Tips for traveling with your kids on a Family Paris & the Heart of France tour
Your French adventure is coming up soon! Traveling on a tour with kids can be a rewarding, memorable experience — for you, your child, and for other members of your tour group. However, kids also bring special concerns to a traveling group. This information is designed to give you an important "heads-up" to avoid problems we've experienced on previous tours, so you and your child will be better prepared, and can get more enjoyment out of your group travel experience.
Most importantly, please be aware of your child's whereabouts at all times! No matter how much your child may enjoy spending time with other tour members, your child is your responsibility — never the responsibility of other tour members or our guides. Out of sight, out of mind, does not apply on a Rick Steves tour. We've had children get lost for an hour or two — a traumatic experience for all involved — while their parents "safely" assumed they were under the watchful eye of another tour member. Never assume that someone else is caring for your child without getting permission first, and then check on them frequently.
France is less restrictive of nudity and pornography than America. During the course of your trip, you and your kids may stumble upon TV programs and ads (even in hotels where we stay) that could be considered obscene. We cannot control this, so it will be your responsibility to monitor your kids' TV viewing.
Please be aware of the impression your child makes on the rest of the tour group. While kids add a delightful aspect to our tours, a restless kid can be disruptive — especially on long bus rides. An iPod/MP3/CD player for music or recorded books is a good way for a kid to pass the time. Electronic games need to either have earphones or sound that can be turned off. A tour member sitting across from, in front of, or behind your child might not appreciate the repetitious little Game Boy soundtrack!
Bring books that your child can read alone, or that you can read to your child. Do some research prior to your trip to find books about France, in a format suited to your child's age and reading level. This might go a long way in sustaining your child's interest in being in France.
Bring along some toys, games, or reading material that your child has never seen or played with before. The surprise element is great, and if it is new and unfamiliar, the sustained interest factor goes way up.
There are many retail stores around now that specialize in games of all varieties, and the selection of games sized and suited for travel goes way beyond the perennial deck of cards and miniature magnetic chess set.
Have your child keep a journal. You can work together on it, and paste in little pictures, paper flags, and museum receipts. Collecting a patch (small, lightweight, packable!) from every place you visit, which can be easily pasted into a scrapbook or sewn onto a school pack, can become a wonderful "souvenir hunt" and a colorful conversation piece.
If your child has food allergies, your guide will do everything possible to help you find alternatives. However, group meals often do not include a choice of entrees. Just like the adults, kids on tours are expected to be flexible, and to eat what they are served (extra or alternative food will be at your expense).
Knowing your child, you will be able to sense when he or she may not be in the mood for a planned group activity. Don't hesitate to do something independently from the group, but try to give your guide some advance notice (so your guide doesn't buy too many tickets, the group doesn't wait for you, and in case your absence affects rendezvous plans later on). Your guides and the hotel staff can give you suggestions for local kid-friendly activities — including directions to the nearest toy store or park. Then you and your child can get rid of that excess energy stored up on that long bus ride by throwing around a frisbee you just bought at the toy store!
We hope you find these tips to be helpful. We're looking forward to a great trip together!
Rick Steves' Family Paris & the Heart of France Tour Q&A
What will be the age range of kids on this tour?
We welcome children from ages 8 through 17 on our Family Paris & the Heart of France tour, and each of them receive a $200 discount for this tour.
Will adults and kids have separate activities?
No. On this "family tour" we encourage families to participate in activities together. Your guides will not separate adults and kids into separate activities.
How will museums and lectures be made kid-friendly?
You will visit essentially the same places that are featured on the "regular" version of this tour. However, the museum visits and lectures will be made shorter and livelier to better match kids' interests and attention spans. This will give your family some free time to focus on a particular part of a museum, or to relax at the museum cafe or gift shop.
Will we be allowed to opt-out of sightseeing
Yes, though please be sure to tell your guide in advance, so (1) they can help you make your alternate plans, and (2) we don't send out a search party to find you!
Are there teen-temptations we should worry about?
Teenage drinking in bars and restaurants is not unusual in France, where it is considered the parents' responsibility to monitor their kids' choices. With this in mind, please never let your kids wander off without adult supervision.
How should our kids dress?
Many churches in France do not allow adults or children to wear clothing that reveals bare shoulders or knees. But for general sightseeing, shorts and short-sleeve tops are fine. We discourage women and girls from wearing low-neck and bare-midriff tops — they can attract unwanted attention from local men.
What will the hotels be like?
Where possible, we will assign family members to one multi-bed room or to smaller rooms as close together as possible. In some cases, if you wish, and if you complete our "Rooming Policy Waiver" form, kids under age 18 may room apart from their parents — but never alone. In any room set-up, parents are responsible for their kids' behavior at all times!
Will adults have rooms close to their children?
We will try to keep family members as near one another as possible. In some unavoidable cases, the rooms may be on separate floors.
What if my child wants to room with another family?
If the parents from both families agree, and complete our "Rooming Policy Waiver" form, this is fine. And fun! However, please let your guide know whenever you want to make changes to rooming plans and they will do their best to accommodate your wishes whenever possible.
What will the meals be like?
The meals we eat as a group will be French fare. To accommodate the simpler tastes of kids, we will include alternatives like grilled cheese, hot dogs and chicken where possible. Although we try our best to accommodate the needs of vegetarians and those with food allergies, we will not be able to prepare special meals for picky eaters. Please encourage your kids to experiment with French food as part of their travel experience — and be prepared to supplement meals as needed, at your expense, if your children do not wish to partake in our included group meals.
How will free-time activities be handled?
Your guide and guidebook are great resources for free-time options. Occasionally your guide may "lead" an optional activity for those who want to tag along. When this happens, at least one parent is expected to accompany their children at all times. Your guide is not a babysitter.
What kinds of activities will not be included in the tour price?
You should plan on paying out-of-pocket for your family's transportation and admissions during free time. Examples might include a fee to swim at a public pool, bike rentals, optional museum or gallery admissions, taxis if you want to avoid walking, things like that. You may also find that you'll need to supplement our group meals if your children have special food or beverage requests.
If I am a single parent or grandparent, will I need to bring special documents?
Yes! Any child under age 18 who is not accompanied by both parents must bring a notarized letter, signed by both parents, allowing the child to be taken out of the USA and also allowing the adult traveling with the child to seek any necessary medical care. The letter should include the child's legal name and date of birth as shown on his or her passport, plus dates and countries of travel. For details, call the US State Department at 888-407-4747.
More questions? Please call our Tour Department at (425) 608-4217.
Have a wonderful time in France!