129: Tips for Visiting Paris with Kids

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If you are planning a trip to Paris with kids, why not get tips from someone who has gone half a dozen times in the last few years! This week we are chatting with Michelle Millett, a Francophile and experienced family travelers about visiting Paris with (and without) kids.

ON THE PODCAST

00:30 – Talking with Kim and Tamara

05:40 – Talking with Michelle

10:38 – How long to spend

12:03 – Where to stay

21:35 – Top sites to see

31:33 – Structuring your days in Paris

37:09 – Day trips

39:15 – Transportation

40:46 – Restaurants

45:16 – General tips

59:55 – Best Place for a Family Photo

52:02 – Michelle’s Favorite Travel Gear

54:14 – Michelle’s Top Tips for Traveling

58:50 – Where Michelle is going next

59:22 – Kim and Tamara’s upcoming travels

ABOUT MICHELLE MILLETT

Michelle Millett is a wife and mom of 2 boys aged 11 and 15. A devoted Francophile, who although a late bloomer to international travel, has been making up for loss time in the last 4 years. Lover of high jinx and shenanigans whether near or far.

TIPS FOR VISITING PARIS

If you only have a few days to spend in Paris you can definitely cover the highlights. If you don’t want to spend your whole week of vacation in Paris you can pair your trip with other area in Europe.
There are 18 neighborhoods of paris. So depending on what you want to get out of your stay is how you can determine which to stay in.
Keep in mind that nothing is really far away so you can stay in a neighborhood on the outer edge and still go into the city and visit the Eiffel Tower, museums, est.
If you are taking a train into the city you may think about staying in the area of your train station, just so that it will be easier to get to and from your hotel.
If you want to be able to travel around by just walking, you should think about stay closer to the center of the city.
A good fact to know is that if a hotel has a three star or higher rating, it has to have air conditioning.
Just so you know Airbnb is getting harder to find in Paris due to restrictions.
If you really want to visit the Louvre and you are traveling with kids there is a program called THATLou that has a scavenger hunt for families to even compete with other families if you wanted.
The Louvre also has a late night on Wednesdays that can be less crowded that during the daytime.
Right by the Eiffel Tower there is a place you can get a boat ride along the Seine River. If you plan your day out right you can go up and see the Eiffel Tower and than when you are done get a boat ride on the river.
Make sure to get your tickets in advance if you want to go up into the Eiffel Tower. Getting them in advance will save you from waiting in the long lines that there will be.
They usually start selling ticket 90 days in advance. This doesn’t mean you have to get them that early but depending on the time of year that you are visiting the quicker these tickets will sell out.
Tuileries Garden is very beautiful area, there is this path that leads you to the garden that has trees on either side and shops all along the way.
Angelina Paris is known for its rich and creamy hot chocolate. They also have pastries, tea, coffee and other treats. If you like hot chocolate this is a must do stop for you and your family.
If you have more time in Paris and want to take a day trip or two here are some close areas that are great to visit such as Versailles or Reims.
Reims is the region of champagne so you can see more of a country area of France and do some champagne tasting.
Fontainebleau is similar to Versailles, but is lesser known and is not nearly as busy as Versailles.
If you are traveling with kids and have a stroller. You need to keep in mind that there are a lot steps and if you had planned on taking the subway/metro there are no escalators or elevators if you bring the smallest stroller you have, that will help you navigate easier.
Paris has really great food and a really good variety. Theres is really no bad food places in Paris. You find that while there are a lot of options for sit down dinners there are also a lot of places where you can just grab some quick food and keep exploring the city.
Make sure you say Bonjour! when you are going in anywhere and Au revoir! when you are leaving places.

BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO

Any photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background is a great shoot!

FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR

Old Navy leggings in black are Michelle’s favorite because you can dress them up or down, and she pairs them with her Converse slip on sneakers or a pair of boot. She also likes layer to keep warm but still cool by shedding layers.

MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST

Paris by Word of Mouth

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If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

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