A different kind of election...please vote, I can't decide! Paris, Rome or the UK for a surprise trip for the kids!

I can only tell you that we went to Paris in mid February 07. and we are headed there again for mid February 09. Got a super deal on FF award tickets, round trip with a good connection, Pittsburgh to Paris. Only 35k miles per ticket.

We had a great time in Feb 07, and we were mostly there for RetroMobile, an exotic/antique car show. Fun if anyone in your family is a car person.

This time the big occasion is a great ballet program at L'Opera.

We rented through rentparis.com and are doing it again. Our last apartment was great for three, would probably be good for 4. Huge bath and huge laundry.

This time we are getting a cheap little studio at 80 euro per night. But it looks great to us.

I think the Marais would be a great spot for you to stay with your kids, because they sound a little older.

I can only share my experience. I love Rome and I am anxious to get back to England, but somehow finding myself in Paris again.

I second Paris!! I too love Rome, been there twice. But since you and the kids have been to the UK and you Rome, I say broaden your horizons.

Paris is an amazing city and look forward going back again soon. I think you will have a good time.

Whatever you choose, have a great time!!

Tom

tuscan - may I ask what airline you were able to get ff tickets for 35k miles? That was a great deal.

pantelia - I vote for Rome. I'm conflicted over the budget, because if spending $6k it would be a shame to only have 5 days (I'd probably choose whatever I could do for 10 days). On the other hand, we just returned from France and I was shocked at how much we ended up spending, mostly because of the exchange rate and partly because we did some expensive activities and ate out much more than usual.

What fun to have such a surprise - I love it! And ooh ooh ooh, I vote for Paris!

First, I think you are SO smart to use extra money to take a vacation with your kids - those times together are irreplacable. We absolutely treasure our vacations with our children.

We took our family (me, DH, our 3 children - mid to late 20s - and two in-laws) to Paris in June 2006, and it was heaven! There is just so much to see, and the Metro makes it so accessible. We all liked the fact that each couple could just say, hey, going out (shopping, eating, museum-going), see you in 2 hours. They were just captivated with Paris. (We tried to re-create it this December - had the apartment rented and everything -but had to cancel. So we're all going to Napa instead).

In 2006, we stayed in the top floor, three bedroom apartment of parisvacationapartments.com, which is located on the gardens of the Palais Royal next to the Louvre, and was a great location. They do have other apartments available in February (I see one in the 6th, St Germain des Pres) at $2350 per week. Not sure if that's in your budget - but I do know that this company is just wonderful and the apartments are fabulous. Or you could find another one, no problem.

I would check on the fashion shows, though - arent' they in February? Maybe someone else knows.

I hope you get to do it! It will be great.

Sorry, missed the "5 days" part. Some apartments only rent for a week - I think the PVA apartments one of them. But there are some others for 5 days.

Have fun!

My mom's headed there again, tomorrow for her 80th and I ache and yearn to go with her, or jump on a plane and surprise her, but, you know, the economy, my job, my son's college tuition. . . .

But, yes, Paris. Yes, she said yes, in the most Molly Bloom yes way.

I was going to say, hmm, Paris in February, very iffy on the weather, but then I'm from L.A. and the weather where you live (which I don't know about) may be, uh, as cold as Minnesota in which case Paris would be really a quite warm alternative.

I took my husband to Paris for the first time in November, and as much as he hates cold weather, he LOVED it. The Metros are VERY warm in winter, you know.

So, yes, Paris, that's my vote.

PS, it's my son's favorite city too.

Paris,
London is a cop out, you will stay with relative and have fish and chips again,, no no no.. LOL

Paris food is awesome.
Sites are amazing.
Euros is easier to take then pound.. both are yikes mind you.
Don't waste time on something you've done, do something memorable, you only go around once.

I still am not sure why you can take 10 days in London but only 5 in Paris or Rome??

At that time of year you might consider none of your 3 options and instead go for Barcelona. Ive been there twice in February and enjoyed warm days, lunch alfresco by the beach and of course great bars and evenings out as well as wonderful architecture and shopping

I'd vote for Paris or Rome over West Yorkshire especially because you have all been there already.

We had great weather (can't count on it of course) and a great time in Rome in February 2007. Our son was then 16 and loved not only the Roman ruins he had really wanted to see but also the piazzas and fountains in the historic center. I am sure he would have enjoyed it even more if his brother had been along and they could have taken off together.

There should be apartments available in Rome for a 5 night stay. We found realrome.com had good affordable places, and the owner is great to work with.

Paris would also be a great destination and I think you could find your way around with no trouble if you do good advance reading and planning. Of course one big advantage of choosing Paris over Rome is the language factor. But I have found Italy remarkably easy to visit with only about 25 words of Italian

In our case it was easy to choose Rome because our son had listed it as his top destination for years after studying ancient Rome in 6th grade.

Hi P,

Paris, Paris, Paris.

My vote is Paris.
I understand wanting to go back to a place you're familiar with. But consider spending some prep time familiarizing yourself with the city (and this forum is one good place to do that). Study some maps, get a layout of the subway system, and so on.
That way, you won't feel as if you're going in blind.
Highly recommend an apartment as a money saver. It'll be cheaper than hotel rooms, and you can prepare an occasional meal, especially breakfast, instead of going out to eat.

I'm not sure why the UK would be so much less expensive that you could stay there for twice the time as either Paris or Rome. Could you explain?

I'd opt for Paris or Rome, and look into renting an apartment for a week in either of those cities. Most likely cheaper than the two hotel rooms you would need.

There are potentially 4 of you going and you have $6000 in your budget for the trip, including airfare? Have you looked at the cost of airfare for your dates? it's really gone up substantially in the last year.
I went to Rome in March this year and my ticket was $870. We bought the tickets in August '07 and by January those same seats were more than double the price. I'm going to Paris next month and tickets were over $1200.

My point is, if you are not buying your tickets until Jan for March, you may find that you have priced yourself out of a trip or what you can afford will determine where you get to go.

As for the destination choices, I think you can't go wrong with any of them, but I do like the idea of going some place new. Rome has over 2000 years of history to appeal to the kids and Paris has a romance all its own. Both have fantastic food.

Especially if they've been taking French, I would also vote for Paris. With Rome at second place. With kids your age, going somewhere new shouldn't be a problem for any of you, and it would be a special delight for them to use their French.

I would suggest, however, a slight variation. While a surprise is always a thrill, might the rest of the family want the pleasure of anticipation, and finding out about places they'd like to visit, or stores they'd like to buy stuff at? Or to sharpen up their travel words in French (or Italian)?

Possibly you could "give" the name of the destination as a Christmas (or other holiday) gift, if you know it by then. Or give them each a book about the chosen destination.

In any event, you'll have a wonderful time!

I give my vote to Paris, even though Rome is tugging at me.

Your kids already have a familiarity with the French language, and it would be a nice way to enjoy time with the kids.

And if you get there early enough, you might still be able to catch the last vestiges of the January sale.

How about 5 days in Paris and 5 days in Rome or Venice? You can take the sleeper train from Paris to Venice. Fly home from Venice.

Check out tripadvisor for good but cheap b&bs or hotels.

Does $6000 include airfare, lodging, food, entrance fees and everything for 4 people?

Our last trip was to England and Wales. Then we flew Ryanair to Dinard France. Rented a car and went to Mont St Michelle, then to the Loire Valley and then on to Paris. Another idea for you could be UK - and then via Eurostar to Paris for 4 days and then home. If you buy Eurostar ahead of time on their website you can get tickets cheaper.

I think most everybody will vote for the Paris or Rome option. Nix on the UK .... you've been there/done that.

As for your time frame, why not 7 days in Paris or Rome? For a family of 4, your best value would be to rent an apartment. And usually they require a week's stay.

Either city is a good destination, and the cost for airfare/accommadations may be the final determining factor.

Personally, I would choose Rome, But that is just me and my love of all things Italian - For anyone interested in ancient history, Rome is exceptionally difficult to beat. It is also likely to be slightly warmer.

Having said that, my vote would be for Paris. If you can find an apartment for a week, then Paris would be fabulous, particularly as your family can practice their newly learnt French. I find Paris the most beautiful of the 3 cities mentioned. It is also very easy to get around.

Apartments in Paris ~ http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=35073481

Above is a link mentioned in another thread containing several websites for short term/vacation rentals (that is, should you opt for Paris).

Paris and ( although not on your list) - Barcelona.

I vote for Paris also & I would go on VRBO.com and go to Europe & then to France & then to Paris to find an Apartment to rent from an owner for the time you will be there. We have used VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) several times over the years all over the world. Our Daughter that lives in Germany uses it also to get places in Europe for her vacations & is getting ready to go on one to Sardinia(sp). There is so much to do in Paris & you can do 5-6 days in a wink of an eye. Good Travels.

Another vote for Paris. It is a very easy place to "get your bearings." Someone made the suggestion of giving your kids the location as a Christmas present -- you could give them each a Metro map, and then by the time you get there one of them will probably be able to navigate you around! But even if you keep the whole thing a surprise, I don't think you will waste a lot of time figuring out the city.

And the winner is...Paris!

Thank you all so much for the replies.

I would love to be able to take them to Paris or Rome for longer than 5-ish days, but, if I do that, it will have to be over Spring Break, which means the rates etc go up and the $$ left in the budget goes down! Which is why I threw the UK into the mix. If we do the UK, one or two kids will stay with my friend and his family and the othe one or two of us at the hotel. Just not enough room at their house for us all to be comfortable. The rate for the hotel right now is 53GBP per night for a family room, including a huge breakfast. We'd eat lunches out and about and dinner with family/friends.

That's my thought process on the UK for 10 days in April being about the same cost as Paris or Rome for 5-ish days in Feb.

Now, of course, the UK is my easy out. Less to plan, less to think about. But...the WOW factor is really not there. Even though the kids would love to go, I'm certain Paris or Rome would receive more of a WOOHOO!

So...based on the voting (thank you for humoring and inspiring me!) I think I'll really start focusing on Paris. Although as another poster said, Rome is tugging at me...Paris would be a thrill and new adventure for all.

And now the real adventure begins...planning a trip in secret! It's a good thing I know my children so well, or this would truly be a daunting task.

Thanks again, and be on the lookout for Paris related questions!

pantelia: Good for you to have made a decision!

If you rent an apartment you can buy food and cook in the apartment or just do sandwiches (bread and "lunch meats" are fantastic!), you could stay well within your budget.

If you haven't already, I'd post a new thread and ask about how to get budget fares to Paris. One year I found some great airfares on Autoeurope, even though I wasn't going to rent a car from them.

I'd also check some of those megasites, like Travelocity or Sidestep, on a daily basis. You never know what might come up.

Have a great trip! Sounds like you will!

I'd also check some of those megasites, like Travelocity or Sidestep, on a daily basis. You never know what might come up.

This is a really good point. When we were planning our trip for last month, we need to get 3 people from Cairo to London. The prices seemed to range from $500-1200. One night, lo and behold, there was an Egyptair codeshare on BMI for $400 -- we snapped it up (and it was gone the next day). Obviously, you have to do your homework for this to work.