Tabernash2

Thanks for your response.

I think you should consider the Latin Quarter, which is easy walking distance to the Seine and Notre Dame, with plenty of shopping and restaurants nearby. There is a young vibe in this neighborhood, with all the university students. We really enjoyed it.

Everyone will enjoy the nearby Luxembourg Gardens:
http://travel.usnews.com/Paris_Franc...embourg_24240/

We stayed at Hotel St Jacques there, but they don't have apartments.

Good luck and enjoy Paris!

apersuader65

I'd try http://www.parisvacationapartments.com/

They have several two and three bedrooms in the Palais Royal area, close to food shops on Rue Montorgueil, block from the Louvre. About as central as you can get.

Tabernash2

Oh, boy. I should not have started looking at Paris apartments. Now I wanna go!

It's really nice that your family is celebrating your Mom's birthday like this.

If you are interested, I can post the name of a charming little restaurant near our Hotel St Jacques. It would be very nice, and not too exorbitant, for a large group. We loved it, after being a bit disappointed in a 'big name' restaurant right across the narrow street. (And we are 60-ish.)

Tabernash2

Ok, you twisted my arm:

Le Petit Prince de Paris
http://www.lepetitprincedeparis.fr/english/index.php

Seamus

I've had good luck with homeaway.com in the past. Just had a quick look and found properties number 1217464a (also looks to be on offer through localflat.com),434088vb and 6568948 that look like they would meet your mother's wish to have everyone in one place.

Not my style of travel but it's her birthday, not mine. Priorities I'd have would be at least 3 bathrooms, washer and preferably separate dryer, close to a metro station and elevator if above 3d floor.

camileaos

Ai ai ai... I can hardly wait now with all of the great suggestions! Thanks everyone. I'm checking all of them, including the restaurant! It looks wonderful. I really appreciate the help!

tracilee

If you decide to go with a couple apartments in the same building, have a look at My Paris Visit. I have used them several times and have stayed in two different apartments in the same building; I know they have several others in this building, it's in the 1st close to Les Halles and the Louvre.

This one is large enough to accommodate all of you to gather together:

http://www.myparisvisit.com/rental-t...paris-111.html

We've also stayed in this one:
http://www.myparisvisit.com/rental-o...-paris-59.html

Both of these are available in February. You could contact the office manager, Tracy, to find out what else they have in the same building. She is from Seattle so she speaks English.

Sounds like a fun trip!

grandmere

We had a three-generation trip to France this summer, and our last night in Paris our group of nine (including a 4,6,8, and 11 year old) had a memorable dinner at Bofinger in the Marais. It's a large, bustling brasserie and has a kids' menu; decor is Art Deco, service was great, and so was the meal. I made reservations about 3 weeks in advance; had to do it by phone b/c the online reservation format would not accept my USA phone number.

Happy planning; what a lovely time you will have!

geetika

You'll need at least 4 bedrooms and 2 baths, you'd also want to be in a central location, easier to come home for a break in the afternoon, especially since you have young kids. It might be better to get two smaller apartments, this is what my sister and I did for our GTG in Rome this June. We were 9 and booked 2 apartments through the same agency, we were just 5 minutes away from each other and did a lot of stuff together while still having our own privacy.

Am getting ready to book for Paris for next June, this time we'll be 6 and believe me, finding a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 bathrooms is no mean feat!

Where ever you stay am sure you'll have a wonderful time, its always great to vacation together as a family

kerouac

My Brazilian friends have been staying in the suburbs on their recent visits -- Les Lilas and Montreuil, and they have absolutely never found a problem with travel times to tourist places as long as they stay near a metro station. And of course they save about 70% on apartment rates compared to the center of Paris.

Gretchen

Kerouac, how long do they stay at a time?

kerouac

Usually about 3-4 weeks (Brazilian school holidays). Of course when you have a bit more time, it makes you less frantic about being right next to tourist sites.

As a child, my family always stayed in the suburbs, too, with relatives, and it never bothered us one bit to come and go from Courbevoie, taking the train in and out of Saint Lazare. It was only about a 10 minute ride, and then we took the metro. I suppose that's another reason I have never understood the obsession of being in the center of the city where everything is so much more expensive and there is very little authentic Parisian atmosphere.

kerouac

One great thing in terms of cost is that you are coming in February -- the least expensive month of the year.

Tabernash2

I wouldn't stay a train ride away with little ones who need to nap and decompress at different times of the day. A train would also make it harder to coordinate everyone leaving at the same time.

For your Mom's 60th, stay in Paris.

kerouac

Why not? I was a "little one" when I was doing it. I was totally excited taking the train (and metro) every time and couldn't get enough of either. I think that you are worrying more about adult considerations -- they are the ones who need to nap and decompress.

Tabernash2

Kerouac, have you traveled with little ones? Being one, at one point in time, doesn't count.
Kids need to nap and get away from it all, before they melt down.

I think for that many people, it would be easier to coordinate meeting up, if you're walking distance to your hotel.

camileaos

Thanks again everyone! The accommodation tips and restaurants in Le Marais and Latin Quarter sound perfect! They're on my list to go.
About area to stay, I'm totally with you Tabernash2! I'm from Brazil, but have lived in the US for 12 years. As a Brazilian I can attest to the fact that we don't like to spend a lot on hotels. As with Kerouac, my family always stay in the suburbs and we spent a considerable amount of time in transit. The result of that is still very memorable and I would not have traded it, however, given the option, I much rather stay close to everything. That way, instead of spending time commuting, I have more chance to walk around and explore, eat a cafe, etc. when we stayed with friends in the burbs, it was usually to save money, not for convenience. This is a special occasion and although my folks are still in the Brazilian mindset, I'm persuading them to splurge a little. We will be able to enjoy ourselves a lot more! Not to mention, we. Will all have a bit more freedom. Sounds so American, no? And I'm proud of it!

Tabernash2

Your family members will have more freedom to come and go, if your lodging is close in.

Maybe you can find lodging in the neighborhood where your parents lived. Were they at U of Paris or the Sorbonne? Those are in the Latin Quarter.

You're right-- your Mom's BDay is not the time to pinch pennies on where you stay.

I think you will find an affordable apartment(s) in Paris in February.

As you look, post questions about specific apartment locations, and someone will know about it to help you.

Have fun planning.

kerouac

I would still recommend staying a bit out of the "tourist ghetto". Areas like République, Bastille or Montparnasse are quite central but feel much less confined and have great street markets and better supermarkets.

Anybody whose only experience of street markets is the Maubert market or the dismal offerings of rue Mouffetard or rue de Buci would be in heaven visiting the street markets in those other areas.

camileaos

Found something that will fit all of us at Rue Chapon and rue Beaubourg. Yay or nay?