How old are the children? Are they old enough to get involved in reading guidebooks/websites to contribute some ideas of their own, and to help work out the public transport system?

What is everybody interested in/what do they loathe?

One is 4 and one is 6. First time visit to Paris

I should imagine even French people would say champagne is unlikely to be suitable for children that young.

You might get some ideas from these:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-w-kids-a-familys-first-trip-report.cfm
http://hipparis.com/2012/02/13/kid-friendly-travel-an-american-family-visits-the-city-of-lights/
http://justanotheramericaninparis.blogspot.co.uk/p/information-for-tourists.html

And there was a poster who linked to her blog about visiting Paris with children a bit closer to the age of yours, but unfortunately I can't find the link. Maybe she'll post it again.

Here's the official city map of parks and gardens in Paris, quite a few of which will have space and/or play equipment:
http://parcsetjardins.equipement.paris.fr/

In July "Paris Plage" should be in full swing, with parts of the embankments along the Seine and around the Bassin de la Villette converted into "beaches" with play areas and activities of various kinds.

The youngsters might also like a boat trip (maybe up the Canal St Martin to the Bassin).

You may well occasionally come across old-fashioned carrousels.

Try the interactive Cite des Sciences. Lots of space and buttons to push. And a huge open play area next door.

Hiring bikes at Versailles might also be a good idea, although I've never actually done this.

Windows at St Chapelle amazing at any age.

Doll museum (musee des Poupees?). In fact Paris has more museums than any place I've ever visited so sure to be something of interest. I've heard boys enjoy the military museum, although perhaps not at that age.

Food markets always good fun.

I'm sure you'll want to split up and do things separately as well as together.

For transport, buses, metro and boats along the Seine.

Thanks so much for all your advice. I want to rent an apartment in Paris for the stay. Do you have any recommendation? Some suggested Paris Attitude? Anything I have to pay attention to?

Yikes Alison its getting late for booking apartments, the good ones go fast.. you are going to have to snap to it.
I rented from Parisbestlodge and was very happy, but not sure if they have apartments big enough for you , they are likely booked up , but try anyways, they are highly recommended never read a complaint on them on any forum.

We use Parisbestlodge too, they are excellent. I agree that you need to get moving though or you will miss out.

It's sad that Parisbestlodge did not give me any reply.
As I searched the web about Paris recently, I am quite interested in going to Vernon for a day or 2 as the scenery is very beautiful and it seems good for kids to go to see the place where Monet once lived. Is it difficult to go there from Paris and any further suggestions from you all?

Alison, I wouldn't go overnight in Vernon, and the gardens are SO crowded, I mean masses of people and some narrow paths, frankly my opinion is your kids are too young to enjoy it, well, they may think its pretty but they will just be able to walk along a narrow path, with people behind and in front of you, no running around or anything.

I think you should take kids to Versailles, SKIP touring the palace( so crowded, trust me on this) but spend the most of the day enjoying the massive grounds and gardens. The kids will love Marie Antionetts Hamlet,( sort of a fake farm she had made, looks a bit like a fairytale village) the koi ponds, their was a petting zoo there, their is bike by the hour rentals, there is row boat rentals, and there is areas for them to run and play once you get down by the canal away from the formal gardens..

I agree with justineparis that the gardens and the little farm are lovely and that the kids will enjoy them. If you don't want to hire bikes there is a little train that takes passengers from the palace to the beginning of the hamlet (sort of).

In the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris there is a pond where children can hire toy boats and push them around the pond with long poles. It has been happening for generations and it might be a fun thing for the kids to do. The 4 year old will need some help but the 6 year old should manage ok.

Sorry about "their" and "there" , must have been too late to post sensibly! lol

Definitely spend a day at the Bois de Bologne, Jardin d'Acclimation. Take the miniature train in and out of the Jardin, entrance walking distance from the Port de Maillott Metro stop. Take the canoe ride on the way out of the park where your flash picture will be taken - a great souvenir. Have lunch at the Petit Pavillion restaurant - peacocks wander around here and all over the park.

My three grandsons ages 1, 4 and 6 loved it so much we ended up here twice during our five days in Paris last May. We took a cab there with mom, babysitter and two younger ones, while son-in-law took the Metro both ways from our hotel in St. Germain with train lover eldest grand son. Also, lunch at Le Gare in the Trocadero neighborhood was fun with the boys, actually eating on what was the old train platform.

Enjoy your trip and the amazing memories you will create!

Thanks so much for your valuable advice as I haven't been to Paris before. And now I am busy looking for further information. Good to hear from all of you. I will take your advice not going to Vernon, maybe leave it for next time. It sounds great to go to Bois de Bologne, Jardin d'Acclimation and Versailles. Sure, Versailles is a must, it is a good idea of going to Marie Antionetts Hamlet for my kids.

I will try to work out my plan for the coming trip and hope that you all can give me further suggestions. You know it is our first long trip ( for those two kids), so I am a bit ambitious and want to take them to see everything.

Here is a list of books I bought for my granddaughter for our trip to Paris when she was 6. In addition to reading them to her, I photocopied pictures of sights that we were going to see, took them with us, and she used them as a kind of treasure hunt while we were there. Great for kids who are still more or less pre-reading.

La La Rose--Satomi Ichikawa
This is Paris--M. Sasek
Everybody Bonjours--Leslie Kimmelman
Eloise in Paris--Kay Thompson
A Spree in Paree--Catherine Stock
Adele & Simon--Barbara McClintock

Additionally, she collected memorabilia from the trip (cancelled Metro tix, small napkins, ticket stubs, etc.), drew pictures, took pictures (loved having her own disposable camera) to make a scrapbook when we got home. Began this on plane, drawing a pic of the plane, etc. There are all kinds of ways to make this a fun and memorable trip for kids.

Renting sailboats to push across the pond at the Tuileries or Luxembourg was another favorite activity.
Also an evening boat ride on Vedettes du Pont Neuf to see ET when twinkling on the hour.
www.vedettesdupontneuf.com

Not to nitpick, but the jardin in the Bois is the Jardin d'AcclimaTAtion.

I did write a report of this trip back in '09; click on my name if interested in reading.

We stayed in an apartment and can't imagine doing it any other way with kids.

Happy travels!

>>It's sad that Parisbestlodge did not give me any reply. <<

That may be because your e-mail didn't arrive, or because they have no availability for your stay, or other reason(s).

But honestly, it is pretty late to find an apartment open for two full weeks for specific dates.

What is your budget?

My budget is around 200 Euro per week. Any advice?

Alison €200 per week? I'm hopeful that this is a typo. Can you confirm or update please.

I have made a mistake. Sorry 1500 Euro per week. Silly me! Too tried.

Ok, that's a relief. Any luck with Parisbestlodge?

Try Rentalfrance.com ,I've stayed in their Rue St Paul apt in 2010 and was happy with the apt and location. Pascal is very easy to deal with. I checked that Rue De Buci apt euro 1600 - 1800 (slightly over your budget) may have availability in July, just email Pascal,he'll tell you what's available as he managed many apartments. I 've used ParisBestLodge as well in 2003 for their apt near Rue Buci, small but great location .

Oh! Indogirl, I have checked that Re De Buci won't be available for us during our stay.

Thanks grandmere, I have read your trip report which offers very interesting ideas. You really had good preparation before your trip, I must spend more time on it for my 2 kids.

Alisonhelen, grandparents have more time to spend on things like this than busy parents do!

But you will get the necessary homework done and have a wonderful time!

I can finally get the reply from 2 websites. And I sort 2 apartments for my trip.

Have you all got any suggestions? Anyone has tried the service from these two websites before? Any comment? A bit worried as I have to take 2 kids with me on the trip. Want to listen to more.



1. Vacationinparis.com
http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_218.htm

2. All-Paris-apartments.com

http://www.all-paris-apartments.com/en/paris-apartments/ref_16206/

Just in general . . . Vacation in Paris is one of the 2 or 3 best known agencies. No worries there.

I personally have not heard of All-Paris.

Thanks for your advice.Janis

going to Paris next week with my 3 and 5 year old for the half term break (along with the rest of europe) and will report back on any other ideas for you!

We've taken them before and will for sure go to Luxembourg gardens (their favorite playground) and my 5 year has just today stated her interest in going to a museum "with old things to look at" so we'll consider which museum to visit as so many we love to choose from. We are also doing 1 day in Disneyland Paris which will be interesting after reading mixed reviews (my DH and I have been to both California and Florida Disney but not with kids since we've been living in UK so this will be their first Disney experience) and I hope it is ok.

The Marie Antoinette Hamlet that someone mentioned is a good idea as you can go through the chateau itself relatively quickly and spend time if a nice day in the beautiful gardens - the kids will enjoy the Hamlet, the fountains, and lots of room for hide and seek and picnics.

With 14 days you definitely have time for some good day trips or even a few nights somewhere.

Paris is so great with kids!

Thanks NorCal,

Looking forward to hearing from you. Have a nice trip.

Bookmarking

PatrickLondon----thanks for the reminders of those great links about kids in Paris.

I have been thinking of going to Belgium for a day or two during the trip to Paris. Any suggestions?

Alison, frankly you are being too ambitious. You can catch a train to Belgium but you will be in the greatest city in the world. There's so much to do and see in Paris and with kids you will be half as fast and twice as slow as without kids.
In addition to Bois, check out Jardin des Plantes.

VIP is an excellent agency. Not to put too much pressure, but you should really try to get your apartment locked up as soon as possible. In 2010, when I rented an apartment in Paris, I could not find one in my price range (1,500 euros for a week for a group of 5) for a late July trip and I started looking in Mid-March. I ultimately only found one through a friend. We did need a building with a lift or a ground floor apartment so that limited us somewhat. Now, I book in December for the following June or July.

You could try airbnb.com, but use caution.

Everything done with the apartment and now I am thinking of taking the 2 kids for a boat trip. Read a lot of infomation regarding the cannal trip which sounds interesting. Have you got any suggestions for a boat trip in Paris?