Paris getaway with my daughter hotel ideas
 

My thirteen year old daughter and I will be spending four nights in Paris at the end of March after a visit with a friend in Edinburgh. We are so excited for some girl time in this incredible city! We have been to Paris once before and stayed near Rue de Buci in St Germain.
We are looking for a hotel. Here are a few of our wishes: smallll boutique style, preferably in the Marais but anywhere in the 1st-6th would work. Max $300 Cdn per night (approx 200Euro). Looking for somewhere with lovely interiors, quiet (I know it's Paris!) and great service. Nothing too stark and modern.
I am considering the Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais. Has anyone stayed there?
Thanks in advance for your ideas. Merci.

It's been a few years, but we used to stay at HOTEL de la BRETONNERIE which is very central inthe Marais. All of the rooms are different and more old style than stark & modern. The couple times we stayed there it was quiet even though its on a fairly busy street. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...de_France.html

Here is a link to the hotel we are considering, Caron Beaumarchais: http://www.carondebeaumarchais.com

When our DD was 16, she and I (and my mother) went to Paris. We stayed at two hotels there that we loved. In the 1st, we stayed at the Brittanique Hotel. It is exactly as you describe and we loved it! Location was great, room beautiful, just really nice! When we returned to Paris, we stayed in the 7th and stayed at the Muguet. The room was not quite as nice as the other, BUT our room had a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. I am not up on the current prices of either of these, but they would both make for a memorable mom/daughter trip.

Great location and the price is in your budget. I'd book directly with hotel.

Hotel Jeanne d'Arc

hoteljeannedarc.com/

Caron has glowing reviews. Never been myself but would select it.
I love Le britannique.

Sounds like a lovely trip. It's been about 15 years since I stayed at the hotel you're considering. I really liked the hotel- great service, nice rooms, and central location. Based on their website, it looks like the hotel has not changed at all. I think you would be happy staying there.

Th Caron de Beaumarchais is very charming and well-located, (we passed by it when we last stayed in the Marais) and enjoys very strong reviews on forums including TripAdvisor. We chose the Jeanne D'Arc (also lovely) - the Caron didnt have rooms in the category we wanted.

Thank you everyone. We are now deciding between Jeanne D'Arc and Caron de Beaumarchais. My concern with the Caron is that it looks like it is on a busier street and might be a bit noisy? I also worry it is a bit too far back I need the past for us and the Jeanne D'Arc looks a bit more updated.

The Caron is on a very busy and noisy street corner (people and cars and motorbikes), and it isn't set back from the street at all--well, it's maybe one storefront from the corner. I personally wouldn't stay there due to that, unless you somehow get a room that doesn't look over the front streets. However, if you do that, those rooms are smaller.

The superior rooms at the Jeanne d'Arc are 15-17 m2, which is the same size as those on the front of the Caron de Beaumarchais, but their interior rooms are only 14 m2.

For more about Jeanne d'Arc:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...the-marais.cfm

Hotel Jeanne d'Arc fronts on the Square du Marche Sainte-Catherine, which is full of touristy restaurants and cafes - and is extremely noisy, especially on the weekends. I don't recommend it, as the neighbors are up in arms about the noise issue.

This hotel is not far from the other hotels you mentioned, has been remodeled in the last year, and is within your budget range. Friends have stayed here and were happy. Lots to do in this much quieter neighborhood - restaurants, patisserie right across the street, etc.
http://www.lestournelles.com/en/

LES TOURNELLES is lovely and it talked about in my link from yesterday. It is more expensive unfortunately. I "believe" that Jeanne d'Arc has rooms that do not face the square.

Les Tournelles does look lovely and it's in the same price range as Jeanne D'Arc. I definitely don't want to be in a touristy square this trip! I have been to Paris a few times and this trip is meant to be about experiencing Paris with my daughter in a low key, off the beaten path kind of way.
Thank you so much Debit NM, Christina and fuzzbucket for going out of your way to help me with this planning. I love Fodor's travelers!

Les Tournelles is not expensive if you use www.booking.com
It's in a much more interesting section of the Marais - one most tourists bypass while rushing on their way to other things.

fuzzbucket I just booked Les Tournelles and got a great flexible rate directly through their website. There was a discount applied for staying four nights. In the end, it was 20 Euro more than Caron de Beaumarchais and 60 Euro less than Jeanne D'Arc. 770 Euro for the four nights. I am thrilled!!! Can't thank you all enough. Look out for my next post: where to go and most importantly where to EAT!

That's great news!
You might have a look at the ParisByMouth website, which gives locations and prices for restaurants in all neighborhoods. Don't be afraid to venture into the 11th and 12th arrondissements for much better and cheaper food. You can easily walk to them, just past the Opera Bastille.

It would be a good idea to have a map with all the streets listed - pick up "Paris par Arrondissement - L'Indispensable" at any newsstand or bookstore - the blue copy, around 6 EU.

If you go to rue de Bretagne and visit the food court at Les Enfants Rouges - especially on the weekends - there is a man who makes wonderful sandwiches, crepes, etc. If you like ethnic food, such as cous-cous, there is a good stand here, too. You have to get there really early, though.

I would head straight out of the door of your hotel and follow rue du Parc Royal, where there are some pleasant local restaurants.
Carette is located on Place des Vosges, has dependable onion soup and a lot of food for the money. Many people love Chez Janou, but the food isn't very good - except for the chocolat mousse. I'd just go for a drink on the terrace, instead.

Have a good time in Paris!

Hi,

We stayed in the Marais with our daughters last year. Our favourite place to grab croissants in the morning was at Moulin de Rosa. We also loved the choux pastry at Popelini. Very close by is Poilane - good open faced sandwiches on their delicious bread.

One dinner was at Bofinger for that traditional brasserie experience - be sure to ask for a table under "la coupole". Really good choucroute and iles flottantes for dessert! Another delicious lunch was at Cafe Breizh for crepes (and cider for mom!).

We had an inexpensive but yummy early dinner at the Marche des Enfants Rouges at a stall serving North African food.

Not a food recommendation but my girls thought that the Musee Georges Pompidou was pretty cool (and the fountain with the sculptures outside too!). I am sure your daughter will also enjoy the cute boutiques in the Marais! Bon voyage!

jacolis and fuzzbucket I am saving all of your suggestions! Can't wait to walk, eat, shop and explore this amazing city.

Don't miss the Musee Carnavalet...it is a museum of the history of Paris. It's in the Marais. A hidden gem IMHO. Used to be free...now they suggest a 5€ donation that is well worth it.

If you are in the Marais, the Marché Bastille is a great outdoor market -- Saturdays (and I think Thursdays, too)...from Place Bastille up Boulevard Richard Lenoir several blocks.

ssander

The Carnavalet museum has been closed for renovations since October 2016 and is expected to reopen sometime in 2019. You'll have to cross this one off your list.

Bastille market is open on Sundays and Thursday's from around 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

We will defiintely visit the Bastille Market. Thanks for the tip.
Looking for a great spot for crepes. I also heard of a spot in Paris (not sure where) that has the most AMAZING souffles.Sadly I don't remember the name but I think it only serves souffles.

That's easy!
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...de_France.html

Camille is a popular spot on rue des Francs Bourgeois.
So is Breizh Cafe on rue Vieille du Temple.

Second Camille's -- a favorite lunch spot for us. For crepes if you're near the Bastille, West Country Girl.

fuzzbucket thanks for the tip on the Carnavalet. Besides hotels and restaurants, what is there to see in the Marais? Haven't been in Paris in 10 years, and can't remember if we explored the Marais or not.

Off the top of my head there is Picasso Museum, Pompidou Museum, Musée des Arts et Métiers. Jardin Anne Frank is lovely as is Place des Vosges. The Victor Hugo Museum there is quite nice. Always find an interesting exhibit at The Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Lots of galleries and little shops.

Thanks yestravel. So far we have only planned Musee d'Orsay and the Rodin Museum, so watching this thread for ideas.

Recommend highly Le Souffle, 36 rue Mont Thabor in the 1st Arr. for lunch, a little bijou of a restaurant. Sit amongst French ladies lunching as well as a smattering of business men and enjoy the prix fixe of two tasty soufflés with a salad in between, glass of wine included.

This is a very doable walk from the Marais down rue de Rivoli.

Fuzzbucket...

Carnavalet closed??? Damn! We love that place.
Probably we will get back to Paris before 2019 -- I hate to go more than two years between visits, and we were there in May 2016....sigh!

It should be a required visit for anyone who loves Paris.

ssander

Adding to the above:
Check out these web sites:

Paris Walks, two hour tours of various arrondisement for 12 euro pp.

Paris Greeters will arrange a two hour walk with one of their volunteers based on your interest for a nominal donation.

I've done several of the walks including the Marais, both I and II, The Islands, Hemingway, all of them an opportunity to stroll areas of the city I would have been hard put to find on my own.

Paris by Mouth - the St. Germain walk.

fuzzbucket, you're hired as my personal Paris trip planner!
Le Souffle - couldn't be any easier to remember! We will be going there for sure.

Camille's sounds highly recommended too - thank you yestravel.

travelchat I have been trying to find some kind of high interest tour for my daughter and I. I will look into your suggestions. I was going to book a Context Tour "Chocolate and Pastries" but it was going to cost over $200. We could wander and eat a lot of chocolate and pastry for that!!!
I would love to do a private guided art tour, possibly of Orsay or the Picasso Museum.

We have done a bike tour of the city and explored St Germain, the Louvre, Tour Eiffel and Montmartre on a previous trip.
Are there any other neighbourhoods we should put on our "must see" list besides the Marais (where we are staying)? I love to explore a city by neighbourhoods.

I took a "chocolate walk" with Paris Walks two years ago. Fabulous and fascinating. Brought many samples back to the apartment after enjoying a variety of delicious tastes during the walk. Much less expensive than Context Tours. Give it a look and..... enjoy!

Try to book a ParisByMouth tour - fun and very informative, several topics to choose from:
http://parisbymouth.com/paris-food-tours/

There is a "Chocolate Museum" not too far from where you are staying. Probably wouldn't take too long to walk or ride there - and don't be put off by the neighborhood, it's perfectly safe:
http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum...nd-du-Chocolat

You probably won't need a guided tour for the Musee Picasso - it's small, and self-explanatory. Afterwards, go across the street to Breizh Cafe and eat crepes.

There's a hidden garden at 10 rue des Rosiers, well worth a visit.
Others are located on rue des Francs-Bourgeois.

Here's the info for guided tours in English for the Musee d'Orsay:
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/i...or-adults.html

If you like exploring neighborhoods, there's probably no better place to start than the local outdoor markets. The first is easy to walk to, in the 12eme, the second is a little farther away, in the 14eme and would be good for bike riding. Pay attention to the days and hours of operation for both:
http://equipement.paris.fr/marche-co...-d-aligre-5480
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/...1264290/359279

I went back to our itinerary for our first Paris trip with the girls - maybe your daughter would enjoy the free 30 minute Friday afternoon fashion show at Les Galeries Lafayette? The building itself is really beautiful - don't miss checking out the dome and there is a great view from the top balcony. And you can try the macarons from Pierre Herme on the first floor.

We did the choco museum - it was just ok. The best part was the demo at the end with free tasting. :)

We didn't do it but there seemed to be quite a few cooking classes in English that could be a fun mother/daughter activity.

Jacolis--Great ideas! On various trips with DD, we did that fashion show as well as a cooking class. The fashion show was fun, and did not take long. I remember that it was really hot in the room though, and everyone was fanning themselves with the program. The cooking class we did was with Cookin With Class and we did the macaroon half day class. That was a lot of fun andI would absolutely do another class with them!

mms I will check out Cookin With Class. Thanks for the tip.

jacolis The fashion show sounds like something my daughter would love.

fuzzbucket Thanks for ALL of your awesome tips. Place Des Vosges was one of my absolutelfave spots last visit so I am excited to epxlore some other (more hidden) gardens. Hoping for a bit of sunshine for picnics.

This is a great thread. I know many of the places mentioned in Paris (Hotels and restaurants and agree with the sentiments) and have attended classes at Cooking With Class.
Enjoyed it so much I will be returning to them for 2 classes with a small group this Spring, as well as to a few other cooking establishments in Paris.
Paris has lots of such places - you just have to find the right one for you and they're all nice!

Mathieu do you have any one cooking school that you think would be particularly well suited for my daughter and I? She is a very keen baker and we would be most intersted in pastries, macarons, etc. There are so many to choose from at so many different price points!

Hello Francewithfive,

I've been busy and off Fodors for a bit and so just saw your message above.

There aren't many cooking schools in Paris that cater to children or young teens of your daughters age with parents in attendance. I happen to know this as I was looking into the same thing myself. If any school in the city offer classes for young people, they tend to be in the way of a 2 -3 hour class for just kids alone leaving the parents to head off and do their own thing and picking them ups after the class, and on a weekend when French children aren't at school. Le Cordon Bleu Paris, and another called L'Atelier de sens are like this, but do some good work. However I think Cooking With Class might be a good bet for you and your daughter together if you choose a macaron or a baking class. Their classes tend to be smaller, attract a 'visitor to Paris' crowd and are delivered in English.

If you'd like some additional background, feel free to write to me at [email protected] and I can give you some more info.