egwright10

I am in the very beginning stages of planning my first trip to Europe. My husband and I and our two teenage children will be traveling to Paris over Christmas. I am looking for any and all recommendations for places to stay, places to eat, things to do. We are open to all kinds of things, both the traditional tourist locations as well as those special things to do off the beaten path. The kids are 14 and 16 and are good travelers who are open to experiencing all kinds of things. We don't have a hotel booked yet so we are completely open to any suggestions.

A few things I have as must sees include: the Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, walk down the Champs d'Elysees, Sacre Coueur, the Louvre (we are each picking one thing we want to see then setting up a plan for the museum), Le Marais, Versailles and a day trip by train to Brussels. We will most likely be in Paris for 6 days. I obviously don't want to over-book our time but want to have a plan so we don't miss out on anything special.

Thanks everyone!

Michael

The musée d'Orsay, the Sainte Chapelle, and Notre Dame should be on your list. Why a day trip to Brussels? I have nothing against it, it has some great art nouveau, but there is more than enough to do in Paris (Versailles will already take most of a day outside Paris) for the 6 days that you will be there.

Michael

The children might be interested in the Musée de la Marine in the Palais de Chaillot, and if interested in a tour of French architecture, the Cité de l'Architecture, also in the Palais de Chaillot, is worth a visit.

MelJ

My suggestion would be to book an apartment, rather than a hotel. We have traveled to Europe with teen-agers and it's nice to let everyone have a little space at the end of the day. Plus, you can fix the occasional meal (even cereal in the morning is helpful) and it's less expensive than a hotel.

Some apartment sites: homeaway.com, vrbo.com, parlerparis. com

Because it will be cold (I've been there over New Year's), consider staying very central. The Marais (short walk to the Louvre, Seine, Notre Dame, Hotel de Ville...), St. Germain (pricy, touristy, however) are good choices.

A highlight for us (and the teens) is Pere LaChaise Cemetery. The kids might also like the catacombs.

You'll have a wonderful trip!

adrienne

I think that walking tours help to understand an area and its history. Try one or two Paris Walks. They have a walk for most of the popular areas.

http://www.paris-walks.com/

What's in Brussels that you want to see? I would never leave Paris for Brussels, especially when you have a short time in Paris and you already have 1 day trip planned.

Jacquemart-Andre a 19th century period house with their European art collection.

Museum of the Middle Ages (Cluny) - a much overlooked museum contains medieval art and Unicorn tapestries, Roman Baths, and stone heads from Notre Dame.

Deportation Memorial (behind Notre Dame).

Jewish Museum - again, a much overlooked fascinating museum.

Pere Lachaise (or Montparnasse) cemetery - all cemeteries pale after you've seen those in Paris.

Catacombs - not interesting to me but your teens might enjoy this.

Seine boat ride, especially at night when the Paris lights are aglow.

It's helpful if you describe your interests as people can make suggestions based on what you would enjoy. Otherwise it's a list of what other people enjoy doing.

Sassafrass

Second the musee d'Orsay - fabulous! Don't want your trip to feel too rushed, but I would trade Brussels for Brugges, especially at Christmas, and stay one night if at all possible. It is storybook pretty.

Pegontheroad

Get a guidebook. There will be information in a guidebook that I'm sure you would find useful. I wouldn't leave Paris for a day in Brussels, either.

egwright10

We considered the day trip to Brussels because some friends did the same thing a few years back with their daughters and enjoyed it. They experienced the trains and had some waffles while there. We are not set in stone to make the day trip, but my kids seemed interested in the idea.

I have the musee d'Orsay on my list now as well as a night tour on the Vedettes de Pont Neuf. I was thinking about the Ile de St. Louis and Place des Vosges as well--what are your thoughts on those spots?

Honestly, we don't know our interests in terms of travel. All we have ever done in regards to traveling together has been limited to beach vacations or the Disney type to this point. We are open to hearing all suggestions so we can pick and choose our favorites based on those things you more experienced travelers have really enjoyed.

I plan to buy the most recent copies of Rick Steves travel guide as a friend suggested it. Are there other guides you prefer?

DebitNM

This apartment would work for you; we stayed at it last year and will again this month.

http://www.vrbo.com/339804

Excellent location in LeMarais near Hotel d'Ville. Easy to get everywhere. Clean, well equipped. The actual apt is a bit different from the photos as the red sofa is now in the foyer, and a second red pullout sofa is in the living room.

The owner, Sylvain, is great to work with. Tell him Deb from Albuquerque sent you.

ParisAmsterdam

Only 6 days? Skip the trip to Belgium... 6 days is too short for Paris as it is.

egwright10

@ParisAmsterdam- Yes, 6 days because we lose two with travel (we are in AZ and have to travel first to the east coast then out to Paris). I'm sure the trip will pass quickly, but it's our first time so we are ok with picking a few things and making the days we have very special.

egwright10

@DebitNM-- THANK YOU for the apartment suggestion! With all 4 of us going we will have to rent 2 hotel rooms to accommodate the sleeping situation so we had thought about an apartment as an option. About the apartment you suggested, is there only 1 bedroom plus a pullout couch?

egwright10

@MelJ- thank you for the links to search apartments. Do you have an specific suggestions- apartments your family has rented in Paris that you really liked? I agree with the idea of having some space at the end of the day- as well as having a kitchen where I can keep small amounts of food (my son is always hungry!)

egwright10

@adrienne- thanks for the link to Paris Walks- this is an interesting idea for me. I see they are open through the holidays and have walks through the Marais as well as the Sacre Coeur areas. I am looking into this a little more. I have added the Jewish Museum to my list as well-- great idea; my son will love this.

mamcalice

I agree - skip the trip to Brussels. It is likely to be cold and grey in December and Brussels is always grey.

Be sure to visit Sainte Chapelle. Try to visit on a sunny morning to have the full impact of the beautiful stained glass. I would save Pere Lachaise Cemetery for another trip- interesting though it is, winter would not be a good time to visit.

Definitely visit the Ile de St. Louis. If one of your teens is a girl, she will love the little shops.

Gretchen

I recommend you contact Michael Osman for at least one day of touring. he will do what you want, if you have preferences, but will give you a terrific jump start on seeing and knowing Paris. We had himm for two days--one for touring and one for museums. he is an artist, but additionally a wonderful "teacher", giving great anecdotal stories of the history, etc. Your kids will LOVE him, as will you.
For a first trip to Paris, I just still would stay in a hotel, and have the use of their desk for reservations, help, etc. I would also be surprised if a one BR apartment has more than one bathroom. With 4 it would be nicer to have two. Just a thought and maybe it does.
For your boat trip, and in December, I suggest making it late afternoon and see Paris as the lights are just coming on, and then by the time you get to the Eiffel Tower, it's lights will be twinkling.
That short a time--don't do Belgium. Have some crepes in paris. OR you can do it at the last minute IF you have time.

Mimar

If you really want to go to Brussels -- and I definitely don't recommend it or Bruges for this trip, you could fly into Paris, tour Paris, then take the train to Brussels, stay a night and fly home from there. Open jaws (or multi-city) tickets, into Paris, out of Brussels should cost about the same as round-trip tickets.

d_claude_bear

For adults with teenagers, I suggest Musée des Arts et Métiers. Google it. It depicts French accomplishments in science, engineering, architecture, etc. through a wealth of pictures, photos, objects, explanations, etc. in a fascinating building--quite a break from the numerous wonderful beaux arts museums.

The Cluny Museum (middle ages) us another treasure.

DebitNM

There is the one bedroom, a pullout sofa in the living room and another in the foyer. Each has doors that would afford privacy.

Michael

The Musée des Arts et Métiers has (or at least had) a inexpensive buffet lunch on Sundays.