I am traveling to Europe from the 20th July to the 4th of August. I am looking for a place to celebrate my 50th birthday with my husband, and 2 sons (15 and 18) we are flying into London, but are open to going anywhere in Europe. We are also celebrating my sons 18th birthday, and graduating high school. Any ideas?

We need more information. What are you interested in? History, shopping, theatre, touristy sites vs off the beaten path? What is your budget? What are the others interested in? Would you like to see cities, countryside or a mix?


I love London and you could easily spend at least a week there. One common plan is to spend a week or so in London and a week or so in Paris.

Some history, traveling with boys, so not too much shopping, we do a lot of theater at home(San Diego) Probably a mix of countryside and cities, would love to visit beautiful cities. We have debated between Italy, Amsterdam, Paris, or even staying in London and then going off to Ireland. We love to eat, and are all very active. Would rather spend money on food, activities, and not on crazy expensive hotels.

You'll find plenty of history, cities, and countryside if you stay on the British Isles. I'd ask your son (and other son and DH) for some input, too.

I'd suggest at least a week in London. You could hit all the major history sites, could fit in some theater (interested in Shakespeare at the Globe? if so get tickets as soon as you can--check website for when tickets go on sale and what will be showing), could do some half-day trips--the guys would enjoy Greenwich.

After that, it depends on how you're going to travel. Are you going to drive in England? If so you could make a small loop. Could go to (not in this order) Dover, Battle of Hastings site, Oxford, Bath, Stratford. Or you could travel to Ireland (or Scotland) and leave from there. Unless you're also flying out of London. Lots of possibilities even without going to the continent.

I'd suggest make my itinerary very soon and start looking for accomodations.

For London, you're in luck, because of the "Your" London thread that's spinning along with yours. In addition, the War Rooms where the British government conducted much of WWII are a good bet for a family.

London also has the advantage of a good mass transit system that makes it possible for your sons to get to places that particularly appeal them. During your first use of the system, you will see that lots of kids use it safely.

Kent lies south and west of London. The countryside is lovely, there are atmospheric little hotels and homes. Churchill's country home, Chartwell, is well worth a visit, but there are many others, depending on your taste.

Oxford and Cambridge are both beautiful. Taking a couple of punts along the Cam could make a fine family outing. No need to pack a lunch; there will be a pub to eat in before returning to the town.

Consider spending a week in London and a week in Paris. London's culture is anglo, Paris's is latin. Even in a week, you will sense the world of difference between them.

You can never stop looking at Paris. Many times, I've planned to take the Metro somewhere, but, well, there's a carousel in the middle of the sidewalk and I watch the kids enjoying their ride, then there's a quaint looking street to walk down, and so on till I find myself at my destination. Again, the mass transit system will let your family get to individual destinations easily.

Finally, I suggest that you find a hotel in the tourist ares of any large city. Your time in Europe is too short to spend an hour or two commuting in order to save a few bucks on a hotel.

What do you about 3 days in London, 2 days ea. in Paris and Amsterdam, and then flying easy jet to Italy for 8 days. Rome, Florence, and Amalfi Coast.

If you saw my itinerary for our August trip to England (which I've not posted because I don't want people to say we're moving too often!), you would see that I have nothing against staying only 1 night and moving on--but we're spending 13 nights in one country. I think you're short-changing England and planning on way too much moving around; travel and packing and unpacking and delays and such eat into the days so it's not really 2 days or 3 days in the big cities (unless you've factored in "empty" days for travel). But you and you alone know your priorities, your health and limitations and tolerances, and your family. But 4 countries in 2 weeks seems a lot.

Make some possible itineraries with real time travel estimates and and see what you are really left with. (Like 3 days in London--does that include the day you arrive? Jet lag won't allow much to be done. 2 days each in Paris and Amsterdam--does that include traveling to and from them?) Not raining on your parade--just urging you to have a realistic estimate of times involved for moving from city to city and see if you are left with enough site-seeing time.

If Kent is south and West of London I'm not sure which county I'm in now. Kent, I'm sorry to correct a poster, is south and East of London and I'd recomment spending a few days travelling around the "Garden of England. Base yourselves in Canterbury of Tunbridge Wells.

Ok, Tipsygus, I wrote west when I meant east. Glad to have some support that it is worth time to visit.

I'd say pick at most two of the three (London, Paris and Amsterdam) and drop the one you're least in love with. Even dropping out one city, you're still going to be traveling around quite a bit which costs time and money. I'm used to traveling very quickly and often spending only one or two nights in a place, but I think that your idea of London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence and Amalfi is too fast to actually enjoy anything.

Has your family traveled overseas before? Jet lag hits everyone differently but most people on this board tend to advise planning little on the day of arrival due to jet lag. The flights from the US are very often overnight so you land early morning. Well, nobody sleeps as well on a plane as they do at home so be prepared to partially lose that first day between getting settled and being very tired.

Good luck narrowing it down a bit! One trick I use is to not think "I'm not going there" but to say "I'm saving that one for the next trip".

Thank you to everyone for all of the great advice, it really makes us stop and think. If anyone out there has been to all these places, which 3 would you suggest?

Husband (DH) and I try to get to our destination in the first day of travel. Adrenalin is up so we take advantage of that. Fly to London and continue on flying to

Italy (Rome, Pisa, Florence or Venice)

France (Paris, Nice)

On the way back, stay in London for as many nights as you wish, then have a non-stop flight home. Nothing worse than waiting for connections and just wanting to be home.

And where to go? Is this your special trip? Or are you going to be a mother and try to make everyone happy? If number 1, just say "We are going to Paris-deal with it"; if number 2, get some requests from your family. But get thee to the library or bookstore and start looking for destinations that appeal to you.

Does anyone have a recommendation for either hotels, apartments, B&B's, in Paris, Brugge, Amsterdam, Vienna or Munich? 2 adults and 2 teenagers?

Anarweiss you might get more answers if you repost your question as a new topic with a descriptive title.

Personally, I tend to choose an apartment if I'm in a city for around 4+ nights and a hotel or B&B for a shorter time.

Looking at these ideas I would try

London for the theatre/ museums. Day out to Oxford for the punting and an early evening supper at the Trout or the Quatre Saisons.

Rome for the Roman remains and then onto Siena and Florence. (Pisa is nothing to compare with the other two)

Paris if there is time