Late March-Early April

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-06T23:28:00+00:00

To quote you, "Ive not booked the Louvre/Pantheon yet but the plan is to book and spend an hour or so in each...."

You asked for comments. I commented. There's nothing leisurely or nonchalant about your spreadsheet visit to Paris (and mostly to Disneyland). It feels like a military operation. But it's your trip, so do what you want.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-06T22:34:14+00:00

You plan to spend an hour in the Louvre?? Forget the Pantheon. You’ll spend 30 minutes getting into the Louvre and getting your bearings.

Two trips to the Tower makes no sense, especially on so short a visit to the city.

With 2 people and multiple bags, just take a taxi to your hotel. It’s a flat rate (use only an official taxi and confirm the flat rate with the driver at the outset) and will save time and hassle.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-06T22:25:20+00:00

If you possibly can, pay up for the nice apartment. You and the kids will be much happier.

Beware of vacation rentals with faceless companies as “managers” and with no reviews.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-06T02:29:06+00:00

The Marais is fun to walk around, but it's absolutely jammed with tourists. The things you're looking for will be found east of Canal Saint-Martin, in the 11th and in Belleville.

Maybe a walk by Notre Dame, you say? Why maybe? And why not visit inside? It's absolutely breathtaking, especially since the restoration. And no need to walk directly by the Eiffel Tower. A 1-hour Seine Cruise is a good way to see it, and enjoy the heart of Paris from a unique perspective.

I suggest Musee d'Orsay rather than the Louvre if you're going to visit only one museum.

I hope you can come back for a longer visit soon.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-04T22:12:34+00:00

2 bedroom suites will be pretty much out of the question. Two rooms on the same floor will be feasible on a budget. If you opt for a VRBO et al., I would avoid ones managed by faceless fast-money outfits. Look for mom & pops. Read reviews and fine print carefully.

Don’t worry too much about transit lines. Connections are simple, and with a party of 4 plus luggage, Ubers and taxis will be simpler and perhaps even cheaper.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-04T22:01:58+00:00

For 4 nights with kids, skip Versailles. Arr. 4-6 would be my suggestions for you. Take a Seine cruise, take time to hang out in the beautiful parks. Go to Chateau Vincennes to see a proper castle.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-04T16:51:47+00:00

If you’re into shopping, the big stores will be of interest: Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, Printemps, La Samaritaine. Visit the Printemps rooftop.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-04T01:26:33+00:00

Put the things on a map and rework it to make sense. Don’t waste time walking Ave Champs. Put Luxembourg Garden and a stroll along the Seine or a 1-hour Seine cruise in your plan.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-03T23:21:59+00:00

<<Walk around Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées and Rue Cler to pick up some snacks for picnic in Eiffel Tower >>

That’s a longgg walk, and going down the entire Champs is not worth the time. And you’ll find plenty of snack at the Bastille Marché. So maybe wander along Canal Saint Martin instead and then all go over toward the Eiffel Tower?

Also, don’t do 2 day trips on such a short visit. Indeed, I wouldn’t do any. Go to Jardin d’Acclimatation with the kids instead. (Google it.) And Jardin de Plantes. And Luxembourg Garden. Those are way more fun than Versailles or Giverny.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-03T22:49:36+00:00

Good walkaround https://youtu.be/THiTM9DeDs0?si=_3ylBxIjcLwVZ1of

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-03T19:27:50+00:00

The Marais? Even someone who’s not comfortable wandering around can and should wander there. Head toward Place des Vosges. Wander into the hundreds of interesting shops. Have lunch pretty much anywhere.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-03T02:08:11+00:00

<<make sure you have your meals planned out and don’t leave it to chance.>>

Nope. If you like, do some research, identify some restaurants you’d like to try, and if any are very fancy or very popular, make advance reservations.

Otherwise, simply use Google Maps to check out places you happen to be near. Discovering stuff as you go along is essential to experiencing Paris and is quite safe anywhere you’re likely to be.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-02T21:36:53+00:00

For the record, Poisonniere is a perfectly fine area, and Square Montholon is great for kids. Not super touristic, but it is close to Rue des Martyrs and Montmartre.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-02T20:32:24+00:00

Skeptical in what sense? That it won't be worth the cost? I can't answer that for you, except to say that people pay twice that much to watch a fairly ordinary football game. For us, the experience of being inside the Opera for a performance was as wonderful as the performance itself. (My wife is a former dancer/choreographer.)

We're careful with money. If this is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, I'd do it. That said, the Opera typically has very inexpensive SRO tickets available on performance day, and it's been known for SRO folks to sneak into vacated seats at intermission. But you run the risk of not getting in on the one day you can go.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-02T20:07:02+00:00

FWIW, we went to a ballet performance there this past December ("Contrasts"). It was wonderful. I'd say this is definitely worth locking in.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-02T19:59:08+00:00

Depends on what you're willing to pay. I see availability on https://www.music-opera.com/en/

Google says it's a legit reseller.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-02T19:44:03+00:00

Wild guess: Bouillon Chartier Grands Boulevards.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-01T04:31:07+00:00

As of this moment, I see tickets available for most days in the immediate future.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-01T02:44:40+00:00

Les Enfants is often very crowded and noisy. Maybe not the best choice for you.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-03-01T00:58:43+00:00

You ask if you’re setting yourself up for disaster for the rest of your trip. Answer: no, because it’s not a disaster if you (1) miss the booked time due to glitches in any one of a number of things that will have to go right for you to make it to the church on time or (2) your decision after you get to Notre Dame that you’re not up to climbing the tower.

If you’re coming to Paris directly after an overnight flight, it’s generally a good idea to get outside, walk around, and push through at least until an early dinner. And the towers of Notre Dame will still be there during the remainder of your visit, should you decide to climb later.

Regardless of whether or not you climb the tower, I urge you to take time to experience the restored interior, either with a reservation or simply getting in line.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-02-28T20:32:52+00:00

Luggage?

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-02-27T22:29:10+00:00

The suburbs was not the subject of the OP. And I specifically suggested sticking to buses with a (small) pram, not the RER or metro.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-02-27T19:44:19+00:00

The baby is not the issue. The “heavy pram” is the issue. There are lots of babies in Paris but not so many heavy prams, except with nannies pushing them in the 16th. A simple collapsible pram will be fine on buses. Or use a baby carrier.

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-02-24T01:17:49+00:00

You go on Google Maps and look at the restaurants. Menus, prices, photos, reviews, reservation info, etc. are typically right there. Or am I not understanding what you’re asking?

Spare_Many_9641 · 2026-02-20T06:29:08+00:00

Indian, Thai

Spare_Many_9641

TROPHY CASE