Hi all. We are planning to take our then 17 year old daughter and 14 year old son to Paris and then probably on to London next June, likely spending a week in each place. My wife and I have been several times but not with the kids. I’d love suggestions on good places to stay (could be hotel or Airbnb), eat, as well as best activities and how much time to spend on them to keep them engaged without exhausting them.
Posted by
SF Bay Area
647 posts
We took our two daughters to London for a week when they were a bit younger than your teens, and to Paris for a week when they were a bit older. In both cases we rented apartments, which I highly recommend. For Paris, we rented this apartment, which worked with two daughters: http://www.villeetvillage.com/property_detail_PA070.htm. Ville et Village and France Homestyle both have choices--we used France Homestyle in Normandy. That was before I began using airbnb and VRBO--I would try both now, as we have had great success in other European and US destinations. It is so much better to be able to rest in an apartment with a family of four. Each day, we planned a core activity or two from out list, then had options to extend based on energy. Even when they were younger, they were very interested and their stamina was much greater than I expected. I'd work with them to develop sightseeing priorities based on the RS or other guidebooks.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I’ve taken two of our three kids to Europe , on separate one on one trips , hubby took other son ( so I went with one child , then he went with other child , then I went again with last child )
I’ve also gone with daughter when she was 18 .
Kids first visits they were between 11 (dd) and 13 ( boys )
In all cases kids were tasked with researching and complaining a list of three sights they wanted to visit in each city - research equity in the trip - as we don’t believe in gifting our kids with wonderful trips and not having them
Contribute!
Have your teens do the same .
My kids came up with a few sights I’d never thought of - one son wanted to visit the Catacombs in Paris , another wanted to see the Leanardo exhibit that was outside Paris , and my daughter wanted to visit the Holocaust museum after reading a book ( Sarah’s Key ) ,as well as they listed the other well known sights .
Daughter wanted to see MSM so we did a bus tour there , son wanted to visit Versailles as they just finished the revolution history in class at school .
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
1075 posts
If they are Harry Potter fans, the Harry Potter Studio Experience outside of London is a biggie. (Note that you have to book a few months in advance.) My kids, for Paris, want to do Disney Paris, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. I don't have a Paris trip booked for them, though. We are planning London next year and we plan on HP Tour, Windsor Castle, St. Paul's, Imperial War Museum, British Museum and watching a matinee in the West End. A lot of it will depend on your family's specific interests; for example, our family likes WWII history, hence the IWM on our itinerary.