La Malène

Nestled among forested mountains in the south of France, this 15th-century former hunting lodge is ideally situated near hiking, canoeing, and rock-climbing spots; adults and children can fish for trout in the shallow Tarn River, which runs by the château. Inside, stone stairways and vaulted brick ceilings date back to the 1400s, and the guest-room decor is central-casting castle—four-poster beds, velvet drapes, and antique tapestries. 48210 Sainte-Enimie,  from 104 euros for a double.

                    

Rambouillet

It's easy to see why this 1543 Loire Valley estate was once a stopover for aristocrats—the château is a fairy-tale vision of blue-slated turrets, moats, and formal gardens. The formal restaurant is pricey, but cheaper thrills include croquet, archery, and hot-air ballooning. Ask the hotel to pack you a lunch, then spread out a blanket and picnic in the estate's woods (keep an eye out for deer).  28700 St. Symphoriean le Château,  from 160 euros for a double.

        

Paris

Decked out with elaborate flower arrangements, the lobby alone is beautiful. The rooms are stocked with French children's books, kid-size robes and slippers, and children's toiletries, and the hotel also provides a milk-and-cookies turndown service. Upon request, the friendly staff will even childproof rooms. Kids will also love the swimming pool and the proximity to the Jardin d'Acclimatation, which is just a short taxi ride away.  31 avenue George V, 8th arrondissement,  from 990 euros for a premiere room.

                        

Hôtel Aiglon
This deco-style hotel has clean and simple rooms, with space for families in the bigger suites. The common areas are rich with plush, velour-upholstered banquettes and books from various writers and artists.  232 boulevard Raspail, 14th arrondissement,  from 185 euros for a superior double.

        

Hôtel Brighton
The Hotel Brighton overlooks the Tuileries and has much larger rooms than many of the city's other townhouse hotels. 218 rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement,  from 254 euros for a deluxe with an extra bed.

        

Hôtel Bourg Tibourg
This tiny hotel, with its walls covered in softly hued striped silk, is on the same street as Mariage Fréres, making it easy to pop over for a cup of tea. It's also one of the few small hotels to offer room service.  19 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 4th arrondissement,  from 360 euros for a three-person suite.

              

Hôtel Chopin
Ask for a room above the neighboring arcade, which will be brighter and quieter than those on lower floors. The best is room 305 on the top floor, which overlooks the Paris rooftops. The arcade leading from the street to the hotel's entrance has an eclectic mix of stores that includes toy shops and book shops.  10 boulevard Montmartre, 9th arrondissement,  from 109 euros for a double.

        

Hotel de Crillon
The Hotel de Crillon is another of Paris's famous palace hotels. All of the rooms have flat-screen TVs, and some of the suites have Baccarat chandeliers. This is also one of the few Parisian hotels to have a children's program, drawing books, toys, games, and trained babysitters on staff.  10 place de la Concorde, 8th arrondissement,  from 785 euros for a superior with a roll-away bed.

                    

Hôtel de l'Abbaye
This four-star hotel is quietly elegant, with just 44 rooms, some of which open out to the central courtyard and garden. The duplex apartments are a great choice for large families.  10 rue Cassette, St. Germain, 6th arrondissement,  from 285 euros for a double with an extra bed.  (The duplex apartments start at 481 euros.)

        

Hôtel D'Orsay
Just a short walk from the Musée d'Orsay, this hotel, set in two 18th-century buildings, has a pretty terrace and cozy, wooden-beamed rooms.  93 rue de Lille, 7th arrondissement,  from 205 euros for a double with a roll-away bed.

        

Hôtel Langlois
Each room in this hotel, which is housed in an elegant former bank building built in 1870, is different—some with precious quirks (room 63 has a fireplace; room 54 has a sofa carved into the wall). Kids will love inspecting the wrought-iron elevator, but they'll need to be careful with the fragile antiques and artwork.  63 rue de Saint-Lazare, 19th arrondissement,  from 200 euros for a suite with an extra bed.

        

Hôtel le Bristol Paris
The Bristol feels decadent all around, from the Louis XIV–style rooms to the flower-filled garden. Kids will love the pool, and you'll love the convenience of the four Bristol Smart Cars available for you to drive around town (at 10 euros a day).  112 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, 8th arrondissement,  from 790 euros for a deluxe.

                        

Hôtel Lindbergh
This is a bright, small hotel decorated in a modern and simple fashion. A family of four will fit in the Very Spacious rooms, which have a double and two single beds.  5 rue Chomel, 7th arrondissement, 01-45-48-3553,  from 180 euros for a double, which accommodates a double bed and two single beds, or the Very Spacious room.

     

Hôtel Muguet
It's close to rue Cler, one of the city's most picturesque cobblestone streets. Start your mornings off right with fruit, eggs, coffee, and juice on the veranda overlooking the garden. The entire hotel is nonsmoking.  11 rue Chevert, 7th arrondissement,  from 180 euros for a superior.

        

Hôtel Relais Christine
Some of the rooms have private-garden access, but all guests can enjoy the communal courtyard on the other side of the building. The hotel's parlor is also fantastically large for Paris. Just keep in mind that some rooms have slightly lofted beds and stairs leading to the bathrooms.  3 rue Christine, 6th arrondissement,  from 455 euros for a deluxe with a roll-away bed.

        

Hôtel Relais Saint-Germain
It's tops for quality and service. Some of the 22 rooms are a bit small, but they're all elegant. And because there are so few guests at any one time, the staff is extremely attentive and makes you feel as if you're staying at a friend's house.  9 Carrefour de l'Odéon,  from 210 euros for a single with an extra bed.

              

Hôtel Therese
Close to the Louvre and the Opéra, this quiet, tasteful hotel is decorated in subdued colors, with beautiful cottons and leathers. The included continental breakfast can be served in your room or in the airy, vaulted breakfast room.  5-7 rue de Thérèse, 1st arrondissement,  from 275 euros for a deluxe with an extra bed.

        

L' Hôtel
The chic rooms here surround a central spiral stairwell, which lets plenty of light flow in. The price is incredibly reasonable, considering L'Hôtel also has a great swimming pool.  13 rue des Beaux-Arts, 7th arrondissement,  from 345 euros for a double with a roll-away bed.

        

Le Meurice
One of Paris's grand palace hotels, Le Meurice feels a bit like Versailles because of the grand Louis XVI-style decoration. Each luxurious room has sitting areas, full marble baths, and a dressing area. Children are given a stuffed dog named Pistache and two free tickets for Tuileries carousel rides at check-in. They can also get passports from the concierge, to be filled up with stamps as they go on a scavenger hunt around the hotel. 228 rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement,  from 620 euros for a superior.

                    

Park Hyatt Paris Vendome
The Park Hyatt Paris Vendome is a beautiful hotel with dark wood and sleek, luxe furniture. Roll-away beds aren't provided, but cribs are, and all of the suites have pull-out sofas. The staff is friendly, and the restaurant and room-service food is top notch.  5 rue de la Paix,  2nd arrondissement, 01-58-71-1234,  from 812 euros for a two-bedroom Prestige.

              

Plaza Athénée
This hotel makes every guest feel like royalty. Have tea while the kids play (supervised) on the carousel in Le Cour Jardin in the fall, or on the ice rink in the winter. Little gourmands will love the hotel's mini chef's uniforms, which come with baking moulds and instructions.  25 avenue Montaigne, 8th arrondissement, 01-53-67-6665,  from 790 euros for a deluxe.

                    

Ritz Paris
Another of Paris's famous palace hotels, this hotel is lovely and decadent. All the suites are large enough to accommodate an extra bed, although those on the garden side of the building are quieter. The pool is a nice place to unwind after long days of exploring, and every child under 6 is given the Ritz Tendresse teddy bear upon check-in. The hotel also has kid-size slippers and bathrobes, and multilingual babysitters. Be sure to check out the cooking classes for kids and adults at the famous Escoffier school.  15 place Vendôme, 1st arrondissement, 01-43-16-3030,  from 730 euros for a superior.