I am planning a trip to Paris in July with my husband and our 9-year-old boy. We will be staying with my aunt there so I didn't have to pay for a hotel (yayyyy). I have been there 10 years ago but spent most of my time with family at dinners/BBQ parties at their houses. They were great offering to drive us everywhere and I had a blast. I did a few "touristy" things like seeing the Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, and Sacre Coure. But I feel like I left so much of Paris unseen and unexperienced.

1. I am hoping this time 10 days is enough to really see Paris. What advice would you give me to do so with a 9 year old? I saw the Versailles Palace and I think a whole day spent there was enough, but I am wondering if my son would enjoy it just as much and if we will have enough time to visit it again.

2. What are some of the "must-sees" and what activities/ sites can be grouped together to be done in a day?

3. Is the budget of $1000 enough to tour Paris? (including food,) My airfare is purchased and I won't have a hotel fee to worry about.

Thanks Jazz

You can never see it all, so there will always be a reason to go back. Don't try to see it all...you drive your self nuts and don't really get to enjoy anything.

I realize that a 9 year old may not enjoy hanging out in cafes, but that is one of my favorite things about Paris. That and just wandering the streets and seeing what you find.

Read some of Kerouac's posts about Paris and all the hidden gems and less travelled paths there.

Make sure you hit Berthillion on the Ile St Louis for ice cream...just look for the line. (it really is that good!) You could pair with with the trek up the towers at Notre Dame.

Maybe a boat tour on the Seine, especially at night to see the monuments lit up. A picnic at Luxembourg Gardens would be nice.

I also love the Rodin museum but am not sure that a 9 year old will but is could be paired with Hotel des Invalides/Musee de L'Armee.

Pompidou Centre would be good with a 9 year old.

Check Rick Steves guide book...he has a section on Paris with kids.

As for the budget...you can certainly picnic and use crepe stands to get by inexpensively. Again, Rick Steves is a good resource for free and inexpensive travel.

The must see for a nine year old is the Museum of Natural History. It is in the Jardin des Plantes. Not far from the Luxembourg gardens. one of the worlds great natural history museums. Lunch is also good there.

We took my stepson to Paris when he was 8 years old (some time ago!), and he liked the boat ride on the Seine and the Louvre. He really enjoyed the Louvre, thus proving that not all young boys are alike!

You're right artsbabe. My son loves museums. I will definitely have to spend an afternoon at Louvre and take Lyn's advice and go to the Museum of Natural History.

Thanks denisea for the valuable info. I tried to look up Kerouac on here and so many things come up. Can you narrow down how to search for the pertinent info please?

Thanks, Jazz

$100 is only about 75 euros a day for 2 people.

Have you accounted for - transport to your aunt's house - or will they pick you up and deliver you to the airport?

Will you be having breakfast with the aunt?

I assume you will be taking her/family out to dinner a couple of times to thank them for the housing.

Have you looked at the cost of various sights?

If you are willing to eat very modestly you can probably scrape by - but we figure at lest $100 per day for food for 3 people - a modest sit down lunch (croque monsieur in a cafe) and a slightly nicer dinner. The one special dinner we do in each city is extra (we figure $300- $400 for that dinner).

I would check the prices of the sights you plan on seeing, local transit (you don;t say where your aunt lives) and then figure out what you have left for food.

(If it were use we would defiintely plan on more but you can eat and trek around the city quite modestly if you work at it.)

Hi NYtraveler. They will pick us up and drop us off at the airport. My aunt cooked breakfast and expected us for dinner every day during my last visit. So I guess I was just considering one meal out and quick bites/ drinks here and there. But indeed, I will take them out for nice meal/ wine, and I do want to experience more of French cuisine so I will factor that in...

Jazztravel, it would take you years to see all of Paris but ten days will be wonderful and you can explore many new things. The easiest way to read Kerouac's Paris threads would be to go to the /anyPortinaStorm Paris board,
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...gi?board=paris

And, the Postcards board,
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...board=pictures

Here are a few threads that I love and your son might enjoy,
An afternoon at the Paris flea market, Saint Ouen,
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ad=3319&page=1

Paris, Cite de l'Architecture,
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ay&thread=4604

Paris, la Grand Galerie de l'evolution,
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ay&thread=4587

Paris: the Canal Saint Martin...the boat ride is wonderful,or, simply walk along the canal,
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ay&thread=3491

La Mouzaia: ultra top secret Paris,
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ay&thread=3608

As someone else suggested you might enjoy the canal ride through the locks up the Canal St. Martin. At the end of the ride is the Parc de la Villette, which has many activities for a youngster. Google Parc del la Villette for more details.

And of course you need to see the Army museum at Invalides, maybe even the Legin of HOnor museum across from the D'Orsay. I really can't see a child liking St. Ouen> It can be a crush

>Spending 10 days in Paris - how should I spend it? <

Slowly. savoring every golden moment.

The Canal ride might or might not be interesting, and particularly to a 9 year old. Do the Seine river trip for sure and if there is NOTHING else to do, maybe the canal.
I think the budget is possible, but very austere. Where does the aunt live--right in Paris? Be sure not to order a Coke anywhere!! Anytime!!

ParisFrance info city guidebudget travel tips.

www.eurocheapo.com/paris

If you are careful with food stay with more budget places

odds are great you will be fine...

I'll second CopperandJade's reference to reports on the AnyPort website. There is a wealth of information about Paris to be gleaned from that forum, besides what they have linked to, and I highly recommend you give it a look for ideas.

can't narrow kerouac down....he posts regularly on unique things in Paris so just watch for his posts..hopefully you will get a reply from him to your question, as well...his perspective is always interesting and focused on the "overlooked" things in Paris

thank you all for your input

Jazz

If you're only eating lunches, 1k should get you through most of it, but pretty tight either way. I'd budget 10 euro PP/PD for lunch, some days it may be 5, others 15-20. @30 euros per day ($40 at today's exchange rate) will keep you from going hungry anyway. The exhibit costs would be what concerns me. Here's a link to the museum pass website. You can use it to look up the costs for each place you may want to attend. http://en.parismuseumpass.com/

Also, you may want to consider extra money for some carnet's on the metro for those days when walking from the eiffel tower to Pompidou are in your schedule. (I would certainly group visits to one area on one day to avoid it)

Did you do the conversion from dollars to Euro? I think your budget is very tight for 3 people.

Nevertheless, enjoy this trip. I think 9 is a great age to travel with children. Old enough to be interested and behaved and young enough that mom and dad are still fun for them.