Tulips

Whiteheads Grove is nice. Look op the recent thread here about someone staying near there (Draycott Place?) for tips on food stores in the area.
There's a small playground in Cale Street, towards Sydney Street, next to the church.

millie2112

i think we all need to remember that this lady is only in her 30's and therefore has lots more energy and stamina than we over 50's. And while cutting Sarlat down to only 3 days seems sacrilege, for a young family it is ok and what they want to do. I think her children will appreciate a disney parade a lot more than the architecture of Sarlat.

Tulips

Just remembering my then 3-year old being terrified by the Snow White ride, and refusing to go into any other attraction.
I would also do a day Disney from Paris.

Claire, I think you need to take a deep breath and decide once and for all on your itinerary. There is some great advice here from seasoned travelers and from those who really know the areas you are visiting. Now sit down with your husband and your mother (and her partner?), and spend an evening going over your plans, and the comments of people on Fodor's.

Venice 7 days with toddlers? Not a good idea, glad you scrapped that.
Disney? Most people here think it may be fun for the kids, but 3 days is too much (imagine if both kids react the way mine did to Snow White...)

Most of all, remember you have two very small kids. You cannot fully plan your days, you have to allow for down time, naps, rest and quiet. Every time you arrive at a new destination, take at least a day of rest to familiarize yourself with where you are, settle in, do some shopping.

And you don't have to listen to everyone; weigh the advice, and make up your mind.

It's Easter weekend - get all your plans, flights booked, accommodation, out on the table, and plan an itinerary that everyone is happy with. Then start a new thread, and start booking your hotels and flats.

Good luck!

bendigo

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...5a1_story.html

crazyfamilyof4

So disney no more then 2 days - that's fine but I can't see how I can fit it in . .my idea was . . = figure day one we can just use the hotel family pool and kids club . . then go over for the show at night . .next day we will do breakfast with the characters and look at park one have lunch go back to the resort for a rest then either go back or have an early night depending on the kids...day three check out the other park . . .have a disney theme lunch and have our last night so that the next morning we can make an early start. Another idea that one of my friends did was she checked into a hotel in Paris then asked the hotel to look after the main luggage in the cloakroom area while they took an overnight bag stayed overnight and then rechecked into Paris for one more night before catching the train to their next destination ..so this is the other idea.

Thank you for those that are supportive . . .my husband is supportive of this trip but if he had it his way we would be moving every 3-4days . . .and would NOT use trains and would drive ..he also doesn't really have much time on his hands.

So . . .
LONDON- one fine stay is a 90% for london . .someone cancelled so they have a great place but it is 300 pounds a night . . .question for the long weekend is . . .would we get a better deal with a hotel with 2 rooms interconnecting.

FRANCE/ITALY- Mum and I are now thinking of just sticking to France.This weekend we are going to look into it. I have availability to 2 one week properties in France (Marseilles airport is the closest point to the town) and St Remy is the other. From here we can either go to nice or over to the lakes in Italy and do a day trip to Varenna ...

PARIS-4nights great location apartment style then either relocate to a hotel 1 night . .leave luggage go to euro disney for one night and then stay another night on return or 3 nights in disney.

and I think that's it with my husbands half of the trip the flights/places are all booked and sorted.

So...although we still look all over the place we are still slowly getting there!

Cathinjoetown

I think you are going to need that break at Disney. I like how you have planned the three days. With two very young children, go with your instinct on this one.

StCirq

dugi, the michelin drive times assume pedal to the metal the entire way, no stops for a bite to eat, no potty stops, no traffic, no accidents, no deviations, etc. They won't make it in under 8 hours with kids...and that's if they use motorways the whole way. A stop at the Gouffre de Padirac is unthinkable. They'd have to find it, park, wait in line up to an hour, go down to the boating area,wait another half-hour, take the hour-long tour, get back above ground and find their way to Sarlat on the back roads, another hour or so.

crazyfamilyof4

thanks cathinjoetown. I feel this is best. I guess StCirq we could look at a train from EuroDisney to Brieve like originally was going to do from Paris . . do you know if that would be easy and safe enough to do?

dugi_otok

I know it is not practical. But it is something I would do by staying overnight in Rocamadour and going to Padirac the next morning before heading to Sarlat.In fact two years ago we flew from the USA to Toulouse, drove to Rocamadour, stayed at Domaine De La Rhue, went to Padirac the next morning,meandering to our gite near Sarlat the afternoon.

dugi_otok

In case Claire and family make the drive to Sarlat in two days.
http://www.domainedelarhue.com/gb/accueil.htm

crazyfamilyof4

HI Dugi . . .looks beautiful . .it might be possible. . . i sent an email to see about availability just in case.

socaltraveler

Having come to my senses (again), I am stepping away from the traveling trainwreck, and wish the OP only the best for her continuously changing itinerary. May you find all your lodging, sort out the transportation, and for your children, I hope they get a nap, in a bed, occasionally.

Aramis

crazy - you are an angel to put up with these twits.

cathies

Aramis, is that it? Nothing else to contribute? I take it you've read all of this thread and Claire's other threads from top to bottom? Why would you jump in now just to make one comment?

Aramis

"Aramis, is that it?"
Yes

"Nothing else to contribute?"
Not at present, no.

"I take it you've read all of this thread and Claire's other threads from top to bottom?"
Yes

"Why would you jump in now just to make one comment?"
I like her. I think she's an angel and wanted her to know.

Doppio

>>>><I>I like her. I think she's an angel and wanted her to know.</I>

Oh dear. An ANGEL? Really? And you have read ALL of her threads here (about 25 now), and haven't commented on any of them until now? Hmmmmmm.

cathies

Aramis, hopefully Claire thinks you are as weird as I do.

thursdaysd

Checking out Aramis' profile will make this more comprehensible.

I thought the angels were the other posters...

Aramis

Please elaborate thursdaysd - or is childish innuendo all you have?

bendigo

Not sure what the mysterious revelation is in the Aramis profile - just looks like a fan of Germany who offers useful tips when he (?) can and makes some comments on other posts. Might be short, since lives in a land of Giants?

I disagree with his view about crazy - Angels are usually much more certain of their role.

I hope that crazy does get things sorted to her satisfaction - I worry a little that she will struggle with some of those spur-of-the-moment decisions that travellers often have to make when on the road, and which, I think, give one the opportunity to make the most wonderful, serendipitous discoveries and have the most memorable experiences.

I read quote somewhere else about the excitement of travel being the feeling that you are about to step off a cliff into a world that you don't fully know or understand - that, for me, is why international travel will always have more allure and attraction than domestic travel (although I have seen a lot of Australia, and still think we have some of the best beaches anywhere!)