JeyMorgan

Why are you targeting me now! Yes, i joined a few days back and I am the new kid on the block. So, this is what, a bully session I don't mind actually! I just enjoyed the stay with them, so i am just suggesting.

Tulips

Claire, why did you drop Nice? it's easy to do trips by train from there, and the kids might enjoy some time on the seaside.
I wouldn't do 10 days in Avignon with small children and without a car.
Can you fly to Venice from Avignon? I think that would be from Nice.

10 days in Venice - you have been there, so probably know what you are doing, but that sounds like hell to me. Are your kids 2 and 4? You will need strollers, that you will have to carry up and down the bridges. Getting on and off vaporettos with small children and strollers, the danger of them falling into a canal...

Stay at Lido and do day trips to the city?

crazyfamilyof4

Thanks Tulips.

I am going to talk to my mother tonight about everyones recommendations. I liked the Nice apartment and the communication was great so I'll check if it's still available.

I have been to Venice over the winter and it was the coldest place I had ever been to!

I was 21 . .poor and I remember spending my last dollars on a gondola ..looking at rings I couldn't afford and running through the square with pigeons ... It was on a contiki ... so I haven't seen it like most of you.

Those flights haven't been booked we just need to be in Paris by 7th July. So what happens from say17th June (since 10-17 is taken up in London) can still be played around with.

socaltraveler

You may have not seen Venice like many of us here, but you are young still; the idea of chasing 2 and 4 year olds around there for several days, no barriers on most canals, bridges to cross with strollers, these are things you probably did not even notice on your Contiki tour at 21. If you can still rethink this part, I seriously advice you to. How helpful is your mum going to be, does she have the energy and physicality to chase and corral the kids like your husband can? I know I cannot do this for long periods of time and I am not an old nana, just older than I was trekking around Europe 30 years ago. Getting on and off all those trains with kids, luggage and mum is going to be strenuous. She may have hired cars on her last trip, but this is definitely a trip of another type. If you and she have not had a serious conversation about all this transportation stuff, better do it sooner. And you have a TA? Shaking my head.

amer_can

I, too, shake my head..Venice with wee ones???..Accidents waiting to happen. The rest of your plans are doable but stressful as everyone seems to try to point out.

michele_d

I might be out of line here, please don't jump on me, but I would definitely invest in those little kid "leashes" from the safety aspect of things in Venice. One second is all it takes to lose a little one and losing a little one in Venice can literally be deadly.

Gretchen

That's a good idea. Just for the crowds. Little people are, well, little, and hard to find among a lot of big'uns.

cathies

Michele it's a good idea.

millie2112

Michele - I was just about to suggest a leash too. I had one when I traveled with my 3 year old son, (many years ago) and it worked a treat. He wanted to run around and not sit in a stroller so i had him in this harness. everytime he went to far I pulled him in. also provided a lot of amusement for passer by's.

julia_t

A reminder that the bridges in Venice are not just up and over.

They are all stepped on both sides. So you cannot just push a stroller over them, you have to hump, heave, lift, carry.

It is tiring, believe me, and there is virtually nowhere you can go without crossing bridges.

crazyfamilyof4

Ok . . .yes we are having a leash but really only as a "if you don't hold my hand/walk next to me etc it will be put on"

We have taken into account your knowledge of Venice and are no longer going to stay there but just do a day trip there so mum can see it etc.

The new plan is either one week in Varena again . . like it was a few weeks back . .or we might just stay in France for the entire time.

I have found some great places in France which I will share once I know what we are doing because I have taken your advice about not wasting peoples time on opinions etc if it's not a def follow thorough.

My mum is still against Nice . .she has been told by people over here that summer in Nice is a nightmare with tourist and thieves ...I know this might be not the case but as my mother is paying half I have to consider her wishes.

Again Thank you for those that are staying on with me and continue to provide wonderful advice

sueciv

leave the kinds home with Dad and your mother and you...THEN, send Mom home, she sits the kids and let husband join you.All problems solved.

I loved being with my grandparents when my parents travelled. It was GREAT.

colduphere

At this point I would start my planning over with a new thread and a fresh start.

crazyfamilyof4

for those on the journey I am so pleased with my lucca apartment! Great communication!!!

Also the london apartment through coach rentals fell through due to the owners choosing to stay for the entire month of June! Coach was wonderful in regards to refunding money but it means once again I will relook at the list. My mother and I are now thinking a hotel that can promise connecting rooms just might be the way to go.

Paris also seems to have worked out well. We are now only staying 4 nights and then heading up to Euro disney for 3 nights. Then driving to Sarlat . . hope that drive works out ok! Also plan on visiting the Champagne houses via car when we are in the Euro disney hotel. We figure we will go to the park in the morning . . let the kids sleep in the car to the Champagne house . . see the champagne houses then drive back for the show special and an early night in for the kids.

We are also looking now at spending a week just out from Marseilles . .then a week in St Remy . . .then either a week over in Lake Como with a day trip to Venice or stay in France with another French Provence area before making our way into Paris. Hopefully this makes sense . . It's late over here . . I am happy that I have found two beautiful places and once confirmed I will share those links for others who might be looking for places to stay.

Tulips

Your mum is worried about Nice, but Marseille would be OK??
Just google crime rates in Marseille.

Honestly, there are tourists and thieves everywhere in the summer. You have to watch your belongings, and while in a car, close the door and do not put your handbag on the seat next to you, where a thug on a motor can easily grab it.
But Nice is not worse than any of the other places you are visiting. I have spend many many weeks there, without any problem whatsoever.

Tulips

And try to find something with www.onefinestay.com in London - they are really good, and since you deal with the company, not the owner, they will find you another place in the unlikely event that the owner cancels. No transferring of money, you pay by credit card.

Tulips

Or the Sloane Club apartments;
http://www.theclubsuites.co.uk/accommodation/4star
where we have stayed.

It's an apartment with hotel service. Excellent, and nice location near Sloane Square.

socaltraveler

3 nights at EuroDisney? Things do keep changing. I would check with the champagne houses to see if children as young as yours will even allowed in for tours. If there are caves, and uneven underground floors, could be an issue.

Jean

I get the sense crazy will be planning/changing this trip right up until they close the cabin doors on the departing flight.

StCirq

socal, please don't spoil the TR by giving sensible advice