Europe Trip

[Fluffy]

My advice if you have young kids please do not to join group tour that include 3 countries in a short 10 days. It requires early morning departure each morning and going back to hotel late at night just to cover many places within the short period. Lack of sleep and rest for both adults and children will be a frustrating experience. Europe tour usually does not have many program tailor for kids. Hence, if you have younger children, they may not appreciate the beautiful scenary, musem and historical visits. It is best to go free and easy and join day or short days tours from a base city. If you have only 2 weeks, plan around 2 countries and your family can enjoy the countries at a more comfortable pace.


Every season in Europe has its beauty. Winter has its advantages and less people to jostle with. Also, enjoy the cold weather and have a cup of tea/coffee with your loves ones in Paris side street, or browse through the many chocolate shops in Belgium with your children.

My family will be going to London and Paris in Nov/Dec. We always travel free & easy and never try to go to many places in a short period. We plan to visit my husband’s college and my daughter wants to visit Cambridge and Oxford for its fame university. Enjoy a leisure holiday. Don’t be rush! Our relationship with our children became closer as we have more time to communicate on subjects which we seldom touch on in Singapore.

[thelims]

Winter in Europe is grey…no greenery nor wild flowers. Not to mention, it’s also cold. But it can be beautiful too. And if you dress appropriately, it can be enjoyable.


Hols with kids can be possible but days are short and it can be wet too. I went to Italy with family (DH and 2 DDs aged 9 and 11) 3 years ago. It was a F&E self-drive hols and we even made a day trip to Munich in Germany for beer and sausages at Hofbrauhaus.

3 days in Rome, drove to Florence and Tuscany region, Venice and the Italian Alps (Dolomites) for skiing (tho there was too little snow then so the kids just played in the snow) and a day trip to Germany via Austria. The Dolomite region has a very "German" flavour and there were Christmas markets (day and night) in some towns. We stayed in the Dolomites for 4-5 days, I think.

In total, we had 11 -12 days in Italy. Not a rushed hols so it was very enjoyable.

[Emelyn]

Fluffy:

My family will be going to London and Paris in Nov/Dec. We always travel free & easy and never try to go to many places in a short period. We plan to visit my husband's college and my daughter wants to visit Cambridge and Oxford for its fame university. Enjoy a leisure holiday. Don't be rush! Our relationship with our children became closer as we have more time to communicate on subjects which we seldom touch on in Singapore.

Hi Fluffy,

we just got back from London/Cambridge/Paris/Italy in June too.
My sister and BIL lives in Cambridge... so that served as our base. BIL is head of one of the dept in Clare College. With his special pass, we went to parts of the university not opened for public. Very cool..... DS1 and DS2 said next time they want to study in Cambridge... Well... we told them they better work hard and get a scholarship cos their parents not so rich. haha.

When we were there.... the days were long.... Day starts at 4am and ends at 10pm. So, we had lots of \"daylight\" to do stuff.... Not forgetting having BBQ in the afternoon, which is quite unthinkable in Singapore's hot weather..

Have fun !!

[PlayfulFairy]

Hehe personally, I love winter though it can be a little dismal without the blooming flowers... However, the sky turns dark around 3-4pm...


Winter in Rome is not so cold (not less than 10C) as it is in the mediterranean. ( haha I'm a 'winter babe') Likewise for Paris.

London is a little colder than Rome, sometimes there is blustery wind, coupled with rain, which is terribly chilly.. However, if you stay in Central London, there is no snow, unless you stay in the outskirts of London. You can take the local tour bus at your own timing. Londoners are usually warm and gracious. You can hop over to Windsor from London if your kids are interested in Lego Land. If your kid is a fan of Harry Potter, can hop over to Oxford to see the filming site of Hogwarts. Think Cambridge is best to visit during May to August, where you can row boats in the river!

I love winter in Vienna. Imagine yourself sipping a mug of warm fruit punch, shopping for Christmas goodies at the Christmas market amidst snowflakes falling on your shoulders...(sing \"Snowflakes keep falling on my head, let it snow, let it snow..\" ) Your kids can build snowman, throw snowballs in front of the palaces!

If you have kids in tow, I think it is better for you to do free and easy, not so stressful and you can tailor your itineary according to you/your kiddos' interest... :lol:

[adafew]

If your kids have yet to experience cold weather then why not Europe in Dec!


We are going to Europe too! For my DS2 since he have yet to visit Europe.
We did with our DS1 to Paris and Switzerland too when he was <2, I have to say he enjoyed so much! Can ‘tell’ from those pics we took for him then. If you want to see snow, then go up to Alps and you will sure be able to see. I love Paris, so romantic.

If u r adventurous and have time for research work, also need to be alittle familiar with Europe travels, then F&E is the way to go…Otherwise, I rather suggest with tour, though need to rush but better then lost yr way or … just be careful in Paris when u r at busy tourist spot…pickpockets…

[smurf]

Hi Mum@work,


which country are you going?

Paris is not that romantic, haha…because the street is quite dirty. People just let their pets poo on the street.

Paris in Dec is not that cold, likewise for London. The coldest period is during Jan to early Feb.

Other than jul-aug, Apr-May is the best time to go, cos Spring is quite pretty there. Jul-Aug is very packed. and weather is super hot too.

For England, most shops close at 5pm, close at 8pm on thur though.

[Mum-work]

Hi all, thanks for your suggestions, feedback and advices... I've decided not to go at this time as I've some concerns on the cold weather and the itinerary on the tour package might be too rush.. I would have to plan for another destination...

[jeparent]

I am planning a train/self-drive trip in May


Munich,Vienna,Krems,salzkammergut area, Salzburg,Innsbruck

Is it easy to find accomodation without prior booking ? I am looking for BandB,Budget hotels but suitable for family with kids.

I read parking/driving difficult at munich,salzburg,vienna. How about other towns ?

thanks

regards

[Sunflower03]

Hi there,


My hubby and I are planning to go to Europe for 3 weeks starting in Mid-Dec.

Anyone can suggest places to visit? This is our 1st trip to Europe.

Starting point will be in Paris and flying back from London.

Kindly throw in as many suggest as possible so that I can use it for reference.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!

[Mychildren]

Places to visit:

London -
London bridge (this I view from somewhere far)
Big Ben (picture with big ben did not turn up well cause arrived there in the evening) :sad:
Madame Tussaud's (Mozart, Ronald Reagan,Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, James Bond 007, Napolean, Michael Jackson, Lee Kuan Yew there too.)
British museum with mummies lying there (worth a look) :yikes:
Chinatown

Paris -
Disneyland (can remember the pirate who point a dagger to my neck) :scared:
Eiffel Tower (top view is fascinating) :roll:

Take the Parisbus that brings you to some attractions. To and fro London & Paris you can take eurostar bullet train. I went there for about 6-7 days so miss out a lot of attractions due to time taken to & fro London & Paris & back to London. There was one palace I wanted to go but the q is so long that day and I need to catch the eurostar train so in the end gave it a miss. Will let you know the name when my DH back home. My visit was about 14 years ago.