Europe in 2 weeks on budget

Old May 21st, 2017, 10:56 PM
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Europe in 2 weeks on budget

We are a family of 3 (husband, wife and 2yr kid), planning to visit france in September mid. Need help/suggestions in the places we can visit in Europe. We are basically planning to visit 2 regions. Our first region would be France. Then deciding on either Switzerland/Italy. Also I have the Greek Islands in mind -Santorini. Basically we are looking out for a mix of architecture/art, cultural, scenic related memories out of this trip.
Few of the places in our mind for France are :
1. Paris
2. Loire Valley
3. Versailles
4. The Alabaster Coast in Normandy
5. Giverny & Monet villages
6. Some of the old town/villages like : Colmar and Annecy
7. Champagne Region - for champagne tasting
8. French Riviera

I hope in this
- Versailles (probably a bike trip from Paris) as a day trip
- Giverny can be covered as part a day trip from Paris via rail.
- Loire Valley will also take 2D/1N probably. Is it wise to plan for a bike trip for this region. Can we rent out a bike at some place in Loire Valley and explore the small town and village. Also can we have some wine tour also in this area
- I am not sure how to plan for the trip trip to Alabaster Coast. I am interested in basically some of the best view points of this coastal strip. How long should we stay here and how to commute from Paris or any near by areas.
- Any idea how to go about the French Riviera.

Our plan is to arrive at Paris first. And from there cover the day trips like Versailles, Giverny etc. And then the other regions in France.

Also please share your suggestions on Switzerland /Italy/Greek Isands trip. I would be looking for a 9 days in France and 3-4 days in the other destination.

Please share your valuable comments on this plan. If this is too much or how I can go about this.
TravelDreamz is offline  
Old May 21st, 2017, 11:58 PM
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Your plans for France are already far too ambitious for such a short trip. Abandon all plans to add a second country.

There will be other trips.
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 12:06 AM
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Budget, well that cuts out the Riviera and Switzerland.

1) Paris
5. Giverny & Monet villages, train trip (plus bikes or not) is a good day trip from Paris
7. Champagne Region - for champagne tasting, you could do this as a day trip from Paris by train
3. Versailles, yep another day trip

Then you could do one other longer trip for few nights, any of

2. Loire Valley (yep bike hire is relatively easy, but it depends where you over night, I might look at Saumur, wine tastings on the dock, bike hire nearby, the odd chateau around and nice little old town

4. The Alabaster Coast in Normandy, probably not that great a visit as you might expect from the name

6. Some of the old town/villages like : Colmar and Annecy, Train to Strasbourg (which is a fantastic visit) and then down to Colmar, or you could stay somewhere like Eguisheim and walk/ride near/in the vines. Follow my name back till Oct last year and see what we did, and look at mybikeguide.co.uk for some other ideas in Alsace
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 12:14 AM
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If you want a budget trip, then skip Switzerland. Italy is no less beautiful, and it's much cheaper. I suspect Santorini in mid Sept is expensive and full of tourists, but if you must do it, it's feasible.

Where you go next after France depends on how you want to travel. You'd better search for a multi-destinations flight which takes you into Paris and takes you home from your last destination. It'll save you time, don't retrace back to Paris and don't look for 2 separate one-way flight tickets either. For example, you can look for a multi-destinations flight which takes you into Paris and takes you home from Venice. It really depends on the prices and how much can you spend.

Each one below can do as an easy day trip from Paris, there are trains to them:
Versailles, Giverny, Champagne Region (visit Reims)

Count in at least 3 full days for Paris itself, then 1 day for arrival, then you have 7 days already. You can only visit one other province with the rest 2 days.

About the Alabaster Coast, you can take train to Le Havre. From there, there are bus/local train to Etretat (the most famous of the coast), Fecamp, Honfleur,...

To go from France to another region, search on this website for transportation, it'll list all means available to you:

https://www.rome2rio.com

And, with 3-4 days left, you can't really visit a region, you can only see 1 town at best. Don't forget to facture in transportation time, and time for the baby.

Is it your first time to Europe? Will you fly into Europe? This will help us more in answering your questions.
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 05:01 AM
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Have you traveled by plane and train with your child now that they are a toddler?
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 05:19 AM
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Save Santorini for when your child is older, just not a good fit for a toddler.
Rather than Switzerland, perhaps one of the Lakes in Italy or a bit of Northern Italy.
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 05:43 AM
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You will barely have time for what you want to see in France.I would forget visiting another country if you really want to fit in all this.

Why the Alabaster Coast?
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 06:01 AM
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For all this biking, you will need a child seat for your 2-year-old. I've never had to rent a child seat with a bike; are they readily available? And a child's bike helmet?
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 06:30 AM
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bike helmets not mandatory in France, for 2 year olds you may want to hire a tag-along instead, worth asking about when you decide where you are going
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 07:06 AM
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We have hobbits. We have traveled with hobbits. YOU CANNOT TRAVEL WITH A TODDLER AS IF YOU ARE TRAVELING JUST YOU AND YOUR OTHER HALF. Children have specific needs that must be serviced. You can cover about 1/2 of the amount of whatever you'd otherwise do just you and the other half.

Basically, your plan as conceived is horrendous. You need to rethink and ratchet down your expectations.
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 07:15 AM
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"YOU CANNOT TRAVEL WITH A TODDLER AS IF YOU ARE TRAVELING JUST YOU AND YOUR OTHER HALF."

This is what I have heard also (I have no hobbits of my own). I asked a friend who has them and and who traveled thru Italy what it was like traveling with toddlers. He said it was just like traveling with them at home, only "more sticky."
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 08:53 AM
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Listen to those saying you are trying to cover too much in too little time.

What does budget mean? Unless you define it, it is a meaningless term.

One thing is certain, every day spent moving will cost double what a day spent sitting in a place will cost. So the more you move, the less 'budget friendly' your trip will be. With only 2 weeks, I would not attempt to STAY in more than 4 places. Moving less will also be easier with a child obviously.

A common mistake people make is to use that word 'Europe'. You can't visit 'Europe' in 2 weeks. You can barely visit one small region in one country in 2 weeks. Think in terms of what is reasonable and realistic to expect to be able to do, not in terms of what you would LIKE to do if you had 2 years.
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 09:05 AM
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Perhaps you have already made trips with your little one and traveled to Europe before and do not need this, so disregard if it does not apply.

You may get tired and hungry or have a travel delay or cancellation and you deal with it. A toddler who gets tired or hungry, especially in a strange place, will not deal with it well, and even though anywhere you are will have what you need for a child, you will need to be prepared ahead of it happening and have things on hand, not go searching for them.

Have all the information (hours, transportation options, etc), for what you want to do, but be prepared to make changes as needed. Your child may go along happily in a stroller one week and by the next week have grown into the need to run on their own. You know how quickly they change. They may nap in a stroller or not. Paris has many wonderful parks for children to run around and play. Count on making that part of each day!


You will likely want a stroller in Paris and a car seat for the flight.
For hotels, be sure to ask about a bed for your child and what kind. I understand that many apartment rentals are illegal in Paris, but an apartment style hotel would be great.
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 09:55 AM
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Thanks all for your valuable suggestions.

Yes, I have had prior travels with my toddler on flight. Its not that easy, but yes its not that hard or impossible.
We would be flying to Paris around mid of September as per the current plans.

Also we have had few bike trips with my baby. Actually she seems to be really interested in case we have small breaks in between from the drive. I am sure tat if we go about Loire Valley on a bike, we wont be travelling on a bike for more than 3 hrs altogether in a day. Which according to me should be OK for my kid.
My only worry in this is if bike ride with a 2 year old is allowed in France.

On why Alabaster Coast, I had gone through few links and got to know ther are few really good view point out there. Please let me know if it would be worth it, or it will be too hectic.

Yes also one update, i would be skipping Champagne Region, instead do the wine tasting/tour in region like Colmar.
Also please share your suggestions for should I go with 2 day Loire Valley trip or a one day Versailles trip. Please share your views on the same.

According to me day of arrival i will be keeping it seperate, since we will be reaching Paris only by afternoon. So after the hectic travel and jet lag we wont be doing much other than just taking a small night stroll in the neighborhood where we will be staying.
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Old May 22nd, 2017, 11:30 PM
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"My only worry in this is if bike ride with a 2 year old is allowed in France."

of course, France is a liberal democracy, how would a mother on a bike move her kids?

You issues will be more the equipment. Most hire bikes will not have a child seat, so when booking you need to check. But, tag-alones (a little trailer hooking on the back of the bike) is far more common, but I don't know the French for one. You might need to search on the web for pictures and send them to the company (or just walk up and ask)


Good call on the Colmar tasting, focus on Pinot Gris and Gewurtz I prefer the Loire but if you like one massive chateau and great gardens then Versailles is very good
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Old May 23rd, 2017, 09:17 AM
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I have been to Paris a handful of times and still cannot wait to return. There is so much to see and do and experience (the great food and drink) that I think you should spend as much time in one place as possible. If you want to stay in Paris I would suggest you take a couple days to visit the coast of France, perhaps to visit Mont St. Michel. I think it would be a nice trip for your family to visit the city of Paris and the coast for a few days of relative relaxation.
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Old May 23rd, 2017, 09:21 AM
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I think <12 year olds have to wear helmets, but only on a bike, not in a tag along
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