yk + family 1 week in Paris Nov 2022
Nov 15th, 2022, 03:31 AM
#42
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My favorite photo is M-YK on the last afternoon. The composition of tower and fountains is wonderful and his smile is great. Your detailed trip report is great. What fun to celebrate his birthday in Paris and clever of you to discover November is a great time to travel.
Nov 15th, 2022, 04:59 AM
#43
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Return trip & Miscellany
The trip home
I was being lazy so I had the apartment company arrange a car service back to CDG for our flight home. In retrospect, we totally could have managed by taking the RER, especially since our Navigo Decouverte cards are still valid. Our flight to Dublin wasn't until 1:20pm so we would have plenty of time to get to the airport that morning (as opposed to an early 9am flight). Next time i know.
The journey home was long, as we had a lot of extra time to kill at both airports. The transit in Dublin was not as bad, we didn't have to take a shuttle bus. The Dublin-Boston flight was full but not packed. We sat in the middle 4-seater and the other person on the aisle moved to a different seat soon after takeoff because the headphone jack in his seat didn't work, so the 3 of us had a little extra room. Our son threw up just before touchdown in Boston, even though he more or less starved himself the entire day for fear of throwing up. 🤢
Lodging
As mentioned in the beginning, we rented an apartment through Guest Apartment Services, which has a good reputation here. Since only 2 apartments were available when i made my inquiry, it wasn't a tough to decide. We stayed at the Tulip apartment, which is on the first floor and faces an inner courtyard (no view), entry is on Quai de Bethume. It is a 1BR/1BA but there is an alcove in the living room where they put a double bed, with curtains to close off. It was perfect for our son. The bedroom is big, with king-size bed and black-out curtains. Kitchen is small but usable, with washer/dryer, stove, oven, and even a small dishwasher. Bathroom is spacious with sink and tub, toilet is in a separate space (tiny closet). The best quality of the apartment is how quiet it is; there is absolutely zero street noise. the only noise we encounter is footsteps from the person living above. I also love the location, being on Ile Saint-Louis. It's great to be able to stay at a very quiet place yet right in the heart of Paris. I would not hesitate to stay there again.
Getting Around
We each got a Navigo Decouverte card. It certainly didn't save us any money over buying a carnet + single tickets, but it was certainly convenient. Since we took a lot of buses, it would've been a pain to find places to buy tickets. We took a total of 16 bus/metro/RER trips.
I downloaded the RATP app on my phone and it was very user-friendly, but it doesn't always show up all the options/possibilities for journeys. I also used a bus/metro map for cross-referencing.
I was being lazy so I had the apartment company arrange a car service back to CDG for our flight home. In retrospect, we totally could have managed by taking the RER, especially since our Navigo Decouverte cards are still valid. Our flight to Dublin wasn't until 1:20pm so we would have plenty of time to get to the airport that morning (as opposed to an early 9am flight). Next time i know.
The journey home was long, as we had a lot of extra time to kill at both airports. The transit in Dublin was not as bad, we didn't have to take a shuttle bus. The Dublin-Boston flight was full but not packed. We sat in the middle 4-seater and the other person on the aisle moved to a different seat soon after takeoff because the headphone jack in his seat didn't work, so the 3 of us had a little extra room. Our son threw up just before touchdown in Boston, even though he more or less starved himself the entire day for fear of throwing up. 🤢
Lodging
As mentioned in the beginning, we rented an apartment through Guest Apartment Services, which has a good reputation here. Since only 2 apartments were available when i made my inquiry, it wasn't a tough to decide. We stayed at the Tulip apartment, which is on the first floor and faces an inner courtyard (no view), entry is on Quai de Bethume. It is a 1BR/1BA but there is an alcove in the living room where they put a double bed, with curtains to close off. It was perfect for our son. The bedroom is big, with king-size bed and black-out curtains. Kitchen is small but usable, with washer/dryer, stove, oven, and even a small dishwasher. Bathroom is spacious with sink and tub, toilet is in a separate space (tiny closet). The best quality of the apartment is how quiet it is; there is absolutely zero street noise. the only noise we encounter is footsteps from the person living above. I also love the location, being on Ile Saint-Louis. It's great to be able to stay at a very quiet place yet right in the heart of Paris. I would not hesitate to stay there again.
Getting Around
We each got a Navigo Decouverte card. It certainly didn't save us any money over buying a carnet + single tickets, but it was certainly convenient. Since we took a lot of buses, it would've been a pain to find places to buy tickets. We took a total of 16 bus/metro/RER trips.
I downloaded the RATP app on my phone and it was very user-friendly, but it doesn't always show up all the options/possibilities for journeys. I also used a bus/metro map for cross-referencing.
Nov 15th, 2022, 05:23 AM
#45
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What's the Damage?
I always like to see how much my trips cost. On several days, the exchange rate we got had euros cheaper than USD!
Airfare/Transportation (flights, car transfer, navigo decouverte) = $2261
Lodging x 7 nights = $1718
Food (includes dining in/out; desserts, ice creams, macarons etc) = $575
Sightseeing = $347 (our son was free at every attraction, with the exception of Musée de la Magie)
Odds and Ends/Souvenirs = $65
Total came out to just under $5000 for a one-week trip for 3
----------------------------------------------------
Thank you to everyone who helped me plan this trip, who answered my inane questions before the trip, to everyone who took the time to read this trip report and for all your comments. I hope this TR was enjoyable and helpful!
I always like to see how much my trips cost. On several days, the exchange rate we got had euros cheaper than USD!
Airfare/Transportation (flights, car transfer, navigo decouverte) = $2261
Lodging x 7 nights = $1718
Food (includes dining in/out; desserts, ice creams, macarons etc) = $575
Sightseeing = $347 (our son was free at every attraction, with the exception of Musée de la Magie)
Odds and Ends/Souvenirs = $65
Total came out to just under $5000 for a one-week trip for 3
----------------------------------------------------
Thank you to everyone who helped me plan this trip, who answered my inane questions before the trip, to everyone who took the time to read this trip report and for all your comments. I hope this TR was enjoyable and helpful!
Last edited by yk; Nov 15th, 2022 at 05:26 AM.
Nov 15th, 2022, 02:56 PM
#49
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yk, what a fabulous time you all had, thanks for detailed trip report. That final photo of m-yk is terrific, he'll never forget his 10th birthday!.
Amazing that he's never had any kind of stomach upset before, I'm sure his air/motion sickness was an unpleasant surprise. My sister was a puker, especially in cars. he'll likely grow out of it but everyone will be prepared for next.
Amazing that he's never had any kind of stomach upset before, I'm sure his air/motion sickness was an unpleasant surprise. My sister was a puker, especially in cars. he'll likely grow out of it but everyone will be prepared for next.
Nov 15th, 2022, 03:32 PM
#50
Fun to read about your trip, and fun to compare it to the trip reports I remember you writing years ago, when you traveled solo. Glad you enjoyed the Musée des Arts Forains, I thought that was a very special place.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Nov 16th, 2022, 04:05 AM
#51
What an excellent introduction to Paris for your son. Most likely will lead to more travel requests from him in the future.
In a few years it will be interesting for you to hear his favorite memories of the trip.
Nice recap of the costs involved.
5 yrs. after we took our 13 yr.old GD to Paris I showed her a photo of my friends and I having dinner at Le Train Bleu. Her response….”Loved that place, best spinach I ever ate!”
Spinach? Nothing about the gorgeous room, she remembers the spinach!
In a few years it will be interesting for you to hear his favorite memories of the trip.
Nice recap of the costs involved.
5 yrs. after we took our 13 yr.old GD to Paris I showed her a photo of my friends and I having dinner at Le Train Bleu. Her response….”Loved that place, best spinach I ever ate!”
Spinach? Nothing about the gorgeous room, she remembers the spinach!
Nov 16th, 2022, 04:26 AM
#52
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TPAYT, kids remember the darnest things, don't they? 
My son says he wants to go to Italy for his birthday next year. I asked him why, "what do you want to see there?" His response? "They have my favorite foods there: pizzas and pasta!" ummm, I'm not spending $5k for him to just eat pizza and pasta in Italy; we can do that at home for way less. 🤣
Nikki, ha yes, these family trips are so vastly different than my youthful solo trips! Much more relaxed, no rushing around, and close to zero art museums... at least I still get my fill of concerts in the evenings.
My son says he wants to go to Italy for his birthday next year. I asked him why, "what do you want to see there?" His response? "They have my favorite foods there: pizzas and pasta!" ummm, I'm not spending $5k for him to just eat pizza and pasta in Italy; we can do that at home for way less. 🤣Nikki, ha yes, these family trips are so vastly different than my youthful solo trips! Much more relaxed, no rushing around, and close to zero art museums... at least I still get my fill of concerts in the evenings.
Nov 16th, 2022, 08:13 AM
#53
In spite of the quirks of children, it is more than worth it the day you see the lightbulb flash in their brain and make them interested in another country forever, whether it is seeing a monument, something in a museum or a natural site. I was very good at traveling (better than my brother) because I was interested in just about everything, but I know that when I was still very young, two things gobsmacked me -- seeing Sacré Coeur as the train entered Paris (we were coming from Le Havre before the days of flying) and also the Opéra Garnier. That still remains in my mind the principal monument of Paris. Go figure.
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