Paris with children.

[fivecandles]

Children are 5 and 7. Staying for 3 nights and going on Eurostar. Any recommendations?
Thanks.

Hi - I'm planning on going out in the Whitsun half term and it's looking like me + 3 aged 10, 9 and 6. We have booked 4 days' accommodation in a small flat in a trendy area a couple of miles out of the centre and are planning to travel by Eurostar. Slightly nervous about taking the three of them by myself (but our childcare for toddler twins fell through so DH will be in charge back home).

I haven't tried this before so would welcome others' comments. But my plan of campaign is to:

• enjoy la vie parisienne, eating out locally or getting yummy things from markets
• big trip up the eiffel tower
• bus tour around the sights
• day trip to Disneyland (I think it's better to turn up by train as you skip all the car parking hassle) - just a first trip to find our way around.

I think I'll avoid planning anything else so we can just soak things up - frantic won't work with 3 little ones without the massive motivation of Disney!

the view from Sacre coeur is fantastic, the big white cathedral, you can see the eiffel tower on the other side of paris.

go early to the eiffel tower, as the queues are mad, miss breakfast, buy croissant en route and eat it in the queue!

metro and buses are both easy to understand

i took my ds when he was 6, and the bit he remembers is eating snails!

JUst noticed this. I am looking at Paris, but for a 4 -5 night break in July. We have a good friend who is part of Le Tour de France and we would like to be there at the end to catch up with him, as we have promised to do so over the last couple of years and haven't managed it. I have sourced a lovely apartment but need now to sort our flights or Eurostar. I would quite like to go by Eurostar but can't get a price until end March apparently. Does anybody have experience of what price would be for Eurostar return end of July. I don't want to miss out on cheap flights only to find out that Eurostar is massively expensive. Any thoughts welcome. Katie

Dd aged 7 loved Monet's waterlilies at the Orangery. We didn't see much else at that museum, but it was an excellent brief stop to refresh a tired child.

If they know The Hunchback of Notre Dame they might enjoy climbing the bell towers. Dd and I didn't make it because the queue was vry long (get there before they open!), but just seeing and walking around ND entranced her as she hadn't realised that it was a real place.

Have a lovely time.

We are regular visitors to Paris with our DD who is now 7. Firstly can I suggest Parc Astrix rather than Disney for your range of ages I think you would find a range of rides that would suit them all whereas at disney the old ones would be happier in studios and the younger in the main parc. It is accessed by RER B out beyond Charles de Gaulle airport.
Good sites as previously mentioned Sacre Coeur and Monmartre are good.
Which area is your flat in?
In answer to the eurostar ticket question they are released 90 days prior to travel if you can book quickly you can get returns from £59, but in July you will need to be very quick. Even for April I missed out on £59 tickets because I phoned at lunch time rather than 9am.

Thanks for all your tips. Off next week.

we did the same trip last year. you can pre-book eiffel tower online and avoid the queues, same with louvre. Made it a breeze! we had a fab time, want to go back! only down point, the kids menus in the area near notre dame were dire, unless you are happy if your kids just eat chips....

Apologies for gatecrashing your thread, fivecandles - but it is interesting reading and I wondered if you or anyone else on here can recommend somewhere to stay in Paris with my 3 yr old and 6 yr old? I have been to Paris a few times in the past and stayed in the Marais area - but that was pre-children!