crazyfamilyof4

HI Doppio . . .We enquired with the ones you had suggested and although they looked available they sadly weren't. We have booked some places...really all that is left is London, Paris and Avignon/provance(since we haven't heard the best reports about Nice with young kids) with mum and then Italy- one week tuscany area with my husband. Not much left . . .I know that everything is getting booked out now. I have touched base with an agency for Paris so I feel like I am getting somewhere . .slowly

<<<nonconformist>>> Thank you for your suggestion . .originally we were going to stay at the theme park near varona but now with the hiccup in our travels we won't be.

Also Mum and I are now NOT staying in Lake como but rather longer in Venice. We are just going to see if we can get a hotel with interconnecting room to a suite ... booking.com has a few.

Anyway as annoying as I must seem to you all I really do appreciate all the help you have given me.

Hopefully this week we can book a london and paris apartment

Doppio

I thought you booked with Nico in Tuscany? What happened with that?

Doppio

And we better get a trip report with lots of pics.

thursdaysd

"since we haven't heard the best reports about Nice with young kids"

Huh? What have you heard?

Tulips

I also wonder what's wrong with Nice.

Your kids may like a trip to Marineland in Antibes, and maybe the water park there as well. It's not Seaworld, but still a nice day out for small kids.

And please take the advice of other posters here; book something in London, or you will be left with very few alternatives.

Finecheapboxofwine

Give me all of your info and I'll book something for you! Seriously, with this much time and energy spent why haven't you enlisted an agent to do this work for you or are you enjoying this process?

I see you have several threads going? I lost track a while ago. Maybe try a new strategy- to narrow down to your top five in every location and then ask for advice. Have you thought that you may just not be able to get EVERYTHING on your wish list? I don't see the problem with trains that stop at more than one city, as an example.

Book your lodging soon because I know your 'what to pack' list will be the next post!

thursdaysd

I posted on one of the OP's other threads the cliche that the best is the enemy of the good. Looks like that's still a problem. I also posted about the one certainty of travel being the unexpected, and all this pursuit of perfection is going to result in disappointment when the reality doesn't live up.

crazyfamilyof4

Goodmorning! I promise to share my trip report with links to where we are staying and what worked and didn't work

In regards to Nico in Tuscany . .he couldn't get us into his resort but into an apartment in a town. We thought for this part of the trip it would be nice to stay somewhere with a pool and things to do on the property.

In regards with Nice . . we had never thought of going here as hubby and I had been before . . .don't remember too much as it was on a contiki but we do remember not being fans of the beach(in comparison to what we have here at home) and the reason for going was the ease of catching a plane from London to Nice. We had always wanted to stay in a little town south of France and now we can catch our plane to Avignon we are going to go down that path.

In regards to Paris . .this company seems to feel like they can find something just perfect for us and they only take a booking deposit ..the balance you pay directly to the owner on arrival. Feel much better about that. anyway here is the start of what they recommend at this stage but they have more.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1525362&type=3


http://www.apartrentals.com/Paris/pa...ferenceno=5001

With London I have got in touch with London Coach in hope that what they had offered is available for our new dates.

I really don't think I am being picky. We may have started in Jan but with the new plans only have been this month and the trip is 10weeks I feel we have made great ground! I don't feel we have that much left to book and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Like I said this week I hope to have London and Paris sorted. Next week, south of France and Italy and then we are done!

Like I said I am so thankful that you can help me. I do take your advice and I am very grateful. Continue to be patient with me . .please . . .Hope everyone else has a great day and night wherever you are

cathies

Book something, anything. Some will be great, some maybe not so much. But as others have said, the trip is approaching and you will have nothing at all if you don't get a move on.

Who cares about reviews? You are a big girl, just make up your mind. Yep I agree with the others, time for some tough love here.

crazyfamilyof4

thanks cathies.... this morning I have read through the old threads and have got in touch with:

the london Agent

london connections

A place like home

Farnum and Christ

and I am hoping one of those will have some availability!

Yes . . .I agree tough love is needed and it's time for decisions! Thanks again for your support!

crazyfamilyof4

Ok Farnum and Christ have has come back with these two to choose from:

http://farnum-christ.com/index.php/f...ensington.html

or

http://farnum-christ.com/index.php/f...ensington.html

both fit into our budget so at least we have something! Which from these do you like?

millie2112

Hi Crazy - you must be all googley eyed by now looking at all these places. I think I like the first one. but they both look pretty good. The only thing that comes to mind is the first one is on the 2nd floor - would that bother you with kids.

as to location - i am not an expert so will leave it up to those that know London really well. But i think the 1st one is in a better location.(but I could be wrong)

thursdaysd

The first one is a bit closer to tube stations.

Doppio

>>>>In regards to Nico in Tuscany . .he couldn't get us into his resort but into an apartment in a town. We thought for this part of the trip it would be nice to stay somewhere with a pool and things to do on the property.<<<

So you said no??

BumbleB6

I haven't read through your entire thread and all of the responses yet - but just wanted to say my .02 here... My initial response to your query, is that if I were fortunate enough to have several weeks in Europe, AND I had small children AND my mother in tow! - I would pick two places, tops, and divide my time in half between those two places and totally immerse myself in the culture of those places.
For example, I would spend the first half in say, London, and the second half in Paris...
or maybe spend the entire time in one country but in two (maybe three..) different cities in that country.

Perhaps you have more stamina than I do - and I have a lot - but just reading your itinerary makes me exhausted. But that is just me.
Whatever you finally decide, I hope you have a great trip and great experiences. Bon voyage!

crazyfamilyof4

yes . . we had to stay a full week and we have gone back through the threads and have decided to spend time in Lucca and Siena rather then one week in one location. I am just waiting for confirmation in regards to the two bed apartment in Lucca and will look into Siena tonight. We are also only staying in Varena for 2nights and are now staying in Milan for 2 nights in a hotel since we fly out from Milan to Prague.

I know it seems like I am taking forever on locking stuff in but I am just trying to do what is best for our family.

Chat soon,
Claire

dugi_otok

<<Also Mum and I are now NOT staying in Lake como but rather longer in Venice.>>

A long stay in Venice may not be good for kids. Since you are not going to the Italian lakes with mum I suggest canceling Venice and go to Munich instead.You will get nicer accomodations,less crowds,better weather,stroller friendly walks, and a variety of food.

Within the city
-English Garden-- Largest park in Europe
-Marienplatz with glockenspiel
-Museums
-Palaces in park surroundings
-Pedestrian zones
-Markets
-Hellabrunn Zoo
-Hop on hop off bus

Day trips
-Legoland
-Ludwig castles
-the historical cities such as Nurnberg
-Salzburg Austria
-Alpine villages Mittenwald and Berchtesgaden
-Rothenburg

cathies

Claire, you pick one!! Book one!!

cathies

Dugi, she can't keep changing the itinerary. I know you mean well but it will make it worse.

dugi_otok

cathies

10 days in Munich vs 10 days in Venice trying to keep a 4 year old boy from falling in a canal. Yikes!

The difference is Flying Avignon -Munich-Paris instead of Avignon-Venice-Paris. .