Paris - Mom with two teens - Suggestions/Advise wanted
 

Hello,

I have received much valuable advise regarding my upcoming trip with my 15 y.o daughter and 18 y.o. niece. I am looking for any other suggestions or advise for our upcoming stay in Paris and Florence. We initially were going to go to Rome as well, but decided to save that destination for a later trip. Here is what I have planned so far (I have 5 days in each city) We are arriving in Paris Mid June.

Paris - staying in the 6th Arr. at Hotel d'Aubusson. Planning on seeing the Orsay, Orangerie, Louve, Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Tri., Notre Dame, Saint Chappelle, (purchased museum pass). Doing a fat bike tour and boat tour from Pont Neuf. Restaurants we would like to try are Laudree, Fish, Les Bouquinette. Any other suggestions would be welcome.

One suggestion is to climb the Eiffel Tower at night. Is this a good idea? Is this a safe area for three women at night?

I welcome any other suggestions that you may have to make this a wonderful and memorable trip..

Thank you very much!

We were in paris and did not go up the eifel tower. The lines are very long so it is only worth it if you just want to be able to say you have been up the eifel tower. There is a wonderful view from Sacre Couere, however your teens may think the trip to the top of the eifel tower is worth the wait. I didnt miss it.

Also, you can take a day trip to Versailles. It lives up to everything you hear. (although the tickets to get in are pricey)

One other note. You can download free audio tours on itunes. Just search for Rick Steves. I havent listened to any, but assume they are very good.

If you want to read up on Paris, the Josephine trilogy, which is historical ficiton is very good and much takes place in paris.

Have fun!

One other note. I was with my husband and we walked everywhere. I never had any concerns about safety.

You've already got a lot of great places to see and things to do on your itinerary. I'm sure other posters will have more good ideas for you but while you are here I'm sure you will discover many things you hadn't even thought about. And you might get advice by meeting other travelers while here or even locals. If you hadn't thought about any guided historical walking tours I have done all the tours with a company called Paris Walks (you can google them). It cost 12 euros per person for 2 hours and they offer a variety of tours. The guides are very knowledgeable and the tours are very interesting. The downside is that the group sizes can be over 30 and even 40 people so the crowd is a bit unwieldy and with all the street noise and traffic it can be difficult to hear. You shouldn't need to worry about safety here as long as you realize that you are in a big city and just need to use your street smarts. If I knew what types of things interested your teenage daughters I, and other posters, may be able to give you some specific recommendations. One of the best things to do here is just walk, enjoy the street life, look in the shops windows and sit down at a cafe and people watch.

Central Paris is basically safe (petty larceny is the biggest fear, and there are Barcelona-type scam artists in the Eiffel Tower area), you won't be near the banilues (sp?) of the outer rim of the city, which are not for tourists.

My teens loved the catacombs (15,18 and 18). If you are there on a Friday, there is a free fashion show that you have to get reservations for - I will find the information - I have it stored some place.

IMO, Invalides was huge, gray, and boring, skip it. Again just my opinion.

The Eiffel Tower is great at night and the lines are much shorter. There are so many tourists around that you will feel and be safe.

The street entertainment around Notre Dame and St. Michel is quite fun, especially on Fri. & Sat. after 9pm, also quite safe. Lots of young people hanging around the Seine at night----always interesting.

I'd add Place Vosges(maybe for lunch) in the Marais(lots of young people, great shops & cafes in the Marais, also the Carnavalet museum near Place Vosges is small & charming) and Luxemborg Gardens(your hotel is close by) at some point. And a walk down St. Louis en Ile to Amorino(we prefer it over Berthillon) for a cone while you are in the Notre Dame area.

In 7 trips to Paris we have walked all over the tourist areas both day and night and always have felt safe. The only place we have been that we thought was quite seedy was around Montmarte----safe during the day, but I wouldn't go there at night.

Have a great trip, we'll be watching for your trip report.

Please make sure you prep the girls on the scam artists who work the major tourist sights (the lost ring & angelic children etc) and the pickpockets who work the metro and escalators. Backpacks are a major no-no.