Travel with Kids: 2004
More and more Americans are taking their kids on their European adventures. Rick and Anne Steves have written up their lessons (after 17 years of packing their kids along) in Rick's book, Europe Through the Back Door. They also recommend Cynthia Harriman's Take Your Kids to Europe for those with kids age 6 to 16. But here's where you experienced parents can share your own tried-and-true tips with those planning their first European family vacation.
How do you keep Junior happy on the long flight over? What are your favorite child-friendly attractions? How did you manage in hotels and with finding baby supplies on the road?
Don't hesitate to travel with your children
My husband and I have made annual trips to Europe with our children. Our children are very young - ages 4, 2, and 1. That has not stopped us from annual trips each year since 2000! My advice - take along someone to help. We always take one set of our parents to help with the kids. It is more expensive but it makes the trip possible and much easier. It allows us to trade-off with the children and enjoy a quiet dinner or a museum without the kids. We just take turns!
Our children have wonderful photos of European adventures. They may not remember all of our travels - but they really enjoy looking through the photos, such as playing at Legoland in Denmark, chasing pigeons in Trafalgar Square, or hiking up to a REAL castle in Germany! What priceless memories!
You could say that we like to provide our children with experiences and memories rather than "things". Europeans travel with their children too! There are great facilites throughout Europe for traveling families with children.
We have had many pleasant encounters with European families on holiday in Europe. Don't hesitate - go to Europe with your children. Just be sure to be extra considerate to other travelers and local hosts when traveling with children. Know when to call it a day and head back to the hotel- know when to leave a museum if your child starts making noise.
People are very intrigued when they see us trotting around with our kids - we have only had positive experiences with locals. Don't hesitate - go! You won't regret it!
shauna
UT USA Sat 11/27/2004
Spain Siesta
I posted a long message in the Spain section, but just wanted to add a tidbit here. Loved 2 weeks in southern Spain with our 8 and 5 yr old boys. The toughest part was adapting to the siesta schedule. I would advise parents to use the siesta time for rest, journal writing, baths, reading, etc.-all that stuff you usually do at bedtime at home. We would eat dinner at 8:30 and realize that there was no time left in the day to do some of these "R & R" activites. It took us several days to figure out that we should move them to the afternoon, like the Spanish do, and not just keep sightseeing, in order to maintain our sanity and make sure the kids could get to bed at a more reasonable time (10:30!) Having them nap in the car helped too.
Top kid site in Andalusia: Old Moorish castles- imaginations just go wild. We had lots of fun!
Angela
Sammamish, WA USA Mon 11/22/2004
Four month holiday as a family
My husband and I are currently on a four month holiday in Europe with our 7 year old daughter and 5 year old son. We are engaged in the adventure of a lifetime. We have chosen Cochem, Germany as our home base. From Cochem we have traveled to Austria, Switzerland, Czech Rep. and are planning our next trip to Italy. The kids are in heaven, as well as us, experiencing the German culture and traditions first hand. My daughter has quickly learned many German phrases and can count to 50. She impresses the Germans continuously. My son has lived a charmed life as he first learned to swim in the Thermal Baths in Baden-Baden and his first snow experience was at Schilthorn, high in the Swiss Alps.
I would certainly recommend to those debating whether it is appropriate to take your children on such a trip, in our opinion, there is nothing like it and nothing will compare to the memories that we have created as a family experiencing Europe together. It has changed our lives forever!
Leslie Barker
Temecula, ca USA Mon 11/22/2004
Paris Rodin Museum does NOT allow strollers
In Paris, be aware that the Rodin Museum does not allow strollers inside; however, the scultupre garden outside is great for kids. We were not told this until entering the museum with our sleeping toddler, who we were definitely not going to wake up to drag through a museum. We wanted our money back, which we might have gotten had the front desk not closed the cash register, but instead our tickets were stamped to come back the next day.
If you want to see the museum, you can either carry your child, borrow a baby carrier from the museum (probably only good for an infant), or walk with your child through the museum. Another strategy is to take turns with your travel partner being outside in the beautiful gardens with your child.
The gardens cost only 1 euro to enter and offer sculptures, fountains, pigeons, a cafe, restrooms, and flowers. It's a great place for kids, but the museum itself requires some strategy.
Contrary to Rick's book, at the Arc de Triomphe, I was told there was an elevator for strollers and wheelchairs that takes you to the museum level, but you'd have to walk up the remaining stairs to get to the outdoor viewing area.
Karen
USA now Belgium, USA Tue 10/12/2004
Paris & England with Children
We just returned from a 4 week working vacation in England and Paris with our two boys, age 5. They had a wonderful time. And, surprisingly, they remembered quite a bit of London from our last visit two years ago.
Museums in London are doing a great job with kids programs. The V&A museum offers a back pack filled with activities to help children appreciate the museum. Aspley House has wonderful activity sheets that help you get a feel for living in the house during it's time. The boys and I had great fun acting it out. Even had one gent who worked there show us some secret doors. . .
Belvoir Castle also provided and interesting child's program (though you pay GBP1 for it -- but you get a free pencil!) With the program our boys were excited about each new room and what we would find.
We also took the family to see Les Misarables. What a wonderful show. Several other shows for kids in London include the Lion King, Stomp, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Our favorite stop is the Princess Diana Memorial Park in Kenssington Park. Lots of fun things for them to climb on!
Paris also included many favorites though they don't seem to have as many children's programs. We all loved the Musee D'Orsay and Monet's Gardens. The Palace of Versaille was breath taking. We read Rick's book on Paris as we visited each stop -- really helpful for Versaille as we got a bit of history from each room. Really brought the place to life. Our boys also enjoyed it when Dad rented a row boat in the channel and took them out on the water.
Really, there is so much they enjoyed. And even though my pedometer said we walked 5-10 miles a day, my boys were always up for the next adventure. So take you children to Europe. So much to learn and do. And seeing these countries through their eyes makes for an interesting experience for adults too.
S. Robinson
Red Bluff, CA USA Fri 10/08/2004
take your kids to Europe
Definitley take your kids to Europe with you! We recently traveled to Europe on a 2 week trip with my 6 yr old and 8 year old. We had a wonderful time! We visited London, Paris, Venice and Frankfurt.
In London, we purchased tickets on the big bus tours (the open double decker buses) to avoid having to hear the kids complain about walking so much! The kids enjoyed the riding on the buses and it was very easy to hop on-off at allt he attractions.
In Paris, the kids walked everywhere. Hiking up to the top of the Notre Dome was a challenge for us adults, but very easy for the kids!
sgg
MD USA Thu 09/09/2004
travel for kids website
A useful resource if you are travelling with children (in addition to the book "take your kids to europe", is the website www.travelforkids.com. They have information on quite a few countries major cities as well as other areas. The site also suggests children's books as pretrip reading. Well worth a visit! maybe even if you aren't travelling with children.
Lor
USA Thu 09/02/2004
Travel with Kids
We recently returned from 2 weeks in London & Paris with our 10 & 12 year old kids. We loved the Travel Inn at County Hall - great location for catching trains from Waterloo, it was on a quiet street, lots of room for the 4 of us, and not too far from the sights. In London our kids loved Legoland, the Greenwich Maritime Museum (great hands-on displays), Hamley's Toy Shop (all 7 stories of it), Cabinet War Rooms, Imperial War Museum, the Big Bus on-&-off tours with the boat cruise, and going up in the London Eye (try early in the morning for minimal lines).
We took the Eurostar train to Paris, and then stayed at Hotel la Bourdonnais. That was a great tip from Rick Steves' book - decent size room for 4, very nice staff, close to Eiffel Tower and Metro stops, and small market next door. The kids most liked climbing the Eiffel Tower, taking a nighttime cruise on the Seine (Bateaux Parisiens did a nice job), Invalides, and spending time in the parks (and shade since it was hot!).
Definitely take your kids - they'll never forget it. Now they enjoy pointing out places they've seen when scenes of London or Paris come up on TV or in a video. We made sure we didn't plan too many activities in a day and sprinkled in lots of ice cream and sitting on benches in the afternoons. We still ended up seeing a lot more than I had expected, and they couldn't believe all the walking they did when they looked at the map each evening. They're ready to go again!
Sue
Newport Beach, CA USA Tue 08/31/2004
Travel with children in the Loire Valley
We recently travelled to the Loire valley with our children 12 and 9. Our most important observations were:
1. We loved "Le Grand Parc de Puy de Fou". It's billed as "Two thousand years of French history". The centerpieces are live shows depicting different historical periods. Our son loved the battle scenes; our daughter loved the horse and animal shows; and the parents loved it because it seemed a very FRENCH experience. About 90% of the parkgoers were French, and we thought the themes of the various shows provided insight into the national psyche. It's about 150km SW of Saumur. Go early; it takes longer to get there than you think (what doesn't?), and you pretty much need to arrive when the doors open to see all of the shows. Organize your day around the big shows -- there is a schedule near the entrance. We found that we needed to be at each show's entrance at least 15 minutes before the show or it would be full. We went midweek, and most of the French visitors seemed to have a discount coupon for a family of four to save 20 Euros, but I don't know how to get a coupon. It was very crowded, and I overheard that the crowds are much bigger Friday-Sunday.
2. We thought the Park of Mini Chateaux was vastly overpriced--probably worth 25% of what we paid. Our children were basically uninterested in the models.
3. Rent a boat at Chenonceau. Rent bikes at Chambord and Versailles.
4. DO NOT MISS the dog feeding at 5 pm if you visit Cheverny. Our kids also liked the children's workbooks at the Chateau entrance.
5. Through serendipity, we visited the Chateau de Chinon during one of two medieval theme weekends they have each summer. The theme weekend is worth seeking out if you have preteens.
6. Our children seemed to be our ticket to connect with locals. They love children and want to talk with and about them.
7. Don't do too many old buildings (from the "do as I say, not as I do" file).
Todd
Shoreline, WA Thu 08/26/2004
Paris and Normandy with a preschooler
We just returned from 3 weeks in Paris and Normandy with our 3 1/2 year old daughter and it was a fabulous experience. Some tips:
1. In Paris, we stayed at the Hotel de L'Esperance (5th Arrondisement) recommended in Rick Steves France. Our daughter loved the pink rooms, the doll collection and breakfast in the courtyard. Being near the Rue Mouffetard was great for picking up picnic supplies in the morning and finding fun restaurants in the evening. Later on we also stayed at the Hotel Marignan in the 5th - less expensive (one star) and they have free laundry and a kitchen for guests to use. Great location - near Luxembourg gardens and Notre Dame, but if you go, ask for a room on a lower floor as there is no elevator.
2. A stroller (Zooper travel stroller) was indispensable for walking tours, naps and carrying supplies. The metro is tough with a stroller due to stairs but the buses were fine - go to the middle entrance on the articulated buses, front entrance on the others. We got VIP treatment at Musee D'orsay for having a preschooler in a stroller (got to bypass a long line up).
3. Luxembourg Gardens and Champs de Mars park have wonderful children's playgrounds and other activities.
4. We stayed in a country gite in Normandy, which was basically kid heaven - farm animals just across the road - cows, horses, chickens, sheep, donkeys.
5. Normandy was a perfect base for a family holiday - we alternated fun kid activities (beaches, a wonderful zoo at Champrepus not too far from Mont St. Michel) with more "grown-up" stuff like museums and cathedrals.
6. For food and provision shopping, the hypermarkets have all you need (also the cheapest gas). E. Leclerc was our favorite. Outdoor markets are more fun, though.
Hope these tips help and encourage someone to have as much fun as we did!
Marianne
Richmond, BC Canada Mon 08/23/2004
Normandy, France
Recently travelled to the beaches of Normandy with my 6 year old and 4 year old kids. This is a good trip with kids. Pont Du Hoc was great fun for the kids, running in and out of the holes made by the bombs and the bunkers. Lots of room to run around. The beaches were great too, lots of room to run and sand to dig up. The museum in Caen was a fine stop, we had to ask about the free childcare Rick mentions in his book(this wasn't advertised at the museum well), but it was available. The museum takes a long time, 1/2 a day at least, if not a whole day. So plan you time accordingly.
Genna
Steinwenden, Germany Wed 08/18/2004
Good places to visit with kids
We have just returned from a month in Europe with children aged 9 and 15.
Two highlights for us were the NEMO
Museum of Science in Amsterdam
(make sure you go out on the roof)
and the Circuite de 24 Heures in Le Mans, France and associated race car museum. The museum has a terrific collection of famous race cars and informative and interesting exhibits on how car engines work, how cars are designed from start to finish, etc. Both are well worth including on your itinerary.
<email>
DURANGO, CO USA Thu 08/12/2004
Skateboarding in Europe
My 15 year old son was not so sure about our 3 wk plan in Europe. He really wanted to take his skateboard. I was not thrilled at first, but we decided to give it a try and he had full responsibility for carrying it.
We found skateparks everywhere! He was happy after a long day of museums etc. to hang out for an hour doing his thing. Usually they were in parks and seemed very safe to me. We met lots of parents and was nice to sit and chat with them. Was one of the best decisions we made about the trip and he was in a great mood too.
Fiona
USA Tue 08/03/2004
Venice with an infant
We just returned from Venice with our 3.5 month old. It really worked out well. The only trouble we had with the stroller was getting over the bridges which are built with stairs. Other than that, everyone was accomodating. The Italians love babies, so they are always extremely helpful. We even took a gondola ride with our babie sitting in her stroller. The Italians just plopped the thing right into the boat. We have some great pictures and memories. Venice and most of Italy is very doable with kids.
Tami Ward
Gaeta Italy, USA Fri 07/30/2004
Portable DVD Player for Teens
Just returned from Italy for the 2nd summer in a row with two teen boys and what a difference the portable dvd player made! They got to enjoy homer simpson and good old american immersion for 30 minutes every day while giving us a break from each other. It even gave us the subject for next year's trip...we also brought also the Band of Brothers DVD collection and now the boys want to see the Normandy battlefields next year.
Nina Chen
Philadelphia, PA USA Sat 07/24/2004
Play Ball !
Took two children (11 & 8) to Paris. Bring small toys like legos, cards and tennis balls. My children came to learn all the phrases for "stop playing ball" in nearly every park in Paris. They bought inepensive toy balls in monoprix's stores along the way. I think there is some accomodation for toddlers in downtown Paris but older children are expected to live and play in the outer double digit districts of the city (11-17). Both children got their own cameras. They also had their own backpacks and luggage.
clint
Santa Rosa, CA USA Sun 07/18/2004
Travel with Kids
Travel with your developmentally disabled child!
We adapted our touring style by taking turns(parent or tourist). Guest houses were accommodating and comfy (this was UK) and our child tended to want to stay all day at the guest house! Only problem was lots of smokers on trains, which stirred her up. Our 8-day experiment in bringing her along proved that 1, we can, and 2, Great Britain is a good place for families with special needs.
Mary K. Ziegenfuss
Virginia Beach, VA USA Fri 07/16/2004
5 cities in 2 weeks with 11 & 13 year olds
Recently back from a fantastic trip that all 4 of us loved!
Our kids favorites:
Lori Farrow
Kingston, ON Canada Thu 07/15/2004
Travel with kids
My sons, ages 9 and 11, loved our visit to Minimundus in Klagenfurt, Austria. The park contains over 150 to-scale models (1:25) of important buildings, boats and trains from around the world. the park is less than a mile from Lake Worth so it made a beautiful stop between Hallstatt and Venice.
Leslie Morgan
indianapolis, IN USA Mon 07/05/2004
Alternative activities
We just returned from a month in Europe with our children ( ages 8 & 11) and had a great time. part of having a great time was letting them chose things to do. As a result we wetn to Legoland in Windsor, the Ferarri muesem in northern Italy, the Dolfinarium in the Netherlands and Six Flags Holland. Kids can only spend so much time in museums. The amusement parks also give you a different insight into a country and we quite enjoyed the Dolphinarium which had a huge dispay of the west coast of Canada where we live! We wished that we had actually stayed in Hardenwijck in the Netherladns where the Dolphinarium and Six Flags was located as it seemed a lot more kid friendly than Amsterdam. We would recommend it highly!
Jo-Ann
Victoria, Bc Canada Mon 06/28/2004
Toddler in Paris
My husband and I just returned from a week in Paris with our two-year-old son. It was great! I was very nervous about keeping an energetic toddler happy in Paris, but it was easy. I recommend everyone give it a try. My son was happy as long as he could ride on the subway "choo-choo train" and the hotel elevator at least once a day.
Also, Paris has great parks that we could take advantage of -- lots of space to run! We scheduled a little park time each day. We also came back to the room each afternoon for at least an hour to allow him some quiet play time away from the city noise. This worked wonders, and we were amazed that he was still happy to be strolled around the city late into the evening. And when it was finally time to return to our hotel, we would promise him a "choo-choo" ride, followed by an elevator ride to the room. This would get him cheering and clapping. Now that we're home, he keeps asking to go back to Paris. I know he had as good a time as we did. Don't be scared...take your kids to Europe!
Kate
Rochester, NY USA Tue 06/08/2004
Traveling with kids
Hi - One more idea to add. We traveled in Italy for 3 weeks with ur 5 month old daughter. We had a blast. If you are staying in a hotel, try to find one with a deck. We did by accident and it was awesome. During nap time we put her down and then went outside to enjoy lake como with wine and cheese. We also did a house for a week and rented a car. All made the trip wonderful.
Cheryl Chamness
Sacramento, CA USA Sat 06/05/2004
Paris with toddler and older infant - Museums and Shopping
From our family's two-weeks stay in Paris this past April, thought I'd share a few lessons learned.
1. Louvre ? No child carriers but strollers ok. Strollers are provided at the baggage check-in counter. Elevators are quite scattered and may not have access to every floor/exhibit. There?s a circular, open top lift right below the glass pyramid that is available to people with wheelchairs, including families with strollers. It?s pretty neat but the ride is only up a floor so very short.
2. Musee d?Orsay ? Same rules apply for the child carrier and strollers. Elevators are hidden behind closed doors so follow the signs posted in the museum or follow a map to find their locations. Elevators can only get you access to certain floors; for the rest, you?ll need to use your own muscles to lift the stroller.
3. Cite de Science (Cite des Enfants) ? Not covered by the museum pass but for 5 Euros, your child between 3 ? 5 years old can participate in hands-on activities such as water play, auto shop, construction site to name a few for 1 ? hours. Parents can accommodate the child for free. I have seen parents there with younger siblings but I?m not sure about the cost there. To avoid the long and very slow moving lines at the ticket counters, buy your ticket at the electronic ticket machine located on the opposite wall. The machines only take credit cards, has instructions in multiple languages and provide tickets for Cite des Enfants, general admission, and Geodes exhibit.
4. Versailles ? To avoid pushing strollers on yet more cobblestones, once you get to the gate, turn left and go up a side street. The street has a smoother sidewalk. At the top, you turn right into a driveway that takes you much closer to the buildings and the garden.
5. Monoprix / Geant ? We purchased all our supplies, such as baby food, diapers, etc. from these two stores. We had a Monoprix right around the corner from our apartment but they supposedly are everywhere. It had a good selection of food plus toiletries items and clothing for women and children. There is a Geant in Chinatown. This store is equivalent to a Wal-Mart. Two stories: one for grocery items; the other for household, clothing and everything else you can think of
HM
SG, CA USA Tue 05/25/2004
Single Mom and Europe
I took my kids (ages 10 and 12)to Europe for 3 1/2 weeks last May. About half of my friends and family thought I was nuts but I am glad I didn't listen. We had a blast! We decided to create a theme for our trip: Cathedral Architecture. Towards the end of the trip, the kids found great pride in identifying the styles and it was interesting to note the differences between countries.
We also came up with a second theme -- collecting toilet paper. So many people that had traveled to Europe talked about the toilet paper. We collected a square or two from everywhere we went and labeled the location with a pen. The kids thought this was great fun.
My advice is have a plan B for everything. My favorite tip: I kept both my kids involved in the basic planning (countries and sites to visit) but I took a small travel journal and divided it into sections for each place we were going to visit. In each section I had lists of budget hotels (with adresses, phone #'s), eating recommendations, places with operating times and prices,internet cafes, and general tips. I also created a section for friends' email and home adresses and a section for miscellaneous information. I used a lot of Rick's guide books but also got information from other sources. That book became our sacred source and helped us out of some jams. I also took the great maps out of Rick's books and clipped them together in order. I mailed them back home along with all our receipts, toilet paper, and brochures for our future scrapbook. We each carried our own backpacks and moneybelts. We had a wonderful time and still talk about all our adventures. I would recommend to all the single mom's out there to GO FOR IT! Just plan well.
Linda Nelson
Cocoa, Fl USA Sun 05/02/2004
Apartment stays
Traveling with the kids is much easier if you rent apartments instead of staying in hotels, and, if you have more than a couple of children, a lot cheaper, too. The only problem is it limits spontenaity - you have to book ahead and stay longer in one place, usually a week minimum. But for that week you have more space, a kitchen, and a door between you and the kids if you need it. Sometimes we even manage a washing machine. We've never had a problem locating places; just do a search for "self-catering accomodations" in your chosen destination. A lot of them provide such things as 360 tours and recommendations.
Tricia
Tallahassee, FL USA Sat 04/24/2004
London With Kids
We took our two 5 year old boys to London in 2002 and had a wonderful time. Our favorite place to visit? Kinsington Gardens and the playground inside (I believe it is called the Princess Diana Memorial Garden). It is designed to remind you of Peter Pan, including a pirate ship, lots of climbing toys, musical toys, sand toys, and more. Shady spots for the adults to relax, clean restrooms and a lunch counter. A great place to visit in the afternoon, eat an ice cream, and relax. My boys enjoyed it a great deal. They also loved to visit the ponds and feed the swans. It is quite a sight to see a flock of swans take off from the water and fly right over you! Really, there is a great deal to do throughout the whole UK with your children. We had a great time and will soon be going back.
Susan
Red Bluff, CA USA Thu 04/15/2004
Paris and Italy with an 8 month old
My family (6 adults and our baby) just returned from a two week trip to Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome. We all had a GREAT time, including our 8 month old. We saw all of the big sights and found that we weren't slowed down much at all by having our son with us. We brought a heavy duty umbrella stroller and a front-carrier. Our son loved being in the carrier, and it was easier than having him in the stroller, especially when navigating the metro in Paris! We were allowed to bring the stroller everywhere except into St. Peter's cathedral. We stayed in 3 star hotels and all of them had playpens for our room. We found high chairs in most restaurants. In Paris, we had some difficulty finding diapers. They are available at the supermarkets, but those are rare. They are also available at pharmacies, but not in all sizes. Make sure you know your baby's weight in kilos so you know which size to get.
Be prepared to break up your day so your baby doesn't get restless. Our son was good for about two hours at a time in the stroller, then two hours in the carrier. Parks where you are allowed to play on the grass are rare, and virtually non-existent in Italy. If you request a baby cot (playpen) when reserving a room, you are more likely to get a larger room (and one with a tub instead of just a shower). This makes it easier for the baby to play on the floor.
To anyone thinking about traveling with an infant, I highly recommend it, especially before the baby is walking. It does take some extra planning, but it is worth it. And while your baby won't remember the experience, you will have wonderful memories to share later.
Beth
Spring Valley, CA USA Sat 04/10/2004
travel in Paris with kids
Just want to make some suggestions to those of you who are planning on travelling to Paris with children under the age of 5....DON'T!!! If that is too discourging, I am sorry. I just got back from there last weekend and it was brutal with my 2 kids ages 5 and 3. Of course, we forgot our stroller, making it even worse. Here are some suggestions if you still want to go. If you plan on using the Metro(Paris' subway), then bring a stroller that can be easily carried or strapped to your back. There are alot of stairs and no elevators and what few escaltors there are, usually aren't working. The other alternative is to take the bus, but after experiencing the traffic there, I can't imagine that would be a very time efficient alternative in getting around. The other option is to take a taxi. There are alot of those around. Paris is a beautiful city, but alot of the sites are far apart, and the kids don't enjoy being dragged from place to place. Make sure you schedule park or "chasing pigeons" time for the little ones.
Genna
Steinwenden Germany, Germany Fri 04/09/2004
Toddler in Colmar, France
We recently returned from our first European trip with our 22-month old son. We followed Rick's recommendation for accomodations and stayed in Maison Jund in Colmar. The room was plenty big, with a kitchenette and a small refrigerator, which was great for keeping milk and snacks. Myriam, the owner, even pulled out some of her kids' old board books for our son. Although our French is rusty, he enjoyed the pictures. The family also has a very big but very friendly dog, which our son loved. Colmar has a great playground for little ones, which has the rubber padding underneath it, so they don't get so dirty. I don't know if this was a city or a France thing, but all the play equipment in town had stickers on it, rating what ages it was appropriate for. Right next to the is an old carousel with all kinds of fun stuff to ride on it and a cute little kiosk that sells crepes. It was really a perfect first trip overseas for our son.
Maureen
Atlanta, GA USA Mon 04/05/2004
Choosing a Room that fits
In September of 2003 my wife and I took our 1yr old son to England to visit family and then we went to London, Paris, Brussels and Salema. Our son is extremely active and requires a fair amount of room to play. We would strongly recommend keeping the size of your room in mind when booking accommodation. Our room in Paris was too small for him to move around in so my wife and I had to be out with him all day until he fell asleep. That may sound fine when you are planning your trip however after walking for 12 hrs in 33 degree heat and sun you might like to relax in your room before falling asleep.
Chuck Oxley
Toronto, on Canada Fri 04/02/2004