< Introducing Paris

Accommodation

Family Guide
Four Seasons George V
Paris offers a wide range of family-friendly accommodation. It is virtually unheard of for a hotel not to accept children, and even the city’s top hotels are keen to attract youngsters – in the Four Seasons Georges V they can bake madeleines for tea with the pastry chef! Not all hotels have facilities for small children, so check when booking, and always reserve a cot ahead of arrival. The listings (see Where to Stay) are by area, as in the guide’s sightseeing section.

Where to look

Paris’s hotels tend to cluster by type. The most luxurious are to be found in the Tuileries quarter and near the Champs-Elysées. Small, characterful and boutique hotels are most likely to be in the Marais or on the Left Bank. Paris is divided into numbered arrondissements and there are bargains to be found in the 10th (northeast of the Marais), in the 13th (south of the Jardin des Plantes) and the 14th (south of Montparnasse). Luxury also comes with a better price tag further from the centre. Most of the major chains have hotels outside the city centre, often a particularly good option for families, as the rooms tend to be larger and some have child-friendly facilities. The Paris Convention and Visitors’ Bureau offers an online reservation system.

What to expect to pay

Paris is a relatively compact city so opting for a cheaper hotel away from the centre will not lead to major commuting problems. A good chain-hotel family room can cost €120–250 a night, depending on location, facilities, day of the week and time of year.
Hotel rates are usually by room, not per person. Always ask for the family rate if booking two rooms. In most French hotels, children under the age of 12 stay free in their parents’ room, and in Novotels under 16s stay free, with breakfast included. Discounts are often available online, and the main chains regularly have online offers. Like most major business cities, Paris makes a good weekend destination for a family, when the room rates are often lower. Breakfast is not usually included in the room rate and is not obligatory (allow €8–15 per adult). Wi-Fi is increasingly common, and in budget and moderately priced chain hotels it is often free.

Hotels

Hotels are graded from one to five stars according to the range of amenities provided, so star ratings may not be a reliable guide to the attractiveness of a place and the quality of service.
For families, a drawback of hotel accommodation in Paris is that most budget and mid-range hotels do not have a restaurant, exceptions being Novotels and other chains in the Accor group. Inexpensive hotels often do not have a lift, a problem with small children and pushchairs, but they do sometimes offer the most beautiful views over the rooftops. Some also have shared bathrooms. Cheaper rooms generally have no view and look out on back courtyards.
France has some fantastically family-friendly chain hotels. Among the best are Novotel, and Ibis, all part of the Accor group but with different identities. Novotel and Ibis Styles have the best family deals, especially online, and, although the decor may be bland, they offer exceptional facilities for families. Ibis and Mercure also have good facilities but are less family-orientated.
Aparthotels, whose rooms are small, self-contained apartments, are an ideal family option, combining the advantages of self-catering with the amenities of a hotel. A big bonus for a family is the laundry room. Citadines and Adagio are two excellent aparthotel chains.
Family Guide
Interior of Hôtel Britannique, Avenue Victoria

Bed & breakfast

The French equivalent of B&Bs, chambres d’hôtes, is a national institution. It is a good family option, especially with older children who want to practise their French. Hosts often offer tips about where to go and what to do. If they offer dinner, the owners will sometimes dine with you. However, this can often be a stylish, luxury option, especially in Paris, so prices vary widely. A number of agencies offer bed and breakfast.

Self-catering

This is an excellent option with children. Several agencies offer family-sized apartments, notably RentApart and A Haven in Paris, which have five-star quality rentals. It is also possible to book self-catering accommodation for less than one week. House-swapping is a good option, too, through agencies such as Home Link and Guardian Exchange.

Hidden extras

By law, tax and service must be included in the price quoted or displayed at the reception desk. Tips are unnecessary except for exceptional service. Check whether the mini-bar is electronic before removing bottles to make space to store milk or snacks for the children. Garage parking is usually extra.

Booking

Try to reserve at least a month ahead, or longer for something special. Confirm a telephone booking by email, and expect to pay a deposit of 25–30 per cent of the price. Try to arrive by 6pm or call to say you are on your way, or you may lose your booking.