Travelling with Toodlers....Help!
Sep 27th, 2005, 11:39 PM
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Travelling with Toodlers....Help!
Hello, My husband and I will be travelling to Europe from Sydney in July 2006. We will be travelling to Madrid for a family wedding and then onto Paris, Berlin, Venice, Rome and Singapore. We will also be travelling with our 4 1/2 year old daugther and 21 month old son. My husband and I have travelled quite a bit pre - children but never before with kids. Please, please any tips to make the journey smoother? Does anyone know of any kid friendly places/accomodation/places to visit in these cities? Any tips to survive the long, long flight? Thank you
Sep 28th, 2005, 01:34 AM
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Hi Kimetal,
I was with my 19 months old last November in Paris, Venice and Rome. A couple of things: I found Paris not stroller friendly. When taking the Metro, I always asked the attendant to open the handicap door for me so the stroller can fit. My little one didn't like to be in stroller, so at times, having to carry her and the stroller while walking up or down the stairs with the mob of people is really hard. My little one loved the Rodin museum because she got to run around the garden. She also enjoyed Jardin du Luxumbourg and we sent a long time in the playground along with many other tourist families. We always mixed in a lot of places where she can run around and brought the stroller that can be adjusted to a flat position so she can nap when she got tired. We also tried to booked hotels to get larger rooms, and stayed in the same hotel at least 2 nights before moving on so she can get use to the place. Rome was really crowded. My daughter liked the Roman Forum a lot because she could jump around from stone to stone. By the way, you have to go to Forno di Campo de' Fiori for their pizza bianca. It was delicious. Venice was fun and I definitely left that place with stronger arm muscle from carrying the little one in her stroller up and down the bridges. (We were there in November, so weather was cooler than I had planned. My little one ended up staying in her stroller bundled in the blanket.) she liked the vaporetto and we took it to go beyond the tourist centers, so it was nice. The long flight was a problem. I got her a seat, packed a whole pack pack of toys (many are new so she would stay engaged longer),another one for her favorite snacks, and we walked the aisles a lot(probably annoyed the fellow passengers). One thing I did find inconvenient in these cities was the ability to change diapers. Of the restaurants and places we visited, I only found one bathroom with changing tables, so most often, she was changed in her stroller or on the floor. So I would recommend a nice, large changing pad. Have a great time.
I was with my 19 months old last November in Paris, Venice and Rome. A couple of things: I found Paris not stroller friendly. When taking the Metro, I always asked the attendant to open the handicap door for me so the stroller can fit. My little one didn't like to be in stroller, so at times, having to carry her and the stroller while walking up or down the stairs with the mob of people is really hard. My little one loved the Rodin museum because she got to run around the garden. She also enjoyed Jardin du Luxumbourg and we sent a long time in the playground along with many other tourist families. We always mixed in a lot of places where she can run around and brought the stroller that can be adjusted to a flat position so she can nap when she got tired. We also tried to booked hotels to get larger rooms, and stayed in the same hotel at least 2 nights before moving on so she can get use to the place. Rome was really crowded. My daughter liked the Roman Forum a lot because she could jump around from stone to stone. By the way, you have to go to Forno di Campo de' Fiori for their pizza bianca. It was delicious. Venice was fun and I definitely left that place with stronger arm muscle from carrying the little one in her stroller up and down the bridges. (We were there in November, so weather was cooler than I had planned. My little one ended up staying in her stroller bundled in the blanket.) she liked the vaporetto and we took it to go beyond the tourist centers, so it was nice. The long flight was a problem. I got her a seat, packed a whole pack pack of toys (many are new so she would stay engaged longer),another one for her favorite snacks, and we walked the aisles a lot(probably annoyed the fellow passengers). One thing I did find inconvenient in these cities was the ability to change diapers. Of the restaurants and places we visited, I only found one bathroom with changing tables, so most often, she was changed in her stroller or on the floor. So I would recommend a nice, large changing pad. Have a great time.
Sep 28th, 2005, 05:56 AM
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In Madrid, we walked down Paseo de la Castellana one day with our 2y.o. in a stroller. It's a beautiful walk that took us to many of Madrid's well-known fountains, museums, and buildings. For my son, however, he most enjoyed that he could run through the linear gardens and that there were playgrounds every so often, or fountains, or benches for him to play on. This was the most kid-friendly walking day we had.
He also liked the street performers at la Plaza Mayor. There is a bar there with bull heads on the wall that was also fascinating to him.
Even with our limited time in Madrid, due to the necessity of visiting family, we found that the neighborhood playgrounds were critical to letting him do his thing, giving him a familiar activity, and a chance to see other kids. They are all over, sometimes tiny, but they are generally full of other children they can play with.
He also liked the street performers at la Plaza Mayor. There is a bar there with bull heads on the wall that was also fascinating to him.
Even with our limited time in Madrid, due to the necessity of visiting family, we found that the neighborhood playgrounds were critical to letting him do his thing, giving him a familiar activity, and a chance to see other kids. They are all over, sometimes tiny, but they are generally full of other children they can play with.
Sep 28th, 2005, 02:57 PM
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Thank you nancymaat and amcc for your advice. It is certainly helpful. Just one question what is a "vaporetto"?
I like the idea of giving the kids "their" time - I think (hope)it would make the rest of the day go much smoother.
Thanks
Kim
I like the idea of giving the kids "their" time - I think (hope)it would make the rest of the day go much smoother.
Thanks
Kim
Sep 28th, 2005, 03:12 PM
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Hello Kimetal, vaporetto... it is the public water "bus" in Venice. Just think of a regular bus except in the case of Venice it is a boat, that takes the public around to the various "varporetto-bus stops".
If you want " taxi" (for example when you arrive at the Marco Polo Airport in Venice) then you you hire a water taxi. The price is for everyone that will utilize the watertaxi. The price in NOT per person. The water taxi is private..just like a taxi is in other cities. The website for the Marco Polo airport is: www.veniceairport.it.
I hope that will help you with the portion of your trip in Venice. Have a wonderful trip!
If you want " taxi" (for example when you arrive at the Marco Polo Airport in Venice) then you you hire a water taxi. The price is for everyone that will utilize the watertaxi. The price in NOT per person. The water taxi is private..just like a taxi is in other cities. The website for the Marco Polo airport is: www.veniceairport.it.
I hope that will help you with the portion of your trip in Venice. Have a wonderful trip!
