Paris is a perfect weekend break for couples, families and solo travellers. It’s one of the most popular places to visit in the world and has a range of activities to suit everyone’s tastes and budget. I recently went with my family and stayed in some of the Paris luxury apartments and had an amazing time.
A lot of people with kids worry about bringing them along. Some are concerned that there aren’t enough activities to keep the little ones occupied. Or that the kids will be too much of a handful to manage.
This is wrong.
I did it and had a wonderful time. The good news is that you can too. Here’s how to have the perfect weekend break in Paris with your kids.
Booking the Flight:
I made a huge mistake the first time I took my young kids on holiday. Trying to cut down on expenses, I opted for the cheapest flight. This happened to be very early in the morning, which meant the kids were cranky. Not only was the flight a pain trying to manage two tired and bored boys, when we arrived at the hotel they wouldn’t let us have an early check-in.
I’ve haven’t made this same mistake again.
My first tip for the perfect weekend break in Paris is to choose the time of your flight carefully. Don’t book one that’s super early or too late, even if you have to pay more. It’s not worth it. This can also become a problem if you’re visiting during term-time as you can’t let the kids take the afternoon off school.
Finding the Right Accommodation:
Just because you’re with your kids, it doesn’t mean that you can’t stay in luxury. We used to do budget hotels and always got the cheapest places, but managing kids whilst in an uncomfortable hotel is challenging. In fact, it can ruin your trip.
Now that we’re in a better financial position, we like to stay in the more comfortable accommodation. Apartments are great because you can all stay a relatively large place. In the past, it was either the both the parents and kids in one room or one parent and one kid in separate rooms. Neither is ideal.
Splash out and get your own space with an apartment, you won’t regret it.
Getting Around the City:
Paris is a huge city and it’s difficult to get around at the best of times. This is magnified when you have your kids with you. Honestly, the subway is confusing and the buses are slow. Taxis are super expensive too and you’re probably going to get stuck in traffic. So what do you do?
The solution is simple. Plan what you’re going to do in advance. You don’t have to go as far as creating a timetable. But just be aware of what you want to do each day and make sure you know how to get there. Look at the bus timetables online or download the subway map. The more organised you are, the smoother travelling around will be.
Some people may prefer to rent their own car and drive in Paris. This is probably the best way to have the perfect trip because it gives you more flexibility. However, not everyone is lucky enough to be in that situation.
Kid-Friendly Activities:
You may think that visiting the Louvre and admiring the architecture of some of the historical churches in Paris is fun, but the kids don’t. They’re too young to appreciate any of that stuff. You need to make sure you do some fun things that they’ll enjoy. This doesn’t mean that you have to skip all of the cultural attractions, just keep your kid’s interests in mind.
Our personal favourite is to go to the parks. The kids can play to their heart’s content whilst you’re relaxing with your partner nearby. Another great thing to do on your first trip is to take the kids to Disneyland Paris. We made an agreement with ours: if you behave on day one while we do the things we want, we’ll take you to Disneyland on day two.
It worked great!
Making Sure the Kids Will Love Paris:
Paris is full of delicious crepes and ice cream that kids absolutely love. Buy them a treat and some cool souvenirs to take back home. You never know, they may want to come back next time. Remember to see things through their eyes and to make their experience as magical as yours. If everyone is happy, it truly is a perfect trip!
The Takeaway Message:
Having young kids doesn’t stop you and your partner from visiting Paris on a weekend trip. Bring them along. Just make sure everything is planned well and that you keep their interests in mind too. And don’t forget to give them a nice crepe or a trip to Disneyland as a treat if they behave!