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

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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?

Just pay for everything on a card and get cash out from an ATM if you find you need it, which you probably won't. Credit cards generally give you a better rate than debit cards. Make sure your card just charges you a rate and doesn't put a transaction fee on top because for lots of little purchases that would really add up. If the cards you already have all have transaction fees or aren't good for spending abroad, you can get a currency card which you preload with credit at whatever the exchange rate is when you top it up, and then it's locked in and you just use it like a debit card version of a pay as you go phone.

I have never had a credit card and had heard that debit cards aren't recommended abroad.

A currency card sounds like the solution.

Just ask your bank which credit card best value for foreign transactions, I’m very anti debt but feel ok with this as I just pay it off as soon as I’m back on home soil.

Look at Saint Germain en Laye. It's a lovely chateau town on the super fast RER A. About 25 mins to CDG Etoile.

Personally, I think the Tour Eiffel is hugely disappointing. We went up with visitors this week and they were underwhelmed. For your money, there's hardly any information panels etc. Much, much better doing the Tour Montparnasse. Cheaper, easier to book, and lots of information provided. My son much preferred.

If you have to do Eiffel, they release tickets for 2nd floor steps 14 days ahead, so go on that morning. The walk isn't that bad. View still OK, and you'll feel less of a mug paying all that money.

Agree the Bouillon chain is good. Julien is my favourite for the decor. Chartier is the original. Some can be booked. Also check out the Big Mamma chain; La Felicita is good fun and some of the others can be booked.

I use my card for everything in Paris; it's very card and app friendly here. The Starling debit card is very good and has very low currency transaction fees. Works via app, too, and you can move funds between your GBP and a separate Euro account.

YES to Tour Montparnasse instead of the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower is much better seen from a distance and the immediate surrounding area is grotty and rife with pickpockets.

Best way to see Eiffel Tower is by taking metro line 6 from CDG Etoile ( Arc de T) to Bir Hakeim. It goes overland and after Passy it crosses the Seine and you will have the most amazing view.

Also, there’s a roof terrace on the top of Galleries Lafayette which is free and has great views over the rooftops

Montparnasse tower - booked just before the Eiffel Tower is lit ip - not far from the catacombs.
Boat trip and seeing the Monet paintings - can't remember where that was but you can get really close to them.
We stayed in le Marais which was a good base.