My husband and I are planning our first trip to Europe, and the only MUST is Paris. We are planning a two week trip and taking our kids (10 and 8 years old). We are thinking about several other locations to visit but can't pick one: Scotland, London, Southern France, or Italy. We would LOVE any suggestions and ideas. We are thrilled about taking the trip, but also a bit nervous about taking on something so huge for the first time. Help! I am looking forward to all of your posts.

Have you involved the kids?

Perhaps they would like to see castles, or swim in the ocean, or not spend the entire time being unable to read anything familiar.

London offers great connections to everywhere in Europe so that increases it's appeal as a touch point.

From Paris it's easy to get to Belgium and visit Brugge, Ghent, and the Netherlands.

I've done this a couple of times and asked the kids 'what do you want to do?'

Since everywhere is great for me - having them enjoy and feel a part of the planning has done wonders for their enjoyment. Pretty much a win-win.

A great idea, thanks. The kids have heard me talk for years about taking my dream trip to Paris and it never occured to me to ask them what they'd like to do. How selfish of me. Of course they have mentioned the Eiffel Tower and seeing the Mona Lisa, but other than that, I don't know yet. I will ask them

I'll toss out an idea based on the trip we took with our 2 kids in '98.
Flew into Paris and spent 2 nights. Took overnight train to Chamonix (the overnight train was neat, especially for the kids). There we saw Mont Blanc and the Chamonix ski areas. (this was summer)
picked up rental car, drove thru beautiful scenery to Lake Como in Italy for more stunning scenery, then drove to Provence and then up to Paris for return home.
EK

EK- How old were your kids on this trip? It sounds like a lot of fun. I was just looking into visiting Lake Como. What did you do while there? EW

hmmm 8 or 9 years ago...they would have been 15 and 13.
Do at Lake Como?? Well, it is pretty much beautiful scenery. Sometimes the kids were a bit bored, I admit....but they enjoyed the trips, and we move around quite a bit when we go.

European travel is a big deal in our family. I think I've learned a thing or two. This may or may not apply to your kids though.

You need to hit a balance between your own dreams and your kids' interests - real and potential. Most kids that age know what they like to do at home, but they won't really know what they would want to do in Europe. You need to bring them a few choices so they feel invested, but you probably need to provide the choices and make your own decisions on the other stuff wisely. I think most kids will enjoy and remember a trip more if they're doing something they can't/don't do at home, as long as it's still something kid-like.

Castles are a great treat for most kids. But don't pick one where they have to stand in line outside for two hours. At some, like Rheinfels in St.Goar, Germany, kids can crawl around the ruined portions and exercise their limbs and their imaginations.

Most kids don't like to walk long distances, so make use of the metro, river boats, etc. - that's fun for most kids who have only been schlepped around in a car. Trains go over well for the same reason.

For recreation, pools and beaches are okay but most kids have been there done that - maybe a thermal spa or one of the European waterparks??

Meeting other kids here and there - or just checking them out - is fun for most. Trains are often good for this. You might also try a night or two in a youth hostel - most offer private family rooms and private baths these days, but the kids will be able to share a table in the dining room, play ping pong, or just hang out around other kds too. Hostels were a real highlight for my daughter in her travels at that age. There are a couple of hostels in Germany not far from the French border that are housed in medieval castles - Bacharach, and Diez - that have reasonably-priced family rooms and that you might enjoy.

Snacks - pack some when you leave your room. Meals - probably most kid travelers' Achilles heel. They just aren't too flexible, as a rule. Italian restaurants tend to have more kid-friendly food than others. But sparingly letting them have a hot dog or whatever poison they might want if they were at home is the best way to keep them on your side. then march off the next day to whatever restaurant makes you happy.

Be prepared to split up from the hubby now and then - one or both of the kids won't be able to do the Louvre or whatever for as many hours as you and he might wish, and one of you may have to take them out while the other one perseveres to see what he/she came to Europe to see - tag-team sightseeing.

Can't tell you where to go, but do try to break up your time between big cities and more rural experiences if you can. Most kids will appreciate that.

Okay, I hope this helps a little.

the last post had good info. Here is one other tip we use, as often we'd be in some town square and wife would wanna go into some shops and I would take the kids and people watch. We bought some inexpensive walkie talkies over there.
We took our own cheap ones once, and learned that they are not legal, 'cause the transmit on a frequency that isn't allowed for...yadda yadda, whatever (I can't imagine that you'd get in real trouble for using them), but we did find a cheap pair in an electronics store over there.
So...we could split up and stroll and not worry about where to meet up
EK

Hi EG,

For two weeks, for first timers, I suggest flying into London for 1 wwek, taking the Eurostar to Paris for 1 week and flying home from there.

See www.kayak.com for airfare, www.eurostar.com for train.

Thanks to all of you for your helpful and insightful advice. I asked my son last night what he might like to do and his answer was, "What are my choices?" So, we are going to look through some books today and talk about all of the places we can visit. I like the idea of staying in a hostel that is an old castle. I am going to look in to that. I love all the help, if anyone else out there has advice, please share.
Emily

Hi eg- some other suggestions.

How about learning a few local phrases, hello, goodbye, etc in French and Italian? If you are doing France and Italy, make one kid in charge of the French "lessons" and the other in charge of the Italian "lessons". That way they will take on more of an interest in the trip.

Prep the kids (and yourself also) to things French and Italian, perhaps if there is a french bakery or pastry shop (or Italian) as well, So, at least while there, the kids would at least recognize these things. Not sure if the kids are picking eaters?? but bring a baguette and brie home to incorportae "French food" into their life (Italian food also!), so it's not such a culture shock. Call it a practice run...

Also, maybe rent some movies that are heavy on the Paris or Italian (were you thinking of going to Rome) scenery, so the kids will recognize things when they see them.

Sorry to focus so heavily on the kids, but I assure you if they are relaxed and excited about their trip, then you will be able to relax and have a fantastic time as well.

I second Ira's suggestion. London and Paris are hard to beat and will easily occupy a week each. Kids love both places, there's TONS of stuff to do for them.

In London, the Tower of London and nearby Windsor may satisfy your son's castle urge. And Hampton Court Palace with its maze and great history may light their fires, too. But there's so much more in both cities.

I'd make life easy on yourself. Don't spend half the trip schlepping from hotel to train to hotel...just keep it simple and don't stress yourself out, especially since it's your first trip. You can't see everything and you'll certainly go back, don't worry.

I am thinking that for the first trip London and Paris are probably best too. I was thinking London first to get used to being out of the country but still speaking English, then the chunnel to Paris for the second week. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your thoughtful responses, they make planning the trip even more fun!
Emily

May I suggest Paris and Rome? With plenty to do in both, and the history and breathtaking scenery of Rome with its movies allowing kids to be familiar, yes. The Coliseum in Rome always fascinates kids because of the Gladiator theme and the beauty of the sculptures and paintings of Michaelangelo, Bernini, Raphael & DaVinci thrown in, you and the kids will feel involved.

Paris and the Tour Eiffel, Champ Elysees and the Seine is romantic, well known and again, kids love to tell their friends they have been there.

Additionally, side trips to Provence, Lyon or Nice is convenient, as it leads to Italy as well. From Rome, Naples, Neptune and your own personal pick is only a few hours out of Rome and gives you depth of the Italian experience.

DOLLAR exchange is miserable in England, and the food incredible in Italy, and smoking horrid in Paris, with shopping perfect in Paris or Rome.

Buses and metro very convenient in both, and quite economical. If you speak no French or Italian, now is the time to practice a bit and look forward to a rewarding and novel experience that you and your children will remember forever.

Bon chance!

Both Paris and London are huge cities; you either have to walk a lot (little people don't like that) are take the public transit a lot.
Most kids are not very interested in museums and galleries.( although you can find some things kids would like in both cities)
I would go to Paris ; after either fly to Nice , rent a car to see some places in Provence or on the coast ( can be day trips) .
If it is in wam wether you may even spend a day on the beach!

According to your other post it seems like you may have decided on Italy, but if you are still undecided, I think Ira's idea of a week in London and a week in Paris would be great. We did that last March. Here is a link to our trip report:http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34786762

What time of year? Kids interests, your interests ect..This question is just too big to answer, but I would like to add my 2 cents worth re travelling with kids. Your children are at a great age..a good attention span but no teen attitude. Involve them. I would base myself in 2 (max 3 places) and do day trips as needed. I would try to rent a flat or do a house exchange. I would try to avoid hotel rooms which tend to be very small in Europe. A quad room is not easy to come by. Do you want to do 2 cities with day trips or 1 city and one rural location? If you do the later, you will have to feel comforatable renting a car. I think for my first visit, London would be great for a week (with day trips to Hampton Court, Beaulieu (if the kids are into old cars) and maybe 1 other trip. If this is summer you might want to spend at least one week in the country or at a lake /beach for a few days...When you have broken the trip down as to city or city rural and have more input from the kids I might be more helpful (I have been to Europe with kids from infancy to teens ..boys though but I have some specifics of things that went over well and others that fell flat but I dont think this would be helpful until you have narrowed things down a bit.

I agree with 2 locations only. Either London and Paris, Paris and Rome , Paris and Nice, Paris and Florence .
Also, it is a good idea to rent an apt. in both places, stay put for a week and do day trips if the family is up to it.
(jet-lag, kids get sick, hot weather, etc....?}

I can't disagree with the postings about seeing London, Paris, or Rome....but we get a BIG kick out of seeing the countryside and small/medium sized towns too. Maybe a week in Paris, and a week in the countryside????

Thanks everyone! jgg- nice to see you here as well as on my Italy post! I think we have narrowed our trip to Paris and Rome with a 2 day stop in Florence in between. travelbunny- this trip will be in early June for two weeks. I would LOVE your advice on traveling with kids. I have had many friends and neighbors tell me I am making a HUGE mistake in taking the kids along. I would hate to think that as I am thrilled we will all get to share this experience together. I will look more into the apartment/quad room situation this weekend. ekellyga: I would also love to see the countryside of France and Italy but am afraid that we will have to save that for our next trip. I am determined that this will not be a "once in a lifetime" and that we will plan another trip to Europe when we return in June. As for travelling outside of Paris, I am thinking of Versailles. jgg mentioned a day trip to Normandy on another post. any ideas on either of those? also, any suggestions for out of the way spots to visit while in Paris? favorite hang outs? cafes? quiet neighborhood walks? (does quiet exist in Paris?)
Emily