Les Egouts, the Paris sewer system (right on 
the Seine near the Eiffel Tower), was stinky, but a big hit with 
the younger one.  The science museum (northeast corner of the 
city) was great, especially on the very rainy day we spent 
there.  The kids loved climbing the stairs of Notre Dame and 
taking pictures of the gargoyles on top.  We watched the Disney 
Hunchback of Notre Dame movie before we left, and tried to find 
as many details as we could that the film got right (and 
wrong).  The Bateaux Mouches boat ride along the Seine was fun.  
We sampled every crepe stand we passed, drank Orangina at cafes 
and rode the Metro a lot.  Our kids are not ambitious eaters, so 
we didn't try nice restaurants, but subsisted on french cafe 
foods like croque monsieurs (basically grilled ham and cheese) 
and pommes frites (french fries) and ordered in french.  It was 
a memorable trip, especially seeing that great city through the 
eyes of the kids.    
Leslie


Lots of good responses to 'Paris with a six-year old'.  A few 
additional things:

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



Medium-term housing in Paris 

October 2003


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


If you are able to exchange houses, check out www.intervac-
online.com  We did a house exchange to Paris in August and it 
was wonderful. The exchange included cars. Ours was only 2 weeks 
but I've seen many done that are longer.  From now on, we think 
it's the only way we'll travel!
mrsairzim


You might try the advert/classified section of the International 
Herald Tribune, where there are always ads for short term/long 
term housing in Paris.  Try the Internet for house exchanges - 
not necessarily meaning that you have to put your home up for 
short-term adoption, but that there are people who offer their 
homes for rent during their absences. My family did that for a 
month in Paris when I was 10 years old, and we lived in Neuilly 
(a posh suburb on the outskirts, or ''banlieu'', of Paris) - it 
was a fantastic place and something I've never forgotten! Paris 
apartments are notoriously tiny, but you might get lucky - my 
brother and I each had our own rooms in this place (unheard 
of!).  Bonne chance!!!  
Andrea


Check out www.chezvous.com.  They are reputable, run locally  
and have very nice apartments throughout Paris.  
- RK



Paris with a 6-year-old

July 2003


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


I went to Paris with my mother and my five-year-old son in
November of last year and we had a great time.  There are obvious
things to try, such as the top of the Eiffel Tower (the elevator
ride is a big hit), the large ferris wheel at the Place de la
Concorde, and the Luxembourg Gardens (great running space, lots
of other kids and pigeons, as well as the marionette theater). 
To make the usual less crowded, you can try doing what we did --
we went at night. The Eiffel Tower was fabulous at night, and
much less crowded.  Though you said your child would balk at a
museum, I think she might manage to get up some enthuiasm for the
mummies in the Egyptian section of the Louvre and the outdoor
gardens at the charming Rodin Museum (my son, no museum-goer,
loved both).  Plus the French bring their kids to the Rodin
Museum to play outside.  We found a good playground at the Jardin
des Plantes, where our son got to play with other kids on a
''pirate'' play structure.  There's also a modest playground at the
Place des Vosges -- we liked it because it's such an
extraordinarily beautiful square, and there were other families
there with their kids playing on the teeter totters and climbing
structures.  In general playgrounds are good for talking to
people and letting off steam (yours and the kid's).


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


The Jardin de Luxemberg (Luxemberg Gardens) has carousels, play 
structures, alot of room to run and is where Parisians take their 
kids on Sunday.  Also, the Les Touillieres (sp) near the Louvre 



Places to Stay in Paris & South of France

April 2002


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



Last year my husband, infant son and I stayed at Novotel
Les Halles.
Very centrally located. Close to all the major sights,
a Metro station, tons of cheap, good food.
Geared toward families, etc.


Danielle


Chez Vous, an outfit that operates out of Sausalito,
rents apartments all over Paris.  They range from
modest (with the typical minimalist French kitchen) to
quite opulent.  We stayed last year in the apartment
called Le Rossignol.  It is a two bedroom place in the
7e arrondissement (Metro: Ecole Militaire), a few blocks
from the Eiffel Tower.  The place was modest (we didn't
want precious antiques our kids could trash), but
reasonably comfortable and it was great to have an
apartment as home base.


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 


My husband and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Paris.  I did a lot 
of research
before our trip and found that the Fodor's website was really helpful.  The 
rants and raves
section (about hotels and restaurants) helped me to choose our 
hotel.  Also, the discussion
about Paris and France is very, very active.  If you post a question there, 
particularly
about traveling with children, I'm sure you'll get many useful 
responses.  Check out
www.fodors.com


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




Looking for Apartments, Villas in Paris

2001


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


There are several services that rent furnished Paris apartments by the day
or week, including Sausalito-based Chez Vous. There are also several
"apart-hotels" that provide apartments with daily maid service, including
the Citadine hotel chain. The FUSAC publication (French-USA Contacts), a
magazine of advertisements published in New York, lists many of the rental
services and apart-hotels.

Andrew 





We are trying, at the last minute, to take advantage of some great fares
and take our 3 year old to Paris for a week with friends of ours who also
have a 3 year old.  Does anyone know somewhere we can stay in Paris where
we can get a suite with a common room and two bedrooms, or adjoining rooms,
or something where we can put the kids to sleep and still have somewhere
for the adults to stay up an enjoy?  And, of course we are looking for
something reasonably priced and near enough to the main attractions!  Also,
any suggestions of things to do in Paris with kids in March would be much
appreciated.  I have checked the archives, but didn't find much.  Thanks.


There is a chain of apartment hotels in Paris called "Citadines" -- they
range greatly in price depending on the location, but some of the ones in
less fashionable neighbourhoods are relatively inexpensive.  They used to
have a web site, www.citadines.com, but the last time I tried it it was
down.  I recommend them for travelling with a small child since they come
with a small kitchen and you can eat there if you don't feel like going
out.  They have suites with a small bedroom and a living room with fold-out
bed, which means that your child can sleep in one room while you hang out
in the other.  The ones we've stayed in are child-friendly and have cribs.
In my experience having a portacrib is not a necessity in London or Paris
since a lot of hotels have cribs, but it's nice not to have to rely on them
and it also works as a playpen if necessary. Hannah



As a French girl growing up in Paris, my brother and I loved to go to:

- 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


Petra



One great thing I did with my wife and then 1.5 yr old was in Versailles,
where, instead of visiting the palace, we rented two bikes (one with child
seat-no helmet though) and rode bikes, on a beautiful hot summer day, in
the park/gardens.  It was a lot of fun: we rode around the 1K long "Grand
Canal", got to see the Petit Trianon and the Hamlet, where Marie Antoinette
played farm.
The bike rental place is at a gate called "porte St Antoine" I think,
access to which would require a car.  There they have kid size bikes and
the rentals are reasonable.
As a kid, I had to be dragged inside the palace, and it has left no fun
memories, but I also got to have picnics and take my bike to the park,
which I remember with great fondness.
Eric











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