bobthenavigator

Much better, yes,but you really need 3 nites in Venice since day one is a loss.

xyz99

Better, but still a lot of moving around, especially with a 5yo. Please consider skipping either Rome or Paris, depending on your interests and you'll have a much pleasant trip. Considering only the logistics, I would skip Rome this time.

PalenQ

flying still takes half a day - I'd put one more day in Paris and one less in London - Eurostar to London only takes one hour on the clock - you gain an hour going to the UK from France. So you would have 4 full days practically in London and 3.5 in Paris.

nytraveler

This is still a forced march - especially with a 5 year old - and you will still be spending a very large amount of time (and money) just trekking from one place to another.

But it's your life and your money - and you will know better next time - if your 5 year old is still speaking to you.

StCirq

It still sounds horrible to me, and this is coming from someone who dragged her young kids to Europe every spring and summer for years on end. There would have been mutiny. Is there some reason you can't understand that this is a trip that would be incredibly taxing even just for adults? When you travel with a 5-year-old, the trip really has to be all about that child, NOT about how much racing around YOU want to do!

dulciusexasperis

You can lead a horse to water...............

Minimum 4 nights/3 full days each place. That is a simple formula to use if you must plan.

Trying to 'squeeze' more into a given amount of time simply results in not enough time anywhere. Your dime, your time, but your plan still sucks.

Kathie21

As one who actually likes to move around quite a bit, I have to say that your new plan is still overly aggressive. It doesn't appear that you are giving consideration to the fact that you are traveling in August when it is hot and crowded, nor are you allowing for bad weather and needing to adjust your daily plans. I would think Sassafrass' suggested itinerary makes a lot more sense!

PalenQ

Minimum 4 nights/3 full days each place. That is a simple formula to use if you must plan.>

A simple formula to be applied to every stop - balony - some stops may only need one day - why spend 3-4 days say if stoppingin Brussels or even small Bruges.

Your sweeping statement is IMO nonsense and should be ignored.

stokebailey

Your revised plan looks a lot better, suchda. You'll still want more time in each city, but don't we always?

colduphere

PQ think of visiting a city like visiting a thread. You never know how long you want to spend on a thread until you get there. Four posts might be enough. Or three. Or by golly even one post by one person might be enough to convince you to move on.

Really. You never know.

jane1144

I, too, would consider dropping Rome on this trip mainly because it will be very hot. We were there in early September and found that we were exhausted each day because of the heat. Venice is not as bad as there is a sea breeze.

drlaz

The revision is better, but it is still too crowded. I know it's hard with the initial transatlantic expense, and the short American paid vacations (2 weeks per year, most Europeans have 4 or 5) to accept how little you can see.

As an example, the art museums of Venice may not agree with a 5-y.o., but taking the vaporetto (public transit boat, not tourist trap) to Murano to the Glass Museum http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ce_Veneto.html should work. That's a half-day by itself.

London is the best museum city in the world (and I am a native of Washington, D.C.) and moreover, many of them have special programs for 5s, like a sheet that functions as a treasure hunt. You would not be bored there in a month, so after checking out Venice I think I'd fly straight there. (Do Paris on your next trip, which I would probably love as much as London if my tourist French were a little better.)

coral22

Hi, I think with your 5 year old and the August crowds and heat, I might consider dropping Rome, too. Having said that, we are more the type of travelers who want to see more and get different flavors on our trip, especially if you and your 15 year old have never been to Europe.

When we went to Rome with our 3 kids it was July and pretty hot. If you get going early and take afternoon hotel breaks it might work. We stayed in Hotel Madrid which was basic but near the Spanish Steps so the location was fantastic! It slept 5 so was very reasonable, had A/C and a lovely rooftop breakfast terrace. I would not add more time there and would pare down my things to see list.

I would also put 3 nights at all 4 cities, you will need adjustment time in Venice, and as much as we like London, I think 5 days is shortchanging other places too much. I would put the 1 extra night with Paris, but your group might prefer London! Have a great time!

annhig

Venice, Rome, London, or Venice, Paris, London - potentially a great trip.

Venice, Rome, Paris, London - potentially disastrous.

PalenQ

colduphere - I agree completely with your take. You never know.

suchda

Thank you so much for your great suggestions. We're also planning to take a Mediterranean cruise from a cruise terminal in Venice on Aug 10 for 7 N, we will be back on the 17th. From there we will start our Europe trip. Is there any suggestion regarding a hotel for 4 of us in Venice for 1 N, conveniently located and easy to go to the cruise ship terminal ? My return from London on the 31st of August, so we are taking a 3 weeks vacation. Still interested to visit Rome - Paris -London and back.

kybourbon

State a price range if you want suggestions for hotels.

Since you are coming off a cruise, 2 nights in Venice will probably work since you will likely have stayed there a night before the cruise. Train to Rome, fly to Paris, train to London. Rome and Paris deserve more time, but you can always come back.

If you fly Easy Jet Rome/Paris Orly, they are strict about luggage. Coming off a cruise, will you have a lot of luggage?

suchda

Price ranges from $125-$200. Need some hotel accommodation in Rome, Paris too. In England, we have some relatives who will help us with that.

Thanks...

nytraveler

$125 a night is very low for a family room accommodating 4 people. I would start searching the discount sites now for hotels that have family rooms and try to find something within your budget in a reasonable central location. Also double check on AC - not all hotels in europe have it.

janisj

I'm afraid your budget is too low for Venice. You are going at the highest of high season and the few nice really budget places will book up far in advance.