Mother-Daughter Trip to Paris
#1
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Mother-Daughter Trip to Paris
My daughter is graduating from high school in June and starting college in August. I would like to take her to Paris for a belated graduation trip next May. I thought an apartment for the two of us might be a better bet than a hotel, but am not sure. Suggestions and recommendations, please! Merci.
#2
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How long will you be staying in Paris? If it is only for a week or so, I'd just go for a hotel.
As a splurge, you might want to go on one of those dinner cruises along the Seine. Sure its a bit touristy, and sometimes the food can be hit or miss, but it is a great way to see the city lights. I believe they're called Batoun Mouche (sorry for any errors - I haven't studied French for several years).
I'm sure your daughter will love it.
As a splurge, you might want to go on one of those dinner cruises along the Seine. Sure its a bit touristy, and sometimes the food can be hit or miss, but it is a great way to see the city lights. I believe they're called Batoun Mouche (sorry for any errors - I haven't studied French for several years).
I'm sure your daughter will love it.
#3
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That would be anice trip to have together.
I just took my granddaughter and her husband to Paris for a week.They thoroughly enjoyed it.
I go a couple times a year for stays of a month. I rent apartments.
I prefer the 7th arrondissement, as it is very village-like with more great and bidd gourmand restaurants than many others combined..easy access to everything.
I usually stay in the www.parisperfect.com apartments. I will be staying in a fantastice new one in Sept/Oct that is not on their site at the moment. It is just being finished. 8th floor with all of Paris views, in the 7th, etc.
Check their site out and also go the www.vrbo.com and look at places. When you find some that appeal to you, come back and ask questions.
It is fun looking...enjoy....
I just took my granddaughter and her husband to Paris for a week.They thoroughly enjoyed it.
I go a couple times a year for stays of a month. I rent apartments.
I prefer the 7th arrondissement, as it is very village-like with more great and bidd gourmand restaurants than many others combined..easy access to everything.
I usually stay in the www.parisperfect.com apartments. I will be staying in a fantastice new one in Sept/Oct that is not on their site at the moment. It is just being finished. 8th floor with all of Paris views, in the 7th, etc.
Check their site out and also go the www.vrbo.com and look at places. When you find some that appeal to you, come back and ask questions.
It is fun looking...enjoy....
#4
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I think that's a great idea! My sister-in-law and I are planning on taking my daughter and niece to Paris when they graduate from high school (in five years).
I am going to second gracejoan, an apartment would be wonderful. Paris Perfect has beautiful places but they are very expensive, and I have found much better values on vrbo. We will be staying in vrbo apartment 80453 for two weeks in June (we leave two weeks from today). I will post a review after we get back. We always stay in this neighborhood and have found it a great place to settle in.
I would suggest also that you "cruise" vrbo to look at apartments. The 7th is a great place to start because it is very central to everything. Once you find a place you can do a little further research...post the address here, also, stick it in your brower and see what comes up, as many apartments are listed on two or more services (the above apartment is). I was able to get a floor plan, more photos, and exact the square footage of the apartment by doing this. Also I was able to compare prices - I did find the lowest rate on vrbo.
Bonne chance!
I am going to second gracejoan, an apartment would be wonderful. Paris Perfect has beautiful places but they are very expensive, and I have found much better values on vrbo. We will be staying in vrbo apartment 80453 for two weeks in June (we leave two weeks from today). I will post a review after we get back. We always stay in this neighborhood and have found it a great place to settle in.
I would suggest also that you "cruise" vrbo to look at apartments. The 7th is a great place to start because it is very central to everything. Once you find a place you can do a little further research...post the address here, also, stick it in your brower and see what comes up, as many apartments are listed on two or more services (the above apartment is). I was able to get a floor plan, more photos, and exact the square footage of the apartment by doing this. Also I was able to compare prices - I did find the lowest rate on vrbo.
Bonne chance!
#5
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Thank you all for such prompt and helpful responses! I am thinking of staying a week to ten days, which would allow us to really "live" there, so I do like the apartment idea.
I hate paying exhorbitant prices for breakfasts and sometimes, after a long day of touring, it's nice to go to the various markets and pick up the makings of a picnic dinner and just relax with a book.
Luckily, I have been able to take her on some wonderful vacations so she is a fairly sophisticated traveler. She studies French and is really looking forward to our annual trip "a deux."
Keep the suggestions coming!
I hate paying exhorbitant prices for breakfasts and sometimes, after a long day of touring, it's nice to go to the various markets and pick up the makings of a picnic dinner and just relax with a book.
Luckily, I have been able to take her on some wonderful vacations so she is a fairly sophisticated traveler. She studies French and is really looking forward to our annual trip "a deux."
Keep the suggestions coming!
#6
Have either of you been to Paris before? Do you speak French? Not that either is necessary but would be helpful going the apartment route.
I prefer a hotel when it is my first time in a city. Because I make use of the front desk to get information and help me figure out things. You can still buy from markets and picnic in your room.
I prefer a hotel when it is my first time in a city. Because I make use of the front desk to get information and help me figure out things. You can still buy from markets and picnic in your room.
#7
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I second the ParisPerfect reco; especially now that they all have AC. That part of the 7th is a bit tame, but it is also safe and convenient. Maybe a week there and a few days in the Marais for a change of pace.
#8
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I have been to Paris a few times; my daughter has not. We both speak enough French to manage nicely. I don't want to move around so would want to rent one apartment and stay there.
I always loved the Left Bank, although it is not as convenient as the Marais, par example (see, I told you I spoke French!). What do you all think?
I always loved the Left Bank, although it is not as convenient as the Marais, par example (see, I told you I spoke French!). What do you all think?
#10
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Iflaster,
An appartment is a good idea. I'd recommend that you do a search using the search feature. This is a common topic, and you will find several agencies as well as individual VRBO appartments mentioned. There are also trip reports with pictures and views of appartments.
An appartment is a good idea. I'd recommend that you do a search using the search feature. This is a common topic, and you will find several agencies as well as individual VRBO appartments mentioned. There are also trip reports with pictures and views of appartments.
#11
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If you check out the www.parisperfect.com website to see what lovely places they are and are further interested, then go to the www.vrbo.com site for their individual listings there with the 20% discount...OR just contact them on the PP website and mention that you have seen the 20% discounts on the VRBO site and would be interested in whichever one at the discounted rate.....I'm sure that will work..
Enjoy your looking........
Enjoy your looking........
#12
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I've been going to Paris regularly since the mid 70s and decided to rent an apartment this past March.You can pull up my Paris apartment report. I had vacationinparis.com Apt#122 in my neighborhood of almost 30 years. That is a very nice apartment in a great area. Plus, the company is in New Jersey and you pay in dollars so you won't be affected by the falling dollar. I booked the apartment around nine months in advance. Happy Travels!
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I just read some of the above comments and I don't think it matters if it's your first time or if you don't speak French as far as renting an apartment. A lot depends on what agency you use and how user friendly the agency is. I would have rented an apartment, in Paris, decades ago if I'd found the right agency back then. I find it much more relaxing to be in a decent-sized apartment than be VERY cramped up in a usually noisy hotel room. Plus, in an apartment, you can make some meals thus saving a TON of money.
In the apartment I rented there were multi-lingual manuals explaining how to use everything from the washing machine to the oven. And the rental agency I used sent out a package with a map, phone numbers for reliable taxi and airport shuttle, etc...So, it just takes a little research to have a successful trip.
Also, your daughter will be graduating from high school and going off to college. What better life skills lesson/learning experience would this be to have her to figure out things instead of taking the easy hotel route. Although I'm now in my early 50s, I've been traveling around the world, almost annually, on my own since I was 17. My parents let me go and explore and I'm female. It was a GREAT learning experience. I first went to Scandinavia where I stayed for 2 months. That was at the end of my high school year...a few months before starting university and I have been going almost non-stop ever since....over 2 dozen countries and all of the continents.
I rent apartments overseas anywhere from a week to three weeks and I have absolutely no regrets. Once one has rented an apartment, it's hard to go back to a hotel. I really do hope you check out the apartment that I've suggested as the location couldn't be better and it's in the heart of liveliness and lots of young people.
I hope you post your experiences when you return next March from your trip. Smiles and happy planning! Happy Travels!
In the apartment I rented there were multi-lingual manuals explaining how to use everything from the washing machine to the oven. And the rental agency I used sent out a package with a map, phone numbers for reliable taxi and airport shuttle, etc...So, it just takes a little research to have a successful trip.
Also, your daughter will be graduating from high school and going off to college. What better life skills lesson/learning experience would this be to have her to figure out things instead of taking the easy hotel route. Although I'm now in my early 50s, I've been traveling around the world, almost annually, on my own since I was 17. My parents let me go and explore and I'm female. It was a GREAT learning experience. I first went to Scandinavia where I stayed for 2 months. That was at the end of my high school year...a few months before starting university and I have been going almost non-stop ever since....over 2 dozen countries and all of the continents.
I rent apartments overseas anywhere from a week to three weeks and I have absolutely no regrets. Once one has rented an apartment, it's hard to go back to a hotel. I really do hope you check out the apartment that I've suggested as the location couldn't be better and it's in the heart of liveliness and lots of young people.
I hope you post your experiences when you return next March from your trip. Smiles and happy planning! Happy Travels!