PARIS
with KIDS
Petite Paris dispels the myth that Paris is
not a ‘Child-Friendly’ city with 10 practical tips to make travelling with
children in Paris a breeze. Part two of Paris with Kids is coming soon with 12 Child-friendly attractions in Paris! Stay Tuned...
1. Buy for your children: Lonely
Planet's Not for Parents, Paris Edition. Lonely Planet, have come out with a kids' line of
travel books, Find Paris and what's awesome about it from a kid's point of
view. Instead of listing rated restaurants and the best neighbourhoods
for shopping, it has wildly awesome tidbits like the history of the guillotine,
where to see the best gargoyles, and ghostly stories about catacombs under the
city.
2. Book a B&B apartment
instead of a hotel. Hotels in general are not family friendly. This isn’t to
say Paris isn’t child-friendly in general, you simply need to select an
accommodation that is. And there are plenty! Try an apartment such as one from Petite
Paris B&B Apartments (www.petiteparis.com.au) the cost is about the same as a
mid-range hotel, but since there are kitchens in the unhosted apartments, you
save on meal costs by buying groceries and preparing some meals at "home”
and you can enjoy the luxury and family comfort of independence living like
locals in your own Paris home. Petite Paris’ 19 Child-friendly
B&B's can be perfect for those who want an authentic Parisian experience. View
the child-friendly B&Bs here:
3. Indulge in the utter charm of a Parisian picnic. Paris is scattered with
stunning gardens, and if the weather cooperates, a picnic is a great and
relatively inexpensive way to enjoy them. Some breads, cheeses, cold cuts
and fruits, along with some drinks and a portable picnic blanket and you are
good to go. There are many small neighbourhood playgrounds but some
beautifully notably gardens include the Jardin des Tuileries and the Jardin du Luxembourg – both have outstanding play areas for
kids, Jardin Luxembourg houses a small amusement park and the Tuileries has a
ferris wheel It's a great way to enjoy the scenery and for the kids to
burn off all of those crêpes and pains au chocolat.
4. Try the food. Parisian food is consistently
delicious. Though it might sound a bit exotic, it doesn't necessarily
have to feel particularly foreign. Many restaurants include cheesy
pastas, burgers, steak-and-fries (entrecôte avec frites), omelets,
quiche, and so on. And at a bare minimum, all restaurants, it seemed,
offered a cheese plate and/or a plate of cold cuts (charcuterie), so
stay away from McDonalds and give French cuisine a whirl. The Not For Parents book does a great job of intriguing kids
with the concept of eating escargots (snails) and frogs' legs. TIP: Take
a translator to make sure your kids know what they are ordering. Disappointment
will only lead to whining.
5. A note to the gluten FREE. Paris, with all its baguettes and other pastries, can
admittedly be a celiac's nightmare. Try Naturalia, a new local natural foods grocery
chain that sells gluten-free breads and pasta. Most Petite Paris B&B
hosts can cater to children’s (or adults) dietary needs.
6. Get to know the Métro. The Métro is Paris' subway line, and it gets you positively
everywhere you want to go. It's not the cleanest subway but it's safe,
relatively easy to navigate once you get the hang of it, and it's definitely
cheaper than taking cabs. There are ticket fares for children (enfants)
as well as multiple-day passes.
7. About clothing -- think layers. Paris weather can vary wildly, especially in the summer: Bring a light cardigan and a foldable lightweight sweater and basic tees that you can just tuck into our daypacks for sudden downpours.
7. About clothing -- think layers. Paris weather can vary wildly, especially in the summer: Bring a light cardigan and a foldable lightweight sweater and basic tees that you can just tuck into our daypacks for sudden downpours.
8. Get your kids some journals. Buy a journal and some writing
utensils for the kids, not only does it keep them entertained during travels
but it’s a great little souvenir of the trip that kids can create themselves. Drawing, photographing and listing things they’ve seen and
interesting foods they’ve tried etc.
9. See the Eiffel Tower at night. The Eiffel sparkles every hour
on the hour after nightfall. After an early dinner, head to Avenue de
Suffren, between Avenue Octave Gréard & Quai Branly, there is a small-unnamed
alley leading to a small park directly below the Eiffel Tower. Spread out
a blanket and watch the show!
TIP: IN summer nightfall doesn’t occur until about 10.30pm so prepare for this so you are not sitting around for hours with kids getting restless.
10. If all
else fails, see the Petite Paris top 12 Kids Attractions – coming in the NEXT POST. A DEMAIN :)
All these plus more Paris travel tips in the Petite Paris City
Guide eBook. An Australian based Travel Service offering B&B and apartments in Paris and Travel tips about the City of Lights.
ONLY 7.99 for ipads and other tablets. PDF version available to download to your computer. Or Hardcopies available for coffee table gifts fr. $59
Buy it HERE
Great info, thanks so much for sharing,
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