111 - Join Us in France Travel Podcast

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Discussed in this Episode

Family Travel
Paris with children
Same-Sex Travel
Strikes in France

Same-Sex Travel with Children

David and Michael’s Travel Profile

David‐ no international travel before 40 (other than Canada and the UK); extensive US travel; from Texas, lived for 10 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, now 10 years in NY. Speaks basic French.

Michael‐ traveled Europe after college; extensive US travel; has lived in NYC, LA, San Francisco, New Orleans, Sydney, Australia, and Hong Kong. No French

Zane‐ US travel to Texas, California and Florida; Traveling internationally since age 7. Will be learning French (chosen in part due to his exposure to Paris) starting next year

Trips to France (Paris):

October, 2012 (first international trip as a family)

Travel philosophy:

When traveling as a family, we think the most important thing is to experience and enjoy the city we’re traveling to, not to be on a treadmill to see sights;
Make getting between activities as, if not more, important than the “hits”; walk as much as you can, use taxis when you’ve pushed too far
Look for opportunities to be outside as much as possible
Buy tickets in advance to only the most important things you want to see, and keep the schedule flexible for the secondary things; Use the internet/your hotel’s concierge to add activities as you feel your child can handle them; because we like to stay flexible, we have never purchased Paris Pass cards.
Arrive in the AM and push through the day, retiring at Paris bedtime, to adjust body clock.
Keep activities mellow in the morning (jet lag), main meal in the afternoon when kid(s) is not tired, dinner in the hotel so you can wind down

Disclaimer: Our son’s not a picky eater and his pallet has been broadened by travel (steak tartare, escargot, mussels, oysters).

When traveling with children use taxis rather than push them too far!

Day One in Paris:

Occasion

Michael’s 50th birthday (last day of our trip)

Flight

Red‐eye between Newark, NY and Charles de Gaulle; land at +/‐ 7am/car service to Paris

Weather

Drizzling rain all day

Best experiences on car ride/first impressions of Paris

Zane waking up and vocalizing the differences between the differences of NYC and Paris (“Look at all these shops, Dad!”)

First Hotel

− Hotel Mayfair, 1st, between Place de la Concorde and La Place Vendome (Decent hotel, VERY convenient location)

1st Paris Experience

− Walking through the Tuillerie Gardens; Ice cream carved like a rose; Good way to wake up

Museum

Le Musee de l’Orangerie; came early; no tickets in advance; 10‐15 minute wait

Option to buy ticket for L’Orangerie and Musee d’Orsay at discount
Monet Water Lilies; quick to get in; big impact art that’s easy for kids to understand
Make sure to go downstairs if your kids are still up for it.

Walking the Seine

Saw the iron rings; first time to see the house boats. Zane: “Paris rocks!” Great way to introduce kids to the city.

Le Relais de L’Entrecote; steak frites, salad, dessert, and NOTHING ELSE!!! J
First sight of dogs in a restaurant
First misguided decision to try to use my high‐school French with no brushing

Check in at hotel

Walk the Champs Élysées

Would not recommend for kids…
Frankly, this was one of our first and only disappointments; International chain stores, street performers where you felt like your pockets were going to be picked

Arc de Triomphe:

Great Views‐ good way to see overview of Paris layout

Big warning to parents‐ when we were there, the elevator was not working, so the stairs were the only option.

Haussmann; Great to see as a designer, but…Monotonous; too long for kids (in my opinion)
Downtime: ScooBee Doo and Jersey Shore dubbed in French

Strange dinner recommendation:

Monoprix Place Vendome for bread, cheese, and charcuterie, and wine for dinner @ the hotel. Note: This has become our go to evening meal ever since, let’s everyone wind before bed

Saying goodnight to Paris: We decided to walk the 2 blocks to the Place de la Concorde to say goodnight to the Eiffel Tower. The weather had cleared, and we could see the tower for the first time. It immediately started sparkling, and Zane asked if he could go to it. We decided to go for it. To this day, I will always have the memory of seeing my son skipping along the Seine, light reflected in the puddles, his laughter, and the tower. Z wanted to go up the tower, but it was late and raining, so we said we would go back the next day.

Taxi back to the hotel

Taxis are a savior in Paris when you realize you’ve pushed your kids too far…

Day two

Solution to kids’ jet lag:

A river cruise is a great way to orient ourselves, and let kids rest (jet lag).
We picked Les Vedettes de Paris, which I highly recommend since there is a café on board, drink service, and they make fresh crepes on‐board. I would gladly recommend this boat tour!
The second time we were in Paris we mistakenly took the Bateaux Parisiens, which was fine, but the only on‐board food option was vending machines (go poulet roti potato chips!)
We have not taken the Batteaux Mouches
There is also a hop‐on/hop‐off boat tour, but although we’ve considered it, we’ve never taken it.

Tour Eiffel/Pick Pockets:

Eiffel Tower, first trip:

Got off the boat intending to visit the Eiffel Tower, but the crowds were fierce.

While we were getting oriented, we encountered a pick pocket which travelers should be aware and careful.
Decided to ditch the Tower…

Eiffel Tower, second Trip:

We pre‐booked a behind the scenes tour of the Eiffel Tower, which was AWESOME.
You pick your time
Your tour guide meets you under the tower
You tour barracks under the Champs de Mars
You get placed at the front of the line to use the elevators
Tour of the machine/elevator rooms under the tower
You are whisked to the second floor
They also have samples of the original red and gold paint that were used for the tower (it did not become grey until the mid‐Twentieth Century).
Note: they tell you that the 3rd level is an option for the trip, but what they don’t tell you is that you only have the option of buying 3rd level tickets once you’re on the second level.

Note to parents: during the winter, there is an ice‐skating rink on the first level of the tower.

Taxi to Notre Dame/St Chappelle:

Line looks long, but moves quickly
We did not climb the towers
My biggest recommendation here is to go on Sunday so that you see the bird and flower market behind Notre Dame; warning: your child will want to bring home a bird…

We walked across the bridge to Place Sainte‐Michel, where there was s street performer juggling fire with both his hands and feet. AWESOME!

Lunch in the Latin Quarter

− Fondue Bourguignonne, charcuterie, and cheese at St. Severin, Rue St. Severin; across from the church. Church bells chimes during lunch‐ a gentleman who lived across from the church came out to his balcony while the bells chimed. Great way to show an American child the differences in living

Day three

Montmartre/Sacre Coeur/SoPi/1st Arrondissement

Walked from our hotel to Montmartre; honestly, probably too long of a walk for most kids
Visited Sacre Coeur, good views of Paris, but no view of Eiffel Tower
Walked back through SoPi, had our first Canelé

Michael’s 50th Birthday Lunch in the Second

- Tried to find restaurant Frenchie but failed
- Found what has become one of our favorite cafes, La Taverne de l’Arbre Sec instead
- Had our first steak tartare, now a family favorite

Michael’s 50th Birthday Dinner in the First

Boeuf Bourguignon on the Rue de Rivoli, Café Imperial

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Guest Notes for Episode 111: Two Dads and a Child in Paris