1. rent a car
2. take a group bus tour type trip

I have done both of those many, many times and have zero regrets. In fact, both my kids went to Europe with me every year from the time they were born. We had a ball.

I would not:

Go with anyone who's a really slow walker. Drives me nuts.
Go with a picky eater.
Go with anyone who takes more than a half-hour to get ready in the morning.
Go with anyone who talks really loudly.
Go with anyone who just wants to shop.
Go with anyone who's got a really rigid itinerary or no sense of spontaneity.
Go with anyone who expects me to be his personal translator (jeez, BTDT - "Tell him I want an American-style coffee. What did he say?? No, tell him I want the milk on the side Ask him if he's got bacon. What did he say? What are those? Oh no, tell him I definitely don't want those. What else has he got?.....UGH).

I've never understood the 'myth' about Europe in the summer. At least not in August. I'm always wondering where are all the crowds. It was pretty crowded at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland but that made it even more fun.

Maybe age 12 was a bit overstated.
Let me change that to age 6.
Infants or Toddlers never....
I guess I am selfish and dont want to spend precious VACA time dealing with folks that have no idea where they are or what they are seeing. I love art galleries and museums. Long dinners with wine. Going in countless shops and people watching. I cant tell you the countless times I have seen toddlers screaming as they are pulled into yet another gallery. It seems cruel to me.

"At least not in August. I'm always wondering where are all the crowds. "

try riving from Italy to France along the coast!

August in Paris, Rome and Madrid would not be my choice...but better in August than never!

"

"The teenage girl is the reason for our European trip....


I don't know about traveling with kids, but I have cherished memories of the time my parents took me on several trips to Italy ( I was a teenage girl at the time)

"I cant tell you the countless times I have seen toddlers screaming as they are pulled into yet another gallery. It seems cruel to me."

It's cruel and selfish to everyone involved; the children and the other people in the gallery.

driving.. not riving

BTW, DON'T!

>> guess I am selfish and dont want to spend precious VACA time dealing with folks that have no idea where they are or what they are seeing. I love art galleries and museums. Long dinners with wine.<<

I'm with you on that. It's why we didn't travel at all until our youngest 2 were at least pre-teens and the oldest kids were out of the house.

I feel like I have a short window now, though. I better fit in as much travel time as possible before my DH (who's older than I am) reverts to one of those "folks that have no idea where they are or what they are seeing."

Life is rather a circle and one has to catch it at the top -- the game is that you never quite know where/when you're at the top. I always seem to be going uphill or down. :-?

• travel w/ someone who insists on separate checks. Loooong story :) (And she ordered American coffee too)

alot of good ones here.
I too cant stand someone who takes forever to get ready, orders american coffee, talks loud, wants to eat at Mcdonalds in Italy, and insists upon wanting to pay with seperate checks.

<<I cant tell you the countless times I have BEEN screaming MYSELF as I WAS pulled into yet another gallery. It seems cruel to me.>>

1. travel with jetsetj
(just kidding, kind of)

Go with anyone who orders "Southern Fried Chicken"--in Italy, England and France (again, long story)

June,July, and August are great months to go to Scandinavia. I lived in Danmark during those months for around 20 years of summer trips. Happy Travels!

Never ask for driving instructions from someone without teeth.
Never ask an old lady dressed in black for driving instructions.

Never speak or pretend to undertsand the language of country when stopped by police.

Make sure you where the horn, windshield wipers, lights, and the gearbox are located on a rental car.

Never listen to someone's travel story who does not have a sense of humor, did not realize they were in a froeign country or loves to tell the part when they lost their temper.

1. call the office back home to see how things are going
2. stop and talk to the woman who found the gold ring on the ground

Bring stuff back for people, unless they've watched my dogs for me. It's not worth it and they really don't appreciate it all that much.

But Aduchamp1, an old lady dressed in black was fabulous when we were trying to cross a very busy street in Athens - the traffic such screeched to a halt while she toddled across with us tagging along!!

>>Never ask for driving instructions from someone without teeth<<

Priceless.

-- Go with someone who would go to a nice restaurant with tablecloths and dressed-up waiters and ask for pizza and beer in a loud voice. (It wasn't on the menu)

-- Go to Italy in August --- too damn hot.

- Shop.