The city of romance with kids? Yes, it can be done with a family, and it doesn’t have to be at a sterile hotel, either. For those reluctant to gamble in the Airbnb lotto comes a similar concept that offers up more service: Paris Perfect. Each apartment is vetted by local staff who speak English and French fluently, so there are no surprises when it comes to location, cleanliness or, gasp, smoking (still easy to find here in France). And if you think it will be difficult to find or you’ll struggle with bags, babies or jet lag after a six-hour red-eye, fear not: You can arrange everything you’ll need to stay like a local, including transportation from Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports, easily.

Paris Perfect St. Julien © Paris Perfect
It’s what I did recently, grabbing one of the new direct flights on Norwegian Airlines out of Boston’s Logan International Airport. The brand-new fleet of Boeing 787-9 planes has better cabin pressure than its predecessors, sunglasses-style lighting that can be controlled by the lucky person (like me!) near the windows, and quieter, more fuel-efficient flying. Premium seats also include a three-course meal and spirits (along with lounge access and early boarding), so you can enjoy a glass of Champagne even before getting there. Whether you upgrade to 55 inches of legroom in premium so there’s plenty of room for the kids to stretch out (there are kids games and movies, too) or keep it budget-friendly with some low-cost routes out of Boston, T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island, Chicago (ORD), Austin (AUS) or Newark (EWR), there’s plenty left over to convert from dollars to euros for some fun.
The whole process is pretty seamless. Grab the bags and get whisked away to your home away from home for the next five to seven days (typically the rental period for Paris Perfect), or head to the local office so they can store your bags if you arrive early. I was able to settle in, meet my greeter and take a stroll and enjoy lunch in the charming St. Julien neighborhood — just around the corner from the main Paris office — all before checking in prior to the official time of 3 p.m.

Paris Perfect St. Julien © Paris Perfect
From there, it’s concierge-level service, who will explain to you the best local coffee shops, unique charms of the apartment (like 12 different voltage adaptors) and the free local and international calls available on the household landline. Add in the bottle of wine upon arrival with a corkscrew and crackers, and you’re good to go. For each check-in, there’s also milk, orange juice and, thankfully to chase away any jet lag, a Nespresso coffee and espresso maker just like the one I have in the United States. This place is like home, away from home. My apartment had three sets of extra linens and blankets and an extra set of towels; two pullout couches; and two bathrooms, one with a separated toilet and sink, for the ultimate ease of getting ready for families. While I wouldn’t recommend more than two adults and two kids in the St. Julien space, most are a bit larger with iconic Parisian-style furnishings (some even have Eiffel Tower views!) for an unforgettable experience living like a local. Information for local hospitals and a handy binder with activities is all at the ready, too.

Paris Perfect St. Julien © Paris Perfect
It contains some of the same helpful information available online via Paris Perfect newsletters and blogs. Whether you’re traveling with kids and looking for child-friendly eateries and activities or with just your sweetie and seeking shopping and Champagne, there are plenty of curated activities for every age, interest and ability level. Concierges can even help reserve a skip-the-line catacombs tour, a French cooking class for kids, small-group Louvre tours and even Christmas activities.
Should you wish to take any of the guesswork out of it — or high-school French lessons are well-forgotten — there’s also handy trip-planning services. Level one offers reservations for those who already know what they’d like to do, and the advanced service includes a questionnaire, phone calls and emails to put together a pace and theme. C’est magnifique, indeed.

Paris Perfect St. Julien © Paris Perfect
Read This Next
Camping Essentials for the Whole Family
Travel Tips
Feb 1, 2023#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / Europe
Mar 16, 2023Kids’ Guide to Ancient Sites in England
Kids are fascinated by mysteries, so spotting the enigmatic stone structures dotting the English countryside can be a great treasure hunt to keep kids engaged during your family’s travels in England. These stones and the museums that explain the larger ones are a tantalizing glimpse into the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
News
Mar 16, 2023Airlines Introducing, Altering Family Seating Policies
Anyone who has traveled with family knows the difficulty in not only booking seats together but also avoiding an extra charge to group a family together. Now, however, several airlines announce upgrades and changes to family seating policies in the wake of the Biden administration cracking down on airlines charging families to sit together.
Destinations / North America
Mar 16, 20236 Wisconsin Cities for Family Travel in 2023
Finding the right destination to cater to all age groups can sometimes be difficult for family travelers, but Wisconsin offers a wide variety of great family-friendly cities for those looking for a Midwest vacation this year. Here are six Wisconsin cities to consider adding to your family’s travels in 2023:
Destinations / North America
Mar 16, 20235 Family-Friendly Museum Restaurants in Florida
Combine culture with culinary during family travel to Florida at these five family-friendly museum restaurants.
Slideshow
Mar 16, 20237 Tbilisi, Georgia, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Tbilisi, Georgia, with us.
ShareThis