A trip to Europe...planning questions

[Basketmaker Amy]

Hi,

 

We are in the "dreaming" stages of going to Europe next summer with our 3 ds. I looked at the Rick Steve's Best of Family Europe Tour (14 days, $3595 plus air, less $200 per kid) and it looks great (except the price!) I was wondering how much we would save if we planned the trip ourselves? I wouldn't mind spending the time researching everything and we wouldn't mind lugging our stuff around (the boys would be 16,14, and 11). Anybody been there, done that? What kind of ballpark figure would I be looking at spending for a budget/moderate trip to Europe?

 

As far as places we'd like to visit...Ancient Rome, Florence, Venice, some castles somewhere in Germany?, Switzerland, Austria, Paris. (I'd love to visit Greece and Spain...but don't think I could do that in 2 weeks. We are self employed and really couldn't be gone longer than 2 weeks)

 

Thanks for any planning advice you can give. I have placed a request for Rick Steve's Best of Europe guide book, as well as his Back Door to Europe book.

 

Back to dreamin'.....:):):)

[Jane in NC]

Reading travel books brings a vicarious thrill to this girl!

 

The problem with European travel right now is the dollar!

 

We spent four weeks in Britain in the fall of '04 when the dollar was weak against the pound. But the time was right for this journey. To keep costs down we occasionally stayed at family oriented hostels which are throughout Britain (but not necessarily everywhere on the continent--hostels in some countries are geared toward youth). Sleeping accommodations were simple in the hostels, but we often had family rooms with our own bath. Hostels feature a kitchen so that we could cook on occasion. This really helps the budget.

 

Your cost will also be dependent on the kind of land travel you wish to do. For your family, a car rental is probably cheaper than rail, but with fuel costs being what they are, you might want to consider renting an apartment for your base camp and taking day trips. This will help narrow your focus for a trip of two weeks duration so that you can see and do more.

 

Jane

[Chris in VA]

I don't remember how much it cost for us to go to Rome 9 years ago, but one thing I'd suggest is taking a week in Rome--There is just so much to see. If I had to advise, I'd say see for sure--

The Vatican

Coliseum

Catacombs--you have to take a bus to get there from Rome, but it's not hard

Peter and Paul's imprisonment place

Pantheon

Then pick a museum.

THen, take a one-day bus tour to Pompeii--it's really neat.

 

We were doing Rome because my husband was following St. Paul's footsteps (albeit out of order). We also saw an ancient synagogue at Ostia. (Just some ruins in a field, but hugely significant for dh's dissertation)

 

Just general tips--pack really lightly. Wash stuff by hand in your bathroom sink. You should be able to get by with a backpack (small) for everyone, and a couple of rolling bags (at the most--not two a piece! lol--had to rewrite that!) The sidewalks in Rome were really bumpy! Expect to pay a lot more for hotels close to the train stations. Watch out for pickpockets--be REALLY careful about that--get a small cloth wallet on a string that you can wear around your neck and tuck under your shirt--forget about a purse.

 

I would see what sites the tour goes on, and see if you have the options you want. It's so nice to have stuff planned already, imo. Dh is fabulous at it, but our pace was too fast--I caught myself saying "Oh, another Michaelangelo--Yawn. How nice..." It's overwhelming.

[WTMindy]

Reading travel books brings a vicarious thrill to this girl!

 

The problem with European travel right now is the dollar!

 

We spent four weeks in Britain in the fall of '04 when the dollar was weak against the pound. But the time was right for this journey. To keep costs down we occasionally stayed at family oriented hostels which are throughout Britain (but not necessarily everywhere on the continent--hostels in some countries are geared toward youth). Sleeping accommodations were simple in the hostels, but we often had family rooms with our own bath. Hostels feature a kitchen so that we could cook on occasion. This really helps the budget.

 

Your cost will also be dependent on the kind of land travel you wish to do. For your family, a car rental is probably cheaper than rail, but with fuel costs being what they are, you might want to consider renting an apartment for your base camp and taking day trips. This will help narrow your focus for a trip of two weeks duration so that you can see and do more.

 

Jane

 

I didn't know there was such a thing as family hostels! I'm glad to know that because we are planning a trip to Italy/Greece in a few years (4 to be exact, after the next time we do Ancients). I stayed in youth hostels when I was in college, but I never knew about family ones.

[WTMindy]

Hi,

 

We are in the "dreaming" stages of going to Europe next summer with our 3 ds. I looked at the Rick Steve's Best of Family Europe Tour (14 days, $3595 plus air, less $200 per kid) and it looks great (except the price!) I was wondering how much we would save if we planned the trip ourselves? I wouldn't mind spending the time researching everything and we wouldn't mind lugging our stuff around (the boys would be 16,14, and 11). Anybody been there, done that? What kind of ballpark figure would I be looking at spending for a budget/moderate trip to Europe?

 

As far as places we'd like to visit...Ancient Rome, Florence, Venice, some castles somewhere in Germany?, Switzerland, Austria, Paris. (I'd love to visit Greece and Spain...but don't think I could do that in 2 weeks. We are self employed and really couldn't be gone longer than 2 weeks)

 

Thanks for any planning advice you can give. I have placed a request for Rick Steve's Best of Europe guide book, as well as his Back Door to Europe book.

 

Back to dreamin'.....:):):)

That sounds like a great trip!! You couldn't do justice to all those areas in 2 weeks, so I'd probably try and narrow it down a bit. Keep us posted on the plans.

[Basketmaker Amy]

Thanks for the advice. We are kind of "let's do all we can while we are here" kind of people, too!

 

I will keep your suggestions on hand!

 

Thanks!

[Basketmaker Amy]

Reading travel books brings a vicarious thrill to this girl!

 

 

Your cost will also be dependent on the kind of land travel you wish to do. For your family, a car rental is probably cheaper than rail, but with fuel costs being what they are, you might want to consider renting an apartment for your base camp and taking day trips. This will help narrow your focus for a trip of two weeks duration so that you can see and do more.

 

Jane

 

I was wondering about car vs rail. I'll be doing a lot of research!

 

Thanks!

[Jane in NC]

I didn't know there was such a thing as family hostels! I'm glad to know that because we are planning a trip to Italy/Greece in a few years (4 to be exact, after the next time we do Ancients). I stayed in youth hostels when I was in college, but I never knew about family ones.

 

http://www.yha.org.uk/

 

The link will take to the Youth Hostel Association in Britain--don't let the name fool you. We encountered families and middle aged couples at YHA properties. You do need to check out the facilities online first, though. Some hostels are definitely geared to young singles.

 

One of the hostels at which we stayed along Hadrian's Wall had male and female dorms only, no family rooms. But guests there were all hikers--not the party crowd. And what an interesting encounter that proved to be with history buffs and nature lovers from all over the world!

 

Another good thing about hostels in Britain is that they often have washing machines.

 

Jane

[King Alfred Academy]

You are doing the right thing by planning your trip with Rick Steves. We have followed his advice on our trips and have NEVER been let down.

 

Right now, I would stay away from the UK...exchange rate is a killer!

 

Someone mentioned renting a car and that would probably be the way to go if you don't mind driving on narrow roads. We have done this and liked it because we were not on anyone else's schedule. However, I like riding the rail and relaxing too. Be sure to check out the rail passes as a lot of them also offer discounts on a lot of sites if you buy them in the US...check out ricksteves.com And they offer discounts for kids traveling with adults. It might be worth it to go that route if you plan on doing a lot of site seeing. If you go to Paris...which is *my* favorite place, look into getting the metro pass. It might be economical for your family. We used the metro a lot. It is very easy to navigate. And check into the 3 or 5 day site seeing pass in Paris too. Saves a lot of money when visiting the sites and you don't have to stand in the long lines to get in! However, the eiffel tower is not covered on it but it is worth the money to go up in it! Mount St. Michel...Normandy...is the coolest place to visit and if you are anywhere near that side of France you should plan on seeing it. The south of France in Avignon and Arles is great! If you don't make it to Italy, there is a lot of Roman stuff there to see...Coliseums and canoeing under a Roman Via Duct...very fun.

We hiked this Swiss Alps this past summer and loved it. We stayed In Herr Walter's "hotel" in Gimmelwald...if you are familiar with him from RSteves' show. Great place, nothing going on, and he is a great cook!

Okay...I will stop now!

You are going to have a great time! What a wonderful gift to give your kids!

 

Oh, and I HIGHLY recommend traveling light. When we go, we are usually there for 3 weeks and we each only bring a backpack. Best thing ever! Easy to carry and you don't have to worry about a lot of bags getting off and on the trains when you transfer from place to place. Each time we actually end up packing less and less.

 

I'm done now...:o

[Tracey in TX]

You'll have a wonderful time. We've been please when we follow Rick Steve's recommendations. Depending on how soon you visit, I might skip Venice. It's really not child friendly. I wouldn't take my children until they were well into teens. The rest of Italy embraces bella familia :)

[TwinMominTX]

but the US dollar STINKS when compared to the Euro right now. I mean really stinks. Make sure you factor that in your planning as it isn't likely to get any better anytime soon.

 

On a happier note - you'll have a wonderful time and your kids will think it is great! The people are super friendly in Italy.

 

TK

[Elinor Everywhere]

Hi,

 

As far as places we'd like to visit...Ancient Rome, Florence, Venice, some castles somewhere in Germany?, Switzerland, Austria, Paris. (I'd love to visit Greece and Spain...but don't think I could do that in 2 weeks. We are self employed and really couldn't be gone longer than 2 weeks)

 

We prefer to saturate ourselves in a community, rather than the "9 cities in 10 days" approach. Since several Italian cities are on your list, and there is so much to see just in Italy, I'd recommend staying there for the whole 2 weeks. As another poster said, you'll easily spend a week in Rome, and then take trains to Florence, Venice, Pisa, or whatever else you'd like to see.

 

We spent a month in Italy 2 1/2 years ago, and it was definitely one of our favorite vacation destinations. We stayed in Rome for 5 days (taking one of those to go on a bus tour down to Pompeii), and then rented an apartment in Florence for the other 3 weeks. From Florence we took trains to Venice, Pisa, & the Mediterranean. We are wine enthusiasts, so we also hired a driver to take us wine tasting in Tuscany (so we could avoid driving those twisty roads while tasting!). My kids were 7 at the time, and they loved everywhere we went. The wine tasting was even fun for them, because the vineyards have huge grounds and dogs for them to run and play with as we sipped.

 

Another poster mentioned that Venice is not kid-friendly, but we found the opposite to be true. There is no car traffic, which our kids loved, especially after the very narrow sidewalks of Florence. We took a gondola ride, ate some great seafood & pasta, and at my daughter's insistance found a (very small) Vivaldi museum.

 

We did use Rick Steves' recommendations for hotels in Rome & Venice, and were satisfied. Best of luck to you!

[Colleen]

You've had some good feedback thus far and I just want to concur with others who have suggested that you stick with a "less is more" mentality as far as number of destinations you try to take in. Two weeks really isn't a great deal of time and you'll enjoy your trip much more if your aren't rushing from one spot to another. You're wise not to tack Greece on to your trip that encompasses more of Western Europe, but I'd narrow it down even more than that. You didn't mention Britain, but if it interests you, you might consider starting there for a few days, then taking using an Italian city as a base camp. Or, if money is tight, keep in mind that some places in Eastern Europe make for great trips at less cost.

[Colleen]

I didn't know there was such a thing as family hostels! I'm glad to know that because we are planning a trip to Italy/Greece in a few years (4 to be exact, after the next time we do Ancients). I stayed in youth hostels when I was in college, but I never knew about family ones.

 

Oh, hostels are becoming more and more amenable for families but imo you do have to do some research. I mean, families can stay at the hostel up at Whistler, for example, but...um...I can't say I consider it a very family-friendly atmosphere if you kwim. But I'm game for staying at hostels with older kids (which yours will be at that point), when it's really just a place to sleep.

[Basketmaker Amy]

Thanks for your input. I kind of like the idea of using a city as a base camp. Our boys are kind of split about where they want to go. Two want to go to Rome and Florence and one really wants to do France. I would like to see Italy, Switzerland and Austria. My husband doesn't have a preference. I wish we had more time to do it all!

 

Thanks again!

[Basketmaker Amy]

Thanks for your advice. Your trip to Italy sounds wonderful...especially the wine tasting!!!

 

I like the idea of a base camp, too.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Hi,

 

We are in the "dreaming" stages of going to Europe next summer with our 3 ds. I looked at the Rick Steve's Best of Family Europe Tour (14 days, $3595 plus air, less $200 per kid) and it looks great (except the price!) I was wondering how much we would save if we planned the trip ourselves? I wouldn't mind spending the time researching everything and we wouldn't mind lugging our stuff around (the boys would be 16,14, and 11). Anybody been there, done that? What kind of ballpark figure would I be looking at spending for a budget/moderate trip to Europe?

 

As far as places we'd like to visit...Ancient Rome, Florence, Venice, some castles somewhere in Germany?, Switzerland, Austria, Paris. (I'd love to visit Greece and Spain...but don't think I could do that in 2 weeks. We are self employed and really couldn't be gone longer than 2 weeks)

 

 

I'll agree with the other posters who suggested a base city and daytrips. We did two weeks in Italy, one in Naples and one in Rome. We could have easily spent more time in Rome than just one week. If we'd only been there a day or two we would have missed out on so much.

I think this is especially true given our love for history. We probably spent a half hour at Trajan's Column and over an hour at the Collosseum, where one of the boys gave a report to the family. This isn't a schedule that we could have kept in a tour group.

The Rick Steves guides are great. So are Day Trips guides. I have also been known to photocopy pages from The History of Art for Young People (Jansen) and the young people's atlases that Veritas Press sells.

My suggestion would be to get an apartment. We have used Old Town Apartments (They were great in Eastern Europe and pretty good in the more popular western European capitals). Stay in a city or the surrounding area for most of your trip. Let this be the first trip to Europe and don't try to pack it too full. Leave time for hanging out at cafes or in a park.

Paris and London are other cities that make good base stations.

[Colleen]

Our boys are kind of split about where they want to go. Two want to go to Rome and Florence and one really wants to do France. I would like to see Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

 

Given your time frame, I'd suggest cutting out Austria. Yes, it's a nice country, but geographically, it would make sense to split your time between Italy and France and jog up through Switzerland to connect those two parts of your trip. Austria's going to take you further out of the way ~ particularly if you want to go to Vienna. And as far as Switzerland is concerned, well, I'd limit your time there, too. Obviously, I'm partial to the country in many respects, but I actually don't think of it is a prime destination in the same sense as Italy, for example.

[Puma Mom]

I'd recommend flying someplace with a lot to see and taking side trips by train. We spent a week in Rome and Florence and could have spent longer easily. We used Rick Steve's book for recommendations on where to stay and what to do and were SO glad we did. All told, it cost dh and I under $2500 total, not including airfare (frequent flyer miles).

 

Key things for us were sticking with one carry on bag each, taking public transportation, eating take out for lunch (vs. a sit down restaurant), and spending some down time watching people.