Upcoming trip to Germay to stay with my step dt for 10 days.

First, the train from Frankfurt to Paris takes about 4 hours. Driving will take about 5 1/2 hours.

So, if on day one you travel four hours on the train from Frankfurt to Paris and Day 2 your travel four hours returning, you're really not going to have two full days.

How about two nights in Paris? then you won't be as rushed or exhausted.

I wouldn't suggest driving. (You don't need or even want a car in Paris...and why pay for parking.)And with a rushed schedule, a train would be more relaxing.

There are special ticket prices for the train available if you buy them ahead of time for 39 € one way to Paris. With the 4 hour train ride, you might want to try and stay one more night. Find an affordable hotel or apt. or B&B. Even if you left FF at 0700 in the morning, got to Paris at 1100, you still have to go to the hotel, etc. before you can start sightseeing. We stayed at the Ibis near the Gare du Nord train station. They have good prices, it is a 5 min. walk from the train station and this is where the train ends on its way from Frankfurt. There were nice little restaurants and bakeries in the neighborhood and many of the Metro lines seemed to stop there, which made it easy to get around.

I recommend using the train, not only for the ease of travel but if you rent a car you'll have to deal with not only driving in a foreign city but parking, that alone can be difficult and expensive. Plus the train will be a unique travel experience for the kids!

Others have given you advice on trains. As for hotels. The Londres-Eifel and the Champs des Mars are both within walking distance of the Eifel Tower and there you can get the hop on hop off bus which will take you to the other sites you probably want to see - Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Louvre, etc. Or you can get the river boat at teh Tower which will take you to Notre Dam and close to some other sites. Walking from The Eifel Tower to the Louvre would be a long walk, but buses or the metro can take you there quite easily.

Thank-you to all that have replied. It sounds like taking the train is the best way to go. I am still checking on the best BB to stay at. In order to stay two nights I would not want to go over $150 a night. Any ideas?

Rather than concentrating on a location within walking distance to the Eifel Tower and Louvre (which by the way, are a VERY long walk from each other), you might want to pick your hotel based on the neighborhood. The Paris Metro gives you easy access to just about any location in the city.