My family will be in italy for 12 days then my husband is leaving and we are staying another 9 days. My daughter is 16 and son is 14 - we plan to go to london for 3 days and then are deciding between paris or a beach area - back in italy, france etc. What do you suggest? I don't want to burn out the kids with too much. It is the first time in Europe.

Where are you flying home from?

before I thought it thru I made ez jet reservations to london from venice on aug 1.(non-refundable) I am staying for 2 or 3 nights then off I go. To whereever...(price does play a part) I leave from london on august 11(monday). Thanks for your help

Hi,

I suggest 4 days in London, 4 days in Paris and then return for a night at the airport.

So, if I understand this correctly, you're flying into Italy, staying 12 days, then flying to London, staying 2-3 days, then want to go somewhere else, but you have to go back to London to fly home?

I hope you won't mind my saying this certainly doesn't sound like a well-thought-out plan. If you are flying out of London, why would you not just plan to spend the last three days there before your departure?

At any rate, I definitely wouldn't backtrack to Italy. I guess I'd recommend you take the Eurostar to Paris and maybe spend a few days in Normandy, where there are beaches and plenty of other things that teenagers would enjoy.

Or you could just stay in England and tour around there.

I agree - it was because I extended our stay after I booked the ez jet to london. Now I am stuck with London in the middle before I return home. I never thought about Normandy - how far from paris is it? Do you think the kids will like Paris or is it too much touring? We are leaving July 19 so time is of the essence - lol. Again thanks for help!!(My kids are active and social - lots of churches and museums would be too much)

Perhaps you have already done this but just where are the two children in all of this process??? Actively involved or is Mom being left to make all the decisions and then get creamed when "we can't get active and social enough in the Louvre, Mom..you're such a square?"
Have they said anything about where they might like to go or want to see? If not, maybe they could be encouraged to come up with a few ideas..and I'm sure they have plenty of time to do so..just hand them the keyboard...just a thought...hope you have a great trip and if you want to let them get really "active and social" just turn them loose in Amsterdam for a couple of days!!!!

You got it! I have tried over and over to get there opinions...for now they say whatever you decide mom will be fun!
Of course you are right..then they will claim boredom, at that point i will mention they had their chance! I guess my final question is - will the kids like paris - even if we just see a few highlights and eat and people watch or should i find a beach instead. Thanks

I don't know how complete strangers can tell you for sure if your children will like Paris, but for what it's worth, my two (daughter 16, son 13) can never get enough of Paris.
We mix up museums and churches with shopping and people-watching and loads and loads of walking, boat rides and bus rides, and of course eating.They are always down at the mouth when it comes time to leave.
I'd suggest you take your kids to the library or bookstore and hand them a guidebook on Paris and see what appeals to them. By the way, there's a beach in Paris - right on the banks of the Seine.

Normandy is a half-day's drive or train from Paris. Again, a guidebook will get you started on whether it might or might not appeal to the family.

My suggestion is to eitehr take Ira;s advice (four days in London, four in paris, and then back to London before flyhing home) or someone else's advice, and just stay in England.

About beaches -- it is my understanding that beaches in all of England and on the north and west coasts of France are cold water, compared to southern California, Florida, and the Carolina coasts.

So don't think "beach" in northern Europe means quite the same thing as in the beachier parts of the USA.

I'd try to fonmd the beach time for the kids when you are in Italy, where the water is warmer.

And it's a long flight from London back down to the French Riviera.

Take a look at what interests the kids; if they like urban things, music, modern museums, art, trendy neighbborhoods, the latest fashions, street entertainment, and so on, and if Italy has included lots of small towns, take the London-Paris option, but split it four days each, not three in London and five in paris.

If they are more suburban-rural kids, just stay in England and take some day trips to the smaller towns surrounding London, in addition to seeing the sights of London.

Go to Brighton and Stonehenge and up to Oxford.

If they are the urban types, put the catacombs in Paris on the list, the latin Quartr, the Left Bank, and if trhey, and you, are fairly broadminded, Pigalle.

A lot of kids find that a trip that includes things they've seen in movies, or will be able to see in movies in the futre, makes the trip interesting. Rent some Auston Powers movies, American in Paris and Gigi, the Meg Ryan - Kevin Kline French movie, A Fish Named Wanda, and a few others if you have the time, and use them as guides of things to go and see.

I've also found that giving teenagers a camera so that they can take pictures to show friends back home reduces the boredom factor.

Finally, searching out interesting street food and casual food is a fairly low budget, interesing, and tasty task that gets them involved. French fries in Paris, served in a paper cone, is a treat, for instance. Fish and Chips in London.

And, for American kids, there's no downside to having them look for American transplants, with an eye to seeing how the American ideas are then altered in London or Paris. Wine, I think, in McDonald's, for instance.

BAK

YOu could go to a beach area along Northern France, but personally, I wouldn't. Why go all the way to Europe to go to a beach and waste that time? I would think teens would enjoy the UK more -- London for 3 days is not very long at all. If not there, go to Dublin or countryside like Cornwall area. Otherwise, just take the train to Paris and I'm sure they will enjoy it there.

Just to clarify in case someone wonders, they have a summer promotional event in Paris called "Paris Plage" ( Paris beach) but it is not a real beach on the banks of the Seine. They bring in some potted palm tress and lounge chairs and people lay out in the sun in a narrow area along the Seine concrete walkway, but it's not a beach.

Thank you both so much for replying. I am sold - London 4 days and paris 4 days. I had researched so much for Italy and London I wasn't prepared on sights in Paris. I am heading for barnes and Noble and the library today to get some of the main places down. I have urban/beach children so your suggestions are definitely taken. Again. many many thanks and any other ideas on any place you reccomend in any of our 3 areas is appreciated.

Hey, Mom..sounds like you are a definitely "together" woman...now, what we really want is for you to tell us how it all went when you come back! I can hear it now, "Well, I just couldn't keep up with the kids..they had such a great time...." ENJOY this adventure!

Thanks! I hope I don't have to have my head examined.lol Very excited about this adventure - many many plans and ideas. I will gladly report back how the trip went. Thanks everyone

Give your kids a few guidebooks (if you don't have it, you might want to check out Fodor's "Paris with Kids", available used from Amazon) and ask them each to make a 'Top 10' list; you do it too and then merge the lists. Make sure they also write when things are closed. You can make an all-family Top 10 that way and choose a different person to be the 'guide' for each event. If it's a really hot day, consider going on the sewer tour - I'm not kidding - yes, it stinks but it's fascinating and it's cooler underground. I also second the idea of giving each of the kids a camera and letting them compose their own shots. It's hard to get bored in Paris! Don't worry!

I can understand the "no actual response" from your kids. Mine have done the same. The "whatever" you do is okay is only good at home. Find out what they don't want to do. My teens love Paris and can find things to interest them. But, their attention span at museums is still short. Research the most famous things at museums, and head for them. And your daughter will like the shopping. Funny thing, we noticed that in Europe, men frequently shop with their signficant others, picking out clothes for the s.o. to try on and seeming to enjoy it. My kids also enjoy beach time, especially where there is an active promenade to wander around on. They don't seem to care if the water is cold. They just like to be where there are a lot of people. In London, there are a couple of good 1/2 to whole day excursions to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace or Windsor Castle. There is also a beach area at Brighton in England that fits the bill. Also, plan in a "rest day" or two, where nothing is definitely planned, do the laundry, just hang around, and walk around the hotel area, listen to t.v. It seems to help with the burnt out feeling. I know the temptation to fit in more cities, but I suggest staying in one place for remaining days instead of changing countries( as 3-4 days at the beach and 4 days in London). You get to know the your "neighborhood" better. (Since we live in Colorado, my kids love to visit beaches, and rarely find it a waste of time. They are usually a highlight of a trip. The thing about beach areas that are great for teens -is that unlike a city where it feels uncomfortable to have the kids wander on their own, beach towns are generally safe and easier to manuever in.)Also, another thing to consider for first time in europe is the language. I found as open minded as well are about learning other languages, that the kids get tired of trying to communicate and that there is a little relief in hearing a language that one is familiar with. So, for first timers, a longer stay in England might be better and save Paris for another trip.(Please don't interpret this as me saying I want everyone to speak English.)

You may want to check out Paris and the Normandy beaches, which we just did with our 15, 13, and 8 year old children and they loved both places:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34429118

Ryan air is another good, small airline to consider for short trips from London although you have to leave from Stansted via a train. Rates are rock bottom and you can purchase just one way if you need to. Ryanair.com might be worth a visit. Your kids will LOVE Paris. I was 10 the first time I went and I have been going back ever since. What a cool mom you must be! Your kids are sooo fortunate. I have a feeling that if all you do in Paris is eat and watch the world go by, you will all have a blast!

One last thought about beaches in Italy. Rapallo is lovely and there is a boat (20min) you can take to Portofino. Don't know where you will be based out of in Italy but a day at the beach might be fun. Just remember that ALL the Italians will be there. August is their month to tan. They put the olive oil on a roast themselves.