Please recommend somewhere to stay near Paris, plus things to do and any advice.

[ShowOfHands]

You were all wonderful a while ago when I asked about taking my family abroad for the first time.

We have passports! We've managed to book to get to France cheaply on the shuttle and are going to spend a day/night in Arras and then want to be nearer Paris so we can get the train in to the city. We will be driving, obviously but no way am I driving in Paris.

Cheap accomodation or Airbnb is fine, more wondering about location. We are a family of 4, DC are 16 and nearly 12. DD loves art and culture, museums and whimsy. DS likes the lurid end of entertainment options and would prefer Disney above all (can't afford it I'm afraid). We would like a night elsewhere on the way back from Paris to Calais so any recommendations of a place for a return stop, gratefully received.

Versaille, the Catacombs, Notre Dame, anywhere even briefly mentioned in Les Mis, the Louvre and the Champs Elysées are on DD's list so far.

I am so excited. This is not camping in Devon (which I love but, you know). I last went to Paris in 1999 and dh and I were young, in love, unmarried, skint, held hands on buses. He was 17 and spoke no French. I was doing a French a level and it was magic. We always said we would take our hypothetical children one day.

Tell me about shopping, using euros, getting around, anything that's changed in nearly 25yrs since I had a passport.

I'm so nervous. Isn't that ridiculous?

Maison-laffitte is lovely on direct fast underground line into Paris. It is to the West so Versailles is very easy from there.

We stayed in Chambly which has a direct rail connection to Paris, some nice restaurants for the evening and plenty of cute shops. It’s also well located for Parc Asterix which I’d definitely recommend as a cheaper alternative to Disney.
On the way back to Calais you could stop in Le Touquet.

We stayed in Versailles in an Airbnb and got the train into Paris. It worked well as we also wanted to see Versailles and did a day there which all enjoyed - we hired bikes and cycled round the gardens and also hired a rowing boat. There were nice places to eat there in the evening and parking was ok.
In Paris we did what you’ve listed. The kids enjoyed going up the Eiffel Tower, a boat trip on the Seine and wandering around Montmatre. They really liked feeding the sparrows at Notre Dame as they flew down to eat out of their hands!

Chantilly. Loads of lovely restaurants, the chateau is just wow abd

Whoops...and the Museum of the Horse is out of this world. All walking distance and dead easy train in to Paris.

Thank you for the suggestions so far. I'm having a Google. Parc Asterix would be right up DS's street but might be too ££.

We will need to inject some light-hearted fun. So far, I've mapped the route my granddad's uncle and his company travelled during ww1 and I've planned to walk it, find his place of death and his grave. I'm not sure me weeping at Fricourt is what the DC imagined for their first trip abroad.

Ooh sounds an amazing trip OP! Palais Garnier (the opera house) is lovely and sounds up your DD’s street. I also
recommend walking up the dome of the Sacre Coeur in Montmartre.

All the main attractions now need to be pre booked. You can’t just rock up to the Eiffel Tower or Louvre unless you plan to queue all day. So I would suggest deciding what your priorities are and then booking ahead. The open top hop on hop off buses are fab for sightseeing and covering off the main must sees. Paris felt very safe and clean when I visited I was pleasantly surprised as I’d heard less than complimentary reports.

Parc Asterix is 200 euros for a day out. No way can we afford that but it does look wonderful.

We won't "rock up" to anywhere, don't worry. I'm spending today researching/booking.

If you can budget in the fast track Eiffel Tower tickets that will save you time. We loved the Bouillon Chartier restaurant chain for good value French classic food in gorgeous settings.

My two (16 and 14) plus DH - all of whom had never been to Paris - enjoyed a boat trip on the Seine, gets you good views of a lot of the top places and it's a seat for a couple of hours! I think it was about 10-15 euros each?

Great roof top view also from top of Pompidou centre and it’s free to access.

I recommend staying in Versailles, somewhere near a RER C station.

The closest station to the chateau is Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche, but the next station along, Porchefontaine, is on the same line. There are definitely a few Airbnbs in Porchefontaine which might be available if you book now, and there is also a camp site called Huttopia. From Porchefontaine you would be a 25 minute train ride into the centre of Paris and a 2 minute train ride or 20-30 minute walk to the chateau area.

Feel free to send me a PM if you want more info, as I know the area well.

We stayed in Torcy which was gorgeous and had lovely food places. Was about 30 minutes away by train and we paid about €70 per night for a great room right by the station. Would definitely recommend Les Ombres roof top restaurant for a meal! They do a great lunch menu which is a bit cheaper. Overlooks the Eiffel Tower and was one of the best experiences!

Oh and on the way back stop in Amiens if you want no detour at all, or Lille if you're happy to go a little out of your way.

Yes, many restaurants are much better value at lunchtime.

I would recommend researching where you can get a decent lunchtime menu and having a few nice long lunches, then having picnics for dinner. It will be warm in the evenings and light until very late.

We much prefer self catering. We like board games/reading/cooking so like to book somewhere we can do this rather than a hotel room. Also helps to budget if we can eat in and just have a couple of meals out.

Definitely going to go on the Seine on a boat. That's on my list.

I simply can't wait.

And eating out for lunch is preferable to evenings. DS is tricksy in an evening and prone to hanger/becoming overwhelmed so lunchtime restaurants are brilliant suggestions.

I definitely second the Bouillon chain restaurants for lunch. Very, very good value french food.

For some low cost activities, Shakespeare & co bookshop is very cool. The tuileries is pretty and you've got the musée de l'orangerie which houses the waterlilies, or jardin de Luxembourg with the pond for model boats.

Watch out for pickpockets and tricksters.

I think the centre Pompidou is pretty cool.

Lots of the museums are free for kids and under 25s.

On the way back, compiègne is pretty to stop in, or le touquet as someone else suggested (very posh). We stayed in the kyriad direct Arras recently which had a fab 4 person family room, I'd recommend!

DB was there with his DW and son (5) over Easter. They did loads of things including Pompidou Centre, a funfair etc.

I liked the Marais area (great falafels) and opera house too and of course Eiffel Tower, Versailles, and Seine trips.

I think you could visit Giverny (Monts house) from Paris in a day. I did this at 17 from Paris. If your DD loves art it’s perfect, has the famous bridge, Lily ponds and the rooms are all decorated in different colours for effect/mood.

I've found an Airbnb in Senlis which isn't far from Chantilly and I think we might stay there.

How do people pay for things in France now? I'm reluctant to carry cash due to pickpockets but am not sure how to do it. Is going to the post office and asking them still a thing?!

I just got a credit card via my bank which is good for the exchange rate and paid everything on a card.