janisj

€180 = about £140 which is less than £1000 for a week.

Most places sleeping 5 will cost more than that. I'll sound like a broken record (I recommend these to everyone on a limited budget) - but these in St Katharine's Marina will fit w/i your budget and the 2 bdrms will comfortably sleep your family.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hamlet_uk/

But they do book up far in advance -- right now both 2 bdrm flats are available all of June but that could change quickly.

nytraveler

Agree that London and Paris have tons of things for kids to see and do - as well as some that they will like along with adults.

Sometimes people seem to think that children are brainless until they reach their tees. Totally incorrect. They are like little sponges from preschool and if you expose them to culture, museums, cathedrals (as well as the most kid friendly activities, like boat rides, carousels, puppet shows, zoos etc) they will love them.

My parents took my B and I to museums in NYC from the time we were infants (in fact the Natural Hist Museum is the standard 2nd grade trip in NYC schools - ALL kids love dinos) and we always enjoyed tremendously. Of course we also went to central Park, includng the zoo at the same time, rumplemeyers for hot chocs or sundaes) etc. Kids seem esp to enjoy arms & armour, egyptian sections (at 5 my brother insisted he had to have his own mummy and tried to get into a sarcophagus) and if you take them through the museum and cathedral web sites you will find there is a lot they are interested in (try to get them away from the gargoyles).

michele_d

We stayed at this agriturismo outside Pienza for a week and absolutely loved it. Their rates for this 4 person apartment is 950 euro/week. You can also add a fifth bed. There is an outdoor pool and laundry facilities. Huge breakfast also if you wish.

http://www.fontebertusi.it/en/toscan...rtfolioID=1240

I think the kids would love apartment stays in London and Paris. There is a lovely, huge park right near Harrod's in London (sorry can't recall name) that the kids would love to run around in. Paris also has several beautiful huge parks for the kids to enjoy.

We stayed in the non-touristy/residential Biennial area of Venice (had a lovely park across from the apt). The apt sleeps 6, has a huge couch that we lounged all over and also has laundry facilities. We ran our clothes out on the clothesline above the plaza just like the locals. Markets just downstairs on the square. About five minute walk from St Mark's square but very uncrowded.

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/venice/b...tment-biagigli

We absolutely love staying in apts. Just break up your days so you can return to the apts for a few hours to rest and relax before you head back out again in the evening.

Happy planning!

Ron76

Thank you SO much janisj and michele_d, for suggestions of where to stay! This is exactly the point we are at, looking for apartments for 5 for London, Rome, Venice, and Paris, and an agriturismo (5-7 nights in each).

scigirl

What a great trip. I agree with many PP that the key is to stay as centrally as possible to minimize your daily travels. I have traveled extensively with my two childre, now age 7 and 11. We have been to extensively to Spain, Morocco, Netherlands, Jamacia, pending a trip to Iceland, and many places in the US - and I have been many places without them (all the places you list). I find they can handle generally, at maximum, 2 activities per day (e.g. Anne Frank house and Amsterdam city museum) and then they are *done* with cultural type activites. Other activites that are more kid centric become the key at that point - parks, eating, eating ice cream, shopping at stores w/ things kids like (e.g. toys or tacky tourist stuff). They also appreciate outside activites, like the beach, bike riding, zoo, park, etc.

Personally, I would ditch London, and do Paris, train to Pisa, train to Rome, and then train to Naples, since you mention wanting to have more time in Italy. Focus 1 to 1 1/2 weeks on Paris and the surrounding area - e.g. even kids can appreciate the Eiffel tower and castles, and the amazing city in general. Remainder of time in Italy - one night in Pisa, a 1 - 1/2 weeks in Rome, blance in Naples w/ trips to Pompei and Herculanemum. The kids are old enough to recognize the major structures and hold onto some details of the history. Moving around frequently from hotel to hotel with kids, or commutes over one hour are generally a bust - kids get super bored and tired with that sort of thing.

Be sure to bring approrpriate electronics and chargers. Be prepared to take a slow pace, stoppping often to refuel on kid-friendly food. Get some age appropriate books to read before the trip about the places you will visit.

PalenQ

You may want to take an overnight train from Rome to Venice - kids may find it rather neat (my kid that age always did) - book up a private compartment if possible and make a real adventure of it.

In Italy book trains early for nifty discounts - www.trenitalia.com or www.italotren.com (not sure of this site but must be given somewhere above) - for lots of great stuff on European overnight trains and trains in general I always spotlight these IMO fine sites: www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. I doubt if any railpass would be cost-effective for your rather limited train travels - especially since railpasses only get a minor discount on the Paris to Venice overnight train.

PalenQ

sometimes on those discounted tickets first class discounted ones can be not much more than 2nd class discounted ones or if the 2nd class ones are sold out and first-class discounted ones available the price may be and several have found here that 1st class could cost a bit more than the cheapest available 2nd class seat and with three kids I'd pay a little or even a lot more extra - bigger seats - usually IME empty seats to spread out on, etc. So check both first and second class tickets in all fare categories IMO.

crosscheck

We were lucky to travel to Europe often with our kids when they were the ages of yours (often linked to our work). The most similar trip to the one you outlined was a month in Venice/Lucerne/London/Cotswalds/Wales, a big hit. We also spent a month just in Paris and never ran out of things to do. We eventually graduated to 'edgier' trips and both of my boys, now in their 20s, are compulsive travelers.

Agree with Kaapie's rule - one activity a day, then chill.

I suggest renting airbnbs because that includes interaction with locals (check out my ongoing trip report for booking tips).

Agree you should stay in cities, except maybe Venice, where my boys loved staying on the Lido and taking boats into town. We stayed at the Hotel des Bains, which sadly no longer exists, but you can probably find an airbnb. That way, after a morning of sightseeing we could have an afternoon on the beach, then dinner in the city...or an evening of seaside fun w/arcades, etc.

Must do's for kids: soccer games, stadium tours, musical theater in London (loved by our jocks), history museums (Cabinet War Rooms is a must) lakes, bikes, picnics, flea markets where everyone gets their own spending money, at least one train ride. At museums we would stop at the gift shop first and each would choose 5 postcards with works of art they wanted to see...then we'd go on a hunt to find those pieces.

Timeout lists great kid activities in their guides.

Good luck - The four of us managed to return to Europe together this past summer, but I miss the days when the boys were the age of your kids, doing taste tests of pizza and gelato.

Mimar

In the UK almost all museums have special activities for kids: a map to follow, questions to answer, etc. Ask about this when you enter.

I agree that London has lots for kids. So much that you can narrow it down by their interests. Off the top of my head: Harry Potter sights and even a walking tour (http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Ho...r/default.aspx), the Imperial War Museum, the side-by-side Museums of Natural History and Science, the Zoo, a ride on a canal boat, the maze at Hampton Court Palace, the London Eye, Hamley's toy store. I'm sure there are many more.

janisj

>> I'm sure there are many more.<<

The biggest/bestest . . . The Tower of London

PalenQ

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/...ial-playground

and kids will love the Princess Diana Memorial Playground near Kensington Palace on an extenstion of Hyde Park!

Kids that age may even love this more than going inside another often for many kids another boring palace!

janisj

Sorry, but the OP's children are too old for the Princess Diana playground. The 6yo fits <i>just</i> in the demographic. It is really designed for older toddlers up to 4 to 6 yo's.

jan47ete

Just spent 3 days in Rome and stayed at the Bollo Apts - our usual place in Rome. Steps from Campo di Fiori and 8 maybe 9 buses, walkable to Pizza Navona and Pantheon and 2 grocery stores. We like apts even just to have breakfast as coffee and cappuccino are for mid morning break, not breakfast for hubby. www.bolloapartments.com.

Ron76

Thanks for all your help. We have done a lot of research and are almost ready to book flights and places to stay. We decided to fly into and start with Paris, because it is much cheaper for us to fly there rather than London. The month-long trip in June is looking like this:

Fly from Canada to Paris, stay for 6 nights in central apartment
Travel to London, stay in house/apartment in Fulham or Kensington for 7 nights
Fly to Venice, stay in apartment in city for 3 nights
Rent car, drive to Tuscany countryside and stay in agriturismo with pool for 8 nights with day trips to Florence and smaller towns
Drive to Rome, drop rental car, and stay in apartment for 4 nights and fly home from Rome

michele_d

The division of time looks really good. Not too rushed at all. So glad to see you are spending at least a week in Tuscany. So many wonderful small towns to visit. Much different feel than just staying in the cities, even though those are wonderful also. Happy planning!

janisj

Your plan looks great.

I personally would not choose Fulham or Kensington as my London Base however. Both are terrific neighborhoods but not as central/convenient as you might want for day-to-day sightseeing.

Kaapie

When we first took our boys to London they were 2 and 4 years old. We stayed in an apartment off Tottenham Court Road which was perfectly positioned as there are so many tubes and buses nearby. There was also a Tesco a block away which was very convenient for stocking up with supplies. Unfortunately that was 16 years ago and I cannot remember the name of the apartments but the main reason for telling you was because this worked so perfectly. We spent time in all the various parks around London and they were really easy to get to from there.

PalenQ

I think the Kensington High Street area is a great place for families - a rather upscale area with nice parks right at hand - for kids to play like in Holland Park with its peacocks running around - great Tube connections (with kids that age walking may be a hard sell) and loads of useful stores - supermarkets and even a Whole Foods Market!

but it's the park that makes it nice for kids - hard to find playgrounds in more central London.

janisj

Yes it is upscale -- but it is not convenient for day to day sight seeing.

skatterfly

How exciting for you! A full month will be wonderful for you. Your revised itinerary looks very manageable. Glad you kept London. There will be so much to do there. Though it does seems a little counterintuitive to me to start in Paris and then travel essentially farther away from Venice to London. But I can understand that the flights into London can be expensive. I'd probably fly into London first if it were me... but each to their own. Just keep in mind the first 3 days will be somewhat diminished by jet lag, and you're only giving 6 nights to Paris. Only 6!!! ;-)

In 2013, we took our 2 girls (then 7 and 10) on their first trip to Europe. (Well, technically, the 10 year old came once as a baby but that didnt count). We spent 10 days in Paris, then spent a week in the Loire valley (both places we had already been to, Paris many times). I do not think I could or would have added 2 more cities to that trip because it was a lot for them to do and take in. The younger one, in particular, needed a bit more time to transition between activities and time to stay in the apartment and watch TV or read sometimes. And she's a really active kid. A younger child or one that might have a hard time with crowds or having to "behave" in a museum might have a harder time and get grumpy. A couple times we split up the group and one child went with daddy and the other with me.

That said, my girls loved loved loved Paris and can't wait to return again in 2015. Before the last trip, I checked out travel videos and let them look through the travel guides and other books to get ideas for what might suit them and put together a list of must sees. I let them be part of the planning. By the way, one of their favorite places was the Musee De L'Armee inside Invalides... go figure. Rooms and rooms full of suits of armors and swords and shields, but they loved it. They also loved the Batobus, and going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We enjoyed several wonderful lunch meals in restaurants (almost always cooked at home for dinner) and got to try what they considered "adventurous" traditional French fare such as bouef bourgignon. One of the 10 days we got out of Paris and trained out to Giverny, from there we rented bikes and actually rode bikes for a day. I let them each spend a couple hours (different days) shopping for a few pieces of clothing to buy. And we made a point of stopping in and trying at least 1 (or 2 or 5) pieces of chocolate or a macaroon at every place we saw. We took them to the Louvre one day, and the Musee D'Orsay (my favorite museum) on another.. and they tolerated both. I don't regret taking them to the museums because I knew it was also *my* vacation, and mommy needed to commune a little with my favorite art. We tried to take that approach as travel companions... making sure that everyone got a say in what we did through the day. We didn't need consensus each time, but I also didn't march them along like little minions either. They also really enjoyed hamming it up for pictures outside the Louvre Pyramid, and really desperately wanted to feed the birds by the Cloisters at Notre Dame but settled on watching someone else feed them. We even spent an afternoon letting them run wild in the playground in Luxembourg gardens. Bottom line, it was an amazing family vacation. I don't think we could have achieved that level of relaxation if we had to cut that to 5 days and then ship off to another location.

That said, we're now planning our next trip in 2015. The girls are now 9 and 12, and we're adding several more stops along the way over the course of 25 days. London, Loire Valley, Burgundy, Chamonix, then a few last days in Paris. We're covering a much larger area and several more cities, trying something new for the kids (London), working in visits to some friends we met on the last trip (Loire Valley), relaxing for a week (Burgundy), throwing in a few days in the Alps (hey, we figured... when's the next time we'll be 2 hours away from Mont Blanc?), and finishing the trip with a few final days in our beloved Paris. It's not perhaps the most elegant or efficient itinerary, but we're hoping it will tick a lot of boxes for each of us. I would not, however, have attempted this trip just 2 years ago.

You're in the thick of the hardest part... nailing down accommodations and making it jive with the flight dates, then getting everyone to hold it all for a day or two to make sure your flight costs haven't changed. Good luck, and happy planning.