Family Summer 2017 Europe trip
 

Now starting to plan our firs trip to EUROPE. We are a couple in our mid 30's with a child aged 10years and in 2017 planning to visit Europe for first time in June/July

We are passionate travels and try to travel atelast once a year. We can only travel in June/July as this is the school hoiday season.

We love natural beauty, lakes, mountains, rivers, sea and even big cities. We are not much into history but still would love to see the main historical places like Louvre etc

We have about 4 weeks and intially am thinking about following cities
ROME 4 DAYS
VENICE 3 DAYS
AMALFI COAST 3 DAYS
PARIS 4 DAYS
ZURICH + MURREN (Switzerland) 5 DAYS

We still have about 7-8days and we would like to add2 more cities/town. We need recommendations on
1. Our above itinerary and routing
2. Which other cities/town to add

Thanks a ton

Trip start from ROME

"We love natural beauty, lakes, mountains, rivers, sea and even big cities."

Mürren is definitely about mountains. Otherwise, your itinerary is mostly about the last element - big cities.

So I'd suggest this. Do Italy (though I must tell you, the most unbearable hot, humid weather I've ever experienced was in July in Vicenza, Italy, a stone's throw from Venice, and my most enjoyable visit to Italy ever was in January, when crowds tend to be minimal.) After that, Switzerland. On your way to Paris, there are some good outdoor options in beautiful places that are sorta on your way there and offer mountain, lake and river experiences...

Black Forest:


Lake Titisee: https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4153/5...d4de3e88_b.jpg

Panorama trail (easy hike) : http://www.outdooractive.com/en/hiki...mdtab=oax-tab2

Rhine and Mosel River valleys:

http://www.christiane-geldmacher.de/...in2014-003.jpg

https://www.uli-franke.de/wp-content...Rheinstein.jpg

http://sr47.de/t/pics/56e71e44de.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...arach_BW_9.JPG




http://www.der-takt.de/typo3temp/_pr...087e83a8d1.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...g_Umgebung.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/64234594.jpg

If you have time for it, Amsterdam is an easy trip from Paris and a really pleasant city. If you've never been it's a really cool experience and there is lots to do for families. The summer is really the best weather that you'll get all year. Just be sure to book a hotel early because otherwise you may not find anything in your budget.

Let's see a bit:
Day 1:jet lagged arrival at Rome, some minor visits
Days 2-5: visit of Rome
Day 6: visit of the Vatican
Day 7: train to Naples/Sorrento or so, may be visit of Pompei
Day 8: may be visit of Naples
Day 9: may be visit of Capri
Days 10-12: Amalfi coast
Day 13: move to Venice (about 8 hrs)
Days 14-16: Venice, dp 16.20 up to Domodossola (or go only up to Stresa and stay a few days in the Lake Maggiore area)
Day 16-20: morning train (rom Domodossola or Stresa) to Muerren, some vists of the Jungfrau area
Day 21: afternoon train to Paris (7 hrs)
Days 22-26: Paris

Have a plan B for your Muerren days, 4 consecutive rainy days are not unusual in this area.

Do not buy RT tickets or one way. Look, instead, at multi-city or multi-destination, into one city and out of the next. It will save the cost of returning to the arrival city and probably a day of travel. You need to return to your departure city the evening before an international flight.

Within Europe, trains are wonderful, but look at low cost European airlines for trips over four hours, may save both money and time.

Depart from home as early as possible. Do start with the hottest place first so during July, you have a chance of less extreme heat.

I absolutely love the Amalfi Coast, Rome and Venice. However, I would strongly consider other places in mid-Summer, limit time there in those places or plan time carefully to see outdoor sights in the morning and save museums for afternoons or hit the pool in the afternoon. Alternate with some beach days, or stay in a beach town a night or two.

Consider the Italian Lakes, Southern Germany (castles, lakes, Music events), the Netherlands and Belgium (spend a day at the sea). There is lots for a kids to do to.
Look at London as one of your cities. It is a great city for kids that age!

Don't just count days in your plan. Add in travel time, including from hotel to train station and train station to hotel. Lay out plan by nights in a place or by days, but showing travel. 2 nights gives you 1 whole day and maybe some of another, 3 nights gives you two whole days, etc.

Example
Day 1, depart home
Day 2, arrive Rome, relax, recoup from jet lag. Walk.
Day 3, tour in the morning, museum in the afternoon
Day 4, tour
Day 5, beach
Day 6, travel to someplace in the Bay of Naples or the AC., 1/2 day at least total
Day 7, train or taxi to Naples, fly to Venice, arrive late afternoon
Day 8, Venice
Day 9, islands or day trip
Etc.

I'd add Florence - use it as a base from which to take day trips by bus or train to Siena, classic hill town and or Pisa - yup for the Tower - you kid may love to ascend or other Tuscan hill towns (Pisa is not a hill town).

Paris to Amsterdam is just about 3 hours on trains - another place to spend several days with neat day trips from there too.

Could stop by fabled Bruges for a day or two en route to Amsterdam.

Trains are the best way to go between your cities - cars are useless once in them - for lots of great train info: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (check their free online European Planning & Rail Guide for other places easily done by rail); www.ricksteeves.com.

You may want to look into a Eurail Select Pass - your kid gets a free pass I believe.

ROME 4 DAYS
VENICE 3 DAYS
AMALFI COAST 3 DAYS
PARIS 4 DAYS
ZURICH + MURREN (Switzerland) 5 DAYS

1. Our above itinerary and routing

Go to Zurich before ending in Paris- Venice to Interlaken - no need to go to Zurich unless flying out of there - a nice big modern city but that's not the lure of Switzerland.

LUCERNE would also be a nice place to add 2-3 days- lovely city and lovely lake - lake boat rides are so so neat.