Italy or France with a 15 month old in March?
Jul 6th, 2015, 08:27 AM
#1
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Italy or France with a 15 month old in March?
Hello all,
My husband and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary Mid March. To mark the occasion, we're hoping to take a 5/6 day trip to Europe. The catch is, we'll also be taking our son with us who will be 15 months old at the time.
We live in the UK and are looking for a flight 3 hours or less.
We narrowed it down to the following destinations:
* Verona (with possible day trips to Lake Garda/Venice)
* Bologna (with possible day trip to Verona)
* Nice (with possible day trips to Cannes/Monaco)
* Paris
We'll be travelling with a stroller, 2 hand luggages and 1 hold luggage. The use of a baby carrier will depend on if my son still fits into it, as he's already quite long and muscular.
Could anyone please advise on which of the above destinations would be best to travel to with baby?
Many thanks ��
My husband and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary Mid March. To mark the occasion, we're hoping to take a 5/6 day trip to Europe. The catch is, we'll also be taking our son with us who will be 15 months old at the time.
We live in the UK and are looking for a flight 3 hours or less.
We narrowed it down to the following destinations:
* Verona (with possible day trips to Lake Garda/Venice)
* Bologna (with possible day trip to Verona)
* Nice (with possible day trips to Cannes/Monaco)
* Paris
We'll be travelling with a stroller, 2 hand luggages and 1 hold luggage. The use of a baby carrier will depend on if my son still fits into it, as he's already quite long and muscular.
Could anyone please advise on which of the above destinations would be best to travel to with baby?
Many thanks ��
Jul 6th, 2015, 08:39 AM
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Well in March you may end up spending quite a bit of time indoors due to the weather so I would go to the place with most to do indoors - Paris. Also there are a million things to keep a toddler busy in Paris.
As far as Lake Garda is concerned not sure how much will be open in March - have you checked to see if kids sights are open then - and if so what days (may be only weekends)?
As far as Lake Garda is concerned not sure how much will be open in March - have you checked to see if kids sights are open then - and if so what days (may be only weekends)?
Jul 6th, 2015, 08:58 AM
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I think all the steps and bridges in Venice, plus the possibility of lousy weather, make it problematic with a 15-mo child. Bologna has the great advantage of porticoes and flat flat sidewalks in many areas, but the couple that would enjoy the city most is probably one very eager to cook and shop, with the occasional train trip elsewhere. The sightseeing attractions of Italy are mainly historical, with some art of interest. No specific attractions for kids.
Nice in March is best for committed museumgoers, although you might luck out with nice weather for strolling. Paris has a lot to do if you are looking to be active all the time. Pity it is now so difficult to rent vacation apartments there however.
Nice in March is best for committed museumgoers, although you might luck out with nice weather for strolling. Paris has a lot to do if you are looking to be active all the time. Pity it is now so difficult to rent vacation apartments there however.
Jul 6th, 2015, 10:45 AM
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A few questions and I do not mean to be disrespectful. What things are you interesting in seeing and doing on this trip? Do you enjoy museums, food, music, landmarks, etc? Having a toddler along will certainly affect what you can see and/or do, especially if what you like isn't toddler friendly. That being said, you can do the toddler handoff so one stays outside of the attraction (like the Louvre) and the other goes in and switch off, or, take a nanny/babysitter with you or as a last resort, for a 5 or 6 day trip, leave the baby behind. I've taken my children most everywhere we've traveled and managed to find a balance but its not always easy. A child that young won't remember the trip and you may be just doing a tour of playgrounds and parks with some adult time while he/she naps in the stroller. March will be iffy for weather so be prepared for indoor activities as well.
Oct 28th, 2016, 01:01 AM
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Thank you all for your help. We managed to get my in laws to look after my son (in March) and we took the Eurostar to Paris. We had a fab time there just the two of us, and ended up returning earlier this month with our almost 2 year old. We had a fab time exploring Paris at a slower place and enjoy the cities fabulous parks and open spaces ��
Oct 29th, 2016, 04:59 AM
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I know I will definitely get heat for saying this, but I wish that more people would manage to arrange to leave kids this young at home, as you did.
As was mentioned, they won't remember anything and you'll have much more to deal with than you think. It's a very expensive trip when you consider that nobody will be having much fun.
As was mentioned, they won't remember anything and you'll have much more to deal with than you think. It's a very expensive trip when you consider that nobody will be having much fun.
Oct 29th, 2016, 09:49 AM
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Fuzzbucket, please do consider that some of us like spending time with our kids and would miss them were we to leave them for an extended period. In addition, many of us have nobody we would either trust or impose upon to justify a European vacation. We traveled with our kids when they were very young and don't regret it one bit, and we got very flexible children out of the bargain as they learned to adjust.
Oct 29th, 2016, 09:58 AM
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You'll get heat !
The trick is not that they remember but that we remember taking them.
For my wife and I for instance we would not take holiday without the kids. And then of course we took long holiday. So we went to west US with 2 eldest when they were 4 and 2.
We went to Cuba when they were 6 4 and 'un polichinelle dans Le tiroir '
The trick is not that they remember but that we remember taking them.
For my wife and I for instance we would not take holiday without the kids. And then of course we took long holiday. So we went to west US with 2 eldest when they were 4 and 2.
We went to Cuba when they were 6 4 and 'un polichinelle dans Le tiroir '
Oct 29th, 2016, 12:12 PM
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No heat from me, but it never occurred to me to leave my kids at home. I wanted them with me, no matter how difficult the logistics. And wanted them to grow up traveling and loving it. Glad I did so, too.
Oct 30th, 2016, 10:21 AM
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I'm a huge fan of France but I will say my husband and I found it was the country with the least amount of escalators and elevators. For changing trains or getting on subway we always had to carry everything. We traveled for 2 1/2 months through various countries and it was the most frustrating to move our luggage through France. Italy we found to be the most handicap friendly as there were always elevators and escalators. France is doable but just be prepared to carry!
Oct 30th, 2016, 10:36 AM
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This has nothing to do with loving your children and missing them when you travel.
I understand not having someone trustworthy to leave very young children with when you travel. Perhaps it would be better to wait to travel until your infants are a little older.
I understand that kids around the age of 3 or 4 will probably remember the fun stuff and parents will already have loads of experience in travelling with them at home.
But can anyone explain to me what an infant will get out of a trip to the Louvre or Versailles except for a nap or a crying fit?
I understand not having someone trustworthy to leave very young children with when you travel. Perhaps it would be better to wait to travel until your infants are a little older.
I understand that kids around the age of 3 or 4 will probably remember the fun stuff and parents will already have loads of experience in travelling with them at home.
But can anyone explain to me what an infant will get out of a trip to the Louvre or Versailles except for a nap or a crying fit?
Oct 30th, 2016, 01:56 PM
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How foolish to wish others stop enjoying travel with their small children!
Did these people say they took their toddler to France to impress the child with the glories or the Louvre and Versailles?
If you are objecting to crying children ruining your experience of art museums, why not just say so?
If you imagine all or most people travel with toddlers in order to impress memories on the toddlers, think again. In fact, the whole idea of traveling, even as an adult, to store up memories (or photos) is not the reason everybody travels. I can't remember half the places I've been -- names or details (or, if I remember the details, I often can't remember the name, or vice versa).
There are lots of enjoyments in travel that have nothing to do with stuffing one's head with knowledge -- although it's a great reason to travel, too.
Have a cookie. Relax. Realize there are a million reasons to travel, with kids, without, and 90 percent of the tourists you pass on the road to your museum are not traveling for the reasons you are traveling.
Did these people say they took their toddler to France to impress the child with the glories or the Louvre and Versailles?
If you are objecting to crying children ruining your experience of art museums, why not just say so?
If you imagine all or most people travel with toddlers in order to impress memories on the toddlers, think again. In fact, the whole idea of traveling, even as an adult, to store up memories (or photos) is not the reason everybody travels. I can't remember half the places I've been -- names or details (or, if I remember the details, I often can't remember the name, or vice versa).
There are lots of enjoyments in travel that have nothing to do with stuffing one's head with knowledge -- although it's a great reason to travel, too.
Have a cookie. Relax. Realize there are a million reasons to travel, with kids, without, and 90 percent of the tourists you pass on the road to your museum are not traveling for the reasons you are traveling.
