I'm going to Paris in February with my wife and 2 young children (ages 3 & 6) and am curious to know if anyone has had this adventure. Your opinions and suggestions are most welcome. I've booked 4 nights at the mix-opinioned Prince de Galles Hotel (using points) largely because they have been most accomodating about allowing 4 people in the room. Is there a better option?

Thanks

Post the PdG question in Starwood. I just stayed there. Had a great stay. Why only four nights, you paid for 5.

We had a Jr Suite, and the kids wold fit on the couches in the sitting room. It was of decent size.

The staff there is typical Leading Hotel 5 star. The complainers are grumping because they cannot get an upgrade.

Rooms in most Paris hotels are quite small. I think you will all fit in a room at the PdG(at least on the first floor, as I studied that layout map), but you certainly would not fit in the last 10 Paris hotels I have stayed in.

Have you checked on the charge for the additional bedding? It may be a huge amount of money. Ask first, and get it in writing.

Geoellis, you might like to consider the Citadines option, which is the combination of an apartment/hotel type accomodation (they are known as "aparthotels" here in France).

The Citadines have some interesting locations in Paris and have been discussed in the following threads:

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum43/HTML/000012.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum43/HTML/000019.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum43/HTML/000060.html

Obviously, the properties are not 5-star like the PdG (they are rated 3-star by the French Ministry of Tourism), but they are well-located and well -appointed. You would also likely have more room, a small kitchenette and you'd save your points for another time.

Just an idea.

[This message has been edited by blairvanhorn (edited 12-15-2002).]

We have always stayed at Citadines St Germaine, and really like it there. For Thanksgiving, however, we wanted to reduce the cost with 2 adult children going with us. We stayed at Residence Des Arts, 1/2 block from St Michel, and 2 blocks closer than Citadines. It is only 1/2 block from the Metro (#4), and the street is loaded with shops, restaurants, cafe's, and stores. It's an ideal location. The staff could not do enough for you, and spoke fluent English.
Two rooms were connected by a hallway, with locking doors. The large unit (2 rooms) had a king bed, desk, sleeper-couch, large bathrom w/ shower, and kitchenette with microwave, frig, sink, and stove. The adjacent studio was large, with a king bed, same kitchenette, and large bathroom w/ shower. TV's in both rooms, with heat and a/c. No coffee pot, but we figured out a way to make it anyway. The rooms can be rented separately, or together. There is a "take-out" coffee shop a few steps from the hotel. (The only one I ever saw in Paris) Have a great trip!

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Have a nice day!
ChgoBob

[This message has been edited by ChgoBob (edited 12-15-2002).]

In the Fall/Winter edition of Travel and Leisure Magazine, www.travelandleisure.com, (http://www.travelandleisure.com,) in 1999, there was an article "50 Thrilling Things to Do in Paris (The Kids will Love It)." I would think that you could do a search of the site and perhaps come up with some good ideas. Though I have no children, I tore the article out and took it with me on one trip because the ideas were so good, including the Parade of Animals at the Natural History Museum (Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle) - you will be just as mesmerized as the kids.

[This message has been edited by ILuvParis (edited 12-16-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Oui, Oui, Chéri, Paris

But of course: the City of Light is every bit as enchanting en famille. Here, an à la carte guide to a brilliant vacation

By Heather Smith MacIsaac

Thanks to Madeline, the Hunchback, and Pascal's red balloon, most children have a vision of Paris long before they ever set foot in the city. They picture parks with trees lined up like soldiers, stone bridges with fancy lampposts, schoolgirls all in a row, and, of course, French bread tucked under every arm. The good news is that there's truth to their fantasies. It's easy to make your trip so très français that you'll return accompanied by little Gigis and Chevaliers who have discovered that real french fries never need ketchup and that Parisians know a thing or two about joie de vivre. Now, take a cue from the stirring national anthem: "Allons enfants."</font>

Travel + Leisure, October 1999 (http://www.travelandleisure.com/invoke.cfm?objectID=B35C5134-E172-4824-827CAE21B50E4BD6&method=display)

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Additional comments on activites with children are certainly welcome. blairvanhorn you are absolutely right. When you really think about it children are exposed early on to France and the Franco culture through books, cartoons, etc. My 6 year old is already taking French in first grade and she goes to an Episcopalian school. This is the exception to the rule of course, but nevertheless, she can't wait to go and see where Madeline is from!

The 5th&6th Arond. have a large number of very narrow sidewalks along busy streets.

Not good with children.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by geoellis:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Additional comments on activites with children are certainly welcome. blairvanhorn you are absolutely right. When you really think about it children are exposed early on to France and the Franco culture through books, cartoons, etc. My 6 year old is already taking French in first grade and she goes to an Episcopalian school. This is the exception to the rule of course, but nevertheless, she can't wait to go and see where Madeline is from! </font>

I was going to start a similar thread when I found yours. I, too, am taking family to France in the last week of January. My children are 5 and 10 yr old boys. The older one has been going to a Total French Immersion school since Kindergarten and speaks fluent french. Th little one just stated Kindergarten in the same school. I was afraid that Paris might me a bit too serious for kids. They like to visit castles and caves. I was planing to spend the entire time in Normandy, around Tours and Poitiers visiting some castles and a few prehistoric or geological caves. I am still open to the idea of spending the week in Paris if I can find what to do with the kids there.