I never thought it meant darling, and certainly not wifey. I have never intended any of my posts to be read as darling anything. I never, ever heard that before, only dear wife or husband which doesn't seem too cutesy, and is easy. If you use someone's initials, that might require clarification as to who G, MC or TJ is and then keeping it straight in other people's posts. I did not realize it was so off-putting to people and had not noticed that it had gone out of use. I don't like being out of touch with current usage, so I am glad the original poster brought up the question.

Sassafrass: >>I did not realize it was so off-putting to people and had not noticed that it had gone out of use<<

It isn't off-putting and it most certainly isn't going out of use -- and DEFINITELY doesn't mean <i>Darling Wifey</i>

As was explained on another thread, it means 'Dear' Wife (or Husband or daughter or granddaughter son in law, or what ever) . . . or 'Darned' the same depending on the context

And it really does help keep the players straight, especially on long TR's.

And, travelerjan is wrong. Just as many men as women us the shorthand forms.

Just thought I'd relate the comments from my son who just last week went with his well-traveled 5 year old on a trip to Europe from the US. Upon arrival from the US they had a two night stay in a capital city in a hotel with a pool. He commented that he would have liked to have seen more of the city but it just wasn't realistic with a 5 year old because her patience and stamina extended just so far. And, he said the pool was a life saver (he'd chosen the hotel specifically because of the pool).

I also want to second what someone said about UGGS being bad for travel--they are. You'll want something waterproof for your daughter's feet.

Another thing I don't see you factoring in is time for getting lost, trying to find your way around an unfamiliar city, looking for that ice cream store, finding out it is cold and rainy outside and you really don't feel like wandering around sightseeing but would instead prefer to just sit inside and relax in a warm and cozy place. There are all of the realities of travel even without a child and even not in winter.

IMO (and this is my first response to this thread) with a trip with this ambitious of an itinerary you are setting both of you up for a miserable time. I really , really think your daughter would much more appreciate a trip where you choose max 4 places, rent an apartment in each, and explore fewer areas in depth.

Hi Quittag, I spend every December in Paris and I think it's magical. If it were my trip (and I can't wait to take Izzy, my granddaughter to Paris for Christmas but she's only 10 months and her mama won't let me), I'd spend as much of the time you can there. There are many many blocks of Christmas markets along the Champs Elysee with lights, food, kiddie rides, music... The windows of the Printemps and Galleries Lafayette will delight your daughter (don't go on a weekend!) The Christmas tree in the Galleries Lafayette will take your breath away. If you can manage it, take in a ballet at Palais Garnier. And the food... the patiserries are filled with magical treats. Every neighborhood has it's own lights and decorations.

If I were you I'd get an apartment for a week (stand back and watch the fireworks fly over this one!) It will give you a "home" to go to at the end of all the excitement and give your daughter a safe place to unwind. Look on homeaway.com. I don't love the idea of sleeping on the train. I've done that in my "salad days" and am glad I don't have to do it again.

If it were me... I'd spend a couple of days in London, then take the Eurostar to Paris, stay there up to a week, then fly to Copenhagen for your trip home.

I know the idea of EuroDisney is fun but Paris is so much better than Disney.

Hi again--

I've been thinking about this some more and have a few more thoughts. I am old enough to be your mother since I have grandchildren the age of your daughter, and I am someone from a very cold part of the US who has spent a lot of time in Europe. So, take these things into account when you read my response.

Right now we are in la Rochelle, France, where this morning it was grey, semi-drizzly, and max 45 degrees at 10:00. And, it really didn't get light until 8:30. We didn't have a lot of ambition to get up and start sightseeing early. And, this is much nicer weather than you'll be encountering.

Have you thought about things like laundry? It will not dry overnight in a bathroom and needs at least 2 days.

Have you thought about breakfast for your child? Are you willing to get out of the door immediately because she will want breakfast as soon as she awakens. Or, would she prefer a slightly slower start? many more reasons for longer stays in apartments.

I've be been to Paris in Feb. and March, and it was cold and wet and miserable both months.

We've spent New Year's in Rome, and it would be a good choice for a child. Christmas doesn't end until 12th night and one Saturday while we were there was a children's fair in one of the squares with La Befana and a Santa with a reindeer sleigh etc. And, the biggest plus of all, the weather was actually semi-decent--maybe upper 50s and much more pleasant for touring.

My daughter and SIL did Europe over winter break while in college and visited many of the places you are talking about. Rome and Barcelona ended up being their favorites just because the weather was more pleasant.

IMO you really need to take weather into account (even if you live in Toronto and assume this is just more winter weather).

Finally, if your daughter doesn't have one, buy her a Kindle for the trip. It might save your sanity.

I continue to lobby for Rome and Barcelona with Tivoli on your way out.

IMO?? Lol

So I'm thinking
London
Paris
Barcelona or somewhere in Italy
Copenhagen

I would much prefer to get to Copenhagen on the 30th or 31st.. I don't think I'm that interested in staying too many days there.. London

So it sounds like there are Christmas markets every where? So I can X wanting to do Germany out??

My daughter would love to see the markets.. She is into a lot of things.. So the places and things you all have brought up are cool

Also the uggs aren't your normal uggs, they are waterproof.. I have yet to buy mine but I bought hers..

Taking a real gondola ride vs the one in vegas sounds so amazing..

The Christmas markets you will find outside of Germany, Austria, Alsace . . . are not traditional but set up for tourists. Paris didn't have Christmas markets until a few years ago and they are a far cry from what you'd find in S. Germany for instance. Italian Christmas is a whole different thing which you and your daughter would enjoy studying. As a poster above mentioned, it's about Babbo Natale and La Bufana and lumps of coal and bagpipers. . . and beautiful presepi in all the churches.

As I've said before, it's your trip. However, as a former Chicagoan who lives in Paris, I can't imagine wanting to spend a two week winter vacation in grey, cold, wet no matter how wonderful the destination. And Venice is far enough north to be cold wet and grey then too.

I have not visited Barcelona at Christmas and I don't stay in Paris then either. Like many here, I go to Florida.

(I'm sure enjoying this thread and hope you'll post what you finally decide to do.)

I'm enjoying this thread, too, and I salute you, OP, for hanging in there. You're still getting a lot of parenting advice--can we stipulate that this mom probably knows by now how to feed her child breakfast??--but there's a lot of good TRAVEL advice, too.

FWIW, I agree that DW, DD, etc. are too cutesy and silly for actual grownups to use. I use SO (Significant Other), and OP, and that's it. The rest makes my teeth ache.

And no, of course, DW never meant Darlin' Wifey, that was a joke--sense of humor required, though

I haven't read all the responses, sorry.

If you are flying into London and out of Copenhagen, and have about 12 days on the ground, and wish to see Paris, then I would take the Eurostar between London and Paris. Cheapest fares are released months in advance, book now, book only directly from the Eurostar website.

See the website of the excellent Man in Seat 61 for general and specific information about trains in Europe.

There is a dedicated Disneyland Paris forum over on Trip Advisor, which might be a good resource for planning that part of the trip.

I am sorry I can't advise the best route between Paris and Copenhagen, but I would compare the time and cost of the train with the time and cost of flying, and make your decision that way.

Some excellent books your daughter might like are the "This is..." picture books for children, such as "This is London" and "This is Paris." I am sure your local library would help you come up with other titles for your daughter to read in advance of your trip. Oh, and the Madeleine books, of course. You might even spot the Tour Eiffel in them.


Your local library can also get you a stack of guidebooks for each of your destinations. Some will be too wordy for your daughter to enjoy (such as the excellent Blue Guides) but the DK Eyewitness guidebooks have lots of good color photos and may appeal to your daughter.

I am unclear if this is your first trip to Europe. If so, and as much as I hate to recommend Rick Steves to anybody for anything, there is some clear information on his website about mechanics such as money, power adaptors, what to do before you leave home, and so forth. If you've already traveled to Europe and are used to managing these sorts of things, then never mind. Please be clear that I am not recommending his guidebook, only some of the nuts-and-bolts information for first time travelers to Europe (who might not otherwise remember to advise banks of foreign travel, take copies of their passports, want to know about getting local currency [ATMs] et cetera, et cetera).

London is a fabulous place for kids and there is more to do there, than you could manage in a month, let alone however much time you will likely spend. For information about Christmas-related events and activities, have a search on the web pages of Time Out London and Londonist.

I certainly hope you will return and post, not only your final itinerary, but a trip report telling us all about your trip, please.

Enjoy your travel planning and your holiday.

I stumbled upon this posting because I'm also traveling with a 6 year old and I'm looking for tips as well. We are going with my husbands family and will be traveling around Sicily for almost three weeks late December to first week of Jan. Above all else I'm concerned for my child's safety even though we are going with family mainly because of the language barrier (none of us speak Italian), and the thieves/pickpockets. To that end I've been learning basic Italian this year and am investing in an anti-theft purse to avoid being a victim.

Case in point: A good friend of mine went to Prague two weeks ago with another couple, and the other couple were pick-pocketed out of their cell phone in a matter of seconds! They didn't even realize they had been relieved of their phones until minutes later. This happened because they were distracted by a stranger asking them a quick and simple question. They apparently also looked and behaved like tourists. Since they had bought travelers insurance, they needed to go to the police station to file a report. Lo and behold when they got there, there were 8 other (tourist) couples sitting at the police station! The police were pretty indifferent and took their sweet time. One unfortunate couple was robbed of their passport, money, cellphone, everything. Luckily for my friend and her friend, this was the last day of their trip. She was able to use my friends phone to access her cellphone and delete everything remotely. However, the group sat there for hours and made for a sour ending to an otherwise enjoyable trip. On a side note, their travel guide mentioned the top 5 European cities to be pick-pocketed is: Barcelona, Paris, Madrid, Prague and Rome. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/tr...id-victim.html

I would suggest:
*to look into getting travelers insurance (we have Geo Blue)

*to really consider limiting your itinerary to just two places to fully immerse yourselves in one place for each week (after all Europe isn't going anywhere). This way you can leave your stuff in the hotel and travel unencumbered, more leisurely/enjoyably and be less frazzled needing to get from point A to point B to point C, etc.

*to invest in an anti-theft bag.

Best of luck!

I think Barcelona is just too far out of your way for a short trip. You'd really have to fly. There are cheap direct flights from Paris to Barcelona and from Barcelona to Copenhagen, if that's what you decide to do.

I use www.skyscanner.net to find budget airline flights.

If you're doing London, Paris, I would go to Lyon from Paris and if weather permits..ride bikes along the river, through the Park...go to the Puppet Museum (Museess Gadagne), hike to the top of the Cathedral (Fourviere Basilica), visit Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse Market (a feast for the eyes)..etc..
The archeological museum is interesting..underground..

Just booked a couple of shows for London... Carols by Candlelight, Wicked & Harry Potter Warner Studios.. but there are lots of shows for younger children.. Google London events and the days you will be there..same with Paris.. Georgian House Hotel is reasonable price in London, good location and has a few Harry Potter theme rooms, good for families..

Just some things to consider: -
It is going to be very cold.
The daylight hours will be limited.
It will be harder to get around, and this will depend on the weather conditions. So your daughter will get tired.
I would prefer a hotel bed to return to when it is cold rather than jumping on a train.
Even though flights between some cities take no time at all, remember how much time you need to get to and from the airport as well as the time you need to be at an airport before a flight.
The low cost carriers also have baggage restrictions, as well as requirements to check in on line or print boarding passes. So read the details carefully before buying your ticket.

Just have your travel radar going and you will be ok. people will tell you about scams and pick pocketing, but just be aware of people around you.

I travelled with young children, and while everything is doable, it is also exhausting, and you do need time just to look and experience.

I would stick to Northern Europe and leave Italy and Spain for a different time. London is fantastic for a young child. So is Paris. amsterdam would be wonderful, and so is Copenhagen. You have 4 great cities, and all doable.
good luck & enjoy your trip.

Anyone travelling with a child or family members will be a target for pickpockets, because you will always be distracted.

A "pickpocket-proof" bag will not necessarily protect you.
They can be heavy, have too many compartments and are too much trouble.

What you need is a neck pouch and/or a money belt worn underneath your clothing.

A regular purse, with a long strap and a zipper or velcro closure, worn across your body and over your coat, will attract far less attention from pickpockets.

Men's wallets should be kept in a buttoned inside pocket under your coat, not in pants pockets.

Do not use your cellphone in the Metro or Bus. Keep your cellphone in a buttoned inside pocket under your coat, in a zipped compartment of your purse, and do not keep cellphones in pants pockets. Do not put a cellphone on a table while you're eating, and don't keep it in a pocket of your winter coat.

Only carry a day's worth of cash, one credit card, transportation or museum passes and a copy of your passport in the purse or wallet.

You should carry your actual passports, the rest of your credit cards and cash in the neck pouch and/or money belt.

Store your airline/train tickets in a safe place in your locked luggage in the hotel room.

You should be vigilant while using ATMs - go into the lobby and use the machines inside. Keep an eye out for anyone who gets too close to you while you're using the machine.
Put your money away in the neck pouch/money belt before leaving. If you need to divide the cash, go to a cafe and do this in the toilet.

You should do advance research about how to purchase tickets from machines. There are tutorials on YouTube for most cities. Do not accept help from anyone, even in a uniform or showing a badge.

Remember that ticket checks are routine, fines are expensive, and each person must keep his ticket until he exits the system on the street level.

For safety from pickpockets, my advice is carry passport, money and credit cards in a pouch inside your clothes, and don't take or carry around anything else of importance. What do you actually need? A map, travel guide or a few pages of one, water bottle, snack, umbrella? I carry that stuff in a largish, soft, light weight purse or weightless bag, over my shoulder, just like at home. Pickpockets will be disappointed if they take that. The only thing you will need to be watchful of then is your camera or phone. I keep it in a small zippered pouch on a cord, and in a crowd, may keep my hand on it, but usually don't spoil my trip with a lot of worry. Sometimes, I leave the cord around my neck, but stick the camera inside the bottom of the bag and don't worry about it at all. I don't like fanny packs and don't want to walk around looking as if I have a bank vault attached to me.

My husband grew up in NYC, and I am always amazed at how aware he actually is of his surroundings, when he looks as if he is paying no attention. His pockets are stuffed with things. He was pickpocketed once, knew it was happening and stayed cool. What was stolen? The extra wallet filled with play money, he carries in an obvious pocket.

If you go to Rome, I highly recommend the following guide book: https://www.amazon.com/J.M.-Pasquesi...ne_cont_book_1
It has suggestions for how to make the sites relatable for kids of all ages. My youngest was five when we went to Rome, and it helped her enjoy the city more -- looking out for the Vatican keys and SPQR (on nearly every light post and sewer grate). On a later trip to the US she saw the symbol for the Vatican on a billboard, and was able to recall where she had seen it before. We rented a flat closer to the Vatican, near Castel San Michele - because I like that area. We used sleepinitaly.com to book our flat.
On the boots, I don't know if I posted this before, but I swear by Bogs. It is an American brand. They have completely waterproof boots, and you can get ones that are insulated. We live in an area of Switzerland where it rains nearly every day from October to May, and can get pretty cold even if there is no snow (we are low altitude, but near a lake). Bogs are comfortable and supportive, while also being warm and waterproof. My other suggestion is to bring more socks than you think you will need. Socks always get wet - and bring an extra pair out with you. It may feel burdensome, but kids walk in puddles and get blisters. I have three children, so I feel like the odds are stacked against me when we are walking around a city... something will happen.
We used to live in a city on the east coast of the US, so I like to think that we are pretty self aware when touring foreign places. It is easy to be distracted by your child -- and often the pickpocket rings use a decoy/ distractor. I hate to be rude, but you do need to be extra vigilant if someone approaches with what seems like a harmless question.
I also tend to carry important items in my bra, with some pocket money in my pocket or a small bag - and a backpack with kids stuff-- which would be annoying and inconveinant if stolen, but not trip-ruining.
Good luck with your continued planning!

Ok so seems like more people think I should do London Paris Amsterdam and Copenhagen

Sooo
London 21st-24th
Paris 24th-28th
Amsterdam 28th-31st
Copenhagen 31st-2nd
???

Or London 21st-24th
Paris 24th-27th or +1 day
Italy or Barcelona 27th-31st or -1 day
Copenhagen 31st-2nd
?????

I also want to thank everyone for the last few posts!! Amazing advice things I didn't think of.. So a neck thing is kind of like a lanyard with pouch right?