Hi Myra, not long now - is everyone getting excited?

When I first went to Paris I was on my own with my two girls, it wss jsut before their 7th and 5th birthdays. I also had what would now be considered a large suitcase.

We took the Air France bus to the Etoile (Arc de Triomphe) and then a taxt for the shortish journey to our hotel just off Rue de Rivoli. You are staying just a bit further along.

I am pretty sure there were lap seat belts on the Air France bus, but you could find out here - there's a number to call...

http://www.linkparis.com/air-france-buses.htm

In the taxi we just used the normal seat belts.

I found this company which looks quite good, they do disneyland transfers and have cheaper charges for children so I would imagine they supply car seats as well.

http://www.yellowvanshuttle.com/

See you soon!

Kerouac - thanks for my morning smile. Remember this:

"Why do people always have to say they know better? Some of them mean well, I know (not everyone!), but why always assume that the person needs additional advice about what to do and not to do."

Yes Julia the kids are excited and it's infectious!

Not sure why I'm waffling on such a simple decision.

I'll email soon!
Myra

I would vote for a taxi... we took the Eurostar from London - got in the taxi line. When they saw we were five, we had to let about 5-8 groups go in front of us until a larger van came through the line that could accommodate us. Ours were a little older (ages 6,8,10), but they were fine for the short trip without a booster.

Heads up... know the approximate cost - while we were standing there, a number of private vans parked to the side came over to us and wanted to take us (and could accommodate all of us). They would have charged about double what a taxi cost. I'm glad I knew the approximate cost and asked first!

I dug back and found my email - we should "Shuttle Inter" - from the 1st (Palais Royale) to CDG, they charged us 80 Euros. email is [email protected]. I found the recommendation on here originally. Here is their website:

http://www.shuttle-inter.com/

We requested pickup at 8:30am on a Sunday morning for 5 people. They were on time and waiting downstairs. (As a bonus, our checkout apartment person waited until they came to make sure we were all set to get to the airport). I think they had a booster that my 6yo sat in (although it wasn't necessary, he was safer).

good luck!
(are you doing a Fat Tire Bike Tour ? It was one of the highlights of our kids' trip)

Your "vans parked nearby" are gypsy cabs and NEVER take them. ONLY take a vehicle marked "Taxi Parisien". Doesn't matter if you know what it "should" cost or not. The man at the taxi queue will take care of getting the cab. Never take one from someone that comes up to you in a station or airport. You might get there and they want even more.

surfmom -- we're also staying in the Palais Royale. Did you write a trip report?

I'm going to try belting the boys into my car and see where the seat belt hits them on the shoulder. Since they're almost at the booster age, perhaps taking a cab wouldn't be unsafe as I assumed.

mebe, I haven't written a trip report from this past trip : ( I will, I promise.

We loved staying in Palais Royal. Where are you staying ? We've been at 2 different apartments there - one on rue de Richelieu and this past time at rue Montpensier (we actually opened onto Palais Royal). The kids loved coming 'home' to the black and white structures and jumping on them at the end of the day.

Here is a trip report from 3 years ago :
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ttle-girls.cfm

Ironically, the kids were closer in age to 3 years ago than my kids now.

We did some different things this time you might thing about:
1) jardin du Luxembourg. Loved renting the sailboats - there is also a great playground there (although need to pay for it)

2) Jardin d'Acclimitation - this was a fun last day activity.

3) Paris Muse tours were great. Did both the "Buildings can talk" and Louvre tour.

How are you for your plans ?

surfmom -- I remember (and thoroughly enjoyed) your trip report in 2007; I read it on slowtrav years ago.

I do have some questions and would love some input on our daily plans. If you have a spare moment -- would you mind emailing me? hadbee3 at yahoo dot com.

Getchen, you need to chill out a bit. but seat belts are a relatively new item?? Really?? Relative to what?