When Georgina Blaskey and her husband found themselves itching to go on city breaks again, this time they took their children too, and discovered a whole new side to their favourite destinations

Paris, France
The sights: We started our tour with a boat trip on the Bateau Mouches (bateaux-mouches.fr). Embarking near Pont de l?Alma, during this 75-minute trip along the Seine you?ll hear facts about all the famous sights, from the Musée D?Orsay to Notre Dame. Once docked, we found our way to the Eiffel Tower, just a 15-minute stroll away. Booking in advance is essential if you want to go up via the elevator but as we were feeling a little bit James Bond in our attitude, so we took the stairs ? definitely the highlight of the trip.
The stay: Hotel 34B in the 9th arrondissement is near Gare du Nord (perfect for the Eurostar) and the Grand Boulevards metro station, offering easy access to all the sights. Housed in an internal courtyard, complete with atrium, is a lounge where guests can help themselves to free soft drinks, tea, coffee and snacks all day; perfect after a long day of sightseeing (there?s even a complimentary in-room minibar). Chill-out time: During the summer holidays, the Jardin des Tuileries hosts an old-fashioned funfair but offers trampolines and a carousel all year round, while the Jardins du Luxembourg boasts traditional marionette shows, pony rides and a bandstand.
Hidden gems: We spent an hour at the Smallable concept store, checking out its trendy kids...