mikki_ogletree

My family of four is planning a trip to Europe in late May 2014 in honor of my daughter's 16th birthday. Neither my husband nor my 12 year-old daughter has ever been abroad. We know we want to visit Paris (the birthday girl's pick), but were considering adding either London (and surrounding areas like Stratford) or the Loire Valley. I want to make the most of our time there (probably about 10-12 days). Should I: (1) plan an independent trip, since we love flexibility, (2) go as part of a pre-planned tour group, like maybe Tauck or Globus, or (3) hire our own personal guide in each city? Any advice is appreciated! Need to make a decision soon!!!

november_moon

I would go independent. These aren't difficult places to travel in, so you should be totally fine on your own. Plus, that allows you to set your schedules how you like, visit the places you want to for as long as you guys want, etc. On a pre-planned tour group, you'll be on their schedule, which often times means shorter time visiting the sites than you would like, being up and on the bus early, etc. You say you love flexibility, so that means a pre-planned multi-day tour is pretty much not even an option. As for hiring a guide in each city, that is really a matter of personal travel style and budget.

kja

There is no need to join a tour for these locations unless that's what you want to do. You don't even need to hire guides! Just get a good guidebook or two.

Nikki

I prefer independent travel, and most people on this message board are here because they like to plan trips themselves. Since you say you love flexibility, I would think you don't want to be tied into a rigid touring schedule.

For your purposes, I think booking walking tours in the cities you visit should serve the purpose if you want a structured introduction to the sights.

justineparis

I have visited Europe with kids about your kids ages.. do not take one of those mainstream tours,, teens are not cool with getting up at 6 am , to have breakfast at 7, to be on bus by 8,, come to think of it neither am I !!!

I have been to Europe many times, and in all cases travelled independently. Had great trips.

The one exception was when I took my 11 yr old dd to Europe on our own.. I had already taken our 13 yr old son to Europe for 17 days two years before, and we just visited London and Paris, which are two of the easiest destinations to do on your own,, but when I took my 11 yr I wanted to show her a bit more, and we had more time.. so I booked a 14 day Family Europe Tour with Rick Steves.. Its a tour specifically geared to families. They have small groups, our tour was 26 people, of which 14 were kids ranged from age 8-17, most kids were 11-16.. and they all had a ball. They use the big 50 seat buses, so the kids end up migrating to the back of the bus and really bonding.. and the adults all got along great too. We only had one super early morning , and that was breakfast at 7:30, usually it was 8 or so , with meeting up at 9 for touring or bus.
We visited France, Italy, Switzerland , Austria,, and did some fun things regular bus tours do not do.. like the Luge Rides in Switzerland,,

Anyways,, I love travelling independently and would recommend it, but if you really feel you want to take a tour, this is the tour for families, the kids and adults all had a ball, museum visits were made interesting, there was physical stuff for kids, hikes etc..

IF you go on your own, Paris and London are logical and easy to do , fly into one city, take Eurostar to next one, fly out of that one. When pricing flights you are lookign for multi destination flights, not two one ways.. Book Eurostar tickets well in advance for cheapest tickets, its city center to city center in just 2.5 hours.

Good luck.