Aida02

My husband and I are taking our 10 year old son to Europe in March of 2015. We will be arriving and leaving out of London. I wondered if there were any suggestions you may have for us to see Paris, Munich and Venice in those 3 weeks.
We heard about the Euro rail as well as Ryan Air to get us to those cities.
Is it too much to expect we can see all these cities? We realize we are not going to get to see everything but any suggestions on the "top must sees" would be helpful.
Thank you for your input ahead of time. We really appreciate any advice or suggestions you may have.
Aida

bobthenavigator

Why fly home from London?
If the cost were the same would you fly home from Venice or Munich? Or, is it all about points?

KTtravel

I think you can see all these places but, if it were me I would skip Munich in favor of Florence and/or Rome.

Christina

I wouldn't fly home from London, either, don't see the reason for that, unless you got free tickets and must.

OF course you can see 3 cities in 3 weeks, that's a week per city, plenty of time. They are fairly far apart, of course, but you can fly from the US to Europe in one day, after all. Paris to Venice by plane isn't that bad, it's only 1.5 hours. Munich is kind of off the main route from those two, unfortunately. But with 3 weeks, you can easily do it.

I'd forget Ryanair, that is certainly not the only airline in Europe, it's one of the cheapest but that means most restrictive and probably least comfortable. Restrictive meaning there are considerable add-on fees for anything, which is fine, but I haven't heard a lot of satisfaction with it. If it suits you, of course, take it, though. But there are other budget airlines in Europe.

I like Easyjet, for example, and they fly Paris to Venice in only 1.5 hours for about 50 euro. However, they also fly London to Munich, which may be the trickier one for you, so that's not a bad way to start. They don't fly Munich to Paris (or Venice, only to Milan from Munich). Munich isn't terribly far from Venice, However (closer than to Paris). So if you want to take a train, Munich to Venice wouldn't be a bad one to do (about 6.5 hours, there are some direct trains, no transfers). I don't know if that journey has nice views, but suspect it might. With 3 weeks, you can easily take one long train day.

So that's my suggestion -- Easyjet London to Munich, train Munich to Venice, Easyjet Venice to Paris. I'd fly home from Paris but if you can't, at least it's not too far from London (you can get there by Eurostar train in a few hours). YOu can take the train from Munich to Paris in about 6 hours, also (there are some like that, most are longer), but you'll have to transfer at least once in Stuttgart. So Munich to Venice by train is easier.

And if you must end up in London, London-Munich-Venice-Paris-London seems the most logical route.

PalenQ

of London. I wondered if there were any suggestions you may have for us to see Paris, Munich and Venice in those 3 weeks.
We heard about the Euro rail as well as Ryan Air to get us to those cities.
Is it too much to expect we can see all these cities?>

No not at all in 3 weeks:

London - 4 days
Eurostar train to Paris
Paris 4 days
Train to Munich
Munich 3 days
train to Venice
Venice 4 days

That's 17 days - you could add a day somewhere or end up in say Rome and fly Rayn Air, Easy Jet, etc back to London

and yes try to see if you can do open-jaw - fly into London and out of Venice or Rome.

Trains are fast, modern and frequent - taking the train you see the Europe in between big cities - flying you see only tarmacs and airports.

There are also overnight trains that may be fun for you kid (my son that age was thrilled taking them) - like from Munich to Venice or Paris to Munich, etc.

For loads of great info on European trains and planning a rail trip check out these superb IMO sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

I doubt if with just a handful of trips any railpass would be on benefit to you but do book discounted tickets well in advance for the Eurostar train (not covered by any pass) and trains Paris to Germany and Germany to Italy - can get deep discounts if you book well in advance as those seats are sold at discounts in very limited numbers and can often sell out - the discounted tickets that is - weeks in advance. They are typically non-refundable non-changeable so be sure of your dates. www.seat61.com has tons of great info on discounted tickets and web sites to book them on.

sandralist

I would bet your 10 year old would love some train rides -- and if you can stand it, even some overnight train rides.

As for sightseeing, you know already you are not going to be able to see everything, so I would focus on things your 10 year old would enjoy. In my experience, a lot of 10 year olds REALLY like climbing buidlings, and Paris has a couple of fun things to climb that also happen to be quite important historically: The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame cathedral. If it is raining you all might enjoy some underground tours (read about them to see if they are appropriate for your child). Pastry shops and hot chocolate might be a big hit and a fun way to do a walking tour (see a sight, eat a pastry).

Munich has a BMW museum that I hear lots of kids enjoy. He might also enjoy a short visit to the castle if you can find a short visit. But I wouldn't linger there. If you decide to take the train from Munich to Verona (5 hours) be sure to stop off in Verona to see the big Roman arena there.

I would definitely spring for a gondola ride with a 10 year old in Venice, and find the place where the gondolas are repaired and where the gondoliers like to eat lunch. I would go for a glassmaking tour despite the fact they are very touristy and there is pressure to buy. Maybe he would be interested in the ship museum? Venice was a great seafaring capital. I might try to find some music for a concert one night.

nytraveler

We don;t know your 10 year old - only you do. What are his interests? Ancient roman ruins (gladiator movies)? Castles fro the era of knights on horseback? Natural history/dinos? Mountains? Boat trips?

I think you have enough time to do a quick overview of those 4 cities. Would definitely do open jaw tickets - into London and out of in order to avoid wasting a day getting back to London. Also would do trains over planes wherever possible (any train ride of 6 hours or so or less wil be as fast as flying - and much more comfortable). Plus you wot have to deal with the minute luggage allowances of some of the budget airlines.

I would review some tour brochures and guides with photos with your sone to help him pick out some things he DOES want to see - and that he can find out more about in advance. (He's certainly old enough - I remember in 5th grade we each had to do an oral report on a specific country - including area, map, language, industries, culture etc. I was given Argentina and had to find out a lot about gauchos raising cattle on the Pampas - as well as info on buenas aires and other large cities.)

I would give him a project like this - not so much work but finding out about where he is going and what he wants to see. Visiting the tower of London is much more interesting if you know a little about Tudor history and the various political prisoners there - as is getting some info about the french revolution if you will be visiting versailles. (IMHO - and per my parents training - every trip should include a lot of painless and fun learning.)

sandralist

Hope this is painless, but it's never too late to learn: Spelling is Buenos Aires.

Christina

<< minute luggage allowances of some of the budget airlines.>>

The ones I've seen aren't that minute and I certainly would not refuse to fly because of that as the fee for checking baggage still makes the ticket a bargain and it saves a lot of time. Easyjet's allowances are perfectly normal, the only issue is you have to pay for your checked bag (not unlike United in the US, etc.). But if you buy that when you book, that fee isn't that onerous (about 15 euro, as I recall). And the size of bag you check isn't that small at all, I've easily checked 25" bags that weighed 40 pounds in that allowance. And the carryon allowance isn't a problem, either, it isn't that small. Vueling is the same, as I recall. It doesn't make sense to refuse to fly due to that if it costs about the same or less than the train and only takes 1.5 hrs versus 6.5.

nytraveler

Although a flight may be 1.5 hours - when one adds the time getting to and from the airport, the time allowed at the airport for check in and to get through security and the allowance for getting on the plane before take off - usually at least 30 minutes - that unless the train is less than 5 hours the total time elapsed is about the same. And IMHO train is WAY more comfortable than the plane.

But - if one prefers to fly - be my guest. I just suggest considering all of the time involved.

Mimar

But, Christina, trains go city center to city center. To fly you have to allow time to get to and from the airport as well as two hours or so at the airport before the flight.

To the OP, I think your son would really enjoy some train rides, especially the Eurostar under the channel to Paris. And I like trains because the train is so roomy and comfortable, and the scenery flows by your large window.

dwdvagamundo

I think you can do it (actually four cities counting London), but you'd be missing the best part of Europe--the country and smaller cities and towns.

The "top must sees" depend on your family's interests. Get a good guidebook or, preferably, three--one for each of you-- and then read about what's where and what you would like to see, then compare notes and compromise.

PalenQ

See the Europe in between tourist meccas - take the train or see just tarmacs and airports

dwdvagamundo makes a great point - the 'real' Europe in many ways lies outside the tourist meccas where foreign tourists often seem to outnumber locals - try to at least do a day trip from say Paris to a smaller and more French town, like Reims, Chartres, etc.

Aida02

Thank you for all of the input. What order would you do the cities in and which trains are better/ cheaper. Also what would you recommend in regards to luggage?

PalenQ

Thank you for all of the input. What order would you do the cities in and which trains are better/ cheaper. Also what would you recommend in regards to luggage?>

again this is one very logical routing:

London
Eurostar train to Paris
Paris
Train to Munich
train to Venice
Venice

The prices of trains depends to a great degree whether you book online way in advance to get discounted tickets that are however sold in limited numbers on each train - the early bird gets the worm - just show up and pay two-three times as much - but discounted tickets are usually non-changeable non-refundable so be sure of your times and dates. There is not railpass that would be of help on such a limited itinerary.

nytraveler

Definitely buy the train tickets London to Paris as soon as the go on sale - I htink 90 days in advance - to get much better prices - and the trains you want. the most popular trains (days and times) do sometimes sell out unless you want to pay for first class.

For other trips check out the price options for advance purchase.

The best ite for train schedules for all of europe is bahn.de. And there are not multiple different train services except in a very few places. Generally there is one train service (part of the national train) for each route. There are many people SELLING tickets (eurail often at very high prices) so when buying look at the actual rail service of the county.

PalenQ

There are many people SELLING tickets (eurail often at very high prices) so when buying look at the actual rail service of the county>

with edits this should read:

There are many people SELLING tickets (Rail Europe or ACP Rail in the U.S. often at very high prices) so when buying look at the actual rail service of the country (not county).

There is such thing as "Eurail selling tickets" - Eurail is a pass marketed by the Eurail Committee, owned by European Railways as a collective and they do not sell individual tickets to my knowledge just passes. Rail Europe and ACP Rail are the two main marketing firms in the U.S. selling Eurail Tariff Tickets, again thru the European Railways themselves but yes often at much higher prices as they do not routinely sell discounted tickets you can get online at the various rail sights of European countries - like bahn.de for Germany.