Travelling to Paris with a grandchild

I like the sound of those studios, granjura. I am also very fond of the Marais and have twice stayed in small hotels there on my own and with my sister. I hope you have a good time - and good weather.

Thanks - we've never used those studios, but the reviews were good, price great and location perfect, as I love the Marais. They have twin bedrooms, and the kitchenettes are great with kids, so you can have breakfast there and make snacks, light meals if wanted. Really looking forward to it - hope you find something nice to do for your 44th Stansgran - no need to go far to have a lovely day

Citadines or Novotel suites are ideal with children. We celebrate 44 years of marriage this year but not doing anything as glamorous . Have a lovely time.

Going to Paris on Tuesday for a few days- for our 42nd wedding anniv. Much prefer going by train than plane- arriving at Gare de Lyon with TGV, right in the centre and 2 Metro stops from our rented studio in the Marais. Can't wait, even if the weather forecast is not so good . The Marais is such a nice place to stay - we will be at the Citadines Bastille - great to have a little kitchen where we can make hot drinks, soups, etc. Will report back.

I often collect my French DGCs from Paris. If you take them to eurodisney there is a bus from the airportCDG. The train into Paris can be crowded dirty and graffiti covered. The bus to me seems a better option. Anything popular is best done as soon as it opens before the coach parties arrive. There used to be a hospital on the ile de la cite( where Notre dame is) which became a very good value hotel. Bertillon on the ile St. Louis produce the best ice creams.

I've booked for the end of July so we should also be able to go on the "beach" - I imagine it gets very crowded?

I agree with others - Pere Lachaise is well worth visiting - we just found it by accident and were very glad we did. Also the Tuileries Gardens.

I agree with Tegan and Hilda re street thefts. We went up the steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and somebody stepped on the back of my sandal, holding me back for a moment. I turned immediately and a young man moved away quickly. I saw that my bag had been opened - luckily nothing was missing.

Tegan Yes he's buried there as is Oscar Wilde whose grave was covered in lipstick 'kisses' but I understand they have now been cleaned off and a glass partition put round the grave so no more kisses for Oscar

Is Pere Lachaise where Jim Morrison is buried?

Tegan I love the idea of a Paris meet-up!

JaneAnn - You had some wonderful suggestions and I'd definitely recommend one of the many boat trips that are available. Enjoy.

Start with the hop on/off bus and then decide where to visit although it's a good idea to have a plan before you go so not to waste any valuable time - there's so much to do. I used to take the small children to the Tuileries to sail boats on the Bassin Rond. Wandering round markets, would be a good bet - e.g. Rue Mouffetard; Musee d'Orsay is great and for a ghoulish teenage grandson, a visit to Pere Lachaise cemetery where the good, the bad and the great are buried . Slog up the hill to Sacre Coeur for the views. Apart from a look, I wouldn't bother with all the 'touristy' places - far too expensive and busy. Enjoy the trip!

Paris is one of the cities you walk round and just soak up the atmosphere calling in at the cafes along the way.
A visit to Paris for me is a visit to the Louvre museum I could walk round there for hours.

Museum website
http://www.louvre.fr/en

check this out the Official Paris website
http://en.parisinfo.com/

Free walking tours
http://www.newparistours.com/

Have a great time.

Brilliant idea Tegan!

We could take over an entire bateau mouche if there were enough of us...

I think we should have a gransnet meet up in Paris one day .

The RER system runs from the airport into the city centre and you can buy a ticket that's also valid for the metro. I've been to some 'quaint' hotels in the Marais and Left Bank, but Late Rooms or and equivalent booking site will find you what you are looking for. Bonne Chance!

I've just googled the Luxembourg Gardens and it looks fabulous [they do pony rides as well]. We're having a few days in Paris soon and I'm trying to work out an itinerary. There are trips included but I don't want to go to Versailles again so I'm hoping to take in the Louvre. Not the sort of thing to take a child to I know but I've always wanted to got to the animal cemetary in Paris [where Rin Tin Tin is buried]; we tend not to think of the French as animal lovers, but they are.

Fantastic advice coming in - many thanks everyone. Keep going!

Fantastic advice coming in - many thanks everyone. Keep going!

Oh; might be an idea to watch the film Hugo with the child before you go [if they haven't seen it already] and you could take in a trip to the station [a bit Harry Potter'ish, stations].

The latest pickpocket type thing is for someone to point to a ring on the floor and say 'did you drop that ring?' When you pick it up a gang of heavies appear and say you've stolen it and demand money.

The river boat thingy is called the 'Batobus' you can google it for details.

I always look on Late rooms or booking.com for hotels and have had some bargains. The nearer to places like the Eiffel Tower etc the more expensive they are. We usually stayed in the. 8th or 17 th arrondissement which are next to each other and not too far from the Sacre Coeur area. There are a number of Metro stations there and it is not too far from the big stores like Galleries Laffayette. Incase you don't know it is cheaper to buy carnets (books) of metro tickets from a tabac shop - most of them sell them - and then you are sorted for a few trips.
There is another train system RNR I think which goes deeper than the Metro and to different stations and of course I imagine you need different tickets. Normal train tickets need to be validated at a machine before you start your journey but the Metro ones you just put i to the machine at the gate. The Metro is so easy to use - you can download a map before you go too.
There is a big Geodome there but I forget where. There are open top bus rides which are good - we did one a year or so ago and it does give you a good perspective of places.

Have a good trip.