Paris with children. Does location of hotel matter?

[StrandedInJune]

I’m planning a short break to Paris with DD7 and DS11. It’s just me and the children. I’m on a budget but can afford to splash out if it’s really needed on some aspects. I’ve looked at accommodation in more atmospheric parts of town like the Latin Q but also considering Porte de Vincennes for a more generic, budget hotel. The latter option costs about half the more central, atmospheric options. Is it better to save the money and spend more time on the metro etc, or is where you stay an important part of the ‘Paris’ experience? Safety is important too as I’m managing the kids on my own.

The Métro is cheap and pretty safe, especially at the times of day when you will be out with DC 7/11. Also, Paris is quite small (not much bigger than Zone 1 in London) and the 11yo will probably enjoy learning how to navigate the system.

So save your money on the hotel and spend more on treats. Even just having a croissant for breakfast in a café could be a big deal at their ages.

Some of the sights are far apart and you’d need to use the metro which is easy. We picked a hotel near a station and used that to travel everywhere.

I should add that I took a 5 year old and we loved the parks too.

I don't disagree with pp: Paris is small end easy to navigate. However, when I went to Paris with DD recently, we found that after a day sightseeing we didn't feel like staying out and going for dinner. Neither did we want to go back to the hotel and get back on the metro for dinner. Our hotel was just around the corner from Place de la Contrascarpe which has lots of places to eat and backs on to Rue Moufftard which has more. We loved being able to sightseeing, go to the hotel and shower and then just walk round the corner for dinner. It made such a difference to the holiday and was one of my favourite things. The hotel was next to the Pantheon and I loved it but there would be other similar areas - I thought perhaps the Novotel which is near Notre Dame and Westfield ( yes, I do mean Westfield - I was surprised too!) would be good next time.

Following as about to book my first Eurostar with 9 year old who has requested it. Is it really 2.5 hours?!? Though it would be much quicker tbh

I don’t know about location but we find Meininger hostels really good & reasonably priced.

https://www.meininger-hotels.com/en/hotels/paris/hotel-paris-porte-de-vincennes/

We stayed about 20 mins walk from the Eiffel Tower, but pretty much everything else was done by metro. The metro is really easy to use - you can buy a Navigo Easy Card for each of you and top it up in stations or using the app.

If you are on a budget, then it makes more sense to me to use the metro and stay somewhere cheaper.

I've taking my DD9 soon and staying at the Le Littre hotel (inbetween the 14th and 6th Arr), mainly booked as it was a balcony with a view of Eiffel Tower. I think it's in a good location and near the metro.

We plan to spend time seeing the Eiffel Tower, The Lourve, Notre Dame and doing and evening boat tour. Plus some shopping and eating plenty of baked goods! Other than the boat tour I don't think we'll venture out at night as I am a bit worried about safety.

I hope you have a fab time

Can I ask the name of the hotel ? Ok if you don’t want to out but there are so many to choose from and I’m so confused!! I now get why people get travel agents 😜

Former resident of Paris here. I think it’s location, location, location. Particularly with children. You want to be out and in the vibe, pop out in the evening, see a few lights and walk “home”. Also avoid hotels near mainline train stations.

Yes, I decided to go for location in the end. I was last in Paris as a 20 year old and that’s a bit different I think. You can scramble around more seedy parts in the dark and it doesn’t matter so much if you take the wrong metro. But for a short visit with kids I think I want to help them enjoy the atmosphere and be able to take breaks at the hotel. We’ve picked the Latin Quarter, not too far from the Pantheon and found a hotel with good reviews for under EU440 for the three nights including breakfast. Thanks for all your advice everyone :) We can’t wait!

Would love to hear how you found it and get a hotel recommendation when you return!

Totally agree! I would aim for 5th Arrondisement - The Latin Quarter. We too stayed v close to Place de la Contrascarpe & found it to be an absolutely brilliant location.

Loads of restaurants & cafes, walking distance to Pantheon, Notre Dame, Jardine du Luxembourg, Jardin du Plantes & St Germaine du Pres etc

Have a great trip! It's a truly fantastic city!

What was the name of your hotel please? Sounds ideal

Would you be happy to tell me the hotel? Happy to private message

OP, l think you have made a wise choice. You can walk to lots of places from there and it’y to pop back to the hotel if you have forgotten something or want a shower etc.

The Metro system is vast and reliable (it also smells of old socks 😀) but interchange between lines is often lengthy. A Google search will reveal lots of Paris with children suggestions too.

As with any city, beware of pickpockets. You don’t have to be paranoid, just careful. Enjoy!

Fastest journey time is just over 2 hours 15. That’s pretty good, it is over 200 miles away. And you arrive in the centre of the city. Don’t stay round Nord though.

This was the hotel we stayed in

Paris Hotel des Grands Hommes Hôtel 3 étoiles Saint Germain Pantheon Luxembourg https://share.google/55DvuzU6re97Um4Jh

It was what I would call expensive: I've seen the type of room we stayed in at between £150 and £240 depending on the season. I can't recommend it enough though. It looks directly at the Pantheon ( you can pay extra €30 I think for these rooms but I didn't). I got the cheapest room and it was plenty big enough.. The staff were really helpful, They changed the beds to twins and took in our suitcases though we were hours early so we could swan off to Ille De la Cite. They didn't criticise my french or bat and eye when I had to change to English. There is one train and I think three metro nearby. Luxembourg gardens at the bottom of the street.

You can also see the Eiffel Tower from the end of the street (Rue Soufflot), so you can stand outside the Pantheon, turn round and watch it twinkle as you walk home.

I'm attaching a picture of Plas de la Contrascarpe because I'm feeling quite misty eyed about the whole thing. It's only a couple of minutes walk round the corner. Lovely!

i went with Hotel Marignan. Seems to get really good reviews from families. Hope it’s good!

I couldn't believe how quickly the journey went. We got settled, ate a sandwich, went to buy the card you can load up for the metro in the buffet car, looked out the window and thought, " That can't be Paris!" But it was...

It's about 450km, of which the first and last 20km are spent accelerating and decelerating as it goes through suburban areas, and the tunnel is 40km at 160 km/h. And the actual journey time is often closer to 2.25 hours than 2.5. It will fly by, I promise you. With luck there will be a speed reading in the carriage and you will be able to see if it gets up to the magic 300.

We stayed near Jardin Luxembourg and it was a great location. Could walk down to Notre Dame and bus/ metro for the rest. I was on my own with 12 year old DD. Didn't venture out at night after dinner.

Posted too soon sorry - don't forget to book your Eiffel Tower/ Louvre tickets if you're planning on going there.

More like 340km.

I LOVE Paris. Last time I was there with my autistic eldest daughter, I stupidly booked a hotel in Pigalle! To be fair, it was literally called ‘Montmartre’ in its name, but I should have checked more carefully.
We had a lovely time but my daughter refused to go out in the evenings because of all the creepy guys around.
So just check the area and street name carefully!