t_c_66

I posted a message (tours) France tag but seemed to be too general on what I wanted to know. We are planning a trip from Canada in March/April of 2010. We have just short of 3 weeks.
We are thinking of flying into London or Paris. We have decided to go with a tour for the first week to 10 days of our trip. Just for peace of mind and learning how the trains work etc. We then need to end up in Malta. Looking at Cosmos and Trafalgar.
We would love to go to Greece but not sure if we could fit it in. We have a 16 year old and an 11 year old. Both boys. Very easy going but would not lenjoy a fast paced tour.

janisj

I strongly suggest you reconsider. The vast majority of organized tours aren't really set up for tweens/teens.

They would be the youngest in the group - and you and your husband would probably be the next youngest. The majority of the rest will be the ages of their grandparents.

How would your kids feel about being up and dressed (w/ the luggage in the hall) before 0800 every single morning - no exceptions. And how would they (and you) take sitting a bus many hours most days watching the scenery going by outside? Most 11 yo's I know would be pretty miserable after a day or two.

Tours do make sense in some situations - but almost never for families.

There are lots of us on here who can help you w/ an itinerary to do on your own . . . .

adrienne

Tours are not going to help you learn how to use trains since you will be on a tour bus. Very few tours use trains and even if you do find a tour that includes a train journey you will still not learn about scheduling trains as that will be done for you by the tour company.

Seeing 3 countries (Greece, France, Italy) in 10 days will only be fast paced - you will not be doing anything leisurely.

I took a quick look at Cosmos tours and do not see any tours that combine France, Greece, and Italy in 10 days. Which Cosmos tour were you looking at? Even if you limit the tour to 1 country you will be going at breakneck speed - take a look at the detailed itinerary. I looked at the Jewels of France tour and just reading the itinerary completely wore me out. You really don't have time to see much of each place - most of the time will be on the bus.

nancicita

An option is to do day tours in specific cities instead of a 'grand tour' through all the countries on your itinerary.

At most train stations in Europe, there are tourism offices which give information on day tours to the city (bus or walking tours), guided tours to museums, etc. You could book a tour from the tourism office early in the morning and participate on tours that same day (or next). You might be able to see the city in more detail than if you went on the bus-only tours.

This will also allow flexibility into your schedule. For example, if you are too exhausted upon arrival into a new city, you don't have to wake up at 0800 and meet with a tour guide and be stuck with a bunch of people on a tour bus for the next 8 hours. Your family members could have time to see things that they are individually interested in. Could be less expensive to do it this way, too. One of the biggest reasons why I usually don't like those bus tours is that sometimes the meals are included in the price, regardless of not if you like/want the food. I like to seek out meal options on my own and I usually find it cheaper to travel this way.

"a la carte travel touring"...

MunichB

We have used the hop on/hop off buses in a lot of cities with our kids and it has worked out great...it's something I wouldn't have considered before kids but it's a good family-friendly option. When we are tired or whatever we can sit and watch and jump off for sightseeing or even an ice cream break...something to consider for getting around within a city.

smacknmo

As said in your post for Tours, my husband's partner did a couple of Globus tours with his family of 5. His children were in their late teens and 20's for both trips. His reasoning for doing a tour was that his wife and children are not morning people and given the opportunity would sleep until 11 and that by being on a tour it would force them to get up an get ready. It worked well for them.

My husband and I did entertain the idea of a tour early on when we started traveling but it just isn't us. The previous posters, I think, have very good points, Janis J makes the point that there are so many people on this forum that could help you, which is so true. If you would feel more comfortable you could go to a travel agent to make your plane reservations, train reservations from city to city, and your transfers. Maybe your hotel reservations too, but leave your days open to do what you and your family decides to do that day. There is a lot of great info on this forum on tour guides that you can hire for a specific area. I would caution you that if you make hotel reservations per travel agent ALWAYS check the hotel out on Tripadvisor.com or ask the Fodor forum community. They may not have offered you the best choice.

Lastly, I know you want to cover a lot of ground but have you considered maybe renting an apt. in London for a week, and Paris for a week, and then going on to Malta. You can see so much during a week in each city and there are a lot of day trips that you could do from each. Trying to find a hotel that sleeps 4 without having to rent two rooms can be very daunting. Being in an apartment is great. May be more economical too.

My kids range 24-29 and I have tried to remember what it was like to travel with them and I think that a more relaxed trip would be better. If they were tired one morning you could let them sleep, you and your husband go off, pick them up later. Teens can be really something when tired!

I am sure that you will get more great replies from some of the regular posters who really are extremely savvy travelers. Don't know what I would do without them! They have never let me down. Good luck.

iris1745

Hi; If you decide to go with a tour, visit one of these sites for discounts on Cosmos and other companies. I have checked out both with the BBB and they are rated A+. Richard www.cheapertravel.com/ www.afordabletours.com/

amwosu

Please consider NOT going on an organized tour and just staying in one or two places where you can become familiar with your surroundings and confident in your ability to get around. I can't imagine kids your childrens' ages enjoying the company of adults on an organized tour or enjoy that much bus travel or the inflexibility that a trip like that offers.

My 14 yr old and I settled into a courtyard apartment in Paris for a week and we both loved it. We're just hicks from the US midwest and neither of us speak French. Other than returning the car to the airport in Paris after a drive to Normandy the trip went flawlessly. I suggest you consider doing something similar to Paris or London for the first part of your trip.

Getting accustomed to the sights and sounds of the neighborhood was half the fun. Hearing schoolchildren playing in a nearby playground, hearing a resident practicing saxophone each afternoon through an open window, ordering crepes from the same gentleman each evening and having time to just sit and watch the world go by while having a snack at the cafe across the street. Those are the moments I remember more than standing behind a bunch of people to try to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa. I don't think you'll get those kind of memories from a bus tour.

You can hire a private guide on Day One (or for several days) to help you with things you don't understand or are concerned about. He can help you buy your metro tickets and teach you how to use the metro and RER trains. Its a piece of cake and my son was an expert on metro travel in minutes. He took charge of planning how to get from Point A to Point B throughout our trip. When we were done sightseeing and I was ready to shop a little he would just head back to the apartment on his own via the metro. He also enjoyed ordering crepes from crepe stands throughout Paris.

There are a number of walking tour companies in Paris http://www.paris-walks.com/ and you can take inexpensive tours of a different part of the city every day then sightsee on your own for the rest of each day. If its raining or you're feeling lazy you don't have to do it. You can make your own plans as the sun rises each day.

Fat Tire Bike tours are fun, silly tours with college aged guides from the US that you and your kids will enjoy. http://fattirebiketours.com/paris You meet at the Eiffel Tower for their Paris day tours. They also offer night bike tours that include a boat ride on the Seine. For a stressfree way to get to Versailles you can go on their Versailles bike tour. You meet at their office in Paris, get your bike,the guide leads you to the train station and makes sure you get on the right train to the town of Versailles, you enjoy lunch on your own then he leads you to the Palace. These tours are on big ole fat tire bikes that are simple to use and much of the riding is through parks and such. You cross a few busy streets walking your bike but you don't ride on traffic congested streets.

Paris is a city of 2 million people with so much to see and do that you can easily fill days and days. So many people only seem to do the biggies like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. We loved going to the zoo, walking in the Jardin du Luxembourg and visiting the Musee de L'Armee where we saw Napoleon's dog and horse, both stuffed! I love the Musee Quai Branly which is a gorgeous building with beautiful displays.

You've found fodors forums and there are so many experts on Paris and France in general here. Some live in Paris, others travel there often. They can answer all of your specific questions- which area to stay, which apartment, what train to take, which walking tour company, etc.

Stay in Paris a week then take a train to Rouen and rent a car for a trip through Normandy. Base yourself in one location and see towns like Honfleur, Deauville and Trouville and spend a day or two seeing the WWII sites (with a guide like www.battlebus.fr). Because of the proximity to England there are many English tourists in the area meaning its still easy to get around without speaking French. Another idea would be to take a high speed train to Avignon (3 hrs and you're there), rent a car right at the train station, stay in St. Remy and drive the Luberon Hill towns of Provence. Return the car, stay in Avignon a few days and see Arles by train and Il sur la Sorge by bus. It is way easy to do this on your own!

annhig

hi tc,

ditto what amwosu said. I have travelled quite a lot with my kids and we always had the best times when we were staying in one place and finding out about it all at a leisurely pace. and apartments are great when you are travelling with children and teends as they give everyone that bit more space.

You could not do much better than a week in each of London and Paris, both of which have loads of imformation about transport etc. for tourists. you will NOT learn how the transport works on a bus tour.

there is also loads of help available here if that's what you decide to do.

have you asked the kids?

regards, ann

Rome would also be nice that time of year so long as it isn't Easter.

amwosu

I've not taken kids to Italy but my best friend took her boys when they were ages 13 & 14 and they loved it. She still talks about how wonderful the Italians were to her kids. It was a first time to Europe for all of them and she only knew a few phrases in Italian to get by. They're going back this year as her son requested a vacation to Italy as his high school graduation present.

I would vote for going to London and Paris or Paris and Rome and leave Greece for a later romantic trip with just your spouse.

StCirq

There is nothing scary about taking trains; it's the same procedure throughout the world: you buy a ticket, you get there on time, you find your seat, park your luggage, sit down, and watch the scenery until it's time to get off. No tour company is going to help you with that - they'll load you on a bus.

I cannot imagine kids the ages of yours wanting to have anything to do with an organized tour. Agree with others: rent a place in London and a place in Paris for a week each, settle in, and get to know the neighborhoods. Do the hop-on hop-off buses in each place, figure out the local transport, take a daytrip or two by train somewhere, and have a relaxing vacation. Then fly to Malta. I'd give up Greece for this trip, but then again, you could pass on Paris or London and substitute a week's rental in Greece.

laurie_ann

If you would still like to do a tour, there are companies that specialize in family travel or offer family tours in Europe. Even Disney has such tours. You might google +family +tours +Europe (or +family +tours +France if you want more specific) and see what comes up and what interests you to explore further. With that you can get a sense of intineraries and budgets and then decide from there for your family what makes sense, tour or independent travel.

amwosu

The chunnel can get you from London to Paris in 2hrs 51 min.

Lexma90

Here's another vote to NOT go on a tour. We've travelled with our kids, now 10 and 14, including in Europe, and had a wonderful time.

We've never gone the apartment rental route, partly because we like the reassurance of have a 24-hour front desk, just in case (though we've never needed them for an emergency). But with 4 people, you'll have to look around for 2 separate rooms or a 4-person family room. Another option, which your 16yo might like, is a triple room and a single room, so he has a little more privacy.

If you want to see more places, you could plan on 5 nights in London, Paris, etc. As you mentioned you need to end in Malta, you could end your time elsewhere with a flight to Malta.

Please do use the helpful advice of those at Fodors!

smacknmo

If you do spend time in Paris, amwosu is spot on with the fattirebiketours suggestion. Something different from "run of the mill" sightseeing. Perfect for young men. He/she is also correct in just enjoying the ambience.

breeds

I think that an obvious option is to choose two places you really want to see and rent an apartment in each one. There is a great agency for Italy called the Parker Company. Excellent apartments and very user friendly. for Paris the only company that I can recommend with very high marks is Rentals in Paris (http://www.rentals-paris.com). They are our little gem for all of our Paris trips and we send all of our friends there as well. We've only had great feedback from everybody...
Brian.

letsgo39

Globus started having some tours geared toward families a few years ago. I really don't know what they are like but I highly recommend Globus as a tour company.We have taken 4 of their tours and they were wonderful.
I also suggest you contact www.affordabletours.com for your arrangements. They always offer great discounts.

amwosu

Thought you might enjoy this interesting thread from a Grandma who took two teenage grandsons to Italy and France. Its a couple years old but still priceless.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ns-learned.cfm

journeyidea

I am giving suggest that find out what amenities your hotel already provides, such as irons, blow dryers and even cribs, and pack accordingly - this will help reduce luggage.
Keep your children occupied on the way to your destination.

iris1745

Hi; Here is an 'opinion' from Fodor's on family travel. Richard www.fodors.com/news/story_3697.html?ref=69