3BR Accomodations for Family of 6?
May 25th, 2018, 04:22 AM
#21
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We are arriving by train from Bayeux and will check into the hotel at 2. We will check out at 12 the next day and go by train to Hendaye. Barcelona for 1 night because our flight leaves from BCN and I wanted to take the train from Girona the night before rather then the morning of the flight. We may not see much of Paris or Barcelona, but we will see France and Spain for 15 days. It's our first trip to Europe so it won't be a waste of time for us.
May 25th, 2018, 04:29 AM
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May 25th, 2018, 07:22 AM
#24
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There has been SO MUCH great advice here. Thanks so much to everyone who has chimed in. I really do appreciate the feedback and it is changing the way I think about the trip, so please keep it coming.
First, the comments have been consistent that I am trying to squeeze too much in. After really thinking it over and considering all of the logistical challenges of moving 6 people around, I've decided you are all right. I'm going to start by cutting Brussels and Amsterdam out. While both are great, they will have to wait for another trip. It just doesn't make sense to try to squeeze them in between Paris and Munich. It will simplify the agenda considerably to instead go from Paris down into Switzerland with a stop in the French countryside. And I'm considering cutting Salzburg as well and going straight from Lucerne to Munich and wrapping up there.
So my new agenda might be... London, Paris, French Wine Country, Lucerne, Munich. That's likely a far less stressful and more enjoyable trip.
I am also thinking through my decision to use trains exclusively and would love to get perspectives. When going from Paris to Lucerne and through the French countryside, as an example, do we stop for a night in a small town along the way? A car might make that easier, or am I adding more check-in/check-out logistics needlessly? Same with Lucerne to Munich. Do I stop for a night near Neuschwanstein? Or is it best to just go establish a hotel in Munich and then take a day trip back to see the castle?
Speaking of Castles, one of the most memorable stays I've had in Europe was in the old castle hotel Chateau de Bagnols. I love the thought of the family staying in a castle and though it is more pricey than I want to spend every night and even though it has none of the large connected accommodations I thought I need, I might have to make that my countryside stop. If anyone knows of any other really good castle hotels along my path, please let me know.
Again, great advice everyone. Thanks again for sharing all of your great experience as I try to figure this out and develop my plan.
First, the comments have been consistent that I am trying to squeeze too much in. After really thinking it over and considering all of the logistical challenges of moving 6 people around, I've decided you are all right. I'm going to start by cutting Brussels and Amsterdam out. While both are great, they will have to wait for another trip. It just doesn't make sense to try to squeeze them in between Paris and Munich. It will simplify the agenda considerably to instead go from Paris down into Switzerland with a stop in the French countryside. And I'm considering cutting Salzburg as well and going straight from Lucerne to Munich and wrapping up there.
So my new agenda might be... London, Paris, French Wine Country, Lucerne, Munich. That's likely a far less stressful and more enjoyable trip.
I am also thinking through my decision to use trains exclusively and would love to get perspectives. When going from Paris to Lucerne and through the French countryside, as an example, do we stop for a night in a small town along the way? A car might make that easier, or am I adding more check-in/check-out logistics needlessly? Same with Lucerne to Munich. Do I stop for a night near Neuschwanstein? Or is it best to just go establish a hotel in Munich and then take a day trip back to see the castle?
Speaking of Castles, one of the most memorable stays I've had in Europe was in the old castle hotel Chateau de Bagnols. I love the thought of the family staying in a castle and though it is more pricey than I want to spend every night and even though it has none of the large connected accommodations I thought I need, I might have to make that my countryside stop. If anyone knows of any other really good castle hotels along my path, please let me know.
Again, great advice everyone. Thanks again for sharing all of your great experience as I try to figure this out and develop my plan.
May 25th, 2018, 07:26 AM
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Two different trips. Though I certainly don't mind as this discussion has gotten so much broader than the question I asked at the start and I think we are both traveling with large families so there are some common themes even if the cities are completely different except for Paris.
May 25th, 2018, 08:39 AM
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Cutting out Brussels and Amsterdam is a good idea.
What "French wine country" are you referring to?
As for driving vs. train, any time you pick up a car in one country and drop it off in another, you are looking at significant (as in often many hundreds of euros) extra charges. OTOH, it's not always possible just to "stop off at a small town along the way" when taking trains. It would depend on which train, which route, which day and time.
What "French wine country" are you referring to?
As for driving vs. train, any time you pick up a car in one country and drop it off in another, you are looking at significant (as in often many hundreds of euros) extra charges. OTOH, it's not always possible just to "stop off at a small town along the way" when taking trains. It would depend on which train, which route, which day and time.
May 26th, 2018, 08:23 AM
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jcinatlanta-regarding trains or car. That is really a personal choice depending on how you think your family does on road trips, how confident you are driving, etc. We always prefer to rent a car and then we just park it in most cities (either we stay at hotels with parking or use a pay lot) and then we use public transport. And we love being able to get out away from the bigger cities and set our own time schedule for departures, etc.
In terms of just comparing the cost, I think you will find that with 6 of you, a car will definitely be cheaper-it almost always is for us with just 2 of us traveling unless you work very hard to find good train deals. But the only way to know for sure is to look at train routes and ticket and Eurail pass prices and then compare to driving. You can use sites like https://www.viamichelin.com/ that will give you the estimated gas costs and toll costs.
Also consider that it can be extremely expensive to pick up a car in one place and drop it in another especially between countries. But if you are picking up the car in the same place i.e. flying in and out of Paris for example, then that issue goes away. If you stay more than 3 weeks, you should also look into the auto lease programs form Peugeot or Renault, because you can specify exactly the model you want and you will be driving a brand new car with full insurance coverage. These programs are not a good deal for shorter trips but we stay awhile since we are retired and we love the programs. Here are some links to two so that you can explore:
We almost always use this one
http://autofrance.net/
But we have also used this one in the past:
https://www.ttcar.com/en/ttcar#
In terms of just comparing the cost, I think you will find that with 6 of you, a car will definitely be cheaper-it almost always is for us with just 2 of us traveling unless you work very hard to find good train deals. But the only way to know for sure is to look at train routes and ticket and Eurail pass prices and then compare to driving. You can use sites like https://www.viamichelin.com/ that will give you the estimated gas costs and toll costs.
Also consider that it can be extremely expensive to pick up a car in one place and drop it in another especially between countries. But if you are picking up the car in the same place i.e. flying in and out of Paris for example, then that issue goes away. If you stay more than 3 weeks, you should also look into the auto lease programs form Peugeot or Renault, because you can specify exactly the model you want and you will be driving a brand new car with full insurance coverage. These programs are not a good deal for shorter trips but we stay awhile since we are retired and we love the programs. Here are some links to two so that you can explore:
We almost always use this one
http://autofrance.net/
But we have also used this one in the past:
https://www.ttcar.com/en/ttcar#
May 26th, 2018, 09:47 AM
#33
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Jcinatlanta,
Glad to see you are re-thinking the fast, hit lots of things trip, for something with more substance. That is especially good when you are doing a fairly long trip with kids. Eons ago, when we traveled with our young kids, we found it was good to balance sightseeing days with days when we did something special with them or attended some kind of an event. Since you are thinking about Germany, these are things our family remembers years later.
King Ludwig's Palace, Herrenchemsee. It is on an island in Lake Chemsee, not far from Salzburg. During the Summer, they have evening concerts, with the palace alight with candles. You take a boat across the lake to the palace and are inside the Hall of Mirrors for the concert.
We stayed with a local family (found rooms through the local tourist agent, and there were six of us). Some of our group went to the salt mine in the morning. The kids swam in the lake in the afternoon. In the evening we went to the concert. It was magical!
Berchtsgaden is also spectacular. The kids waded in mountain streams. We rented a boat and motored around one of the lakes.
Castle illuminations in Heidelberg are held several times each Summer. They are spectacular with Burning of the castle and fireworks. You do not even have to be close to the castle. People line the river and bridges.
We did a number of things like this and our family loved these events sprinkled throughout the trip. I am sure other people could make more REC's for similar things. I am also thinking of a couple more, will post later.
Glad to see you are re-thinking the fast, hit lots of things trip, for something with more substance. That is especially good when you are doing a fairly long trip with kids. Eons ago, when we traveled with our young kids, we found it was good to balance sightseeing days with days when we did something special with them or attended some kind of an event. Since you are thinking about Germany, these are things our family remembers years later.
King Ludwig's Palace, Herrenchemsee. It is on an island in Lake Chemsee, not far from Salzburg. During the Summer, they have evening concerts, with the palace alight with candles. You take a boat across the lake to the palace and are inside the Hall of Mirrors for the concert.
We stayed with a local family (found rooms through the local tourist agent, and there were six of us). Some of our group went to the salt mine in the morning. The kids swam in the lake in the afternoon. In the evening we went to the concert. It was magical!
Berchtsgaden is also spectacular. The kids waded in mountain streams. We rented a boat and motored around one of the lakes.
Castle illuminations in Heidelberg are held several times each Summer. They are spectacular with Burning of the castle and fireworks. You do not even have to be close to the castle. People line the river and bridges.
We did a number of things like this and our family loved these events sprinkled throughout the trip. I am sure other people could make more REC's for similar things. I am also thinking of a couple more, will post later.
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