Herding Three Children Through Paris
Nov 28th, 2010 | 03:21 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
Herding Three Children Through Paris
It's been a few years since I've written a trip report for Fodor's. Since then, I've been reliving my previous trips to Italy on my own travel blog -- www.restlesstoroam.com.
I started posting my newest adventure on my blog, but I also wanted to post my trip here, since Fodor's is where I realized how much I enjoy writing my honest travel tales.
A bit of background: I discovered Fodor's while researching my first trip to Italy, which I took with my husband and 15 month old daughter. You can find that trip report here:
http://tinyurl.com/ychlks6
My next trip was a solo return trip to Italy. It was a "thank you for not going completely insane while taking care of our three children" gift from my husband. (Yep, after my daughter I had twin boys) This is that trip report:
http://tinyurl.com/2g2tncs
Last April, in a moment of crazy (we have those often) we decided to use our accrued credit card miles and cash them in for free tickets to Paris with our now 6 yr old daughter and 4 yr old twin boys.
This was our first time flying with three children. And it was my kid's first experience being in a big city. No problem, right? <i> <b>Hahahahahaha </b> </i>
Off to make dinner. My favorite travel resources and my apartment recommendation coming up....
I started posting my newest adventure on my blog, but I also wanted to post my trip here, since Fodor's is where I realized how much I enjoy writing my honest travel tales.
A bit of background: I discovered Fodor's while researching my first trip to Italy, which I took with my husband and 15 month old daughter. You can find that trip report here:
http://tinyurl.com/ychlks6
My next trip was a solo return trip to Italy. It was a "thank you for not going completely insane while taking care of our three children" gift from my husband. (Yep, after my daughter I had twin boys) This is that trip report:
http://tinyurl.com/2g2tncs
Last April, in a moment of crazy (we have those often) we decided to use our accrued credit card miles and cash them in for free tickets to Paris with our now 6 yr old daughter and 4 yr old twin boys.
This was our first time flying with three children. And it was my kid's first experience being in a big city. No problem, right? <i> <b>Hahahahahaha </b> </i>
Off to make dinner. My favorite travel resources and my apartment recommendation coming up....
Nov 28th, 2010 | 07:14 PM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
Thanks Suzanne2 and nukesafe!
LoveItaly -- nice to "see" you! ((hugs))
Wekiva -- How fun! I should have this report done by then. I hope. How old are your kids?
Kristina, a frequent poster on Fodor's Europe and Asia board and trip report writer extraordinaire, kindly asked me to write something on her blog wired2theworld.com about how I prepared for this trip. Here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/2fj69e2
<b>Favorite links </b>
Slow Travel
www.slowtravel.com
Ciao Bambino
www.ciaobambino.com
Delicious Baby
www.deliciousbaby.com
Insiders Map - National Geographic Traveler
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.c...is-interactive
Free Things to Do in Paris - National Geographic Traveler
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.c...ity/paris-text
Travel for Kids: Paris, France
http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo...deboulogne.htm
Ten Great Things to Do With Kids in Paris - David Lebovitz
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archive...with_kids.html
Travel with Kids: 37 Things to Do in Paris, France with Kids
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/france/paris/
Paris Museum Pass | Official Website
http://en.parismuseumpass.com/
Plan Interactif des transports en Ile-de-France
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carteidf.php?lang=uk
<b> Apartment </b>
http://tinyurl.com/2ba36le
After many days of scanning hundreds (at least it felt that many) apartments, we chose this one because of it's location. It's in the Palais Royal and on the gardens. We'd have a place for the kids to happily run at our doorstop, literally. The location also meant we could walk to the Louvre and Tuilleries Garden, and the Louvre/Rivoli Metro stop.
Other than a small issue with the kids <i>running through the apartment like elephants </i> which the diners at the restaurant beneath us didn't appreciate (I'll get to that later....) this was an ideal place to stay. The apartment was lovely, clean, included a computer with internet access and a washer and dryer, which we used almost nightly. The agency was a dream to work.
More to come, thanks for reading
Myra
LoveItaly -- nice to "see" you! ((hugs))
Wekiva -- How fun! I should have this report done by then. I hope. How old are your kids?
Kristina, a frequent poster on Fodor's Europe and Asia board and trip report writer extraordinaire, kindly asked me to write something on her blog wired2theworld.com about how I prepared for this trip. Here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/2fj69e2
<b>Favorite links </b>
Slow Travel
www.slowtravel.com
Ciao Bambino
www.ciaobambino.com
Delicious Baby
www.deliciousbaby.com
Insiders Map - National Geographic Traveler
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.c...is-interactive
Free Things to Do in Paris - National Geographic Traveler
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.c...ity/paris-text
Travel for Kids: Paris, France
http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo...deboulogne.htm
Ten Great Things to Do With Kids in Paris - David Lebovitz
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archive...with_kids.html
Travel with Kids: 37 Things to Do in Paris, France with Kids
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/france/paris/
Paris Museum Pass | Official Website
http://en.parismuseumpass.com/
Plan Interactif des transports en Ile-de-France
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carteidf.php?lang=uk
<b> Apartment </b>
http://tinyurl.com/2ba36le
After many days of scanning hundreds (at least it felt that many) apartments, we chose this one because of it's location. It's in the Palais Royal and on the gardens. We'd have a place for the kids to happily run at our doorstop, literally. The location also meant we could walk to the Louvre and Tuilleries Garden, and the Louvre/Rivoli Metro stop.
Other than a small issue with the kids <i>running through the apartment like elephants </i> which the diners at the restaurant beneath us didn't appreciate (I'll get to that later....) this was an ideal place to stay. The apartment was lovely, clean, included a computer with internet access and a washer and dryer, which we used almost nightly. The agency was a dream to work.
More to come, thanks for reading
Myra
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Nov 29th, 2010 | 07:31 AM
#10
Original Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
Good morning!
This trip report may take a while to post, since I'm still a SAHM to three kids. And since I'm also posting on my blog, I not only have to edit my writing, but I also have to edit and sort through 1000's of pictures. Let's get to it!
<b> Preparing our Kids (and Ourselves) for our Trip to Paris </b>
A previous trip with our toddler showed us that traveling with children, while challenging, could still be fun and we were eager to do it again.
Then I got pregnant with twin boys. While overwhelmed raising a toddler <i>and</i> two demanding babies, I believed my days of international travel were over.
As they grew older, life got a little easier and my dreams of travel seemed possible again. Now that our DD (A)was 6 yrs and the boys (E and C) almost 4 yrs, we decided to take the plunge and booked five tickets for a ten day vacation in Paris.
While excited, I was also cautious about sharing our travel plans with family and friends, or even on online forums. I wasn’t sure how to respond to potential negative comments. Because I wasn’t so sure it was a great idea either. I still had moments of pure panic, wondering how we would manage herding three children through a bustling, international city.
But the tickets were booked, we put a deposit on an apartment, and -- despite my anxiety attacks -- there was no backing out. I spent months searching the internet for tips on traveling with kids to Paris. I also made frequent trips to the library, checking out kids books based in Paris to give the kids an idea of where we were going and what we’d see - to make those monumental sites like Notre Dame or Sacre Coure, more kid-friendly.
As the kids’ excitement grew, so did mine. They asked if crocodiles lived in the Seine River (umm…no), if we’d get to climb to the top of the Eiffel tower (yes!) and if we could go to the museums and see gigantic pictures of naked ladies (sure, why not?). To practice for their flight, they dragged our luggage through the house pretending they were at the airport, taking off their shoes to go through security, and boarding the couch for their flight to Paris.
My kids’ enthusiasm was infectious and my old confidence returned. When I finally told people where we were going, I answered their incredulous looks with a chuckle and a simple statement:<i> it doesn’t make sense, does it? I guess we’re just crazy like that. </i>
I finally felt ready to take my family into the world, there was only one question: was the world ready for my family?
This trip report may take a while to post, since I'm still a SAHM to three kids. And since I'm also posting on my blog, I not only have to edit my writing, but I also have to edit and sort through 1000's of pictures. Let's get to it!
<b> Preparing our Kids (and Ourselves) for our Trip to Paris </b>
A previous trip with our toddler showed us that traveling with children, while challenging, could still be fun and we were eager to do it again.
Then I got pregnant with twin boys. While overwhelmed raising a toddler <i>and</i> two demanding babies, I believed my days of international travel were over.
As they grew older, life got a little easier and my dreams of travel seemed possible again. Now that our DD (A)was 6 yrs and the boys (E and C) almost 4 yrs, we decided to take the plunge and booked five tickets for a ten day vacation in Paris.
While excited, I was also cautious about sharing our travel plans with family and friends, or even on online forums. I wasn’t sure how to respond to potential negative comments. Because I wasn’t so sure it was a great idea either. I still had moments of pure panic, wondering how we would manage herding three children through a bustling, international city.
But the tickets were booked, we put a deposit on an apartment, and -- despite my anxiety attacks -- there was no backing out. I spent months searching the internet for tips on traveling with kids to Paris. I also made frequent trips to the library, checking out kids books based in Paris to give the kids an idea of where we were going and what we’d see - to make those monumental sites like Notre Dame or Sacre Coure, more kid-friendly.
As the kids’ excitement grew, so did mine. They asked if crocodiles lived in the Seine River (umm…no), if we’d get to climb to the top of the Eiffel tower (yes!) and if we could go to the museums and see gigantic pictures of naked ladies (sure, why not?). To practice for their flight, they dragged our luggage through the house pretending they were at the airport, taking off their shoes to go through security, and boarding the couch for their flight to Paris.
My kids’ enthusiasm was infectious and my old confidence returned. When I finally told people where we were going, I answered their incredulous looks with a chuckle and a simple statement:<i> it doesn’t make sense, does it? I guess we’re just crazy like that. </i>
I finally felt ready to take my family into the world, there was only one question: was the world ready for my family?
Nov 29th, 2010 | 01:19 PM
#17
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 0
This sounds better and better! I am particularly interested in your experience with kids in Europe, as I have mentioned before on this Forum, my Practice Wife and I did a similar thing many years ago with two boys 6 and 7, and twin girls, 4 years old.
I shared doubts similar to yours, but the end result of our trip was such that my advice to folks planning a trip through Europe without kids is, "Rent some!". Those kids were an "Open Sesame" to the hearts and homes of many people we would have never met, and adventures we would have never shared if we had not had them with us.
I shared doubts similar to yours, but the end result of our trip was such that my advice to folks planning a trip through Europe without kids is, "Rent some!". Those kids were an "Open Sesame" to the hearts and homes of many people we would have never met, and adventures we would have never shared if we had not had them with us.
Nov 30th, 2010 | 08:26 AM
#20
Original Poster
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
Nukesafe -- yes, the kids were a great ice-breaker. We were greeted with nothing but warm smiles in Paris. Actually, it reminded me of how the Italians reacted to my 18 month old many years ago,which pleasantly surprised me.
sap -- a sense of humor is mandatory with twins. Or they'll eat you alive.
I thought I should go into more detail about the apartment.
<b>Paris Apartment </b>
My general impressions of the apartment: warm, cozy, light. While the windows were under the Palais Royal Arcade, meaning we didn’t have a view of the gardens, the apartment didn’t feel dark. The windows mimicked the shape of the arcade arches and our view was of the tree tops and of the arcade below. It also meant it was incredibly quiet. The only noise was from the restaurant setting up their outdoor tables, the sound of a woman’s heels clicking down the arcade and a few rowdy people on Friday and Saturday night (which was more comical than annoying).
We accessed the gardens through a back door on the ground floor. It reminded me of the entering the “Secret Garden." I’d slowly open the large door, say to the kids <i>we’re opening the magic door </i> …and voila! We are surrounded by open space, large fountains, and rows of trimmed trees -- a mini Parisian paradise at our doorstep.
The kitchen had enough pots, pans, cooking utensils,plates, and cups to host a small party. It was also equipped with a French press, electric tea kettle along with coffee and an assortment of tea. The dishwasher was handy as well as the washer and dryer, which worked wonderfully. And yes, they had an ample supply of soap for both.
The living area was cozy. The decorations were tasteful and the bookcase was full of books – in English. It ranged from guidebooks (including Fodor’s Paris with Kids) and other guides to shopping, eating museums in Paris. The TV wasn’t limited to French channels; we watched the news nightly on an English language French news station along with the BBCNews. Kids were delighted to the Disney channel, as were we. Quiet, still children are priceless.
There was also free Wifi and a laptop computer with internet access.
The master bedroom was large enough for a king sized bed. And the master bathroom had a walk-in shower that easily contained three raucous children. It was HUGE for what I consider a typical European bathroom.
I hope this helps anyone looking for an apartment in Paris.
Yes, it’s pricey (by my standards) but for my first trip to Paris, the experience was worth the expense.
sap -- a sense of humor is mandatory with twins. Or they'll eat you alive.
I thought I should go into more detail about the apartment.
<b>Paris Apartment </b>
My general impressions of the apartment: warm, cozy, light. While the windows were under the Palais Royal Arcade, meaning we didn’t have a view of the gardens, the apartment didn’t feel dark. The windows mimicked the shape of the arcade arches and our view was of the tree tops and of the arcade below. It also meant it was incredibly quiet. The only noise was from the restaurant setting up their outdoor tables, the sound of a woman’s heels clicking down the arcade and a few rowdy people on Friday and Saturday night (which was more comical than annoying).
We accessed the gardens through a back door on the ground floor. It reminded me of the entering the “Secret Garden." I’d slowly open the large door, say to the kids <i>we’re opening the magic door </i> …and voila! We are surrounded by open space, large fountains, and rows of trimmed trees -- a mini Parisian paradise at our doorstep.
The kitchen had enough pots, pans, cooking utensils,plates, and cups to host a small party. It was also equipped with a French press, electric tea kettle along with coffee and an assortment of tea. The dishwasher was handy as well as the washer and dryer, which worked wonderfully. And yes, they had an ample supply of soap for both.
The living area was cozy. The decorations were tasteful and the bookcase was full of books – in English. It ranged from guidebooks (including Fodor’s Paris with Kids) and other guides to shopping, eating museums in Paris. The TV wasn’t limited to French channels; we watched the news nightly on an English language French news station along with the BBCNews. Kids were delighted to the Disney channel, as were we. Quiet, still children are priceless.
There was also free Wifi and a laptop computer with internet access.
The master bedroom was large enough for a king sized bed. And the master bathroom had a walk-in shower that easily contained three raucous children. It was HUGE for what I consider a typical European bathroom.
I hope this helps anyone looking for an apartment in Paris.
Yes, it’s pricey (by my standards) but for my first trip to Paris, the experience was worth the expense.
