family trip
May 5th, 2006, 08:52 PM
#1
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family trip
We are taking our grandchilren ages 11.12 and 17 to London and Patis for 14 days in March. We are taking the Cunnel between the two cities.We are looking for apartment in both cities and things to do. Any suggestions? Thanks
May 6th, 2006, 08:12 AM
#3
and also do a search for other threads. There are quite literally hundreds of threads already on here about flats in both cities, what to do w/ kids, tube/metro hints and so on
We can give you tons of good suggestions, but do a bit of reading and then come back w/ some more specific questions. (and you'll find the answers to many of your questions are already posted)
We can give you tons of good suggestions, but do a bit of reading and then come back w/ some more specific questions. (and you'll find the answers to many of your questions are already posted)
May 6th, 2006, 09:13 AM
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We began travelling abroad when our daughter (now 20) was eleven. In London, she (and we) enjoyed Madame Tussaud's, the Sherlock Holmes museum, seeing the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum and the treasures at the British Library--original manuscripts of Alice in Wonderland, the oldest manuscript of the Bible, Beatles score, and much more. Tour the Tower of London and see the crown jewels, ancient walls and where they executed their royalty.
If they would enjoy theater, see something they already know the storyline to--Mary Poppins etc.
Hampton Court has guides dressed in period costumes that speak in first person and the grounds are beautiful and impressive.
Look for temporary exhibits--we have seen the royal wedding dresses as Kensington and royal tiaras at the Victoria and Albert on various trips.
We took the Eurostar to Paris and ate lunch at the Jules Verne room in the Eiffel Tower with our tour guide who helped us order and explained what we were seeing over a leisure lunch.
See the highlights of the Louvre--the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and others. Go see the puppet show in the gardens. Even if you don't understand French it is fun to watch.
There are free fashion shows at Printemps and Galleries Lafayette each week. At GL it is advetized as only 30 minutes and has 5 women and 1 man--could be fun for all.
Vary your activites so you don't over museum and over history your children but leave them wanting more.
We found it best to prepare all of us for what we were going to see and not to set our daughter up for failure by planning an overzealous itinerary or being inflexible.
Travel is educational, a bonding experience and should be fun!
Have a great time!
If they would enjoy theater, see something they already know the storyline to--Mary Poppins etc.
Hampton Court has guides dressed in period costumes that speak in first person and the grounds are beautiful and impressive.
Look for temporary exhibits--we have seen the royal wedding dresses as Kensington and royal tiaras at the Victoria and Albert on various trips.
We took the Eurostar to Paris and ate lunch at the Jules Verne room in the Eiffel Tower with our tour guide who helped us order and explained what we were seeing over a leisure lunch.
See the highlights of the Louvre--the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and others. Go see the puppet show in the gardens. Even if you don't understand French it is fun to watch.
There are free fashion shows at Printemps and Galleries Lafayette each week. At GL it is advetized as only 30 minutes and has 5 women and 1 man--could be fun for all.
Vary your activites so you don't over museum and over history your children but leave them wanting more.
We found it best to prepare all of us for what we were going to see and not to set our daughter up for failure by planning an overzealous itinerary or being inflexible.
Travel is educational, a bonding experience and should be fun!
Have a great time!
May 6th, 2006, 12:00 PM
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We had a good experience renting a Paris apartment through VRBO.com (and they have London listings too). This is a service connecting apartment owners with renters, hence the name Vacation Rental By Owner.
You will have no shortage of things to do with the children in either city, but much depends upon their interests. My son, at age 13, loved his time in Paris--boat rides on the Seine, gorging on Nutella crepes, going to the top of the Tour Eifel (and walking down all the steps), gawking at the Champs Elysee, and even touring the Musee d'Orsay where he saw Impressionist artwork that he was studying in middle school.
In London, you've got the Tower of London, a world-class science museum, the London Eye, Hamley's Toy Store (how did THAT get in this list?), scones with clotted creme....
email me as you come up with questions ([email protected]) if you wish
Dave
You will have no shortage of things to do with the children in either city, but much depends upon their interests. My son, at age 13, loved his time in Paris--boat rides on the Seine, gorging on Nutella crepes, going to the top of the Tour Eifel (and walking down all the steps), gawking at the Champs Elysee, and even touring the Musee d'Orsay where he saw Impressionist artwork that he was studying in middle school.
In London, you've got the Tower of London, a world-class science museum, the London Eye, Hamley's Toy Store (how did THAT get in this list?), scones with clotted creme....
email me as you come up with questions ([email protected]) if you wish
Dave
May 6th, 2006, 12:14 PM
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We took our daughters in that age range to both cities last year, and they loved both cities, as well as the train trip. Their two favorite things in Paris were Versailles (we spent the better part of a day visiting the palace and the groundds) and the Eiffel Tower (we walked up the stairs). They also loved going to the bakery twice a day for fresh baguettes and croissants.
In London, they loved everything, but particularly the parks, the Tower of London (buy tickets in advance to avoid the line) and eating at Wagamama.
We rented our Paris apartment from Vacation in Paris, an American company:
www.VacationInParis.com
The advantage is that you pay by credit card; you don't have to wire money or otherwise send payment to an unknown person in Europe. We found them a reliable and responsive company to do business with. They have a good selection of apartments all over Paris.
In London, they loved everything, but particularly the parks, the Tower of London (buy tickets in advance to avoid the line) and eating at Wagamama.
We rented our Paris apartment from Vacation in Paris, an American company:
www.VacationInParis.com
The advantage is that you pay by credit card; you don't have to wire money or otherwise send payment to an unknown person in Europe. We found them a reliable and responsive company to do business with. They have a good selection of apartments all over Paris.
