Wow... This is the first time I have used this site and I am so impressed. I can't believe all the feed back I received! Thank you so much EVERYONE! It seems the majority are suggesting I visit two countries only. Darn.... I was really hoping I would get more encouragement to get in as much of Europe as I could. The more I research a country the more I want to hop a train and see it. My daughter and I plan on seeing a different part of the world every year. Europe this year....Rainforest next year and hopefully Africa the following year so I am not so sure when we will be back. As I am not a traveler yet, I may have to be wise and listen to you more experienced travelers.
I think PalenQ and I think on the same levels. I was thinking of NOT worrying so much with the tourist type places but just getting a feel for the country. Maybe picking a few iconic landmarks for my daughters sake but then just spending our days wandering around. I think of the times we go into New York City (we live about an hour and half away by train). We love to just walk around the city. We have yet to visit the Empire State building and have just viewed the Statue of Liberty from the shore. Walking around NYC is amazing and there is no waiting in lines or pricey admission charges.
I might think about adding a day or two on and visiting one more country but I know my daughter will get homesick rather quickly.
Thank you for the suggestions of the chunnel train.... I have been looking into the train system... it was how easy and inexpensive it is to travel via train that got my thoughts of multiple countries going so thank you PalenQ for the websites... I will check them out. Anybody have hostel/b&b suggestions??? I want somewhere safe and clean obviously. My thought on hostels/B&B versus nicer hotels was that I want my daughter to realize that you can travel fairly inexpensively and see the world without all the frills of a grand hotel or resort. (My husband is more of a resort guy).

Again....thanks everyone and if anyone has any further suggestions I would REALLY appreciate them. Happy travels everyone!

Sorry Ira.... I thought I was writing in paragraphs this time but I see it doesn't work if you indent....will leave spaces between paragraphs next time! Darn Newbies.... they just don't get it right the first time! LOL

Enjoy your time with your daughter. What a wonderful experience you will be giving her. Time with them goes so quickly!
This is an amazing site for information, and the people so fantastic for the time they spend to respond. Remember though it is your vacation and you have to do what you feel is right for you and your daughter. I have had to ignore advice a couple of times when planning with kids because it is a different way to travel. I, like you have felt that teaching them the process of travel is part of the education.
Once again enjoy, whatever you choose it will be wonderful!

Travelodge Waterloo was convenient, clean & cheap for London. Good specials.

Is apartment any good for Paris?
http://lovely-paris-apartment-rental.com/home_b.html
It was 100 EUR/night for 3 of us. We loved it.

Here is a small London guesthouse in the best possible location - steps from Covent Garden. VERY inexpensive for the location.

http://www.sevendialshotellondon.com/

and reviews-

http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/seve...d_currency=usd


Here is an inexpensive small hotel in Paris - in the best possible location - steps to Notre Dame cathedral.
http://www.hotel-esmeralda.fr/

and reviews -

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html

If you are going this summer, you need to be finalizing your reservations sooner than later. Have a great time.

. I will check them out. Anybody have hostel/b&b suggestions??? I want somewhere safe and clean obviously. My thought on hostels/B&B versus nicer hotels was that I want my daughter to realize that you can travel fairly inexpensively and see the world without all the frills of a grand hotel or resort.>

Great attitude - and yes youth hostels accept folks of all ages - there is even a Senior Hostel Pass for those over 60 or 65!

Many hostels now have private rooms so you are not thrown in with partying college kids or loud teen-age school groups - ask for Family Rooms. Let's Go Europe is a font of great info on budget accommodation - in London there are several HI (Hostelling International) hostels - one I like is in Holland Park and is actually in a part of a palace - Holland House - great location in Kensington - posh area.

willtomcat, when are you going to Europe? Choice Hotels is currently having a sale whereby they are offering rooms in Paris and London for only 8,000 points per night versus the usual 25,000 or more. The sale is good through June.

In addition to earning points by staying at Choice Hotels, you can buy up to 20,000 points per year for $11 per thousand. So you can get a nice hotel room in Paris or London for $88, which is not a bad buy.

If you buy 16,000 points and your husband makes an equal purchase, he can book two nights worth of rooms for you. So you can get four nights of rooms in either Paris or London for $88 per night, through June 30.

Also, check your Marriott Megabonus offer. If you got the two Cat 1-5 certificate offer, it could be worth your while to work in two cheap Fairfield Inn stays in order to stay at a Cat 5 Marriott on the edge of Paris.

ttt

Personally, I would go to London, Paris and Venice (with more time in Paris than London).
I am not a big fan of the Let's Go book but the more research you do the better.

For first timers the Frommer books for each city have good background on the historical sights and directions.

Venice is so unique that I would take her there. But, I would not do the night train as it is rather expensive.
Look at the EasyJet website for flights between Paris and Venice. We got 60 euro flights for May on that route. Be aware that Easyjet charges extra for bags and the flight prices go up as the date gets closer.

Pack light and have a wonderful time.

I am not a big fan of the Let's Go book but the more research you do the better.>

if looking for historical background I agree - but the real value of Let's Go books for younger/shoestring traveler crowd is their unparalleled IME coverage of budget - real budget accommodations like hostels, youth hotels, Nature Friends houses in Switzerland and even campgrounds with cabins or trailers to rent. So it depends on what you are looking whether Let's Go is a good book or not.

England
Paris
Switzerland
to either Barcelona or Venice

Too much. Definitely keep London and Paris, which I think is plenty for an 11 day trip. Don't forget to factor in jet lag and time change for the first few days may well slow you down.

You *could* add Switzerland, it's easy to take a train from Paris to Lausanne for example. Or you could fly from Paris to Venice at the end of the trip, then fly out of Venice.

But you can't (in my opinion) fit in 4 places in 11 days without really stressing out and 'wasting' a lot of your precious time going to and from airports, bus or train stations, checking in and out of hotels, etc.

<get a general feel for Europe>
You can accomplish this goal by visiting and getting to know just a couple places. Rushing around to hit 4-5 places won't give you a better quality of experience.

If you don't already have your flights I would really encourage you to add a few more days. As you said yourself in your original post, the main cost is the flights, so since they will cost the same regardless of how long you stay you might as well make the most of it. You mention your daughter might get homesick - don't underestimate her. She may fall in love with Europe and not be homesick at all. And you will be with her.

So if you can add even 3 more days then I think you have plenty of time to add a third country. Four or five days each in London and Paris and one other stop is perfect for a first trip.

Do you like warm, sunny weather? Then I'd make the third destination Italy rather than Switzerland. Switzerland is wonderful, but along with London and Paris it is quite possible to get cool, grey weather for the whole two weeks. Italy in summer is pretty reliably warm and sunny.

I second the other poster who suggested Travelodge Waterloo for London. I have also stayed at Comfort Inn Victoria which was fine. And if money is really an issue, the EasyJet hotels are not that bad. I stayed in the one near Victoria Station, rooms incredibly small but quite clean and very well located.

In Paris try Hotel Marignan (http://www.hotel-marignan.com/)

I think, at 12, that she might get tuckered out a lot sooner than someone, say, 16.

I would stick to no more than 3 cities. I'd do London/Paris/Venice. Venice is a lovely way to end the trip and it is such a unique city.

For Venice, consider another "first"- you might stay in a convent or monastery. Can be very cost-effective. This website lists several, but you can also google and book direct, perhaps. http://www.monasterystays.com/

Have a wonderful trip! You'll both remember this for a long, long time. :)

Oh, and in Paris, a unique experience might be staying at the Hospitel Hotel. It is a small boutique hotel in one small wing of a still-working public hospital. The rates are fabulous, as you are literally across the street from Notre Dame. (The bells will be your alarm clock!) We loved the location and the price.

Here are reviews on Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html

Here is the hotel website: http://www.hotel-hospitel.fr/ang/accueil.htm