I%26#39;m traveling with my husband and two kids (9 %26amp;15). It seems impossible to find Paris hotel rooms where the the kids can sleep with us. It%26#39;s bad enough feeding these two kids (champange tastes), but TWO hotel rooms? The 9 yo wants escargot. I haven%26#39;t been having a lot of luck with apartments. (we are traveling on pretty short notice - end of June)
I%26#39;d like to find something pleasant for under $150 US. I%26#39;ve heard some hotels offer 50% off 2nd adjoining rooms but I can%26#39;t seem to find any.
As for requirements, I%26#39;m pretty easy. Close to a metro station, preferably one on two lines is most desirable. As for neighborhoods, I%26#39;m intrigued by the Marais and Rue Cler as I haven%26#39;t stayed there before and they look interesting.
On a different topic. My 9yo is a viola player and would like to busk (street musician) while in Paris. She is cute and quite good and finds it both fun and lucrative. Any suggestions that would be near your hotel recommendations of where she can go to play. The better the money the longer she plays. I%26#39;ll use any excuse to get her to practice while on vacation...
Lastly I%26#39;d like to find a good bookstore, preferably used, for children%26#39;s books (elementary reader age) in French. Last time I picked up a few books in a department store, but the selection wasn%26#39;t great for young readers. French books at home are so expensive. Asterix comics are over $20.
Thanks for the help
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Busking - noy sure what the rules are regarding this, nor where to find out but two obvious places spring to mind - one of the entry arches to the big courtyard of the Louvre (not the part with the pyramids), or the Pont Des Arts early evening time. However I strongly suggest you do some research into the legalities.
Books - the FNAC chain has %26#39;FNAC Junior%26#39; branches at 19 rue Vavin in the 6th, the Cour St Emillion at Bercy, 148 av Victor Hugo in the 16th and 15 rue courcelles in the 17th. For other bookshops go to www.pagesjaunes.fr (site available in English) and do a search.
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Regarding the books, we had a good exchange earlier this month about the used book market at Parc George Brassens. Open weekends all day. Go to the green search bar at the top of the page and enter %26quot;Bouquinistes at Parc Georges Brassens%26quot; and you%26#39;ll see the thread.
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Thanks for the link to the Parc George Brassens but that looks to be the opposite of what I%26#39;m looking for.
By used books, I mean fairly new editions that have been read and are being resold cheap.
CeeJay, we%26#39;ll try the FNAC if we can%26#39;t find used books.
Thanks
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Books: Gibert Joseph on (and around) Blvd. St. Michel sells used children%26#39;s books and comics from bins on the sidewalk. There%26#39;s a concentration of book shops around that part of the latin quarter.
Busking is illegal in the Metro unless you audition for one of the 150 permits the RATP issues.
The Police Nationale are pretty laid back when it comes to victimless crimes. Parisians letting their dog p**p on the sidewalk seems to me a lot worse crime than letting your 9 yo play the viola for a little copper. I really don%26#39;t think you need to worry much.
That said, the big money is near Metro station entrances in central Paris. As has been recommended, check out the legality...
I really think it%26#39;s a charming thing to do. Your daughter will always be able to tell the story of her %26quot;busking days%26quot; in Paris. Too bad violas don%26#39;t fold up for easy packing though.
If you email me when you know when/where she%26#39;s going to play, I%26#39;d love to snap a picture of her busking. progressyve@yahoo.com
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%26lt;%26gt; Hotel Lyon Mulhouse 100-115Euro/ Quad
france-paris.com/1-hotel-paris/…index-gb.htm
%26lt;%26gt; Hotel Excelsior 98-110Euro/ Quad
www.excelsiorlatin.com/Pages/USTarifs.html
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We rented the La Belle Epoque apartment from www.perfectlyparis.com. This worked out great. There are two bedrooms both with own private bath. There is a double bed in each room. Mom and dad in one and one or two kids in the other. Also has a fold out couch in the living room and a roll away bed that can be set up anywhere. We had three adults and two kids (9 and 6) and we were very comfortable. There is another half bath too! We put the roll away in the dining room which also has a small love seat and sitting area. My son slept on the sofa, my daughter on the roll away and adult in the two bedrooms. This apartment is in a working class area--not touristy at all. The neighborhood was safe and the apartment was clean and well equipped. The rate is great for LOTS of space. Apartments offer a family so much. You can sit around in your PJ%26#39;s in the living room and discuss your next days outing in the comfort of your %26quot;own home%26quot; instead of a hotel lobby. You can eat in the middle of the night for free and you can save money by eating in occasionally--breakfast works out great with wonderful baked goods from the local bakery. We were never more than 15 minutes away by metro to anywhere we wanted to see. Check this place out--the owner Gail was great. Tell her Randi sent you--we stayed there in Feb. Oh, you can pack less too, as there is a washer and dryer in the apt.
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Thank you cybertraveler. I definately found that an apartment was the way to go and I did find what looks to be a fine one in the 7e. It seems to be the best way for families to travel. Since we only needed three nights and are traveling at the end of this month, finding one was a little challenging.
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I%26#39;ve been mulling over your busking question, because my 8 year old has been nagging me to do the same. I have always said no.
I am concerned about safety. The metro entrances and other obvious places have their regulars who consider this a career and would not necessarily take kindly to the added competition.
Saturday I found a solution... a girl was playing cello at our local market. She had set up between two of the stalls, had her music stand and a stool and played her heart out. The weekend markets are crowded and everyone walking by had their pockets full of change, so she seemed to be doing well financially.
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I think the best place for busking would be on the Pont des Arts (right by the Lourve). even if she wasn%26#39;t playing it%26#39;s always a great spot to spend an evening, once you%26#39;ve got a bottle of wine on you !
www.atkielski.com/inlink.php…
%26quot; It is a popular spot for strollers and romantic young couples, since the view from either side of the bridge is splendid, and it gets away from the traffic noise that plagues most of Paris. There are occasional art shows and other events on the bridge, and it isn���t unusual to see people painting or sketching here. %26quot;
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I spent four days in Paris last week with my sons (ages 12 and 15). Using this website and some guidebooks, I found an affordable place with family-sized rooms. It%26#39;s called Hotel des Bains Montparnasse. It%26#39;s in the Montparnasse area in the 14e. For 122 euros a night, we had a family room with 2 separate bedrooms. The boys stayed in the bedroom with 2 twin beds, and I took the one with a double bed. We had plenty of space. There was a modern bathroom with a shower.
The hotel is in a quiet, residential area. There%26#39;s a Metro stop on either corner of the block. Although the hotel offers breakfast for an extra charge, we got breakfast every morning at a boulangerie/pattiserie a few doors down. There%26#39;s also a neat little laundromat on the block. The hotel is across from a grammar school. It%26#39;s safe and quiet at night, and there are plenty of restaurants in the area.
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