StCirq

I love Venice and could easily spend a week there, but I have to agree with MonicaRichards - BTDT with a 1- and 3-year-old and was on pins and needles every minute of every day and absolutely exhausted from the stroller exercises!

As far as the rest of this goes, I am SO done with this poster! Hahahahahahaha.....

Doppio

THIS is the kicker. I love how in her London thread I posted multiple suggestions. In that same thread I also posted 7 properties from The Coach House (on Mar 4, 13 at 2:05pm) --> (http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...entshotels.cfm)

In THIS thread I said, <i>"I gave you about 10 links for London apartments. NICE ones, with great reviews, in your price range, in nice areas, that had availability for your dates."</i>

To which she replied, <i>"HI Doppio . . .We enquired with the ones you had suggested and although they looked available they sadly weren't."</i>

And then here again, she has the nerve to say on (Mar 25, 13 at 4:27am) <i> "ok . . .coach house rentals have come back with these "</i>

Excuse me, CRAZY, but you just said yesterday they (Coach House) had nothing available.

Not only that, but she stated her budget was 180 pounds a night. Now she's posting apartments that are up to 250 pounds.

I'm done.

thursdaysd

I'm just waiting for the TR.

dugi_otok

Janisj

I am from southern California. You and I are not allowed to agree on anything. lol

The Perils of Claire are just starting to be interesting.

Unfortunately, I am now getting consumed with finding a new basketball coach for my UCLA Bruins!

socaltraveler

Like I said upthread, or maybe on another thread, having just spent the weekend babysitting my adorable 2 and 4 year old grandsons, I cannot imagine traveling for what, 9 weeks, with them, in and out of trains, planes and cars, no nap schedule, sleeping in strange beds every several days. And oh yes, Venice and the canals, nope, that's a nightmare for me. I wish the OP, her mother and husband well, but there is serious burnout on the part of the reader here, plus I am getting a stronger sense that there is a refusal to acknowledge much more than romantic fantasy - toddlers chasing pigeons in St Mark's Square. Last time I saw it there were so many people I thought I would lose my DH, all 6 feet of him.

Of course at this rate there may not be an apartment anywhere in Europe left to book.

MonicaRichards

She probably wants this picture: http://www.markandmonica.com/Photos/...s/STA_2672.jpg But we were there in October. And actually, the pigeons were gross, I'm glad they're gone now.

Doppio

>>>>>>I am getting a stronger sense that there is a refusal to acknowledge much more than romantic fantasy - toddlers chasing pigeons in St Mark's Square. Last time I saw it there were so many people I thought I would lose my DH, all 6 feet of him.<<<

Exactly!

julia_t

<<who is along for the ride>>

This is car crash Fodors... like a car crash in the street, you know you shouldn't watch, you know you'll regret looking, but you just can't help yourself!

Everyone has been so helpful and patient, but crazy, you are really pushing their buttons. I know I've not offered any suggestions or advice, but frankly I can't be bothered to open all those endless links any more. I'm not the only person here to feel like that.

Just trust your own judgement and book something. Soon. Please.

BumbleB6

I just got here, but have lurked on fodor's for a few years now, as well as other travel sites - slowtalk, tripadvisor, Rick Steves, lonelyplanet... I have NEVER seen anyone have an itinerary like this or be so crazy planning it...
I also cannot wait for the trip report. This trip sounds like a nightmare in the making. I do hope, for the OP's and her family's sake, that it miraculously goes well and they have a good time - if they're not too stressed out and exhausted before they even get to the third place..

Digbydog

Could this be a troll? At the same time that she was asking for Greek island recs and apartment recs in Lake Como, she was asking for cruise recommendations, because she wanted something more relaxing. I think people on this forum have been incredibly helpful. I can't get over all the posts (and replies) for this one trip!

StCirq

No troll would invest this much time in planning a fake trip, IMO. That said, it might as well be a troll post, because the entire concept has become ridiculous, and I doubt ANYONE is "still along for the ride" on this CRAZY (not interesting) trip.

Nonconformist

It doesn't sound *that* bad.

Doppio

>>>Could this be a troll?<<<

I was thinking the same thing..


>>>>No troll would invest this much time in planning a fake trip, IMO<<<

There is this thing I have heard of called virtual/internet tourists, and they do, indeed do just that. Fake trip, fake families, the works. Not saying this is what is going on, but it's out there. I friend of mine who is a TA went round and round with a woman that did this. She was furious at the hours wasted.

StCirq

Interesting, Doppio, but for whatever reasons I think this person is actually trying to plan the ultimate INSANE trip to Europe.

And yes, it does sound *that* bad, and even worse.

Funny we haven't heard from the OP today. Usually she's all OVER this site.

Doppio

I just can't imagine such a long of a trip flung so far and wide, with planes, trains, automobiles and who knows what else (rickshaw?), and with how much luggage (oh dear).. with little baby toddlers!

Just getting my kids (and strollers, and souvenirs and half eaten snacks, and changes of clothes) to Disneyland and back was exhausting.

I'm guessing she may be one of those cute young mommy bloggers with a hard working rich husband and a lot of time on her hands to "play"..

Doppio

Wait, WHAT?

This is what she had to say about Venice in February.

<b>crazyfamilyof4 on Feb 4, 13 at 10:11pm - I've been to Venice for day trips only and to be honest I found it VERY expensive and a little on the smelly/dirty side in comparison to Florence. We are also doing the crazy thing and travelling with our kids and I'm not taking them into Venice.</b> (http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-464363-2.cfm)

It certainly flies in the face of her little Venice fantasy in this thread.

Is it just me, or does this seem a little off?

StCirq

Well, they obviously have LOADS of money, or none of this would be possible. But having loads of money doesn't mean the trip will be pleasant, or even possible.

cathies

Doppio and StCirq, her budget doubled when she arranged for her mother to come for the first half of the trip. Make of that what you will. So that accounts for the expensive part of Venice not applying anymore, as for the rest, who knows?

ozfamilyof5

Crazy, thanks for posting all of your questions and thankyou to everyone else for such great answers. I am planning a family trip with 3 kids to Europe for 16 weeks this May, and all of the wonderful answers to your questions have helped me alot. I will now go back and start crossing out places on our list and pair it back! Good luck with your trip.

fourfortravel

I, too, thank all of you who have been kind enough to offer advice on this insane holiday itinerary. My daughter and I are planning a two to three week road trip around Europe this summer, to some of the same places crazyfamily will be going, and whether crazyfamily is a troll or not, the suggestions and advice offered are helping us tremendously.