It sounds like you are not considering the Champ de Mars location any more. But I just thought I would share my experience last year, for what it is worth. I was near the Eiffel Tower and thought I would walk around the park taking pictures. While I was walking around I was approached at least three times by people trying to pull the gold ring scam on me. Everywhere I stepped, somebody was stooping over and picking up a ring in front of me. It was not at all relaxing, and I left the area.

Flatfeet - good luck with your trip. We took our 20 month old daughter to Paris a couple of years ago and had a great time. We stayed in an apartment on the Blvd San Michel (other side of the Jardins Luxembourg) and were in the park every day. You have to pay for the playground part but it also has a bathroom and cafe (well worth the money in my opinion!).

We had a great trip. You might want to check out my trip report for some kid specifics:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ed-monster.cfm

The metro is okay to take but more difficult than in NYC, in my opinion, because longer walks and less obvious elevators. I would fold up the stroller and carry baby if you attempt it because the staircases are long!

In terms of eating dinner out, we live in Boston and take our daughter to a lot of restaurants. While traveling, however, we were all tired by dinner time and didn't really enjoy worrying about her behaving when she was tired. We had more success eating a nice lunch out when things were more low key. We tended to go on the later side so we missed all the business lunch people. For dinner we got wonderful prepared food to eat in the apartment or just ate a crepe or something. Fortunately the food is very kid friendly in Paris.

Have a wonderful time.

Nadia thanks for tip on the #27 bus. I'm finalizing an apt that will be very nearby.

Nikki yeah I'm now only considering the LG. Those gold ring people sound creepy.

Sally, I read your report couple nights ago. It was a page turner, I loved every word, really made me look forward to our trip. Completely feel for you on the day your daughter wouldn't nap. I've been there. I have now scratched the car seat off the list based on your reco. We have never taken public transit while traveling to/from airports with our daughter, but this will be a good way to kick start our adventure in Paris. I'm excited!

Just wanted to add that the Luxembourg is a great park for kids. There are toy boats for sailing, a carousel, a nice playground, puppet shows, etc. (although there is a charge for all of these). My kid even just liked watching boules (YMMV!).

I also have to put in a good word for the batobus, not necessarily as the fastest way to get anywhere, but as an easy, fun way to see the city from the water.

We found you visit the bakeries and local shops it's very easy to do a nice picnic for lunch.

That should be "We found THAT IF you visit the bakeries..." of course. Never sure if it's worth correcting typos but that one sounds particularly awful.

Spent several hours at the playground in Luxembourg Gardens with grandchildren on our June trip....it is a wonderful enclosed playground....we all had a wonderful time....you will enjoy the entire park...perfect location!

hi again, flatfeet,

I don't want to overburden you with trip reports, but if you click on my screen name, you'll find my trip report repotr our recent trip to Paris [P is for Paris...] which you may find useful because our hotel was just over the road from the luxembourg gardens, and we did visit quite a few of the restaurants and cafes in the immediate area.

we didn't spend a huge amount of time in the gardens themselves as it was a flying visit and we had no children with us, but there were certainly a lot of them [and their parents!] around when we did.

regards, ann

Cool, thx ann, clicking on your name right now