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Paris to Barcelona by car/train - including Loire/Bordeax/Carcassonne

Paris to Barcelona by car/train - including Loire/Bordeax/Carcassonne

Old Dec 18th, 2014, 05:39 AM
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Paris to Barcelona by car/train - including Loire/Bordeax/Carcassonne

Hello, we are travelling with our 2 years old baby and ´d like to go to Loire/Carcassone.

Is this plan ok?

Day 1-4 London

Day 5 Eurostar to Brugge

Day 6-7 Brugge (daytrip to Guent)

Day 8 Thallys to Paris (stopover Brussels to see Gran Place)

Day 9-10 Paris

Rent a car gare du nord

Day 11 Blois (stopover Chartres and Chambord)

Day 12 Tours (stopover Amboise and Chenonceau)

Day 13 Bordeaux (stopover Villandry gardens)

Day 14 Bordeaux (daytrip to St Emmilion OR Vyneyards)

Return the car in bordeaux

Day 15 TGV to Carcassonne

Day 16 Renfe to barcelona

Days 17-19 Barcelona
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Old Dec 18th, 2014, 07:10 AM
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Why did you start a new thread? You are getting lots of responses on your other one.
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Old Dec 18th, 2014, 08:55 AM
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This one has much more detail.

And no - this is NOT doable -esp with a toddler. You have not allowed for the time to travel from one place to another - you are assuming you can do substantial travel plus sightseeing every single day - hauling a cranky toddler and all his stuff around with you - and not allowing any time for the child to run around, nap, relax, etc. Also, not at all sure you can take a child that age to vineyards (to which you typically need to have an invitation or sign up for a day trip - no small kids).

This would be a very challenging trip for adults alone - simply not possible with a toddler.
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Old Dec 18th, 2014, 09:03 AM
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>>This one has much more detail.
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Old Dec 18th, 2014, 09:58 AM
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You are trying to cover way, way too much ground with a little one in tow. Days 11-15 are crazy with a toddler, probably not even doable.

Have you been to Paris before? Only two days with a toddler gives you little time for seeing much. Paris has lovely parks and play areas for children. Plan museum or sight seeing in the morning and naps and play time for afternoon. Get a stroller that is comfortable enough for sleeping and not being bumped awake every minute. Plan at least one, better two, play times every day.

Sight see in the morning and driving in the afternoon if your little one sleeps well in the car might work, but no one night stays. They are not reasonable with a toddler. Seeing one major thing a day and the rest more relaxed works best with a little one. Try to enjoy the trip and a baby together.

The baby will not function well as just extra luggage. You must plan the trip with the needs of a busy child, who will have no interest in wine or architecture, in mind.

With travel times, your trip is 2 & 1/2 weeks. With spills and accidents, that is a lot of clothes, especially for a small child. Unless all your baby clothes are disposable, you will need to do some laundry. Allow a couple of evenings or afternoon for that. One of you could do laundry while the other takes baby to play. You could also send the laundry out, but you need to be in one place long enough to send it out and get it back.

What time of year are you going? If summer, you might stay in Bruges an extra day and go to the beach.
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Old Dec 18th, 2014, 10:11 AM
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Well, having travelled a lot with my child I am sure children can have fun all day long with your parents and relax by night.

It depends what kind of activity you´re doing. Off course you can ´t spend a day on that wonderful boring art museum, but the pleasure to be there with your kids is better than any other thing

BTW, I started this new thread because if you didn ´t realized it this post is about a car experience, very different from a train experience (IMHO) and didn ´t want people get confused about my ideas.

Anyway, thank you for you feedback, I appreciate it very much.
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Old Dec 18th, 2014, 03:51 PM
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>> didn ´t want people get confused about my ideas.>Well, having travelled a lot with my child I am sure children can have fun all day long with your parents and relax by night. both threads agree -- you are planning too much/too far/in too little time. If you disagree -- then . . . it is your trip.
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