Thank you to those who offered concrete suggestions-- we really do appreciate it.

Our plan is to fly into Paris and then to head to Normandy. We would like to book a place here so we know we are set. Jobo, thank you for your suggestion-- I will look into it. It sounds perfect.

We want to also visit Brittany. We would love suggestions for towns to visit/stay at.

We plan then to spend the last 5 days in Paris-- would love a hotel recommendation here. I will look into the apartment option as well Annhig as I think this would be a good way to stay within our budget and give us a bit more room (Christina it is hard to find well located hotels in Paris for E325 when you need two rooms for that amount...). And, Bilboburgler I apologize for not knowing that France doesn't have "family" style rooms-- the last time we were in France was pre children. We, however, have traveled to Ireland and Italy with our children and both of these countries had larger rooms just for families. I was wrong to assume that France had similiar accommodations.

It is interesting that so many people are shocked that a vacation can be planned 6 weeks in advance! We were lucky to get five tickets with our frequent flyer points and want to take advantage of this opportunity. And, fyi, we were able to get these tickets because the flights are less than 1/2 full. I think the planes are empty due to the continued weak economy and the volcano situation. Given the empty planes, it seems not illogical to think that every hotel/b&b is not full??? (And I have also checked via the internet and have noticed vacancies).

I have travelled my whole life and have visited over 50 countries so I do have some experience. Some of our best trips are trips that we just winged it! By winging it, we saw things we might have missed and met people we would not have met. Isn't that what traveling is all about?

I'm going on vacation next week and am just starting to plan it. I do not understand why people plan so far in advance.

Kerouac, a few places do require planning ahead of time, but most places don't.

I think it is a personal matter. Some people feel very uncomfortable if they don't have detailed plans a year ahead of time and others, such as myself and my husband, are more comfortable in planning just a month or two in advance.

We feel that planning on a shorter time frame gives us the opportunity to take advantage of current conditions e.g. better exchange rate, empty planes, bad economy, etc.. In the past, we have gotten some fantastic deals because we waited until the "last minute." The disadvantage is that we don't have a whole year to plan. But, for us, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Jobo,I just looked at the b & b you recommended and this is exactly what we would like (and I see that they do have "chambre famille" so I wasn't so off base in thinking that this type of room might exist in France!). I have sent them an email to get further information. Thank you again for this recommendation.

kerouac, are you traveling with 3 kids? "Nuff said.

Personally, I'd head for the Dordogne with those kids and settle into a nice gîte, if you can find one at this late date.

And having traveled with just two kids, many times, at that time of year, I just don't understand winging it. So much time wasted trying to find suitable, affordable rooms. It is, to me, SO much more relaxing knowing you have beds waiting for you somewhere after a long day of sightseeing or driving.

I disagree that it is hard to find two well-located rooms in Paris for under 325E. There are hundreds of them, many discussed frequently on this board. We regularly stay at the Hôtel de France - Invalides, where two double rooms would be well under that, and which has at least one quad room, as do quite a few Paris hotels.

Bilboburger was mistaken in claiming family rooms don't exist in France, I don't know why he thinks that. I've seen them quoted in Paris hotels. It's not that every hotel has them or lots of them, but they certainly exist.

I have viewed dozens of Paris hotel rates and stay there almost every year, so I guess it's just a matter of taste that 325 euro doesn't get you a good room in Paris. Yes, I know you want that to be a family room, but that's still 175 euro per room. I don't think I've ever paid that much for a double room.

hi everyone!surfing on the net i found this great fodor's topic .and to answer your question but not completely,since few years we were thinking about welcoming an english family in our gorgeous prpriety for one week,but having their own house,guest house(6 beds,2 rooms) on an island ,right in front of the sea in west of france in exchange of english speaking,during few hours (dinner time or lunch time) with our four kids.can everybody on this forum tell me if that seems to you interesting or stupid?i mean are there families who would be interested ?

StCirq thank you for your recommendation.

Christina and others, please share with me some of the names of those hotels in Paris you keep referring to in your posts--I am anxious to look into them. You obviously know Paris so much better than I do and I am sure that you and others on this board could give me real insight into some special, well located, family friendly and AFFORDABLE hotels!! Christina, I am very happy to spend substantially less than budgeted!!

StCirq is the first one that has actually given me a name of a hotel in Paris! Everyone keeps being critical of the flexibility that we want but no one is sharing any info on names of hotels?!? What's up with that? And if you noticed, we will be booking a hotel at the beginning of the trip in Normandy and at the end of the trip in Paris... it is just 3 or 4 days in the middle that we want to have the flexibility to explore an area that maybe we aren't thinking about today...

I am starting to wonder if we should change our plans and travel to another country. I have never encountered such an attitude on any of the Fodors boards as I have on this one! Is this the type of attitude we will find in France? Our previous trips to France have all been so wonderful and we have met many nice people there but I am starting to think that times have changed and we would be better off spending our time and money elsewhere.

jeanned, one note on ferme du pressoir. My wife and I are fluent in French; however Odile, the owner of the B&B does not speak much English. But when we were there several Americans were there at the same time who did not speak any French and they seemed to have no trouble communicating with Odile who is a fantastic and gracious host. I don't think you will have any trouble if you don't speak French, but wanted to let you know what the situation was like. Of course, I can't speak for the horses, cows, chickens or sheep as to what language they would prefer.

Family rooms exist in France but they aren't the norm - all the more reason to book ahead, especially traveling in the summer when many places will be busy with tourists and full.

I think to meet your budget also requires careful planning and booking - many hotels do exist in Paris where you can get two rooms for under 325e but again many people are looking for those rooms in the summer.

Gites/apartments - will require a week in the summer. That isn't a book as you go option.

We have taken many trips to Europe with our children (our 14 year old daughter has been fourteen times...) and I think you would be well advised to take a nice apartment.gite and have a base camp for at least one of your weeks - more room for everyone, more flexibility, more time to explore etc. Everyone will be more relaxed and able to enjoy just being in France. Shopping for food is a huge and enriching adventure for kids.

I agree with Normandy - lots to see and lots for activity kids to do. Brittany likewise but further from Paris. We love the Atlantic Coast (Noirmoutier south say).

Here's one thread you might look at for hotel suggestions:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ank-thread.cfm

I think if you reread all of the comments above you will find many, many helpful ones and only about three questioning your lack of reservations to this point. You know what you and your family are comfortable with so go for it as you see fit. Some wing it. Some don't.

I love renting apartments in Paris. I find them much more economical than hotels because they often offer a washer and dryer allowing me to pack less and wash clothes comfortably and because it is easy to "eat in" when in an apartment.

The reason people don't always offer hotel recs on fodors is because so much of what we each like is based on our own experience. I would hate to recommend a place and then someone else hate it. Words like budget, moderate, small, large, close to the metro mean different things to different people. The search box above will help you narrow down your search beginning with the right and left bank apartment threads.

With three kids I would stay walking distance from Jardin du Luxembourg and take advantage of all it has to offer children.
Ann Marie

The Hotel Minerve in the Latin Quarter has a family suite that accommodates up to 5 people and has 2 bathrooms.

www.hotel-paris-minerve.com

As for activities, I'm going off the top of my head here, so I'm sure I'm leaving out lots of other favorites:
-in summer, boat ride on Seine in early pm so you clearly see everything as the sun is setting, and then see the Eiffel Tower light up and twinkle as it's getting dark

-Louvre - have your kids do a little research first on 10-15 paintings, sculptures, etc. Rick Steves Paris guide is an excellent reference. Our kids printed pictures and studied up a bit before the trip, so they were able to "get it" more (and therefore enjoy it more) because of the familiarity factor

-relaxing outside the Louvre in the grassy park area (can't remember the name of the park, but you are looking out in the direction of the Arc de Triomphe) Beautiful, and kids will like the green space. A good game of tag amongst the bushes.

-Pompidou Center - views of Paris from top are incredible, and street performers in area are lots of fun

-Eiffel Tower - we didn't go up; entire place was mobbed. But it is still a magnificent sight from close up and far away

-St. Chapelle - absolutely divine

- cheap trinket shops and poster stores along Seine - great gifts for kids' friends, and cheap! Girls loved the pink and blue Eif Towers. I love my inexpensive posters, which I got framed here (expensive) and they look fabulous

-walking around different neighborhoods

-as for food, we didn't dine out much in "real" restaurants. We were on the go and picnicked a lot. There isn't a bad baguette, pastry, or simple carb anywhere in the city. Visited a bakery at least twice a day, and you can get sandwiches and good pizzas there too. Even my kids noticed the difference in quality, and I buy "good" bread in the States. Must have hot chocolate at a sidewalk cafe. Crepes, falafels in Jewish quarter, chocolates at one of the many chocolatiers, gelato (Amorini or Amorino? - incredible, and I am picky!)

-If your kids are active, they will get plenty of activity walking around, which you will do a lot of!

I was there with my three children (8,8 & 9) two summers ago. It is hard to find accommodations when you are 5 in Europe. The best bet is an apartment. I have had good luck with VRBO.
You could easily spend a week in Paris with your family, especially in summer with the crowds.
I recommend taking the Bato Bus (water taxi) for one or two days to get from sight to sight. This way you get to experience the city from above ground, see the Sienne and appreciate all the bridges.
Of course, the Eiffel Tower is a must and the same day you could do Hotel de invalids. The boys will love seeing the church with Napoleon’s tomb and the armory museum, which has armor from 1100 -1800, it is really neat.
They can easily spend a day at the Louvre. BTW the Louvre mall has an incredible international food court, they will have a hard time deciding what countries cuisine to try. Luxembourg Gardens is more for your younger son. But you can stop there on your way to the Pantheon. They will enjoy the structure and the impressive pendulum and crypts in the Pantheon.
Notre Dame is fun to climb up the bell tower to tire them out and see the gargoyles up close.
A day trip to Versailles is a must. You can rent bikes and ride through the gardens and have a nice picnic lunch. If you do this, go to the gardens first and the palace last. There are one to two hour long cues in the morning to buy tickets and another hour cue for getting into the palace. The gardens are free and in the afternoon there are not any lines for the palace entry.
Be warned that the restaurants in Paris are not child friendly and very pricey.
Find a bakery and stock up in the morning on pre-made sandwiches.
Normandy is a great spot to take them. If you do this you should stop at Mount St. Micheal on the way down to Paris. It is a very special place.
Bon Voyage

I would strongly consider renting a SUV and going camping - as i have done several years with my son. Will elaborate later.

yes you are right about family rooms it is just they are uncommon and given your timings I was worrying you were used to having high availability.

I still think the paris appartment is the best solution

Thank you for all of the wonderful suggestions.

Jobo, ferme de pressoir has the family room available and we will probably book it. This is exactly the type of place we love to stay at. My husband and I speak a bit of French so the language should not be a problem. I do want to ask you if you went to Mont St Michel from here. If so, how long of a drive was it? What else did your family do in this area?

StCirq, thank you for this wonderful thread. I contacted many of these hotels this evening. It looks like there is quite a bit of availability but we'll have to see how well the hotels can accommodate our family. Does anyone have recommendations for reliable web sites to book apartments? I will look into vrbo but was wondering if there is a French site that may have a broader range of apts. available.

lmfisher, thank you for your insight on Versailles. This is an excellent plan to rent bikes first and then to enter the palace after having a picnic and after the crowds have died down. My boys are patient, but not patient enough to wait two hours for a tour of a palace!! This is exactly the type of info that I need!!

There are lots of suggestions of amusement parks but I think we will probably not pursue those options. We really prefer to have an active vacation where we can bike, hike, etc. and visit some important sights. My boys' school has an excellent art program so they already know many of the famous paintings, sculptures, etc in the museums-- even my 5 year old knows about the architectural features of the Louvre--he was educating me on the glass pyramid today-- lol!! He can't wait to see it in person!

Our plans are evolving as we learn more. We will definitely go to Normandy, probably for 4 nights (my father is a WWII vet who fought in France and Germany and I want my children to spend some time in learning the sacrafice that he and others made during WWII). And, I am now thinking that perhaps we should skip Brittany and visit Loire Valley instead... We love to bike and kayak and I think Loire Valley would give us those options. Can anyone recommend a biking company there? I know a few in the US, but I have heard that the US companies are bit more pricy than the French companies?

Has anyone done a cooking class in Paris? If I can talk my husband into taking the boys for a day, I would love to take a cooking class. Any recommendations?

Any other suggestions?

Thank you all again.

jeanned, if you want more reviews of ferme due pressoir, just search for it on tripadvisor.com. There's a bunch and very recent. It is a wonderful place and we will return there on our next visit. Odile, the owner, is a gem. Get her to share some of her homemade Calvados (but don't plan on driving anywhere). Your sons are gonna love the farm. The farm itself is in a small hamlet and you will probably need some kind of map or GPS to find it.

We did not go to Mont St. Michel. We went to all the beaches and the cemeteries which were incredibly moving. The bunkers should keep the kids entertained as well as give them some history. We roamed the Normandy countryside quite a bit. One very interesting town is Falaise, which was the key battle in taking Normandy in WW II. It's also the birthplace of William the Conqueror and in the town there's a fabulous cathedral. Have a great time and let us know how the "ferme" worked out.

Ok, one more from me . . . we rented a great apartment from ParisBestLodge, (we were only 3) but I think they have larger apartments. Great agency and Thierry, the owner of the Agency is wonderful to work with and very accommodating. You might check out that site to see if they have anything available.