First trip to Europe next summer???

[islandjo2010]

Hi Everyone,

We have only been back 2 weeks from our family's first vacation to STJ, I am still working on the TR, but I need to start thinking about the next trip! You all were so wonderful with advice for the STJ trip that I thought I would ask for your help once again! Oh, by the way, we loved STJ and can't wait to go back someday soon! But for next spring/summer we are thinking about taking the kids to Europe for a few weeks. My husband has been on business trips, but for the kids and I, this would be our first time! I can't remember how I found VIOL, just know I love it and was wondering if there is a similiar site for travelers to Europe?

Thanks for all your help!
Jo

[linne]

I use Tripadvisor, if we are going to another country.
But it's very different how much activity there is in their Forums. Some Forums you will have more answers than others.

But you can perhaps also get advice here. Many of the forum members have visited Europa and know a lot.

Linne

[loria]

Trip advisor is great--also the lonely planet thorn tree forum

[jmq]

Check out Switzerland.
We found it to be an ideal place to go for the first time to Europe for a LOT of reasons.
Logistically, it is small enough but with 2 major cities (Geneva and Zurich) so that you can fly into one and out of another allowing “one way” travel with no doubling back, the transportation system is the best in the world, most people speak English, every little hotel, town and attraction has its own website and will respond to your emails within 24 hrs. The stuff from the official Swiss travel office, the Swiss forum on Tripadvisor , as well as the Rick Steves book were helpful for planning.

It is clean and safe, has stunning scenery and villages, awesome hiking trails, charming and historical cities such as Lucerne, great food (cheese and chocolate!), and you get a flavor of Italy (in the south), France (in the west), and Germany (in the north) – the road signs are actually in these different languages in the different parts of the country.

Worth looking into to see if it appeals to you and your crew. If you are going for a “few weeks”, maybe you can combine it with northern Italy (the lake country, Venice, Milan, Florence, etc.)

I posted Off Topic trip reports here after Linne first did likewise:

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... witzerland

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... witzerland

[islandjo2010]

Thanks guys! I will check out the other sites and Rick Steves books, as well as post questions here when I get really into the planning! The trip is still in the infantile stage now!

jmq ~ We actually have some friends who are living in Lucerne, Switzerland! We thought that would be a good "home base" and they could help show us around! We would like to spend most of our time there but do you think it is feasible to take the train and spend 2-3 days each in Italy, France and Spain and fly back through England? My thoughts here would be to get a feel for each of these countries and give the kids a bit of exposure to each...maybe plan a future trip around the country we liked best. We were thinking that in a 3 week time, we could make this happen!? I am anxious to go read your TR next!

Thanks again!
Jo

[loria]

if you are going to be using rail services you REALLY need to check out the man in seat 61!--this is the definitive train site for europe (and asia too)
http://www.seat61.com/

links to all the different national rail systems--maps, etc

[jmq]

Funny I would specifically mention Lucerne...having friends there would certainly give you a big advantage for planning, etc.
I just tried to envision combining our 2 trips – London/Paris, then onto Switzerland (or visa versa). The high speed trains would certainly make it possible. These were 8 and 9 night trips, so you are over 2 weeks already, so tacking another country on such as Italy or Spain might be do-able, probably not both, and even then you would have to make some tough choices about what to see where, so it doesn’t turn out to be too much of a just a drive by/checklist/
whirlwind and exhausting trip. That said, we had drinks with a Scottish family in Paris who had just come from Spain and raved about it, as do most folks I’ve talked to who have been to the coastal regions and great cities of Barcelona and Madrid. The HD images of southern France from the Tour de France last week also blew me away.

Our trips had somewhat ambitious itineraries, but not too crazy, so you could savor the experience a bit, so be mindful of that when planning. There is something to be said for taking the time to read a book on the balcony overlooking Lake Lucerne or the Swiss alps, or enjoying a bottle of wine or cup of coffee at a sidewalk café in Paris, or letting the kids indulge in an activity they want to do. I noted that the Frommer’s Day by Day guides I used on this trip had sections such as “Paris with Kids” and “Kid’s London”.

[bubblybrenda]

Loria, thank you for that link: The Man in Seat 61. I've bookmarked it for future reference. Holy toledo that is one comprehensive site.

[PA Girl]

If you are into podcasts, Rick Steves has good ones. I listened to his series on Germany.

I went to school in Germany and have visited for extended periods of time (Dad's side is German) over the years. I was very familar with the places he visits and I think his descriptions and advice are spot on.