May 8, 2017 | by Stacy Perman
(for Travel and Leisure Magazine)
Tips for multi-generational travelers from a Canadian expatriate.
In 2011, Canada-born Genevieve Spicer moved to Paris for a 5-year sabbatical to join her then 78-year-old father, who is a 20-year resident. After immersing herself in her new city, she launched the travel website Paris for Seniors to help travelers of all ages get the most out of their travels. In addition to creating customized tours for clients, the site also offers “Gentle Guides” for travelers with mobility issues and spotlights some of Paris’s lesser-known charms while providing practical advice for visitors, from how to interact with waiters to how to avoid being pickpocketed. Travel + Leisure spoke with Spicer to get her insights on how families traveling with seniors can make the most of a trip to the City of Lights.
What is the most surprising thing you learned after moving to Paris?
Its beauty, food, and spirit are for everyone. But the heartache of the city is that it’s not necessarily accessible to everyone, especially if you have mobility issues. There are ancient staircases, cobblestone streets, and buildings not retrofitted for wheelchairs. But I learned there is always a way to embrace Paris if you take the time to research what’s available.
We were contacted immediately by people of all ages. There were bucket-list requests from those wanting to make their parents’ dreams come true, empty nesters, and single women. We create highly customized itineraries based on detailed questionnaires so that we can cater to interests while addressing mobility issues. Our Mon Ami in Paris service provides drivers and bilingual guides to help remove anxieties.
What are some of the kinds of trips you’ve put together?
We had a request from a woman who wanted help for her 86-year-old uncle and his 82-year-old girlfriend—both in wheelchairs—who wanted to visit the Musée d’Orsay to see the Monets. Another request came from an 88-year-old woman who used to sit by the Seine and paint while studying at the Sorbonne; it was her dream to return and paint again, and we made it happen.
We also helped a woman with advanced multiple sclerosis take her daughter to Paris as a high school graduation present, creating a fully accessible itinerary. Another trip entertained a man’s 72-year-old mother and her sister while he attended a conference. They visited Chantilly, with a golf cart hired to navigate the grounds.
What types of activities can be enjoyed by kids as well as seniors?
Paris is incredibly multi-generational. My father and my 14-year-old daughter Gracie share their adventures on our blog G&G (Grandpa & Gracie), offering unique perspectives. They discovered free pipe organ concerts in one of the city’s 234 churches. Paris’s parks, like the Luxembourg Gardens, feature merry-go-rounds and spaces for picnics, pony rides, or sailing boats while parents or grandparents enjoy Bocchi or relax at a café.
What are some off-the-beaten-path places you’ve discovered?
There are sing-alongs and dancing on Sundays at La Rue Mouffetard in the 5th arrondissement, where musicians play the violin and accordion. Bercy Village in Cour Saint-Émilion (12th arrondissement) is charming, with former wine warehouses turned into cafes and shops. Another gem is the Arènes de Lutèce in the 5th arrondissement, an ancient Roman amphitheater from the 1st century.
The Abbey Bookshop in the Latin Quarter is a wonderful English-language bookstore run by a Canadian ex-pat. It houses 35,000 books in an 18th-century hotel and hosts book launches.
What one piece of advice do you have for Paris newbies?
Paris is full of hidden gems. There’s always something to discover just by walking around. One of the greatest pleasures is sitting in a café, watching the morning ballet of shops opening, listening to shopkeepers talk and argue, and enjoying the smell of fresh bread baking. It’s truly unique.
This interview was edited and condensed.
