Paris with Kids
 

We will be travelling to Paris in October for about a week and then going to Normandy and the Loire Valley.

For Paris in particular, any suggestions on where to stay and what to see with two small children (2 and 5)? We are considering renting an apartment rather than getting a hotel. Also any books for travelling with children that you recommend (there seems to be several).

Hi

If you do a text search for "paris children" you will get lots of hints.

Hi, just got back today from 3 weeks in Europe with a 11 yr old and 7 yr old (who had her birthday in Paris). (Up with a bad case of jet lag).

My children loved paris. First, we stayed in the 7th and I found in my travels my children prefered hotels not right in the action or center of things (such as the St. Germain area) because they liked it to be calmed. We stayed at the Hotel Muguet, however they have no quads so an apartment would be a better bet. We all loved the neighborhood around Rue Cler because there were plenty of shops where the children could buy fruit, healthy snacks, or takeout dinners, plus they met other children.

We would do a museum for a few hours (sometimes up to 5 hours if they held out) and let the children have a 'kid's choice activity for the afternoon. They loved Luxembourg Gardens and did the sailboats twice for over an hour each time. There is an amusement fair with rides and games going on in the park near the Louve so that was also a choice. Also we got the audioguides for them everytime. Many museums such as the orsay had a "child's version" which the kids enjoyed plus it kept them busy pllaing with the buttons so we could look at things. The Pompidue Center also had a child's exhibit on the Effiel Tower which they enjoyed as well as the foutains. The other things that was helpful is periodically my husband and I would give each other a break so if the children had enough of a museum one would take them for either a rest or a kid's choice activity and the other could look around a little longer. We used taxis and the metro to get around with them and it was no problem. We also bend some eating rules in our house and let them have a lot of ice cream and pain chocolate which helped them last longer in our touring. If you are driving, we got a great car through Hertz (via booking with british airways) called a Scienic by Renault. The car is meant for a family touring, but still small enough for European streets. The back had TV tray type things that popped out of the back of the seat so that the kids could color or eat in the car, plus the windows had shades that pulled down. There were drawers under their seat that they could store stuff.

As far as books, I went on Amazon and found a good selection. We had Phillipe in Monet's garden (cute story about a frog who is a friend of the artist), Linnea. I will try to post some titles later today. Also at a local bookstore I bought some coloring books with titles such as color the renior paitings etc. I also got some books on tape and walkman for each child and those helped at entertaining them. In the nest few days I'll post a more detailed report, hope this helps, ItsV

As suggested, please do a search, b/c there is a wealth of info on this site that probably won't be repeated. I think Fodor's has a book called Around Paris with Kids (and similar books for other cities). It has good ideas and even eating suggestions. Our 2 year old, of course, could have cared less about history or architecture, but he liked the trains and metro experience and liked the parks (and chasing pigeons). That said, getting gear on/off the metro is no fun. Take taxis when you don't want a struggle. Using our museum card, we made multiple trips into the Louvre instead of one long trip (our hotel was very close by). It's indoor forum was a good place to sit, use the restroom, or grab a snack, while one of us explored or rode the escalators with our kid, which he liked. One overlooked exhibit is the excavation near the Notre Dame. It is free with your museum card. Not top on many lists, but it has the added plus of having lights that you operate by buttons. Our 2 year old got a kick out of pushing buttons, while we casually enjoyed the exhibit.

Thank you for the replies. I did a search last night and didn't come up with much but after your suggestions I did it again and found more ideas. Hmmm??

Thanks for the heads up on the Renault, ItsV, we were looking at renting that exact model. Will also check out the books you mentioned.

We have been to Paris twice before but this is the first time with the kiddies so I am sure it will be a different and interesting experience.

In follow-up to my earlier post, our Science Renault was a diesel which was great because it got a ton of kms to the tank so we had to stop less and diesel was much cheaper than gas.

This trip too was my first to europe with kids (i had been to paris a few times before, but never with children) and found it to be relaxing, interesting and fun. You just have to do what is best for your own children. Enjoy yourself, you'll be glad you took them. Already mine our begging to go back. itsv

We are leaving for France in a couple of weeks with the kids. I found a site that might be good for you it's travelfor kids.com. We are trying to decide whether to order passes online for the museums called paris museum pass
We ordered ahead for passes for the museums in Florence and it was the greatest thing we got to skip the huge line and go right in. Please let me know if you have used them in Paris. Have fun- we are getting so excited!

Hi,
The last time we visited Paris, we stayed in B&B Hotel out in the Malakoff district. The hotel is modern and very clean, and caters very well for families with young children. The hotel has a number of rooms that have a double bed with two singles on a mezzanine floor, accessed by a staircaise within the room. All rooms are en-suite and have TV. You should check out their website :

www.bb-hotel.fr

The price is 57 euros for 4 people in the room. Breakfast is extra, at about 5 euros, but it's a buffet type with bacon and eggs as well as the traditional croisants etc.

The hotel is about 2 minutes walk from the Malakoff metro, and also has secure parking (which costs extra) or usually lot's of on street parking (for free !).

The chain are all over france, and we have used them on many occasions - just can't understand why the concept hasn't caught on elsewhere.

I've taken my kids to Paris a couple of times - and they've loved it. Especially:

Luxembourg Gardens
Tuileries
Beauborg (Pompidou Center) - not just the art inside, but the jugglers, clowns, mimes, etc. in the plaza out front.
The ice cream at Berthillon (Ile St. Louis)
Pastries at Laduree and many other Patisseries/Hot chocolate at Angelina (near Louvre/Tuileries)

The last time we were there we stayed by Place des Vosges (fantastic old square in the Marais) - my son joined in a pick-up game of soccer with some French kids his age kicking a ball around the square. He loved it, and it was amazing how well they communicated, even though he doesn't speak French. He still talks about it two years later.

Parc de la Villete - a bit out of the way, but full of imaginative playgrounds, structures, pavillions with kid-oriented interactive activities. Very cool.

I could go on and on about this, but I've got to run!

elinnea,

We are spending a week in Paris next month and have rented an apartment through rentparis.com. as our children (ages 7 and 2)will be with us. The prices are comparable to hotels, plus we'll have a separate bedroom for them and a small kitchen for milk, juice, etc. And after a day of sightseeing, it's nice to come back to a "home."

The Luxembourg Gardens has a very nice playground that both your 2 and 5 yo will enjoy. You must pay to enter, but it's worth it. The Rodin Museum has good sized grounds and at the back there is a child-friendly area with grass and sand boxes--one of you can tour the museum while the other babysits, then change roles.
The zoo in the Bois de Vincennes is a real treat. The animals there are very lively (compared to some zoos where they just lie around like lumps).
In the Loire Valley, if you go to Angers (a lovely city), the beautiful Jardin des Plantes has a little collection of goats, chickens, and some parrots that will entertain your children. The Jardin de Mail has a pretty, old-fashioned carousel.
FYI, it's the Renault Scenic, not Science.

I agree with BTilke. The Jardins de Luxembourg playground is excellent, and will entertain both of your kids. We were recently in Paris with both of my grand kids, 2 and 4 years old, and they both loved the jardins. We booked a hotel two blocks distant from the gadens, and it was quite easy to get there, as we often did.

Also, Jardin d'Acclimatation is marvelous for the little ones, although not as handy as the Luxembourg Gardens.

Just remembered something else my kids enjoyed - right off the lobby at Beaubourg, there's a special children's area, which is full of fun interactive things for them to do - buttons to push, things to climb on, look through, etc. Perfect for kids that age. I think you might be able to pay a reduced entry just to enter that part of the museum (not sure about that part.)

But - don't rule out the rest of the museum for small kids. Last time we were there they had an exhibit that involved several rooms of large fanatastic, colorful (even humorous) installations, some involving videos and so on, that the kids could walk through. Fun for little kids and adults.

I always recommend "Taking Your Kids to Europe" by Cynthia Harriman, Globe Pequot Press. An apartment is the best accommodation with children. Evening meals are best cooked and eaten at the apartment when everyone is exhausted after a day of sight-seeing and other activities.