I need help..... My husband and I are taking the kids to Europe ( ages 16,24 ).. This is our first time and we all have very different ideas of where we should visit. I personally want to go to Croatia my 16 year old son was quick to tell me the hate Americans. Of course he wants to go to Norway and England.. My husband would love Italy, France or Spain.. My daughter is just happy to go.. Any help would be appreciated...

One more thing we will fly into London

if your family members ( who know each other ) cannot decide, how can someone ( who does not know how long you will stay, what your interests are, what time of the year etc.)..could help you is hard to see.

Danon is right. How in the world can total strangers tell you where you should go if you can't agree among yourselves. Having been everywhere you collectively want to go except Norway, I liked France and Italy best. But I can't tell you that you will. You're flying in to London? It makes sense to start there and perhaps continue to Paris or to Rome. I think you need to decide among yourselves where you want to go. Pick 2 or at most 3 destinations for 2 weeks, do some research and come back with questions.

If you're starting in London, then obviously you want to start in London.

In choosing a second location it makes sense to pick somewhere easy to get to from London. Like Paris.

14 days is not very long, and a London/Paris trip, with side trips outside the cities, is a very popular choice for a first trip to Europe. You could probably squeeze in either Venice or Rome if you had to, but I'd stick with two major cities and some smaller towns or countryside nearby. So England makes son happy, and France makes dad happy, and it sounds like you and daughter are happy if they're happy.

It seems to me that the people paying for the trip get to make the final decision on where to go. But, everyone should do their own research and then pick 5 places each (cities - not whole countries). You then compare the lists and see what you have in common. (Be sure to factor in the time of year and the budget.)

Once you have you list pick 3 or at most 4 cities/areas - and then assign one person to be responsible for the planning of each (within agreed upon parameters). If you get the 16 year old more involved he won;t whine so much about the choices.

I just need ideas of great places from people that have been to Europe.If we were traveling in the us, mexico, carribean,etc.. I would have no problem making family vacation plans..

I just need ideas of great places from people that have been to Europe.If we were traveling in the us, mexico, carribean,etc.. I would have no problem making family vacation plans..

How did you decide to fly to london when you have not decided where to go?

We thought we would stay in London for a few days first..

Thank you we will start with a few big cities and be back with more questions... Has anybody been to Croatia??

Lots of us have been to Croatia. It is simply lovely. They do NOT hate Americans. English is a required subject in the schools, so everyone below the age of about 50 speaks at least some English.

Having been there, and loving it, we are going to France in May. We love it there too, as they don't hate Americans, either.

Thats what I thought... Thank you

Hi Kimber, welcome to Fodors. I think for a first trip to Europe, arriving in London, I'd probably spend a week there with side trips (Bath, Oxford, Hampton Court) and a week in Paris.

Croatia is wonderful but deserves at least the entire two weeks and isn't close to London.

Enjoy planning!

I agree with Grasshopper. London and Paris are wonderful places for a first trip to Europe and you have great suggestions for side trips. Paris also has good day trip options like Chartres and Versailles. With a family of four you might look into apartment rentals in each city. Whether you stay in hotels or apartments you can use each city as a base, visit sights in town and take trains for day trips.

Consider southern France for it's Roman ruins, smaller towns that aren't as overwhelming as the big cities, wonderful restaurants tucked up into the hills, the Midi canal, Pont du Gard, market days, windmills, wine on tap ( a great thrill for me!), a different cheese around every corner, truffles, and give me a minute and I'll come up with some more reasons for you.

Thank you..

The problem is: there are hundreds of fantastic places to visit in Europe, you would just get a list that would be more confusing.

When are you going? Important for weather in some cases.

How much time do you have total: 10 days, two weeks, three weeks, a month? Budget? Both very, very important. If time or budget is limited, you need to tie places together in such a way that you are not wasting a lot of time and money traveling once you are in Europe.

Have to agree with NYTraveler. Sure, consider the kids, and let them help with planning, but they have the rest of their lives to go back to Europe. You have already waited a long time, so be sure to try for the thing you and your DH want most.

I personally think London is fine, but also wonder why, based on your other choices. Once London is written in stone, you have limited your other choices somewhat. You have to think in terms of pairing other places with London: London and Paris (with side excursions), etc. You could instead pair France and Italy, just for example.

What are your major interests: art, architecture, history, natural landscapes, hiking, food, etc? Is there any specific place or sight you have dreamed of seeing since childhood? Are there family connections with any particular country? What is it about Croatia that excites you? What is your son's interest in Norway? Do you think you would enjoy countryside and small towns or city cafes more? Do major tourist sights like the Eiffel Tour seem exciting to you? I am posing all these questions to help you focus on what you each want out of the trip. That way, you can make choices that will give all of you some of the things you want, regardless of the countries/cities you choose.

Do any of you speak any languages other than English? It is not necessary, but might be fun to go someplace where you can practice if you do speak French, Spanish, etc.

No answers for you at this point, and I know this was long, but hope these questions help your planning process.

I have spent the last several hours looking at France.. Love it..

I have spent the last several hours looking at France.. Love it..