caabhi

Dear Fellow Travelers,
We are family of four - myself, my wife, son -3yrs and daughter - 1yr. I am travelling for work to Antwerp and then planning a trip of 1 week in September last week within Europe. The possibilities could be traveling by train and cover Paris, Germany (Baden-Baden, Stuttgart, Munich) OR leave Paris and cover Belgium (Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels) and Holland (amsterdem).
I am looking for suggestions in terms of child friendly places and temperature around last week of Sep (should not be very cold). Definitely we will not be able to cover many cities with kids.
Any suggestions or advices or tips are welcome.

Cheers
Abhi

Gretchen

Paris. Easy to do and lots to do there.

StCirq

Speaking from experience, while train travel in Europe is wonderful, hopping on and off a train every day or couple of days with young kids gets old very, very quickly. I'd just go to Paris, settle into an apartment near a park, and maybe take a daytrip or two. There is absolutely no end of things to do with young children in Paris.

sandralist

In lieu of cities, any interest in taking the family for a beach vacation on the Belgian coast?

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...elfoodanddrink

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...eaches-secrets

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/tr...-dover-1241687

http://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/coastalresorts

williamscb13

I have two great books about paris with kids. One is the fodors book and the other is the little book room guide to paris. Heading there this week with a two year old. I think it will be great.

Sassafrass

From Antwerp, I would definitely try to visit Bruges for a day or two, then someplace in the Netherlands and do a couple of day trips, or Paris with a couple of day trips.

If you choose the Netherlands, take the kids to Maduradam, a miniature village with trains, planes, perfect replicas of famous buildings, canals etc. It is outdoors and interesting even for adults. Google it and see pictures.

You might be of a hardier constitution, but the last week of September might be a bit cold for the beach in Belgium. There are some nice family places though.

In Paris, there are many lovely parks for little ones to play.

Someone else mentioned the issue of trains with two little ones if you try to go too many places. I agree, especially with a toddler and another just put of the toddler stage. Pick one or two places and settle in.

sandralist

Sorry! I misread the critical part of the post about the timing of your stay. As September progresses, belgian weather begins to turn autumnal.

caabhi

Thanks fellow travelers,

You all are right, traveling too many places in train will not be feasible. Personally, I don't want to be in Paris, rather explore more of Belgium and then Germany. I know September end is start of cold in Europe as compared to India, so I have to choose wisely.

Is it easier to rent car in one country and drop off in another country within Europe? I heard that it is an expensive proposition.

Any other suggestion are welcome.

StCirq

It will cost you a king's ransom to pick up a car in one country and drop it off in another - bad idea.

Gretchen

You don't want Paris why? You mentioned it first!! It's fine, of course. But you only have a week. You will have already been in Belgium.
Go to Munich and explore.
Personally, I would go to Paris (train), stay 3 days and then train to Munich for the remainder.

nytraveler

At that time of year the only places really cold in europe are the tops of the mountains. All the places you mention should have lovely weather.

And agree - with 2 little ones and all the stuff they need - strollers, car seats, diaper bags, toys, diapers, foods, etc - just get an apt - near a park with playground -and settle in for a week.

caabhi

Thanks for the suggestions.

I am still deciding but more or less zeroed on:
Amsterdem - 1.5 days
Train to Antwerp - 5 days business
Antwerp to Brussels - 1 day
Train to Saarbucken - Rent car and visit Baden-baden, stuttgart, nuremberg and munich (3 days)-- within Germany should not be problem?
Train to Salsburg - 1 day
Vienna - 1 day

Not sure if above is too much for a week. May be you can recommend me to explore something in Germany itself and I can cut off Salsburg and Vienna.

janisj

Try laying it out in nights - not days. As it is I'm not sure how long the total trip is.

If those 'one day' cities are one night -- then you'll really only have 1/2 a day or less in each place. To get one full day you need to stay two nights. Even IF you do mean two nights each of those places -- it'd be a difficult slog for one person and a REALLY difficult slog for a family w/ little ones.

So actually how long is your trip? I personally wouldn't do <i>any</i> one night stops ESPECIALLY w/ 2 toddlers. And even 2 nighters would be tough.

caabhi

I will start from Antwerp on Friday evening and then we will have time till next Sunday afternoon(total of 8 days and 9 nights).

sandralist

I think the whole plan could go bust if you run into poor weather.

Would it be too disappointing to fly from Brussels to Vienna and spend all your time there?

sandralist

http://www.fodors.com/news/11-things...enna-6594.html

http://www.wien.info/myvienna/recomm...or-families-en

You can get into the countryside easily from Vienna if you want a break from urban attractions.

http://www.vienna-unwrapped.com/day-trips-from-vienna/