Paris is such a wonderful and exciting place to take Children. It is so rich historically that you and your family can combine a relaxing holiday with attractions that will keep your children entertained all day. Going away with family needs military organisation and lots of planning ahead to avoid any unnecessary stress. You are on holiday after all. Champs Elysées Paris is an exclusive Avenue which is home to cinemas, café’s and high end shops. Look out for the horse-chesnut tree’s which guard this world famous avenue. This prosperous stretch of land which runs for approximately 2 kilometres is in the top 3 more expensive piece of real estate in Europe. Only topped by London’s Bond street. Here are four must visit family attractions near the Champs Elysées, Paris which will keep you and your loved ones entertained. La grande roue de la Concorde From mid-November to he end of February, you can treat your kids to a unique experience when boarding the Ferris wheel of the Concorde. Thrill and delight guaranteed! Admire the capital from 65 meters high and enjoy a unique view of the Champs Elysees and the Tuileries to the Louvre. The Gourmet Chocolate Museum Children love Chocolate and so ...

Le Marais, or “The Marsh”, is now one of the most unique, charming and diverse neighborhoods in Paris. This district, with its mixture of modern and old world, eccentric and classic beauty, is filled with tiny streets and secret courtyards meshing tradition with new-found creativity. The eclectic district is like a fantastic melting pot with many different immigrant communities alongside local Parisians – and visitors are drawn to the neighborhood’s small boutiques, art galleries, chic shops, second-hand vintage stores, restaurants, cafés, public squares and wonderful Marais holiday apartments! It remains a central part of the Jewish community in Paris. Additionally, it is very accessible to areas of interest and it is close to the Louvre, the Seine, the Sorbonne, and Notre Dame. Le Loir Dans la Théière is a charming and cosy café-bistro filled with French culture expressed on its walls with posters, paintings and drawings. Stepping inside one instantly feels the spectacular ambience that radiates from the interior. Next comes the authentic food. This unique spot has a variety of tasty and natural French quiches, cheeses, soups and salads. The brunch is outstanding and they even have a fabulous side ...

It’s a good thing that the first stalls of the market are full of crockery and Provencal fabrics – it’s easier to hold onto your money knowing that if you buy the blood-red earthenware dish now, you will have to carry its weight for the next hour or so. By the time you pass the hat stall and the street corner flooded with woven baskets of every hue, you will be ready for some refreshment. Take cover from the heat of the sun under the yellow canopy of the bar, and line your stomach with an espresso and a pain-au-chocolat from the patisserie across the street – the one hidden behind the stall of paintings displayed on wooden easels. It’s best not to go further on an empty stomach, for as your nose will have betrayed to you by now, a feast of local delights awaits. It would be wise to go immediately to the rotisserie trailer, where you must put your name to a poulet blanche for dinner. It will be ready for you on your return journey. The bread stall next, where the most rustic pain is arranged alongside the most delicate ...

Paris. Springtime. A cheap hostel. Advertised as decrepit but romantically situated. The holiest of holes. Iron clad beds with blue striped mattresses. Soiled prints of Edith Piaf sticky taped to crimson flaking walls. Sadie loved Edith Piaf, she would refer to her as ‘little sparrow’ as though they crossed paths in another lifetime. They were born with the same watery eyes. My eyes were grey. Cloudy grey. Not even a proper colour. A shade. Once I suggested Sadie cut her hair short, curl it like Edith’s. She frowned between arched eyebrows. “Admiration and obsession are different things. I don’t want to be her.” There was contempt in her voice, something easily ignored. She failed to mention she had friends in this city of red. A friend. Had I known, I would have suggested Vienna instead. We met her friend Vanessa at

Only about 30kms from Marseille, the small fishing port of Cassis is one of the first stops along the coast that exude French Mediterranean charm. Cassis’s quaint and colourful old town is clustered around a compact little harbour, and some of its buildings date back to the 16th century. The village was a favourite subject of the fauvist artists, including Georges Braque (who lived here) and a bohemian, creative spirit has remained. On the first Sunday of every month (April to October only) a group of local artists set up an open-air market, with interpretations of Cassis and its famous landscape.

Is there anything more charming than a French market? The colours, the bustle, the scent of herbs and pungent cheeses; if anyone region in Europe exceeds at outdoor market ambiance it would have to be Provence and

When Yves Saint Laurent died in 2008, the fashion world mourned. Now many devotees make the journey to the Pierre Bergé - YSL Foundation in memory of the late genius of haute couture. The foundation is located in the designer’s old atelier. When it shut upon his retirement in 2002, Yves Saint Laurent, together with his business and romantic partner Pierre Bergé, decided to convert it into a foundation-museum dedicated to his life, work and the way he revolutionized the way women dress. More than 5,000 pieces of apparel are stored here, many of which have been donated from his long-standing clients, such as the French acting legend Catherine Deneuve and Loulou de la Falaise, his long-time muse. They are kept on the upper floors in museum-like conditions which involves careful monitoring of hygrometric (or atmospheric humidity) levels and acid-resistant archive containers; all designed to keep these artifacts of high fashion for prosperity. The pieces are rotated twice yearly, and other objects on display include numerous sketches, videos of his shows, press clippings and books. There are also collections of photographs and paintings that were inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s collections, which were themselves often influenced by traditional forms ...

A visit to Paris is often associated with guilty pleasures; there’s something about those delicate, pastel-coloured macaroons, rich, red Bordeaux wine and even pure silk lingerie that would be foolish to resist. So why stop at shopping and eating? While you’re at it, indulge your body and mind at one of the city’s top spas. Le Spa Nuxe (32 rue Montorgueil, www.nuxe.com). Exposed brick walls and natural wood combined with contemporary furniture in earth tones set the scene for this popular urban spa that offers both Western and Eastern styles of treatments and massages. Nuxe skincare products, which are produced under the principles of phytotherapy and aromatherapy, are used exclusively. La Bulle Kenzo (1 rue du Pont-Neuf, www.labullekenzo.com), Anything that carries the name of French- Japanese designer Kenzo Takada you expect to be unconventional, and this futuristic spa is no exception. In a quirky décor featuring the designer’s signature vivid colours, you can lie in on a bright pink massage matress (you didn’t presume to see a regular massage table did you?) where you will receive a ‘choreographic massage’ accompanied to music whilst watching the abstract projections on the walls around you unfold. Later on, you will be ...

Here at Holiday Velvet we often get asked about where you can leave your luggage whilst you are waiting to 'check in' to your apartment or after you have 'checked-out'. Whilst you can always ask the owner directly if they are able to look after your bags for a few hours, left luggage facilities still exist at many major train stations and other transport hubs. These days, most of these facilities run on an automated locker system (gone are the days when you checked in your bag in as you would a coat in a nightclub). Remember that they may fill up at peak periods. Rome When arriving at Termini Station on the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino airport, you can leave your baggage in the ‘piazza’ on the lower-ground floor (follow the ‘Deposito bagagli’ signs). It’s open 6am-midnight, 7 days a week. Venice ‘Deposito bagagli’ is available at Santa Lucia Train Station (open 6am-midnight daily). Cooperative Trasbagagli is a private company that will not only store you luggage for you, but take it by boat to your place of accommodation, saving you schlepping bags over the bridges and canals. They have two offices in Venice; one at the Piazzale ...

During your holiday in Paris if you are looking for a break from fine French cuisine, there is wide range of alternatives to choose from in the Bastille area of Paris. There are several ethnic restaurants in this area serving high quality food and below a guide of some of the best ones. The Blue Elephant (43 Rue de la Roquette) - is within very close walking distance from the Bastille. This is an excellent Thai restaurant where you can try delicious dishes such as the coconut prawns in tamarind sauce. The service is also very good here and you can ask for less spicy dishes if you prefer mild food. Chez Marianne (Rue de Roisiers) - arguably serves the best ethnic food in the city, with North African food the key theme in this restaurant. Visitors can enjoy many kinds of interesting dishes and meals, including custom made falafel and hummus. In the summer be sure to ask to be seated at one of the tables outside and enjoy the night breeze. Godjo (8 rue de l Ecole polytechnique) - is an Ethiopian restaurant which has gained a very good reputation in recent years. The decor is unusual and ...