When I was 14, I was taking European history. Heavy on French art and Napoleon. So maybe. I don’t really think you need to know a lot of French History to appreciate Paris though. It wasn’t high on my list before I visited- French History is not something I’m overly interested in- I just wanted to see the Louvre, where I ended up spending very little time. Paris has a unique charm, and with the pastry shops especially, I think it could easily enthrall a 14 year old.

I agree about London, though. It’s a really interesting city and the lack of a language barrier makes the history much easier to access. But it’s foreign enough to be different. I had the misconception that it might be a let down after Paris and Rome, but it’s got a lot of military, industrial, and maritime history, and the architecture makes it a lot of fun to wander around. Great ethnic food. And it’s got a lot of stuff an American teen would have encountered in literature or pop culture too. But hotel budget may be difficult.

zillions of tourists visit places all the time and know virtually nothing about the history of the country or city. That doesn't mean anything as far as I'm concerned, saying that if you don't have a firm grasp of some country's history, you shouldn't go there.

You're talking about five days, not 6. YOu have Sat through Wed because you are leaving Thursday and don't arrive until Saturday.

Just pick one city, but if you do only want to spend a couple days in a place, pick 2 that are within a few hours by train. I think the wish list is strange, but hey, not my trip (Geneva? as the one place you'd go on your first European vacation, why?). Same for Zurich.

I don't think anyone can pick one city and say you must go here, it's your call, except I wouldn't pick Geneva or Zurich, as I said. I haven't been to those Scandinavian countries so can't comment on how great they'd be for 5 days as your first trip. I think a lot of this SHOULD be driven by your own desires, not jsut throwing darts all over the map. My first trip abroad (other than Canada, which doesn't count much from the US) was to Egypt and Greece. That may not make sense to many, it would have been Europe, but I just had always been fascinated by those places and read Greek mythology, etc. And they seemed most exotic. In fact, I'm really glad I went to Egypt then as I wouldn't go now. So isn't there some place that people are just dying to see?

For 2 cities, I could see Paris+London or Paris+Amsterdam, in that list. There are obviously other duos but not on the wish list (eg, Rome and Florence, or Madrid and Barcelona or even Madrid and Seville aren't far apart by train).

March 1rst to March 10th Florida (Miami and/or Orlando) to Paris is 434$ on Norwegian airline. Some flexibility with dates is always better.

I agree 100% that children don’t really feel jet lag coming back from Europe to the US. The first night we got back from Rome my daughter woke up at 3am hungry and wanting pesto. Went back to bed after eating. Woke up again at 6:30am eager to go to school. She had a good day but went to bed at 6pm that night.

Is Amsterdam "satisfying" enough to make it a standalone trip over the likes of Rome and Paris?>

could be but obviously Paris and Rome are much larger and have more major sights - if Amsterdam I'd pair it with Paris or London.

As an old fogey, I call on what memories I retain from my first trip to Europe at 17. Strongest memories are from Rome and Paris, and at that age Rome won by a mile, or maybe a kilometer. Benefits for you: The food is great and cheaper than Paris for the same quality. Although Rome is large, the central historic/ancient/tourist center is easily and fascinatingly walkable, plus buses. Ancient history, architecture, art, churches, museums, and gelato. And Pizza. Real pizza!

As for hotels, and for anywhere you may go, I got a bad vibe from your Amsterdam selection. First time visitors to any city on a budget can be seduced by a low price at a non-central location. It means a minimum of an hour a day lost to commuting to and from where you really want to go, and even if the tram takes 15 minutes you have to wait for one to come, plus, for you, 6 transit fees, plus no easy mid-day or pre-supper break availability. As the old joke says, pay the two dollars (well, it's more than $2 but you get the idea) and stay central. Use Booking dot com or Hotels dot com as a search engine (NOT for purchase, use the hotel's own booking engine) pick your city, ask for city center priority, set a maximum daily price, require a 3 person room, and see what you can get. Read the reviews. Consider a few options and compare on other sites, or, why not?, ask here. And forget VRBO or AirBnB, as a first timer you will need the resources of the front desk and daily clean towels. As a certain president always says, believe me.

The best first guide book for first timers is Rick Steves.

Any questions?

Finally, I'd assume these cities are all safe enough for my son to walk around in/go to a coffee shop a block or two away alone? My wife wants to make sure someone won't steal him>

Put angst to rest - absolutely safe - now in Amsterdam he should know a "coffeeshop" means place they legally sell cannabis products and a "koffieshop" is one for coffee.

Don't worry about him ending up in one of the ubiquitous coffeeshops as at his age they'd kick him out if alone.

One nice thing about Amsterdam is that just about everyone you come across as a tourist will speak fairly good English IME.

$3000 for 6 nights should be no problem anywhere - easy to get good hotels for $200 or much less if not so great - food for three about $100/day as a minimum though could be more if you want.

Hotels usually have unlimited breakfast buffets so eat up and that will last until mid-afternoon.

Even if you pick one city and still want to experience Europe's super fast and superb trains you can do this by day tripping to another nearby city- like Paris to Reims (Champagne tours and famous cathedral) or Rome to Florence, etc.

>>$3000 for 6 nights should be no problem anywhere - <<

Not when that needs to also cover airfare for three people . . .

>>Hotels usually have unlimited breakfast buffets <<

SOME hotels do, and quite a few charge more if one wants breakfast included.

Fly into Paris. Fly out of Rome.

After watching a few Rick Steve's videos, I've settled on Amsterdam. The city really fascinates me, and while I considered London, Italy, and Paris, I think I'll save them for when I have more time -- hopefully a full-fledged Europe trip is in our future!

Thanks everyone for the help

Congratulations on making a choice!

Now please, please, please! get yourselves a good guidebook -- perhaps Fodor's or the Rough Guide or Frommer's or Lonely Planet. The cost will be nominal in comparison to the cost of your trip, you will find a wealth of information at your fingertips, and you might even find some money-saving tips.

IME, Amsterdam calls for a lot of walking -- be sure you and your family have gear, preferably lightweight, for rain and chilly temperatures.

Also some cobble stones so Mum, ditch the highheels ;-)

Good choice but looks as if you'll be too early for the bulb gardens, unfortunately:

https://keukenhof.nl/en/discover-the-park/open-2018/

hope you have a great trip.

"Ditch the high heels"

No kidding. You want supportive footwear with good padding underfoot. Well broken in!!! Can't emphasise that enough. Every so often I read a report from someone who did not take good, broken in footwear, and they were miserable. If you live in the US, other than somewhere like New York, you have no idea of how much walking you will be doing.

And of course, I agree about the guidebooks. You can likely borrow some from your local library, but then pick one to buy and take with you. (Cut up if you only need part of it.)

Good decision.

And . . . definitely reconsider that Amsterdam hotel. It is not a location I would choose for sure. Since you are not hopping around city to city, the money you save on ground transport you can add to your accommodations budget and stay somewhere nice.

Paris and Rome.

Everyone should see Paris. Second choice is Rome which has the antiquities. I see that you mentioned Amsterdam. I may be going to Amsterdam this summer but I am an adult and it may not be the most interesting place for a teenager.

" reconsider that Amsterdam hotel"

If you don't want to stay in central Amsterdam, consider Haarlem instead. The train ride in is the same as the tram rides from your hotel (based on TA reviews). But it is always better to be in the center of the town you are visiting so you can go back to your hotel for a rest or to change for dinner. Note that breakfast at your hotel runs 17 euro (again, TA review) you'll want to pick up supplies.

Yes stay in Amsterdam - great city at night and yes you can go back to hotel for a rest if hotel is in city center.

I would have said Rome but Amsterdam is a good choice too. I second the idea of staying in Haarlem. Amsterdam hotels can be very expensive and staying in Haarlem you can be in the center of Amsterdam is less time than most cities short metro rides from parts of the city to another. And Haarlem itself is a cute little city. You can also easily do day (or even half day) trips to other cities like Delft, Leiden, Gouda, etc.

If you can fly Norwegian I highly recommend them. Great planes (with 'special' lighting to reduce jet lag - not sure if it was the lighting but I had two of my best flights ever on Norwegian).

Here's my photos of the Netherlands - http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p339598977

Last several trips to Amsterdam I've stayed in Haarlem because of cheaper digs and I like to be in a more normal town than Amsterdam which is more and more overflowing with visitors folks say.

But for a first-time visitor I'd say stay in Amsterdam just to be there are night when the canals and stately facades are wondrously illuminated and lots of folks on streets gives it a certain ambience vs deserted streets of Haarlem at night.

But either it right - but unless you get a hotel in Haarlem near the train station you may have a 20-30-minute walk to your hotel from that station too.