JohnG

My wife and I are considering taking our children to France for a couple of weeks (a week in Paris, a week in Provence), but are debating at what age they'll be old enough to enjoy it and remember it. Next summer they'll be 6 & 10 and have travelled quite a bit in the U.S., but never abroad. Does anyone have experience taking a 6 year old to France? How'd it go? <BR><BR>Thanks!

greg

John,<BR>Having taken children toddler to teenager, my simple answer is forget about remember or get most out of it, etc, but do it. <BR><BR>They remember bits and pieces of things important to them at 2. At 6, they remember alot. But this is not what was most important as we found out after the fact.<BR><BR>When they were small, like your children's age now, we thought the same way, perhaps they would enjoy Europe more if we waited until they are older and learn about geography and history.<BR><BR>But we were proven so wrong. After about 12 yr old, geography and history were boring. Things about outside USA? Who cares? All they wanted to do was to hang around with their friend, eat burgers at mall outlets, etc. European travel? Booooring. Leave them with relatives? No way! So unless we can come up with mutually agreeable guardian, which was very difficult, as they rather wanted to stay with irresponsible friends.<BR><BR>If they take them now, they remember alot, not necessarily in the way you wished. They at least will go with you. If you wait till they turn teenagers, you will have to take a chance: they either turn out to be culturally curious angels as several poster here mentioned, or teenagers who will neither go with you (if they do, all they say would be, "boooring, I want to go home and hang around with my friends) but would not stay home with someone whom you can trust.<BR><BR>We wished we had know this....

Louis

I agree, 6 & 10 are ideal ages. Believe me, it's downhill from 12 and over . We travelled a lot with our children (U.S. and Europe). They are now in their 20s and, yes, they do remember a lot. <BR><BR>Just don't let idiotic schoolmates try to scare them by telling them that they will have to eat snails, frog legs, calf brain, kidneys and liver.<BR><BR>

Gretchen

Sorry you all write off teenagers. We took ours to Europe for 3 weeks when 17,15,13. And never had any trouble getting them to travel with us after or before that (at 14,12, and 10 we took a 6 week trip around the west, driving).<BR>They were sorry to leave their friends but looked forward to the adventure.<BR>If you make the trip special they will go with you. We also included them in the planning of these particular trips.<BR>I don't know about 6 and 10--they will go and enjoy it because they are with you. They will remember some--and actually may remember more at a much later time in their life--also depending on how it is reinforced by good memories and stories.

jj

Three years ago, when my youngest son was 6, we traveled abroad for the first time (to England, for my nephew's wedding). He did GREAT and thoroughly enjoyed the trip! My 2 other sons were 10 and 14 at the time, and they also were entranced by the trip. Last year we went to Italy (ages 8, 13, 16). The 16-yr. old was more bored this time. In 2 weeks, we're going to France, where I think we've planned our itinerary more carefully than we did to Italy. <BR><BR>Bottom line, I think ages 6 & 10 are terrific ages to travel abroad!

Susan

My husband and I took our two sons to Swtizerland when they were 6 and 9 and they were great travelers. We packed a backpack full of diversions for the plane, but the in-flight movies (Disney), cartoons, and radio headset kept them blissfully busy the whole flight, without me having to play one tic-tac-toe game! They both remember alot about the trip and those memories have made them excited about their upcoming trip to Switzerland and France next week. (They're now 11 and 13.)<BR><BR>And by the way, we figured we better get in one more trip while our oldest son will still be seen traveling with us. I totally agree with other posters - no matter how wonderful your kids are, at some point they would rather be doing other things.

Catherine

Should we take a collapsible stroller to Paris for our 6 yr. old? I know some of the streets will be bumpy, but am remebering how much walking there is.

Michael

Four families took three teenagers on two self-drive barges in Burgundy. They had a blast. We sent them to the market on their own to buy lunch for the group. They know no French and had no problems. The chateau visits did not interest them too much, but they liked going to the public swimming pools. However, only Speedo style bathing trunks were allowed for men, presumably for health reasons. Any age group will work as long as their interests are taken into account.

Susan

Catherine: I would advise against the stroller. You won't use it much and it's cumbersome to take. I recommend breaking up the long walks with stops by parks, fountains, snacks, ice cream, etc. It's amazing the ground you can cover with a 6-year old when they're motivated by food and large parks to run in.

Ben Haines

Dear Mr Grych,<BR><BR>In case you decide to go, I attach to the e-mail copy of this message a note of what over two years Fodors forum correspondents have said their children liked in Paris. Welcome to Europe.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London

amy

When I took my 7 year old to London and Paris, I was told by some saavy travelers that she wouldn't really remember the trips when she grew up.<BR><BR>"Doesn't matter," I replied. "I'll remember."

Frank

John<BR>Have taken extended Europe trips with two kids four times--when their ages were 8 and 10, 9 and 11, 14 and 16, and just recently 16 and 18. I thought our son was barely old enough at eight to get something out of it, so I don't know about a six year old. Depends on how many times you're going to go. They are definitely less fun as mid teens, now we've broken through to the other side and they're delightful travellers. With your combination of ages I'd wait a year or two and go when they're 7 and 11 or 8 and 12. Just an opinion.<BR>Oh, and if you do go, lop a couple days off Paris spend it in Provence. Five days would be plenty for a six year old in Paris.