To Paris With 2 Kids In Tow- This Mom Gives Us Serious #TravelGoals!

After considering multiple options for our annual vacation this year, we finally narrowed down and decided on Paris. Cos you know, “Paris, is always a good idea!”

And so, the planner that I am, I started doing my research and getting my travel journal ready. While we don’t always stick to an agenda rigidly. I always find having a rough plan and itinerary helps to be able to make the best use of time. (Of course, with some room for flexibility with the kids)

After doing a fair amount of research and looking at hotels, Airbnb, as well as service apartments, we finally narrowed in on Hotel Adele & Jules. And it was perfect. It ticked off all our boxes of our must haves and then some more. Great location, spacious rooms, very tastefully done. Courteous staff and all amenities we could have wished for. They arranged for a crib in the room, plus the sofa became an almost queen sized bed.

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Day 1: Eiffel Tower & Sienne Cruise

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We planned the Eiffel Tower on the first day we reached. Start with the best the city has to offer! We pre-booked all the tickets before-hand online. Would recommend doing that wherever it is possible. That’s one queue less to stand in, which can be really long! We went up to level 3 and also carried the stroller for my li'l one (Ranbir- 20 months old) right till the top- that makes it very convenient.

Mommy tip 1: Make sure you carry enough water and even some dry snacks for the kids. With all the waiting, they are bound to get hungry and bored. Snacks help keep them busy and you sane. We chose to go up to the tower while it was still daylight, as you get a better and a spectacular view of the city.

Mommy tip 2: Ticked off the champagne and kisses on the Eiffel Tower off my list this time. And even managed to get a family picture with all three boys in it! If you aren’t really a selfie stick kind of person, like me, don’t worry. Just ask! People are mostly very helpful about it..

Right after that, we had planned a cruise on the Siene. Kabir’s (my first born-6-years old) look of wonder and amazement on seeing the tower lit and twinkling was EVERYTHING! Moments like these make the crazy hours of flights and jetlag totally worth it!

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Day 2: Sacre Coeur & Montmartre

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We had Sacre Coeur and Montmartre planned for the next day. Kabir loved the interiors of the church while Ranbir was more interested in blowing the candles! We then headed to the cobbled streets of Montmartre- that's one of my favourite areas to spend a lazy afternoon in Paris. Kabir was excited enough to try the escargots – that's French for snails- at one of the cafes. as well! I love introducing new foods to the boys, as helps them build a wider taste palette.

Day 3: Notre Dame, Jardin du Luxembourg & Musee D’orsay

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We took the metro around for the most part of our travel within the city. With an occasional Uber as well. Taking the metro can be quite a work-out with the pram and 2 kids in tow. So be prepared! So having a super light stroller is a must if you plan on using the Metro. While the little one had the constant luxury of the pram, Kabir ended up walking a lot- on some days even 20K steps!

Day 4: Centre Pompidou & Louvre

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The day after we decided to try and spend indoors, to give ourselves a respite from the heat. So we chose to head to the Centre Pompidou. A Modern Art gallery in a 20th-century architectural marvel. With an interactive design exhibit for kids being a highlight, we spent hours inside exploring the art and sculpture with the kids. We ended the evening with a walk at sunset at the Louvre.

Day 5: Monet's Garden

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Next was a day trip to Monet’s gardens in Giverny- the gorgeous lotus pond and all the surrounding foliage which inspired all his famous paintings. We took a train both to and from Giverny. From the station, you have to take another bus to take you to Monet’s house.

Day 6 & 7: Etretat

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The next 2 days we spent in a beach town in Normany, called Etretat-a quaint little town with a gorgeous pebbled beach, lovely eateries and amazing ice-cream! And of course the famous Falaise d’Etretat, the ocean side chalk cliffs with natural arches. Another highlight in the city is the Jardin D’Etretat., a beautifully manicured gardens in the heart of the city with land art sculptures and dramatic views of the sea.

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Day 8: Disneyland

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One entire day after we got back, was spent at Disneyland Paris. And all the fun we had there calls for another blog- so I won’t go into too many details there. Other than it was one of Kabir’s favourite day of the entire trip!

Day 9: Jardins des Plantes

The last day came a close second to being his favourite though. The day was spent in Jardins des Plantes. An amazing space which has a zoo and galleries with different exhibitions taking place. We happened to catch the “T-Rex a Paris” exhibition, just in time. An actual fossil found of the only female T-Rex was exhibited along with some super interactive stalls After the exhibit, we spent some time at the menagerie, that houses a world of animals- from flamingos to lamas, different types of owls and a section dedicated to snakes (Kabir’s dream came true!), kangaroo and lots more. A must visit for kids!

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The trip ended with the most beautiful sunset at the Jardin des Tuileries and taking in the views of the Eiffel Tower, one last time at the Place de La Concorde.

So, I am saying:

All in all, I would highly recommend Paris if planning a trip to Europe with kids. There’s so much to do and explore. The people in general are very helpful. We got offered help multiple times in the metro to hold the pram. The restaurants are very kid-friendly as well. And despite the language barrier, going around the city is very convenient and ofcourse, all the major tourist places have English-speaking staff and help.

That said, learning a few basic words in French is something I would highly recommend! While I speak a decent amount of French, by the end of the trip, even the boys were charming away people with their “Bonjour” and “Merci"!