am I insane or can we manage this trip ? London, Paris with little people.

those aren't "little people" - they are great ages for traveling. I thought your title referred to toddlers.

"Is a week in Paris too long ?" Of course not - some spend months there and still don't see everything.

Yes you can get a flat for 3 nights - but it will take some extra searching. Most do require 7 days rental periods, but maybe 20-30+% will rent for as short as 3 days (or even by the night). Also, some that normally require a week will rent for shorter periods if they fit in between other bookings.

janisj, I've been enjoying your trip report... how are you ?

I was interested in the apartment you stayed in near the Tower Bridge - I stayed in a hotel there once and enjoyed walking around the marina area right there. That was one thought since I thought the kids would enjoy the marina at night...

thanks for your thoughts, as we get closer, I will be picking your brain with ideas of where to rent.

I don't really see any cons there. Sure, it's expensive for a family of 5 to travel to Europe for 10 days, but you've got FF tickets, and an apt (you can always choose to eat meals at the apt), and there are plenty of free attractions in London and Paris.

I took my DD (then 6) and DS (then 8) to London for 9 nights and Paris for 5 nights in 2006. Definitely manageable at that age, and a lot of fun to boot!

I love Paris, and my kids had a great time there. We hired a guide for one day - a recommendation from fodorites - and he was outstanding. He knew the ins and outs of the Louvre, Musée D'Orsay, etc. etc. We covered a lot of ground, and a lot of history in one day. Sometimes having a stranger in your midst makes everyone mind their manners a bit better!

But, as much as we loved Paris, London captured their imagination even more. So, IMO, I would add a day or two to London at Paris' expense. It has the pomp and ceremony and costumes and medieval history that so enchants kids that age. You can recover from jetlag without thinking that you have to leave in two days! It may also make it easier to rent an apartment for 5 days.

Whatever you choose, do an open jaw into one city and out the other. It is much more efficient that way. Book those tickets!

Poutine - did you hire Michael? I would recommend him as well surfmom - he is simply a delightful person!

I think it sounds like an amazing trip and a total blessing!

Yes, it was Michael. It was the first time I hired a guide, and my husband was not very behind the idea. He changed his mind pretty quickly. Plus, it was very nice for me not to be the family "tour guide" for a day.

I wish I could find a Michael in other cities....like Florence or Venice.

Hi Surfmom -

I just returned from a trip to London and Paris, so I hope I can help you a bit. I agree with Poutine, add more time in London if you can. It's too bad that you're already committed to the apartment in Paris, because I think you would have a much better time in London. The Brits are very friendly, the French not so much. There are fun day trips to take from Paris. Monet's garden and house in Giverny are breathtaking, and the palace at Versailles is quite something to see. When you're in London, take the girls for a "flight" on the London Eye and then walk across Westminster Bridge to see Big Ben. Take them to the Tower of London too. The Beefeaters are fun to talk with, and who doesn't enjoy seeing pretty jewels? Your girls will probably love the fashion and jewelry exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum too. I stayed at the Radisson Edwardian Leicester Square, which is right in the middle of Leicester Square. It's the perfect location for sightseeing. An open-top bus tour leaves from right up the street from the hotel, and the tube stop is very close by. Hope that helps.

Sound like a great idea. And they're definitely not too yong to enjoy it. Be sure that they have some books, tour brochures, maps etc to look at - and decide a couple of things that they want to see. And try to tie some of it in with whatever they're learning in school. And make sure they learn a little French.

(The first time we took the beau's kids the 11 year old was so thrilled that she could talk to people and read the menu - do get a menu translator. If they're not learning a language yet - I know some schools don't start until 5th grade - do start them now - when their brains are like little sponges.)

I don't see any cons either, although I would agree with a more even split in time between the two.

To follow up on nytraveler's suggestion - when we traveled with our daughter at your kids age, we'd give her guide books and tell her to pick out some things she wanted to see and do. Depending on the length of the trip, we'd set aside a day or half a day just for her things. She really got into the planning and enjoyed the trip much more IMO. It was fascinating seeing things through her eyes and viewpoints. And it practically eliminated any complaints when it was our turn and we wanted to see the "big people's" things like museums and galleries.

I think you'll have a fabulous time.

Poutine - glad you loved Michael! He is a dear!

We stayed here and loved it. Great area - easy access to sites and tube, lots of amenities nearby, and on a super quiet little side street. I think a 2br would do w/ ds6 on the sofa.

http://www.shortstay-london.com/apts.php?ID=145

This website also has other 3 night places.

Ooops - the link above was for one of the 3br units. I meantto show you this one (cheaper):

http://www.shortstay-london.com/apts.php?ID=138&PHPSESSID=26b7e2a2adaf4dad61f7fcf9b7b077bf

You'll be getting over jetlag in London so will see even less of it. So more days in London would be preferable.

And yes you'll be able to find an apartment in London for 3 nights. Look at www.slowtrav.com for reviews of rentals and rental agencies as well as so much more.

thank you all. Your encouragement is good - so many of my friends look at us like we have 3 heads when we tell them. They also think it is soooo expensive, but they are the ones that drop big bucks on the exclusive resorts in the Caribbean, too. They just don't understand how much I love Europe... I would rather go to Paris for a long weekend than the Caribbean (almost always)...

So, we've booked the flights as mentioned. I'm now hotel searching for London options. We're debating using Marriott points to make it more affordable, but not sure that makes sense.

bardo, been looking at that site you recommended... thanks!

I'm also talking to the apartment people in Paris... they would only book for a minimum of 1 week, but if the people before us want to stay over an extra night, they would allow us to stay only 6 nights. The other alternative is that we pay for Sunday night in Paris and don't actually stay there so we have an extra day in London. Given the hotel prices in London, that might be hard to do...

Lots of apartments in Paris rent for less than 7 nights. You should be able to find something.

Using the Marriott points most likely means having to book two rooms. Have you contacted Radisson Edwardian like I mentioned on your other thread? Might be a wild goose chase - but they have so many properties in central London and some may have larger family rooms.

janis, the kids so loved being near Palais Royal 2 years ago that we wanted to stay there again. I love the apartment option that we booked... it is
www.parisvacationapartments.com - their Palais Royal 2 bdrm.

I have looked at the Radisson Edwardian and have a link open on my pc - trying to figure out the location of each of them and what would work best. Looks like the Mayfair would be £325/ £280 for weekday/weekends. Trying to get a better picture of their location (may is a very large scale).

thanks again...

Your plan is not at all insane! We just did this trip in reverse - first a week in Paris then three (two and a half counting train travel) days in London. Yes, London offers far more than can be seen in that brief time, but Paris remains my favorite city so I tend to tilt toward more time there.
We did book London hotel with points and it was a great money saver. The six room nights would have cost easily close to 2K (yes, there are cheaper places but this was mid range, not high end.) We missed having the apartment, but it was fine, just not as comfortable as being able to wake up and grab some OJ from the fridge.

If you are looking to economize, IME Paris is definitely cheaper, especially if you have a kitchen and can eat in for some meals. London does have the advantage of free museums, though many other attractions have a sizable entry fee.

In the past this annual trip has been to Paris only, but last year at the request of my niece we added a couple days in London. It worked so well we repeated that schedule this year. Maybe next year we will try London first - which actualy reduces the airfare a bit as the UK deparure taxes are higher than those for arrival.

One thing I would recommend for London - get as many attraction admission tickets in advance as possible. With limited time in the city it's frustrating to spend hours waiting on line. We bought tickets for Tower of London, Madam Tussaud's and London Eye from the agent at the stop for the Big Bus tour. Same price as at the attraction with no waiting in lines. (They are prohibited from selling tickets at the tour bus stop closest to the individual attraction so plan ahead.)

just checked with Radisson and they only allow 4 people in a bedroom... even a family room. If we are forced to do 2 rooms, we'll probably do Marriott unless I stumble across a better idea.

How far out of central London is Maida Vale ? Would we enjoy walking around there at dinnertime ?

Maida Vale is in central London but not CENTRAL London if you know what I mean. It is in zone 2 so wouldn't increase your transport costs. It is west of Regents Park and is served by just one tube line (Bakerloo). A first choice - nope. But if doable on points you could do worse. There is a recreation ground about a block from the tube station. Depending on the actual location, probably about 3/4 mile from Regents Park w/ the amazing rose garden, London Zoo, canal etc.

Maida Vale, is not far, if you are near the tube stations of Maida Vale or Warwick Avenue you have a straight tube (Bakerloo Line) to Piccadilly Circus 14 minutes.

It is a residential area with some shopping parades and restaurants. Just north of Edgeware Road if you like Middle Eastern food.

At Baker Street station the trains for the Jubilee Line stop on a parallel platform so an easy changeover. Good for Regents Park and the zoo. So if you want to eat while out in the evening its a short trip home.

Bakerloo Line goes to Paddington, so an easy ride from Heathrow by train either Heathrow Express or the cheaper and not much slower local train and then tube or local taxi to Maida Vale.

I assume surfmom is talking about the Marriott Maida Vale, which is just off Finchley Road, and which looks to be equidistant between the Finchley Park and Swiss Cottage tube stations.

Sorry - that's what I get for believing Google Maps. Marriott Maida Vale is actually on Maida Vale near the Maida Vale tube stop. I can't comment on the area, though.

willtravel, you are correct. That Marriott requires less points... I think its 180k vs. 240k for either County Hall, Grosvenor Square, Park Lane, Chancery Court. Looks like the JW at Grosvenor House is in-between the two... I need to dial down into details for each. We don't have all the points right now, but could make the reservation and the points will be accrued by then.

Not sure if Maida Vale makes sense... I'm thinking, based on views, that it might be just outside where we want to stay - I think we'd rather be closer even if it is more points (under the theory of 'use points now because it will only get harder to use them in the future').

thanks.

I think with kids, it's harder to be away from the center. Who knows if one parent might want to head back to the hotel for a bit with a kid who's really tired, and meet up with the rest of you later? It's much easier if you are closer in.

The Marriott Maida Vale is really South Kilburn and a bit iffy for tourists, especially when jet-lagged, so I would choose the Regents Park which is at Swiss Cottage, a short walk from the underground station and on direct bus routes into London, via Regents Park and Oxford Street. It is better for local small restaurants and the chains which the children might prefer at times, some local shops for food. This website for a hostel in the area http://www.palmerslodge.co.uk/ will give you a better idea of the location so you can decide but for 2 to 3 nights you might be better off in a more central location.

With a brief time in the city, I'd opt for more central, too. Even a 15 minute tube ride takes half an hour (plus walking to/from the station) if you want to pop back to the hotel between activities. A seasoned tour guide told me several years ago that, based on years of experience, she always schedules some mid day down time with her groups. Can't say that I religiously follow her advice, but do find that it works well.

hmmm if you want to drag a horde of kids around europe....more power to ya.