Paris with Kids: Our Last-Minute Family Adventure That Reminded Me Why We Love to Travel

As a luxury travel advisor, I spend months, sometimes even a year or more, carefully planning my clients' vacations. Every hotel, every dinner reservation, every experience is thoughtfully curated long before they ever board a plane.

The view from our hotel room at Le Bristol

Then there's my own family.

One week before July Fourth, we looked at each other and said, "Should we just go to Paris”? A few days later, we were on a plane. Would I normally recommend planning an international family vacation one week before departure? Absolutely not. Can it be done? Yes... if you're willing to be flexible.

Last-minute travel often means paying a little more, having fewer hotel choices, and accepting that some experiences may already be sold out. But sometimes the spontaneity becomes part of the adventure, and that's exactly what happened for us.

Our daughter turns thirteen this August, and we wanted to celebrate this milestone in a way she would never forget. Paris, her first Disney experience, and seeing one of her favorite artists, Bad Bunny, in concert? It turned into the perfect birthday celebration before her official birthday.

Looking back, it may have been one of my favorite family trips yet.

Our Home in Paris: Le Bristol

One of the biggest advantages of working with Embark Beyond is having incredible hotel partnerships around the world. Thankfully, even on such short notice, we were able to secure a stay at Le Bristol Paris. From the moment we arrived, it felt less like checking into a hotel and more like walking into someone's elegant Parisian home.

We stayed in a Deluxe Suite, and it was significantly larger than I expected from the photos. For a family of four, space matters, and this suite worked beautifully. During the day, the living room gave us room to spread out. Every evening, the staff transformed it into our children's bedroom with a perfectly prepared pullout bed, then converted it back each morning while we were out exploring.

It was effortless. The attention to detail throughout the hotel is what truly makes Le Bristol special. Fresh flowers filled our suite. Every evening there was a thoughtful turndown gift waiting for the kids. The closets seemed endless, including a walk-in closet that made unpacking for a family surprisingly easy.

As someone who spent more than twenty years working in luxury hotels, I notice the little things most guests never see. The service choreography. The seamless communication between departments. The way every employee anticipates what guests need before they even ask. Le Bristol operates like a beautifully rehearsed orchestra.

During our stay, I had the opportunity to tour the property with their wonderful sales team and learn more about its fascinating history. The hotel has welcomed royalty, celebrities, artists, and world leaders for decades, yet it never feels pretentious. Instead, it feels warm, elegant, and incredibly welcoming.

One of my favorite discoveries? Almost everything is made in-house. The pastries, fresh pasta, chocolates, jams, condiments, and so much more are handcrafted by the hotel's culinary team and sold in their charming boutique. Next time, I'm shopping there on Day One because I completely ran out of time before we left. And yes...they even have an entire cheese room. If you're a foodie, you may never want to leave.

Why We Never Overbook Our Trips

One thing I always tell my clients is this: Not every minute of your vacation needs to be scheduled.

Some travelers love a packed itinerary. Personally, I love leaving room to wander. Especially with children. Some of our favorite memories happened simply because we slowed down enough to enjoy Paris instead of racing from attraction to attraction.

Over six nights, we experienced just enough to fall in love with the city while still leaving plenty of reasons to come back.

Our first stop was one of my favorite recommendations for first-time visitors: a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. I know it sounds touristy. Do it anyway. It gives you an incredible overview of the city, helps you understand the different neighborhoods, and lets you decide where you'd like to spend more time later in your trip. It's one of the best ways to get your bearings in Paris.

Disney Paris Completely Surprised Us

I'll admit it, I wasn't expecting to love Disneyland Paris. In fact, I was expecting crowds. Instead, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable Disney experiences we've ever had. The atmosphere felt calmer, the park was beautiful, and the pace was much more relaxed than what we've experienced in the United States. Our kids absolutely loved it. If you're already planning a Paris vacation and have younger children, adding one day at Disneyland Paris is absolutely worth considering.

A Luxury Shopping Experience Worth Every Minute

One of our favorite excursions was visiting Bicester Village. Thanks to Embark Beyond's partnership, our day was elevated far beyond a typical shopping trip. A private car picked us up directly from our hotel. We had access to a private hospitality suite where we could relax, enjoy refreshments, and safely store our purchases while we continued shopping.

The best part? After each purchase, the boutiques sent our bags directly back to the suite, so we never had to carry anything around. Luxury shopping without carrying shopping bags? Yes, please.

With boutiques like Dior, Gucci, Prada, Saint Laurent, and so many others, I honestly could have spent another full day exploring. If shopping is part of your European vacation, this experience is absolutely worth adding.

Our Favorite Neighborhood: Montmartre

If someone asked me where Paris felt the most magical, I'd probably say Montmartre. Its winding cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafés, local artists, flower-filled balconies, and breathtaking views make it feel like an entirely different world from the rest of the city. We wandered through Place du Tertre, admired the incredible artists, explored charming little shops, and stood in awe of the beautiful Sacré-Cœur Basilica overlooking Paris. It has all the charm people imagine when they dream about Paris.

The Night My Daughter Will Never Forget

Of course, one of the biggest highlights of the trip had nothing to do with sightseeing. It was watching our almost-thirteen-year-old sing every single word at the Bad Bunny concert.

As parents, we all know that making a teenager genuinely excited isn't always easy. Watching her smile from ear to ear all night long was worth every mile we traveled. Those are the moments you remember forever. Travel creates memories, but sharing those experiences together is what makes them priceless.

The Biggest Mistake We Made in Paris

Even travel advisors make mistakes. Our biggest one? Waiting until our final evening to visit the Eiffel Tower. Because we hadn't purchased tickets in advance, the lines were incredibly long. Our five-year-old desperately wanted to go to the top. At the same time, I was determined not to miss the famous sparkling lights that illuminate the Eiffel Tower every evening.

Unfortunately...Those two goals didn't work very well together. After a long day of sightseeing, one disappointed five-year-old, and a souvenir Eiffel Tower from a nearby shop, emotions reached an all-time high.

Parents... you know exactly how that story ends. If I could offer one piece of advice for families visiting Paris, it would be this: Reserve your Eiffel Tower tickets well in advance. Even better, make dinner reservations at one of the incredible restaurants overlooking the tower so you can enjoy the sparkling lights while relaxing over a beautiful meal. It's one of those classic Paris experiences that's absolutely worth planning ahead.

There Is Never Enough Time

As much as we experienced, there was even more we didn't. We never made it inside the Louvre. We didn't have enough time to explore the interior of Sacré-Cœur. There were museums we skipped, cafés we never tried, neighborhoods we still want to wander, and countless hidden corners of Paris waiting to be discovered.

But that's the beauty of traveling with children. Sometimes the trip isn't about checking every famous attraction off your list. Sometimes it's about watching your son chase pigeons through a Parisian square. Sometimes it's about seeing your daughter dance at her favorite concert. Sometimes it's simply about slowing down enough to enjoy a croissant together on a quiet morning.

As parents, we quickly learn that vacations become about everyone, not just ourselves. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way. That said, I also firmly believe couples should occasionally travel without the kids. Explore museums. Enjoy long dinners. Sleep in. Wander with absolutely no agenda.There's room for both kinds of travel, and both create unforgettable memories.

Why We Choose Experiences Over Things

One of the biggest lessons we've learned as parents is that experiences tend to last much longer than material gifts.

If you asked my kids what they got for Christmas or their birthdays last year, there's a good chance they wouldn't remember every present. But ask them about the places we've traveled, the adventures we've shared, or the funny moments we've had together, and they can tell you story after story. Those are the memories that stick.

As a family, we've made a conscious decision to prioritize experiences whenever we can. Sometimes that's an incredible trip to Paris. Other times it's simply a weekend road trip, a staycation close to home, or exploring somewhere new together. It doesn't always have to be extravagant. The destination matters far less than the time spent together.

One of my favorite things about traveling with our kids is watching them become the best versions of themselves. They spend less time on their devices, more time talking, laughing, and exploring together. Somehow, they argue less, help each other more, and create a bond that I truly hope will last a lifetime.

And if I'm being honest, it's good for us as parents too. We put our phones away more often. We slow down. We become more present. Instead of rushing through the routines of everyday life, we're collecting moments we'll talk about for years to come.

My hope is that one day, when our children are grown, they won't just remember the places we visited. They'll remember how those trips made them feel. And maybe, just maybe, they'll still want to travel with Mom and Dad because those family adventures became some of their favorite memories. To me, that's worth more than any gift we could ever wrap.

Until Next Time, Paris

Six nights wasn't nearly enough, we barely scratched the surface. Paris has a way of pulling you back, whether it's for the history, the incredible food, the architecture, the shopping, or simply the feeling you get while walking its streets.

The best part? Paris pairs beautifully with so many other destinations. It's easy to combine with London, the French countryside, Normandy, Champagne, or even the South of France for a longer European adventure.

We'll absolutely be back. Next time, we'll spend more time wandering, more time eating, more time exploring museums... and yes, we'll definitely book those Eiffel Tower tickets in advance. Because the very best trips don't just leave you with beautiful photos. They leave you already dreaming about your next visit.