Themaxim27

Hi Guys, need a help with lots of tips. I am planning next summer tour to Europe with young family me, my wife & 2kids (8years & 5years old). Landing in Paris & Flying off from Rome. 15 days/ 14nights planned. I do understand driving in Europe can be difficult in urban city but I do want to try in rural i can. My plan is mostly to sightseeing country side nature, culture and enjoy some good food & nice beer (of course), at the same time not want to miss the major city must see historic places and dont want bore my kids too much in museum as well (1 or 2 will be good). Since with family. don't want to check in/out too many times, limit the walking with luggage otherwise we do enjoy walking without loads.
My plan so far to stay in
Paris 3 nights, 1 day to palace of Versailles
1 city in Switzerland - not decided yet - 2nights,
Milan-2nights,
Venice - 2 nights,
Florence 2nights,
Rome 3nights.

I wanted suggestion for
1. Economical option to travel, passes that i must obtain
2. where to stay in hotel or Airbnb,
3. Suggestion which city to choose in Switzerland and visit the Mt. Titlis (is it a must or can I choose the Italy's Mont blanc or Alps,
4. Any other itinerary, food suggestion suggestion.
5. Which simcard to get to cover these 3 countries with good data plan for 1/2 month
6. I am using https://www.routeperfect.com/trip-planner/ & http://www.eurotripplanner.eu/ so far, any other good website for me well planned and organize.

Please advise

massimop

Spend longer in Paris & Switzerland, use only trains to get to Venice, skip Milan, skip Florence except to rent a car, make your way to Rome through the Italian countryside, leave the car in Orvieto & take the train to Rome.

With small children I would skip Versailles. If there is some pressure to go shopping, anything you can buy in Milan you can buy in Rome. If you need a break between Switzerland and Venice, stop at Lugano or Lago Maggiore.

Renting a car in France and dropping it off in Rome will cost a lot of money. Plus, you are moving too fast to allow for summer thunderstorms, etc, which can really slow you down in the mountains. You don't need a car until you leave Venice, and it will be difficult & expensive to have one until after you leave Venice. There is no "country" driving after Venice until you are south of Florence, so take a train from Venice to Florence, take a taxi to the airport to rent a car, and take a scenic route through Tuscany. Stay on farms with animals & swimming pools for the kids, and a restaurant for you.

Mimar

Having said you want to stay out of cities, enjoy the countryside, you then offer a tentative itinerary with 5 cities and even want a suggestion for a city in Switzerland.

Switzerland's best sights are away from cities and it has lots of cute small towns in which to stay. However those towns may not allow cars or be accessible to cars.

In general, one option that might suit you is campings or campgrounds on the outskirts of cities. There's usually a bus into town for when you want a little culture. And campings are great for kids, instant playmates. Here's some info: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-ti...eating/camping and http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/09...ers-guide.html.

PalenQ

1. Economical option to travel, passes that i must obtain>

You are going mainly to cities where cars are useless -so take the train - for lots of info to plan a rail trip check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Your itinerary is impossible by car - and even train -did you figure travel time between stops?

StCirq

Three nights somewhere nets you 2 full days. Do you really want to be packing up and moving on to the next place every other day with two kids in tow and when you've only just gotten oriented to where you are?

A car is a pretty bad idea for this trip, but so is trying to get to all those places in such a short amount of time.

Please don't attempt Versailles with kids those ages....unless you're going in mid-winter, and even then....

janisj

>>Paris 3 nights, 1 day to palace of Versailles
1 city in Switzerland - not decided yet - 2nights,
Milan-2nights,
Venice - 2 nights,
Florence 2nights,
Rome 3nights. <<

Terrible plan -- sorry

It would be a very difficult plan for two hardy backpackers -- but for a family with two young children it is almost impossible. Have you booked your flights? If so are they in to Paris and home from Rome? Then 5 nights in Paris and the rest divided, 3 nights in either Venice or Florence and 5 nights in Rome . . .

OR Then 5 nights in Paris and 3 nights in one city in Switzerland, and 5 nights in Rome . . . That would give you 4.5 days in in Paris, 2 full days in Switzerland and 4 full days in Rome

PalenQ

<Paris 3 nights, 1 day to palace of Versailles
1 city in Switzerland - not decided yet - 2nights,
Milan-2nights,
Venice - 2 nights,
Florence 2nights,
Rome 3nights. >

Let's make this possible by train:

Paris 3 nights
Interlaken area - say Wengen 3 nights
Venice 2 night
Florence 3 nights
Rome 3 nights

quickest feasibly possible without being on trains all the time.

janisj

>>Paris 3 nights
Interlaken area - say Wengen 3 nights
Venice 2 night
Florence 3 nights
Rome 3 nights<<

Semi doable - but:

•Paris 3 nights = 2.5 days and jet lag. Definitely no time for Versailles
•Interlaken area - say Wengen 3 nights = 2 days
•Venice 2 nights = 1 day
•Florence 3 nights = 2.5 days
•Rome 3 nights = 2.5 days

All with a 5 yo and 8 yo . . . and >> . . . don't want to check in/out too many times<<

KTtravel

I, too, agree your itinerary is too busy and to drop Milan and Versailles unless you have a real desire to visit those places. Italy is very hot during the summer so you may need to plan more time to go slowly with frequent stops for cool drinks and gelato.

Every time you change locations, that is an added expense. I would to to narrow down further to your top choices.

Even with the altered suggestions above, you have a very busy trip planned. Even though I love, Florence, you might wish to skip it if your family is not too interested in museums.

One suggestion might be:

Paris: 4 nights (getting over jet lag and 3 days of sightseeing)
Travel to Switzerland: 3 nights (Wengen or Lauterbrunnen valley are good choices) It will take a half day to travel there and give you 2 1/2 days to explore
Venice: 3 nights (1/2 day to travel there, 2.5 days to visit
Rome: 4 nights (1/2 day travel, 3.5 days to visit

If Florence is a must, I would save Switzerland for another trip.