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I want to take my 14- and 15-year-old niece and nephew to London and Paris next April for a few weeks. I would like to stay centrally in cost-effective, clean and safe accommodation. Any suggestions? Kath Clarke
Paris beats London when it comes to well-priced centrally located accommodation. London's West End would be top choice for location but not on a budget.
A better choice is the Bloomsbury/Fitzrovia area, which is safe, has easy access to public transport (both bus and underground) and is well serviced with a range of cafes and restaurants. It's within walking distance of both the West End and the British Museum. It also has some of central London's best value hotels. The Jenkins Hotel (www.jenkinshotel.demon.co.uk; twin/triple $230/275) is an attractive hotel that's featured in the TV series of Agatha Christie's Poirot.
The Harlingford Hotel (www.harlingfordhotel.com; twin/triple $286/325) is a family-run hotel, situated in an attractive Georgian crescent. All rooms have bathrooms and TVs.
Paris' mid-range hotels offer some of the best value for money of any European capital, and the Marais district is steeped in history. A hangout for the 17th-century aristocracy, the area still has most of the pre-Revolutionary architecture.
Today, the Marais is alive with cafes, restaurants and boutiques. As well as being the centre of Parisian gay life, it also has a long-established Jewish neighbourhood called the Pletzel.
Hotel St-Louis Marais (www.saintlouismarais.com; twin/triple $244/270) is a charming hotel in a converted convent, conveniently located midway between the Marais and Bastille.
In areas like the Latin Quarter there are dozens of attractive hotels near the Sorbonne University. Hotel de l'Esperance (www.hoteldelesperance.fr; twin/triple $170/233) is just a couple of minutes south of lively Rue Mouffetard and is a quiet and immaculately kept 38-room place.
Things to do in Lausanne
We're going to be in Lausanne (two adults and two children aged seven and 12) for a week in May 09. My husband has a three-day conference so I'll be alone with the kids for some of the time. We'll be staying in an apartment. Do you have any suggestions for family-friendly things to do in Lausanne or day-trip ideas?
Alice Preston
Lausanne is wonderfully located on the hillsides overlooking the shores of Lake Geneva towards France, with teasing glimpses of the snow-capped peaks of the Savoy Alps in the distance.
Lausanne's charming medieval old town (Vieille Ville) is home to most of the city's monuments and landmarks. Its jewel is Cathedrale Notre Dame, one of Switzerland's grandest Gothic cathedrals.
But modern-day Lausanne is no shrinking violet, with a vibrant artistic and cultural heritage and a full calendar of events.
The lake area (Ouchy) offers plenty of outdoor distractions, including short courses in windsurfing and water-skiing that should keep the kids amused when the thrill of sightseeing starts to wear thin. Much of the lakeside itself is lined with dense woodland, walking trails and choice picnic spots.
Lausanne is home to the International Olympic Committee, so it is no surprise to find the Musee Olympique (www.regart.ch/lausanne/olympique/eng) here. Located in the Parc Olympique, the museum tells the Olympic story and features videos, archival film, touch-screen computers and memorabilia from the Games.
The coast between Lausanne and Geneva (60km to the west) is sprinkled with castles, palaces and medieval towns, all easily accessible by train. You could happily spend a day exploring the town of Morges (with its towering 13th century chateau), the busy lake town of Nyon and the compact medieval village Coppert.
About 4km east of Lausanne lies the captivating village of Lutry. Founded in the 11th century by French monks, this is the perfect place to lose yourself in the tranquillity of narrow village streets for an afternoon.
You could easily pack a picnic and walk the 8km there and back from Lausanne. Further east to Villeneuve, the Swiss Riviera attracts the rich, famous and beautiful to its lakeside towns and Alpine ski resorts.
Scenic boat trips run from Ouchy to towns and villages around the lake as far as Montreux and including Evian-les-Bains on the French side.
Check out Lausanne's visitor centre website (www.lausanne-tourisme.ch) for up-to-date events listings and other excursion ideas.
