First of all, young kids are not spoil ports for a great trip. In fact, they will like the trip in their own ways. For us, the company of our kids is something out of the world.
Trip Preparation
Our first task was to develop an itinerary, then take care of the reservations, identify a detailed itinerary with activities in each day, do advance reservations for museums and go for the trip.
Since it was first trip to Europe, we chose the culture rich countries - Italy & France.
Let me start by publishing a brief itinerary. A detailed itinerary which talks about the planned activities is coming later. So here is our 12 day itineray
- Day 1 , Day2, Day 3 - Rome
- Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 - Florence
- Day 7 - Venice
- Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11 , Day 12 - Paris
Since we were visiting the two European countries, which are part of the Schengen region, we needed a Schengen visa. Please note that if you are a US citizen, you do not need a Schengen Visa. In case of visiting more than one countries, visa has to applied at the country of greater stay. So in our case, we applied at the Italian Consulate. Since we live inside the authority of Consulate in San Francisco, we applied for Schengen Visa in the Italian Consulate of San Francisco.
Even though the Italian Consulate of San Francisco doesn't require any prior appointments, it is a good idea to call the consulate ahead to know their visa processing times. In our case, processing time was 2 weeks after the submission of Visa application.
Schengen Visa application requires the following items:
1. Proof of lodgings
2. Ticket reservation for round trip flights from the your country to Europe and back including internal entry and exit points of travel i.e. EURAIL tickets, car rental, internal flights
3. Proof of medical insurance. Minimum coverage must be $50,000.00
So we had to make hotel and travel reservations before we apply for Visa.
Hotel Reservations
To book hotels, I used booking.com. This site does not charge any booking fees and their prices are lower or same as that offered on hotel web sites. The other advantage is that the site is more reliable, secure and faster. It allows you to explore hotels near to a specific hotel. It allows you to book at non-refundable and fully refundable rates.
When you travel with kids, you tend to have more luggage. So it is better to stay either near the Train station or near the center of everything. In Rome, Florence and Venice, we stayed near the Train Station which also happened to be very close to the center of activity. In Paris, we stayed at the center itself which also had easy access to transportation.
The basic requirements for hotel when travelling with kids are
1. Easy Access of Transportation.
2. Close to major attractions
3. Air Conditioning
4. Non Smoking rooms.
5. Availability of breakfast.
6. Lift
Most 3 star and some 2 star hotels satisfy all these basic requirements
Rome: The main train station (called Metro) is Rome is called Termini. This also happens to be in central Rome itself. So we looked for a hotel near Termini. We found many and finally settled on Hotel Monte Carlo . It was 3 star hotel which satisfied our basic requirements. We booked a standard double room at a fully refundable rate of 139 Euro including breakfast. The staff is friendly and helpful. Breakfast is delicious and coffee is excellent. We stayed at the hotel for 3 days. They allowed us to keep our luggages at the hotel after checkout since our train was at 5.15 PM.
Florence: We travelled to Florence, Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station from Rome's Termini station. We stayed at Rosso23 , a hotel very close to Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station. It was 3 star hotel which satisfied our basic requirements. We booked a standard double room at a fully refundable rate of 123 Euro including breakfast. The rooms are modern and spacious. They allowed us to keep our luggages at the hotel after checkout since our train was at 4.30 PM.
Venice: We travelled to Venice, St Lucia station from Florence, Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station. We are spending just one night at the hotel and going to Paris , the next day. So we reserved at Hotel Belle Epoque, a hotel few steps from the Venice, St Lucia station. It was 3 star hotel which satisfied our basic requirements. We booked a standard double room at a non-refundable rate of 115 Euro including breakfast. The room was spacious relative Venetian standards. The breakfast was delicious. They allowed us to keep our luggages at the hotel after checkout since our train was at 7.57 PM.
Paris: We travelled to Paris, Bercy station from Venice, St Lucia station. Paris, Bercy station is not really the center of attractions in Paris. So we booked at a hotel at the center of Paris at TimHotel Le Louvre , just opposite to Louvre museum in the 1st Arr. It was 3 star hotel which satisfied our basic requirements. We booked a standard double room at a fully refundable rate of 139 Euro (breakfast not included). The location is excellent and hotel is modern. The breakfast was delicious and staff was friendly and helpful. The hotel and staff are very family friendly. Even though the check in time is at 2 PM, they allowed us to check in at 11 AM.
Train Reservations
. The tickets are refundable and if the purchase price is above $250, the tickets are shipped free to your home with 2 day shipping. They charge a flat booking fee for the entire purchase. Depending on your itinery, you can purchase a Eurail pass of point to point tickets. In our case, point to point tickets were cheaper and so we purchased 2nd class tickets from Rome to Florence ($150 for 2 adults and 1 child), Florence to venice ($157 for 2 adults and 1 child) and Venice to Paris ( $167 each for adults, $90 for child).
Travel Insurance
We bought travel insurance coverage for upto 50,000 using InsureMyTrip.com. This site gives comparative quotes from applicable vendors. We chose a plan offered by Travelex for under $50. We bought travel insurance because it was a requirement for Schengen Visa.
Money
. This served us confortably and safely. We kept our cash and credit cards in the hidden pocket. Travel Guides and Street Maps
Travel guides are useful in many ways. They give useful facts about the place you are visiting in terms of how to travel around, how to make phone calls etc. More importantly, they list out the major attractions which helps us in coming up with a detailed itinerary.
I bought two travel guides and found them extremely useful.
- Frommer's Italy 2010 (Frommer's Color Complete Guides)
- Frommer's Paris 2010 (Frommer's Color Complete Guides)
We also bought street maps for the cities that we planned to visit. These maps were found to be useful since they were small, plastic coated and sturdy. The streets were marked clearly thatn the cheap ones we picked up from hotels.
- Streetwise Rome Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Rome, Italy - Folding pocket size travel map with metro map, subway
- Streetwise Florence Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Florence, Italy - Folding pocket size travel map with train tracks & stations
- Streetwise Venice Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Venice, Italy
- Streetwise Paris Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Paris, France
Travel Gear
When travelling with kids, we tend to have a lot of luggage. But we should try to reduce luggage as much as possible. When we travelled, we had 4 luggage pieces.- A big suitcase - Samsonite Aspire GRT 29" Expandable Spinner,Red/Black,One Size
- A small suitcase - Samsonite Padma Carry-On 22" Spinner,Black,One Size
- A magic backpack (one backpack which can be converted to two backpacks) - High Sierra 26" Railpass Travel Pack (Black/Graphite)
- A Laptop bag - Targus Zip-Thru Air Traveler Case for 15.4 Inch Laptops TBT04401US (Black)
Detailed Itinerary
Based on information by friends, websites and travel guide, we prepared the following detailed itineray. Care has been taken to ensure that kids get a place to run around and breathe some fresh air on each day. We wanted to visit the important sights, but do not tire our kids and us.
Day 2: In Rome
10 AM - 2 PM - Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Novona
2 PM - 6 PM - Villa Borghese, Spanish Steps
Relax in Villa Borghese. Let kids enjoy the grounds.
Day 3 : In Rome
10 AM - 3 PM - Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill
3PM - 5 PM - Prepare for trip to Florence
5 PM - 7 PM - reach Florence by Train
Book tickets online for Colosseum at the official site . The same ticket lets you in Palatine Hill and Roman Fourm.
Day 4 - In Florence
10 AM - 2 PM - Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery
2 PM - 6 PM - Pointe Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Gardini di Boboli
Kids can run around the grounds of Gardini di Boboli.
Day 5 - In Pisa
10 AM - 12 PM - Train to Pisa, Bus to Pisa Center
12PM -4 PM - Baptistery, Duomo, Leaning tower of Pisa
4-5.30 - Bus to Pisa Train Station, Train to Florence
Pisa Centro is a closed place with no vehicles. Kids can rtoam around freely.
Day 6 - In Florence
10 AM - 11 AM - Santa Maria Novella Church
11 AM - 2.30 PM - Batissero, Duomo, Cappelle Medici
2.30 PM- 4.30 PM - prepare for Train to Vencice
4.30 PM - 7 PM - Train to venice
Day 7 - In Venice
10 AM - 11 AM - Vaporetto to Piazza San Marco
11AM - Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San marco, Campanile di San Marco
3 PM - 5.30 PM - Palazzo Ducale, Bridge of Sighs
5.30 - 6.30 - Vaporetto to Train Station, prepare for Train to Paris
8PM - 8 AM - Train to Paris
Day 8 - In Paris
8 AM - 11 AM Reach Paris, Refresh, check in to Hotel
12 PM - 6 PM - Louvre Museum
Day 9 - In Paris
10 AM - 2 PM - Musee d ' Orsay
2 PM - 6 PM - Arc de Triomphe, Walk on Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Day 10 - In Paris
10 AM - 2 PM - Sainte Chapele, NotreDame,
2PM 6 PM - St Michael, Point Neuff
Day 11 - In Paris
10 AM - 11 AM - Train to Versailes
11 AM - 4 PM - Versailes Chateau and Grounds
4 PM - 5 PM - Train to Paris
Day 12 - In Paris
10 AM - 2 PM - BatoBus (boat) to Hotel De Ville, Hotel Des InValides
2 PM - 5 PM - BatoBus to Eiffel Tower
9 PM - 11 PM - BatoBus to Eiffel Tower for Night view
Tips
On Money , ATM and CreditCard
ATMs are available and easy to locate in all the places. I used my bank of america ATM card. They charged 1% as service fee and a flat fee of $5 for each withdrawal, but gaves us the best conversion rates. So it is better to use ATM as few times as possible. I used to withdraw 250 Euros each time. Credit cards doesn't charge any special fee, but they offer lousy conversion rates. In my case, bank gave me 1 Euro at 1.20 $, but credit card gave 1 Euro at 1.25$.
Laundry
In all the cities, the economical way to wash your clothes is to use the coin laundry facility. In Italy, it is called Lundromat. In Paris, it is called Laverie or Lavage. This place will have washers which take cloths by kg like 5 kg, 7 kg, 10 Kg etc. The usual price will be 3-4 Euro for 5 kg and 5-6 Euro for 10 kg. You also need to buy detergent for 1 Euro. To dry , it is usually 3-4 Euro for 30 minutes and the dryer are huge without any size limitations.
Best way to find coin laundry facility is to ask the hotel front desk.
Super Markets/ Grocery shops
They are known as Super markets in both Italy and Germany. The best way to find them is to ask the hotel front desk. We used to shop for water, fruits, candies, cookies etc.
Additional Maps and pointers
Ask the hotel front desk for a city map. Most of the hotels carry a maps distributed by eateries and these maps are useful as a backup in adddition to your street maps.
Pharmacy
Pharmacies can be located based on the green plus sign. They carry baby food and most of them speak good english.
Doctors
The best way to find doctors is to ask the hotel front desk. The doctor fees are much less compared to US. A doctor visit for our daughter to diagnose her ear infection cost us 27 EUROs.
Total Expense
Train fare between cities- 800$
Hotel Fare - 2000$
Food, tickets , transportation - 1500$
Total - 4300 $
We combined the European trip with our Indian trip. The additional charge to accomodate the European trip was 1200$ for 3 people. We booked our trip with Emirates Airlines.
Day 1 : In Rome
10AM - 2 PM - Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel
2 PM - 6 Pm - St. Peter's Basilica
- Book the Vatican Musum tickets online at the official site . Even then, there is a queue. But with kids, officials will let you without any queue.
- Relax in front of St. Peter's Basilica. Let kids run around.
10 AM - 2 PM - Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Novona
2 PM - 6 PM - Villa Borghese, Spanish Steps
Relax in Villa Borghese. Let kids enjoy the grounds.
Day 3 : In Rome
10 AM - 3 PM - Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill
3PM - 5 PM - Prepare for trip to Florence
5 PM - 7 PM - reach Florence by Train
Book tickets online for Colosseum at the official site . The same ticket lets you in Palatine Hill and Roman Fourm.
Day 4 - In Florence
10 AM - 2 PM - Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery
2 PM - 6 PM - Pointe Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Gardini di Boboli
Kids can run around the grounds of Gardini di Boboli.
Day 5 - In Pisa
10 AM - 12 PM - Train to Pisa, Bus to Pisa Center
12PM -4 PM - Baptistery, Duomo, Leaning tower of Pisa
4-5.30 - Bus to Pisa Train Station, Train to Florence
Pisa Centro is a closed place with no vehicles. Kids can rtoam around freely.
Day 6 - In Florence
10 AM - 11 AM - Santa Maria Novella Church
11 AM - 2.30 PM - Batissero, Duomo, Cappelle Medici
2.30 PM- 4.30 PM - prepare for Train to Vencice
4.30 PM - 7 PM - Train to venice
Day 7 - In Venice
10 AM - 11 AM - Vaporetto to Piazza San Marco
11AM - Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San marco, Campanile di San Marco
3 PM - 5.30 PM - Palazzo Ducale, Bridge of Sighs
5.30 - 6.30 - Vaporetto to Train Station, prepare for Train to Paris
8PM - 8 AM - Train to Paris
Day 8 - In Paris
8 AM - 11 AM Reach Paris, Refresh, check in to Hotel
12 PM - 6 PM - Louvre Museum
Day 9 - In Paris
10 AM - 2 PM - Musee d ' Orsay
2 PM - 6 PM - Arc de Triomphe, Walk on Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Day 10 - In Paris
10 AM - 2 PM - Sainte Chapele, NotreDame,
2PM 6 PM - St Michael, Point Neuff
Day 11 - In Paris
10 AM - 11 AM - Train to Versailes
11 AM - 4 PM - Versailes Chateau and Grounds
4 PM - 5 PM - Train to Paris
Day 12 - In Paris
10 AM - 2 PM - BatoBus (boat) to Hotel De Ville, Hotel Des InValides
2 PM - 5 PM - BatoBus to Eiffel Tower
9 PM - 11 PM - BatoBus to Eiffel Tower for Night view
Tips
On Money , ATM and CreditCard
ATMs are available and easy to locate in all the places. I used my bank of america ATM card. They charged 1% as service fee and a flat fee of $5 for each withdrawal, but gaves us the best conversion rates. So it is better to use ATM as few times as possible. I used to withdraw 250 Euros each time. Credit cards doesn't charge any special fee, but they offer lousy conversion rates. In my case, bank gave me 1 Euro at 1.20 $, but credit card gave 1 Euro at 1.25$.
Laundry
In all the cities, the economical way to wash your clothes is to use the coin laundry facility. In Italy, it is called Lundromat. In Paris, it is called Laverie or Lavage. This place will have washers which take cloths by kg like 5 kg, 7 kg, 10 Kg etc. The usual price will be 3-4 Euro for 5 kg and 5-6 Euro for 10 kg. You also need to buy detergent for 1 Euro. To dry , it is usually 3-4 Euro for 30 minutes and the dryer are huge without any size limitations.
Best way to find coin laundry facility is to ask the hotel front desk.
Super Markets/ Grocery shops
They are known as Super markets in both Italy and Germany. The best way to find them is to ask the hotel front desk. We used to shop for water, fruits, candies, cookies etc.
Additional Maps and pointers
Ask the hotel front desk for a city map. Most of the hotels carry a maps distributed by eateries and these maps are useful as a backup in adddition to your street maps.
Pharmacy
Pharmacies can be located based on the green plus sign. They carry baby food and most of them speak good english.
Doctors
The best way to find doctors is to ask the hotel front desk. The doctor fees are much less compared to US. A doctor visit for our daughter to diagnose her ear infection cost us 27 EUROs.
Total Expense
Train fare between cities- 800$
Hotel Fare - 2000$
Food, tickets , transportation - 1500$
Total - 4300 $
We combined the European trip with our Indian trip. The additional charge to accomodate the European trip was 1200$ for 3 people. We booked our trip with Emirates Airlines.
