Sarah_E

Hey Everyone,

I am planning a trip to Europe in September 2017. I travel with my husband and our son who will be 3 years old by the time of the trip. We have already taken him on a trip last year when he was one, so we know the challenges of travelling with a child.

I was wondering if you can help us with the plan we put, which goes as follow:
We come from Egypt, so:

*Lisbon (4 nights), Barcelona (4 nights), Venice (3 nights), then Rome (3 nights)*

We will try to book cheap flights between Lisbon/Barcelona and Barcelona/Venice, and will take the train from Venice to Rome. Please note that we have been to Rome before but wish to visit again.

I need suggestions regarding the following:
1. Is there a way we can reduce the number of days in any of the cities above? Please note that we are more interested in the cultural aspects, sightseeing, food and shopping. Not very keen on art and museums.
2. Is flying the best way to travel between cities? Is there a cheaper and also comfortable option?
3. Do you have any suggestions regarding accommodation (we have a very tight budget since the airline ticket is expensive + internal flights).
4. Any advice for travelling with a 3 year old? should we take a stroller (we walk a lot)?
5. Can we still go to the beach in early September? Which one do you suggest and which city??

I would really appreciate any suggestions regarding the plan. I am trying to reduce expenses but still have a comfortable travel/stay since we travel with a child.

Thank you very much in advance.

bilboburgler

you might just check the train from Lisbon to Barcelona prices, but I suspect flights will be cheaper.

In terms of cost you have chosen three expensive cities and Lisbon. If costs get out of hand you could look at say Lisbon/Porto/Seville/Cordoba/Grenada as a cheaper and very interesting visit.

In Lisbon there are still traditional local hotels, but you might find it easier to sleep a little out of town and catch the bus in. Not sure how tired that makes a 3 year old.

Barcelona still has trad commercial hotels, do a bit of google map works with hotel in the search and look for smaller older places. Often very good value and not in the crush.

Rome, I'd look at apprtments near the Vatican (but not in) often some very good deals and its best to be a bit away from the main station.

Venice, I like Mestre (old Mestre but not right by the station) others say the magic of Venice is the early morning or evening walks so if you think this way, then avoid Mestre. You could also look at the beach front but that has the same issues.

Early Sept, yes. Venice is good, Lisbon can be good and Barcelona has one in the centre. It depends on the weather.

Do look out for stays in monestries, often a very good deal and of course hostels can be good.

Tripadvisor can be very useful to chose these places, read a bunch of comments before you commit. You have time, don't rush it.

BigRuss

<<should we take a stroller (we walk a lot)?>>

Yes.

<<Do you have any suggestions regarding accommodation (we have a very tight budget since the airline ticket is expensive + internal flights).>>

In Barcelona, check out www.apartur.com and its registrants - these are the licensed vacation apartment companies in the city. Budgets of all sizes.

As for the rest, define "very tight budget" in Euros.

<<Is there a way we can reduce the number of days in any of the cities above?>>

Yeah, do it. I'm thinking Lisbon does not need four nights (or any, really, b/c it's easily #4 on your list - you could do Barca/Venice/Rome for 4 nights each). If your budget is that tight, and Lisbon is a must, skip Venice altogether - it's the place where you will receive the least value for your money. That said, I'd rather do 5 Barca, 4 Rome and 3 Venice w/o Lisbon than skip Venice.

<<Is flying the best way to travel between cities?>>

Not for Venice-Rome. Use the train.

bvlenci

I would suggest a light-weight stroller, because in some places you'll have to carry it up some steps (or, in Venice, over a bridge).

I use www.booking.com to find lodging, especially in Italy, where I live. You can check the kind of lodging you want, for instance apartments, B&Bs, or hotels. You can specify the neighborhood, for example, instead of saying your destination is "Rome", you can say it's "Piazza Navona Rome". That won't exclude lodging outside that neighborhood, but it will give priority to the area you indicated. You can sort your results by price or by guest rating. I sometimes sort by price and the go down the list until I find a high guest rating with more than a few reviews. You could also sort by guest rating and go down the list until you find something affordable. Do read the guest reviews before making a commitment.

The number of monasteries with family rooms is rather limited. The same is true of hostels in large cities, and in places like Rome and Venice, many hostels attract crowds of loud and rowdy students. I would be very careful about the choice of a hostel.

I use www.skyscanner.net to find cheap flights between European cities. Make sure to check the luggage regulations, because many budget airlines have rigid limits on carryon luggage, and high fees for checked luggage.

You can save quite a lot on train fares by booking well in advance. For travel between Venice and Rome, you have a choice of two companies.

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
http://www.italotreno.it/en

The discounted tickets cannot be changed or modified without heavy penalties, so don't buy tickets until you're fairly sure of the time you want to travel.

kimhe

In Barcelona, I can recommend great value and basic hotel standard Hostal Orleans (private bath, A/C, TV, safe, 24h desk etc) in the medieval and vibrant El Born area. Have stayed here many times. Close to "everything" and 10 mins walk to the huge and fun Barceloneta beach. September is still very much beach and swimming time in Barcelona: http://www.hostalorleans.com/index.php?lang=en
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/host...ans.en-gb.html

Here's a link to the Barceloneta Beach, and you'll also find lots of great and local atmosphere restaurants just inland from the beach in the Barceloneta district: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...eta-beach.html

<more interested in the cultural aspects, sightseeing, food and shopping.>

Then El Born should be exactly what you're looking for. A cradle of Catalan identity and culture, the most important part of town from the 12th century, narrow streets, lots of sights, and some of the best tapas bars, cafés, terraces and small shops in town.
https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide....s/el-born.html
http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/born

Here are also some apartment options in El Born: http://www.oh-barcelona.com/en/barce...artments/born/
http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/born

El Born is next door to the Ciutadella park, five minutes walk to the Cathedral and less than ten minutes walk to the heart of the city Placa de Catalunya and world famous Las Ramblas.

The Ciutadella park: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...utadella.html?
Passeig del Born is the heart of the district: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...del-born.html?
Here you find the fabulous Gothic Sanata María del Mar church: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...a-del-mar.html
And the Born Cultural center, recently opened in the old Born food market: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-cultural.html
Narrow Carrer Montcada was the most importnat street in the city since the 12th century: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montcada.html