Hi,
My family & I (myself, hubby & 2 boys (3 & 7)) will be heading to Europe in July/August 2011. Our first time there so not really sure of any itenary, where should we all etc.
I would like to see London, Paris, Santorini for sure but don't know what else I should see and/or visit? How long should be spend in each city? What's the best way to get around? What around Italy/Switzerland/Greece? Can anyone suggest a good itenary?
Thanks so much..

I think the first thing you need to do is to get a guidebook or two and find out what there is to see. I have a couple of general guidebooks, one is Rick Steve's "Best of Europe." The other, which I have lent to someone is something like "The Idiots Guide to Traveling in Europe."

I'd cut out Greece for sure. It will be hot as hades there in July/August, and it's too far away from the rest of your itinerary. Ditto Italy, unless it's northern Italy. Also very hot and touristy.

You're trying to do too much. I would look at a map and also check viamichelin to see how far these places are from each other. I'd confine myself to London, Paris, and Switzerland. Also remember that each time you change locations, you will lose another day. By the time you get to your transportation, travel, and get settled in another hotel, pretty much a full day will be gone.

Actually, if this were my trip, I'd go to London, Paris and Bavaria. Bavaria is a more reasonable distance from the other two, and it's beautiful. It has wonderful scenery and charming towns. Driving is very easy in Germany, and you can find inexpensive hotels.

Perhaps other posters can advise you about things children would enjoy, but I'm sure they won't enjoy art museums or other types of things adults would enjoy.

You really need to do some research.

That's too much to do in only 3 weeks. It's like trying to see NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, Hawaii, and Orlando all in one trip. Your family will not enjoy any of it and you'll be too stressed sticking to your schedule to enjoy it yourself. Small bites, and you'll enjoy and remember the trip forever.

Okay, sounds like you're beginning in London. Great start. Also sounds like you're driving, which is a great way to see England. You might want to hop on a ferry boat at Fishguard to Ireland. There a lots of broken down castles along the way which the boys would love to climb all over.

In any event, spend just enough time in each place to actually make it a memorable place. Half the fun is in the planning.

Enjoy.

Pegontheroad's suggestion of London, Paris and Bavaria (or possibly switzerland instead) is great. That is a very full 3 weeks. Do you mean exactly 21 days? If so that nets you about 17 days for actually seeing things (and even less the more destinations you add)

I didn't see ChallengerGrey's post - I would not recommend driving (except in Bavaria). You don't want to be driving in London or Paris and you wouldn't want to pay the very steep costs to take a car from England to Ireland (even IF the rental agency allowed it)

It does sound like Greece looms large on your wish list. High summer is not the best time to go there.

I don't recall any high costs to take the rental car from England to Irleand. That was some time ago. We were driving in Paris this past May, it too, was useful. We like the freedom of driving. We drove to Normandy and got to see all the small towns along the northern coast. Honfleur was lovely. We stayed in Deauville for a few days then back to Paris. But I do agree that a car in the cities is not really needed. After spending a week in Rome, we rented a car and drove to Florence. We were able to stop in Assissi and have lunch in a small Tuscan village. It would be difficult to do that if taking a train.

With 2 small kids I think you will need to travel at a much slower pace than adults alone - since you will need to give them time to be kids - running around parks and playgrounds etc. So I would reco spending a week in each of 3 places - in an apartment - so you will have a kitchen for breakfast, snacks and drinks you will need with kids. It will also give you more room so you don't have to go to bed when the kids do - or they stay up late at night.

So - get busy with those guidebooks. Pick the 3 places that you think you will like best - and I wold make at lest one a smaller town or rural area - rather than 3 huge cities. If it were me I would do 1 week London, 1 week Paris and 1 week in/near the mountains in Switzerland. (This could be Lucerne, Interlaken or one of the small towns part way up the mts in the Berner Oberland.) Travel between by train (much easier for kids than planes) and consider a car in the latter if you base in one of the larger towns.

I wouldn;t go to Greece in midsummer - but then I don;t like heat - and I'm not sure the islands are the best place for 2 small kids.

nytraveler has got it just right. Pick three places. Rent an apartment in each or find a hotel with a pool. Take day trips. Both London and Paris have great parks and places to enjoy with your little boys when they tire of museums. Bavaria is lovely in summer, but my kids also enjoyed The Netherlands when they were that age. IMHO, I would save Santorini for when your kids are older or for a trip with just you and hubby someday.

I agree with mytraveler as well. Get some guidebooks on "London with Kids", etc. Plan on things like EuroDisney outside of Paris, or EuropaPark in southern Germany (near Switzerland). Find zoos, adventure parks, places to rent bicycles, etc. Above Montreux, Switzerland you can rent a yurt/tent for the night and sleep outside. Visit a chocolate factory in Broc,Switzerland. I would avoid Santorini as well, in fact many hotels don't even allow children under the age of 12.