"Hi, Do you have any suggestions of hotels and activities for a 3 year > (girl-shopping!!!not yet!) in Paris and your advice on hotels would be > greatly appreciated, too. Thank you" - N.H.

Thanks for writing! Both my daughter and I are quite familiar with Paris, having spent much of our college student days there, and, of course, later vacations.thoughout our adult lives.

Your message did not indicate what season you were going so I will assume summer. I also think you meant to say 3-year-old? Or 3 people? I will assume it is you and your 3 yr old daughter. So here goes:

Activities:

- Ride the Eiffel Tower to the top (Bundle up in winter). Skip the pricey restaurant.
- Ride a bateau mouche (the little boats that go up and down the Seine. (again , bundle up in winter).
- Walk thru the city parks, in particular the Tuilleries as it offers children an opportunity to play with little boats on the lakes and (Monique, correct me if I am wrong) I believe this park also offers puppet shows in summer. (Language is no barrier).
- Pick up some juice, bread, fruit and cheese and picnic in the parks.
- Travel throughout the city on the Metro. It is cheap, fast, and easy to use even if you speak not a word of French. Buy a carnet (book of tickets) to save money.
- Visit Notre Dame cathedral and then stroll along the Seine.
- Eat once at McDonald's. It is cheap, your child will welcome a "little bit of home" and the placemat makes a great souvenir. McDonald's in Paris is adored by the French and is the second most popular McDonald's in the world . (Can you guess the first? It is Moscow!) -

If you choose to go outside the city, Versailles is the number one attraction and easy to reach by train. You can go on your own and then pick up a local guide upon arrival.
- Disneyland Paris - Haven't done it yet but my daughter did so I will let her speak on that attraction.

Hotels:

I cannot recommend one particular place as the hotel scene changes. If you are on a budget, a 3 star hotel will do fine and should cost under $100 a night. Hotels are cheaper on the Rive Gauche (left bank) and the location should be no problem as all the sights are ten minutes away (or less) by metro. Check out some Web sites such as Expedia.com or have your local travel agent book a hotel for you.

One last thing: The metros are safe but you must watch for gypsies. If you see them approach, move away IMMEDIATELY. Leave the train station if you must. They approach in small groups, distract you , often by asking for a kiss, while a member of their group grabs your purse and runs away. They will not harm you; they are only interested in petty theft and fast getaways. I don't mean to scare you as this is not a frequent threat but as a single parent, you could be targeted so be aware.

Have a wonderful time. Bon Voyage!

GlobalBrenda

response from Monique, Brenda's daughter (who lived in Paris):

Ah, Paris, La Vrai Vie! (The True Life) as the French say.

I add a few additional things.

Personally I prefer the view above the Arc De Triomph over any other in Paris, but that is me.

I have been to EuroDisney and, being a big Disney fan, loved it. I typically recommend it to those who have been to Paris several times, but if you think that your daughter will appreciate it, then go for it. If you have spent a lot of time at either CA or FL magic kingdom, then skip it. It is almost the same experience. The big difference is that they serve beer in the park.

With regard to hotels there are a million good cheap hotels in Paris. They change frequently, so we can't recommend any in particular. If you stay a bit off the beaten path in the residential sections, rather than the tourist areas of Paris, you can easily find a two or three star for under $100.

With a small child, I would avoid staying in the Montmatre area (where the Sacre Coeur is.) This is fine by day, but at night it gets seedy. (This is the home of the red light district.) It is great for a group of people in their 20s or 30s because there is great nightlife, but you have a small child, so I would avoid nights there.

There are tons of web sites that list hotels in Paris, check out our resources section on our Web site, we link to a few. Another option is to try booking through PlacesToStay.com. I have used that site frequently. Keep in mind that amenities in a two or three star are sparse. If you want a bathroom in your room, you have to ask when you reserve. Typically the room are very small, with little, but adequate furniture and no TV or phone. They also may not have an elevator, so make sure you can carry your luggage up several flights of stairs. But, you are not there for the hotel, right. You are in Paris!!

There are a few English language magazines that are available at newsagents in Paris. The names may have changed, but try Pariscope and TimeOut. They are great weekly guides and have information on activities for children. You can probably pick one up at an airport Kiosk and read it during your first meal. They will tell you about the puppet shows that mom mentions and the like. The Tuilleries gardens that mom mentions have a great big fountain where little kids hang out and sail little boats.

I hope you enjoy your trip!

I am jealous.

Monique

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