France by Motorhome 2026
Day 3 of 8 – A Family Day Exploring Paris
Sunday, 12 July 2026
After the previous day’s long drive from Calais, nobody was in any hurry to get out of bed. It was a wonderfully relaxed morning, and one by one we emerged from our motorhomes, enjoying the peaceful surroundings of Camping Paris Maisons-Laffitte Sandaya.
A visit to the spotless communal washrooms and a refreshing shower soon woke us up. The showers were surprisingly powerful and just what we needed to prepare for another warm summer’s day.
Breakfast was very much a family affair. Under the shade of our awning, the ladies prepared a delicious combination of Indian and English favourites. Fresh French bread sat alongside Indian pickles, while the children enjoyed fruit juices and the adults savoured steaming mugs of masala tea.
Sitting together in the fresh morning air, with birds singing around us and the campsite slowly coming to life, reminded us why camping is such a special way to travel. There are no hotel dining rooms or crowded breakfast buffets—just good food, good company and plenty of laughter.
By early afternoon we were ready to head into Paris.
A Walk to the Station
Camping Paris Maisons-Laffitte is ideally located, with Maisons-Laffitte railway station only about one kilometre away.
The walk itself was enjoyable, taking us through quiet residential streets lined with elegant French houses, colourful gardens and leafy avenues.
The route was slightly uphill, however, which proved a little challenging for Hansa. Earlier this year she had suffered a fall during our holiday in Goa and was still recovering, so we took our time and stopped whenever she needed a short rest.
Travel is never a race, especially when three generations are travelling together.
Along the way we even passed an Indian restaurant, which brought a smile to our faces. It was comforting to know that if anyone started missing home cooking, help was only a short walk away!
Our First Glimpse of Paris
Being a Sunday, the station ticket office was closed, so we purchased our tickets from the automated machines before making our way to Platform 2B.
The train journey into central Paris was quick, comfortable and efficient, taking only about twenty minutes.
As we emerged from the underground station and climbed the final escalator, an unforgettable sight greeted us.
Standing proudly before us was the magnificent Arc de Triomphe.
Even though I had visited Paris several times before, it remains one of those landmarks that never fails to impress. The sheer scale of the monument, standing proudly in the centre of one of Europe’s busiest roundabouts, immediately captured everyone’s attention.
Around thirteen grand avenues radiate outwards from the Arc, creating one of the most iconic road junctions in the world. Tourists from every corner of the globe wandered around taking photographs, admiring the architecture and simply soaking up the atmosphere.
With temperatures approaching 35°C, every patch of shade became a welcome refuge from the blazing summer sun.
Onwards to the Eiffel Tower
After spending some time around the Arc de Triomphe, we descended back into the Paris Métro and changed trains before heading towards another world-famous landmark—the Eiffel Tower.
From the station it was about a half-kilometre walk through lively streets filled with cafés, souvenir shops and food stalls. Suddenly, through the trees, the Eiffel Tower appeared.
No matter how many photographs you have seen, nothing quite prepares you for seeing it in person. Towering above the Paris skyline, it remains one of the world’s most recognisable structures.
By now everyone was feeling hungry, so we bought hot dogs and cold drinks from one of the nearby vendors. Luckily we found an empty bench where we could enjoy a leisurely lunch while admiring the magnificent iron giant before us.
While the rest of us relaxed, Vienna and Bharti went to enquire about tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower.
Unfortunately, they returned with disappointing news.
Because preparations were underway for the Bastille Day celebrations, the tower had closed earlier than usual. There would be no opportunity to go to the top that afternoon.
The younger children, especially Ashaani and Shay, were understandably disappointed. Visiting the Eiffel Tower had been one of the highlights they had been looking forward to.
Ashaani, in particular, had dreamed of seeing Paris for a long time.
Sensing her disappointment, Shital gave her a reassuring hug and promised,
“Don’t worry. We’ll come back another time through the Eurotunnel, and next time we’ll go all the way to the top.”
Sometimes the memories that stay with us are not the perfect moments, but the little disappointments that give us an excuse to return one day.
Cruising Along the Seine
After taking plenty of family photographs around the Eiffel Tower, we made our way to the River Seine for one of the highlights of the day—a sightseeing boat cruise.
While waiting for our boat to arrive, the ladies and children found a shaded kiosk where they enjoyed refreshing cold drinks, while the men rewarded themselves with a well-earned chilled beer.
It was one of those scorching Paris afternoons where every cold drink tastes twice as good.
Soon we boarded our covered sightseeing boat and gently glided away along the Seine.
The cruise offered a completely different perspective of Paris.
Bridge after beautiful bridge passed overhead, each with its own unique character and history. Elegant riverside buildings, bustling cafés and historic monuments lined both banks of the river.
Among the many famous landmarks, we were delighted to catch a glimpse of the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, standing proudly on its island in the heart of Paris.
The children were captivated throughout the journey, constantly moving from one side of the boat to the other, pointing excitedly at everything they saw.
For them, Paris was becoming more than just somewhere they had seen in books—it was becoming a place filled with real memories.
Back to Our Campsite
Later that afternoon we made our way back through the Paris Métro network towards Maisons-Laffitte.
At one point we accidentally boarded the wrong train, much to the amusement of the children, who thought it was all part of the adventure. Fortunately, we quickly realised our mistake and were soon travelling in the right direction again.
The walk back to the campsite was much easier now that it was mostly downhill, making life a little kinder for Hansa.
We arrived back at around 7.30 pm, pleasantly tired after a wonderful afternoon exploring one of Europe’s greatest cities.
A Perfect Summer Evening
It didn’t take long before the grandchildren were back on their bicycles, happily exploring every corner of the campsite before cooling off once again in the swimming pool.
Just when we thought the day’s adventures were over, another little surprise awaited us.
Opening the freezer, we discovered that we had forgotten a can of Coca-Cola and a couple of cans of Foster’s lager that had been placed inside for “just a quick chill” before leaving for Paris.
The Coca-Cola had frozen solid, expanded and exploded, coating the inside of the freezer with frozen sticky brown slush. Fortunately, the beer cans had survived—although they had swollen into rather unusual shapes and were frozen solid!
It was one of those classic motorhome moments that makes you laugh rather than cry.
While the adults dealt with the unexpected housekeeping, the campsite reception provided another source of entertainment. They hired out pedal-powered go-karts, and it wasn’t long before the grandchildren were racing around the campsite, laughing and challenging one another to friendly competitions.
Meanwhile, poor Shivem drew the short straw.
Armed with a hairdryer, he patiently thawed the freezer, melted the frozen Coca-Cola and cleaned away the sticky mess while the rest of us couldn’t resist teasing him about becoming the official motorhome maintenance engineer for the holiday.
Looking back, it was another reminder that camping holidays are never perfect—and perhaps that’s exactly what makes them so memorable. It’s the unexpected mishaps, the laughter that follows and everyone pulling together that often become the stories we remember long after the journey has ended.
Later on Shivem prepared another excellent barbecue, filling the warm evening air with the tempting aroma of grilled food.
As the children tucked into their meals and the adults relaxed with chilled beers, we reflected on another memorable family day.
There was also a touch of sadness in the air.
This would be Shivem’s final evening with us. Work commitments meant he had to return home the following day by air, while the rest of us continued our motorhome adventure deeper into France.
It was another reminder that family holidays are precious—not because everything goes perfectly, but because they allow us to spend precious time together.
After another enjoyable evening beneath the awning, we retired for the night, ready for the next stage of our journey.
Tomorrow we bid farewell to the Paris region and head south-east through the beautiful French countryside towards the Jura Mountains. Leaving the bustle of France’s capital behind, we look forward to peaceful lakes, rolling hills and the slower pace of rural France as our family motorhome adventure continues.
