After researching this site and others, I have just discovered that Versailles does not allow strollers inside. Thank goodness I discovered this before we arrived!
My question is, are there any other sights that will not allow strollers? Anyone with experience in travelling with a toddler (22 month old) is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
|||
Hi,
I have a little boy the same age as you and we live near Paris so go there fairly often. I have never come across another place that won%26#39;t let you in with a stroller, but many of them are not really suitable to go around with one - too many steps etc. I am sure you have thought of this but I would bring the most lightweight easy to fold pushchair that you can find as the large pushchairs are not easy to get around with in Paris. Or you could buy a cheap one here just for the holiday - you can get them for around 30 Euro, providing you can manage the journey without one.
We have found as well that when seeing the sights it is easier to have the baby in a backpack, they see a lot more, rather than just people%26#39;s legs. You can rent them (and other baby stuff) from http://www.petiloue.fr/ - there are probably other places that do this as well. Often we take both the lightweight chair and the carrier. However Versailles doesn%26#39;t allow metal framed baby carriers either (what they thought that 3 female tourists and an 18month old baby were going to do with one when I visited with friends I have no idea - but there was no way they were going to let me in with mine).
THe other thing is I would avoid the metro and use buses, all the steps on the metro make it a bit of a nightmare with a pushchair - although it is not impossible if there are two of you the bus is much easier.
Hope this is helpful to you
Alison
|||
Hi Angela -
a backpack is the best idea, since it lets your toddler look at something other than knees. Personally, if I were traveling with a toddler, I wouldn%26#39;t even think about taking a stroller. They are too difficult with the stairs and escalators in the Metro, not to mention the cobbled streets.
If you go on line to www.clotilde.com, select babies, select accessories, you will see a pattern for seating a child on a regular chair. It has two straps that tie around the child and the chair. It%26#39;s an easy item, and will allow you to retain your sanity in French cafes and other eating establishments, Most of which don%26#39;t have a high chair - or only have one high chair.
Bon voyage.
For Alison -
The big concern with the metal framed baby packs is that you might lean against something, or be pushed against something and scratch it - I think the pushed idea is a legitimate concern, I%26#39;m not so sure about the leaning business - but that%26#39;s the story and they%26#39;re probably sticking to it.
|||
Thanks for letting me know why we couldn%26#39;t take the carrier into Versailles - still think it is a bit far fetched that you would accidentally damage something but I suppose more reasonable than what I was thinking of.
I am not sure it is a good idea, though, to go without a stroller. You are right that in many ways Paris is not an easy city to get around with one, but I find that it%26#39;s best to have one for 2 reasons. First, toddlers always get tired of walking before the parents, not tired enough to want to stop sightseeing but they just don%26#39;t want to walk anymore. Then you end up carrying them around which is a bit of a nightmare for the parents if you have to do it for a long time. The other, more important reason is that it is so busy at times with traffic and people that I don%26#39;t feel it is always safe just to have them walking alongside you, when they could dart away if attracted by something or you are distracted. This may just be me though, as my son has a tendancy to run everywhere and very quickly - so may depend on the type of kids you have.
Alison
|||
Thank you everyone for your advice. I plan to take a lightweight umbrella stroller for the airport, etc. However, I will definitely look into other options such as a backpack, etc. I really appreciate all of your tips!
|||
Do bring the umbrella stroller and practice closing it up before you go.
Having brought my daughter to Paris at both 16 and 28 months, my advice would be to practice with the toddler walking up and down stairs, especially steep ones before you go.
The Rodin Museum will allow strollers in the garden, but you have to leave them at the entrance of the buildings. At the Marmottan you have to check them at the desk.
If your child is stil light enough, I found that using a baby bjorn was quite helpful.
|||
She grew out of the Bjorn at 9mos. She is very tall, too heavy for it. I found a harness - the backpack kind, and I may try that before we go to see if she will cooperate.
Thanks!
|||
On a busy day you wouldn%26#39;t want a stroller in Versailles. It is literally CRAMMED with people, much like cattle being moved from one room to the next. No room for a stroller.
Keep in mind as well that cafe owners frown upon strollers coming into their cafes. Keep them outside, or fold it up before going in.
A Baby Bjorn-type carrier is your best bet for a lot of your sight-seeing. I%26#39;ve brought two babies to Paris and used the carrier the most.
Les
|||
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Removed on: 8:20 am, September 18, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment