Help needed with Europe itinerary
 

Fodorites, I could truly use your help with a Europe itinerary...

As background, I am visiting London for 3 weeks in June as part a volunteer program that I'm part o. My wife and children will be coming during the last week of the program with the intent of traveling through Europe. I will have 15 days free after my program ends on June 23 to actually vacation with them.

I'm having trouble figuring out the right pace and places to visit for my family. By the time they have arrived I will have been in London for nearly 3 weeks, although not as a tourist. It will be my wife and our three kids - two boys and a girl ages 12, 10 and 7 joining me.

My initial thought was we'd stay in London for a few days before going to Paris. From there possibly Spain (thinking Barcelona). Also, tickets haven't been booked yet but depending on pricing, I'd like to fly from my last destination city back home to the States. If price difference is too great I realize we will have to travel back to London to fly back the second leg of our roundtrip tickets.

Do know my wife and I have been to Europe twice previously prior to kids but it's been nearly 13 years. Visited Florence, Venice, Paris, Nice, Bruges. We've also passed through and stayed in London for a day or so but I wouldn't consider that truly visiting the city. Obviously my kids first time. In fact, it's the first time for them to be international period.

Any input would be GREATLY welcome. Thank you in advance.

For flight option, the best for you would be flight back to the US from your last destination, it'll save you lots of money and time for tracking back to London. Look for multi-destinations or multi-city flight on internet (skyscanner, kayak etc.) which allow you to land in London and depart from another city. Sorry if you have already known all these. But even if the multi-city flight is a tad more expensive than the out-of-London flight, it's still worth it for the time you'll save.

For your Europe cities, you have unlimited choices. If we know more about your preferences, we can recommend more. In general, Spain is a great destination. Other than Barcelona, you can visit Madrid, San Sebastian (gorgeous beach and foods), Granada (the land of a thousand castles and the great Alhambra), Valencia (Andalusia heaven),...

To reiterate the first response, you need to use a multi-destination search function to shop for your plane flights. One-way tickets bought individually can be much more expensive. Most airlines and big on-line travel agencies provide this function.
Your research for destinations can start right here, using the Destinations menu at the top of this page. All big cities and a lot of the smaller places maintain civic websites for tourism. Google.
Other tools:
www.seat61.com -- everything about rail travel.
www.skyscanner.com -- internal European flights on budget. airlines where prices are based on one-way, rather than round-trip, schedules.
Family accommodations may be easier in apartments. However the backlash against Airbnb and its competitors has added some uncertainty to the market. An alternative is so-called aparthotels, providing hotel services but apartment-like facilities. They turn up on big hotel search sites such as Booking.com and Hotels.com

What they said about multi-city. Remember that July will be very hot in Spain and Italy, this is a good time for northern Europe, including the UK. There is a lot to see besides London.

What sorts of things do you and the kids want to see/do? There are unlimited options really so you have to help us out a bit.

But I'd seriously consider Edinburgh and a bit of rural Scotland plus maybe a few days in Paris. All three are amazing for families.

Something like train to Paris for a few days, fly to Edinburgh, a week or more in Scotland, train to London, a few days in London, fly home.

Or London > Scotland > Paris > Fly home

just a couple of options. I personally wouldn't visit Spain or most of Italy at that time of year

So you have 15 days to vacation with your family. With three kids, you don't want to do a lot of moving around. I'd suggest no more than two or three locations in addition to London. While people think they see more by going to more places, each time you change locations, it takes up most of a day, so you actually have less time to see/do/experience.

Personally, I'd avoid Spain at that time of the year. Consider cities farther north like Amsterdam. Also, consider staying in the UK. What about a week or more in Scotland? the Cotswolds? Think about what you and your family enjoy and choose on that basis.

I second London > Edinburgh > Paris and fly home from CDG

I would advise you to visit Prague, Rothenburg, Rome and, actually, use the opportunity and visit a few places in Great Britain, like "Project Eden", Cheddar Gorge and the highlands of Scotland.

@HansHarl - what is it with all these posts pushing Rothenburg? Do you work for their tourist office? It is one of the most hyped, touristy destinations around.

And if you had bothered to read the other posts here, you would have seen the recommendations to skip Spain and Italy in July.

How wonderful to have this opportunity with your family.

I agree with Kathie not to move locations too many times in just 2 weeks. London, Paris and Amsterdam would give your children a flavor of 3 countries and there will be plenty in each city for families to see and do. However, since you have spent little time in London or the UK I would be tempted to spend the days there.

In London there's the London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, Natural History Museum, Westminster Abbey and Kew Gardens for starters. After London it's an easy train to York where there is a wonderful rail museum, Viking ruins, Medieval walls to walk, a stunning cathedral and Betty's for tea. Then on to Edinburgh.

Tell us more about your family's interests and we can make better recommendations.

I don't know how people can suggest visiting anywhere without knowing what your interests are (or how someone can ask for suggestions without saying what their interests are).

I do agree with the comments re flights. Your comment, "If price difference is too great I realize we will have to travel back to London to fly back the second leg of our roundtrip tickets." It would make no sense at all to return to London to fly back to the USA. You will not save money returning to London.

I do not agree with comments to skip Spain or Italy in July. They are making assumptions. I don't know what it might be that they think YOU would want to avoid. You haven't said anything about wanting to avoid anything.

If you are interested in visiting London, Paris and Barecelona, then fine, go ahead. My only question would be if visiting cities is going to be the most fun for your children. I know I had little interest in visiting cities when I was a youngster. But again, you haven't said what their interests are.

The problem with family vacations is that they either tend to cater to the adult's interests or to the children's interests. They are rarely both found in the same place.

>>They are rarely both found in the same place.<<

That is plain silly.

There are thousands of sites/places that interest both adults and children.

for a fix on trains which make sense if visiting large cities mainly as many tourists are want to do - check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com (excellent online European Planning & Rail Guide will give lots of suggested itineraries by train).

I'd consider Switzerland and the high Alps for several days - like the fabulous Jungfrau Region around Interlaken. Great for adults and kids (I agree with janis about that!).

"There are thousands of sites/places that interest both adults and children."

Name a few. All I can think of where they often cross is sun and sand vacations. Museums in London or Paris sure wouldn't have held my interest as a kid and Disneyland Paris is of no interest to me now.

What I find silly is suggesting that adults and children aged 12, 10 and 7, have interests in common when travelling.

sojourntraveler strikes again . . . >)

My family could not afford to travel to Europe when we were children and teens but we did make a few car trips and my parents managed to find things we would all enjoy. We never took sun and sand vacations. We all loved visiting Vancouver & Victoria BC, Seattle, Mount Rushmore, and boating on the Mississippi River with our uncle. We also enjoyed the LA County Art Museum as well as Disneyland and San Juan Capistrano Mission in Southern California. My parents were pretty good at making even a picnic in the redwoods enjoyable. We would have had a ball in Europe!

<<What I find silly is suggesting that adults and children aged 12, 10 and 7, have interests in common when travelling.>>

How very peculiar. Adults and children in my family had many, many interests in common traveling around Europe for many years.

Even at purely kids things when I traveled with my young son it was a joy for me to see him have fun at 'kids' places- like renting one of those little boats on ponds in Tuileries -just watching him and other kids was so sweet.

Same for my family StCirq.

Same for my family StCirq.>

helps if father is like a child!

seriously though I see many itineraries with young kids that are like a forced march of adult-mainly interests - like stuff art museums - nice to see folks include kids' interests in trip planning.