This stupid vacation...

Hip2Bsquare · January 2011

I have very quickly read all the replies here. I have been quiet through this because I think a lot of these women have given a lot of good sites and ideas.

I think you need to figure out what do you want first. Where do you want to go? how long do you want to go for? what are some must see things to do for YOU? what are your requirements...i.e. kitchen in hotel, park near by etc. and seriously begin typing that stuff into google. YOU WILL get results. Type in Hotels with kitchens in Paris and just see what you find.

I know you have been to travel agents but I think you just need to go to them and be honest and tell them everything that you are looking for. They will make your trip designed around all of that.

When I went to Russia...I told my travel agent specifics...like, this is my budget. This is what I want to do on New Years Eve. I need a hotel close by because I don't know the language and the area and I need to be able to walk to Red Square. In St. Petersburg I googled tour guides and hired my own private tour guide for a day so I didn't get lost in that city and saw some amazing things! I found her online by looking at several websites and corresponding with people.

I love, love, love traveling and planning trips but I think your needs are kinda just all over the place and strange. A park? I am not saying that people in Rome don't go to parks but usually toursits who go to Rome don't go there for the parks...they are there to see the Coliseum. I mean they spent all this money for just a few days in an ancient city...they can go to the park any time they are at home in Kansas. Rome is a city similar to New York.. congested city, concrete all over, tall buildings and apts on both sides of you except there are grassy hills with ruins and out of no where a major historic site like the Pantheon or the Vatican. I would have to do a search but I can't think of any parks that I saw. But again I was in a mad rush to see all of Rome in 3 days I had no interest or need for a park especially with swings and slides and stuff. If you want cheaper rooms you can find them by train stations or farther out from main tourist attractions but they are all easy to get to via subway or train....but if you want to be across from the Eiffel Tower than you are going to pay for it. Don't worry subways are easy...you just need to have a good stroller. I might forget about the park idea or improvise (stop if you see one on your way). You will lose a lot of time traveling back and forth trying to go to your hotel for naps and trying to see sites. Liam is just going to have to nap in the stroller some days.

The trip is more for you and your hubby not for Liam. He's going to not understand or care about most of it so you need to look in some travel books or websites and see what the top 10 sites to see in Paris or Rome and decided if you want to go see them or not. Take a great sturdy comfortable stroller with you for Liam and make him comfortable for the ride. One thing that is cool about Paris and Rome is there are tons of fountains!

I have stayed in some pretty nice hotels but because I went during an off season it was very cheap...hotels are priced on many things and you need to determine what's important to you...a view, the size of room, vicinity to attraction sites, air conditioning or if meals are included etc.

I think you need to be flexible and realize just because they aren't going to provide a meal for you doesn't mean the hotel sucks balls. It could be a great location but there may be restaurant and or cafe right below you or at the corner that provides cappuccinos and croissants in the morning.

ONLY after you determine what your length of stay and where you want to go and must have needs then can you start looking. I have never traveled with a baby but yes I might begin with a very small itinerary (1 tourist site a day) then lunch near by (or I may pack my lunch to save money) or near the next site and then another site in the afternoon) and depending on how Liam does at the Coliseum then I might cancel any other plans to another location etc.

Obviously if your needs make your price go up for lets say hotels then I guess you are just going to have to be cheap somewhere else...either food or transportation or not going to as many cities or countries. But first you have to get the basics down like for how long do want to go...start looking at prices of things and if you aren't finding what you want than either go to the experts such as a travel agent or move around your length of stay and dates etc. It does take time to get EXACTLY what you want but a first time google of trips to Paris should be easy. Heck google travel websites and see how many websites there are! Like I said it's completely doable to do Europe on 6K...the most expensive thing will be air fare and then hotels. If you are traveling to other countries check out Ryanair.com...very cheap air fare. The only thing is the airports are small and far out from major cities but they always proved transportation to the big cities via bus or train etc.

Que*Syrah · January 2011

you are totally underestimating your child's ability to be flexible. he'll adjust. go. have fun.

Hip2Bsquare · January 2011

StarAnnice:
Hip2Bsquare:

I have very quickly read all the replies here. I have been quiet through this because I think a lot of these women have given a lot of good sites and ideas.

I think you need to figure out what do you want first. Where do you want to go? how long do you want to go for? what are some must see things to do for YOU? what are your requirements...i.e. kitchen in hotel, park near by etc. and seriously begin typing that stuff into google. YOU WILL get results. Type in Hotels with kitchens in Paris and just see what you find.

I know you have been to travel agents but I think you just need to go to them and be honest and tell them everything that you are looking for. They will make your trip designed around all of that.

When I went to Russia...I told my travel agent specifics...like, this is my budget. This is what I want to do on New Years Eve. I need a hotel close by because I don't know the language and the area and I need to be able to walk to Red Square. In St. Petersburg I googled tour guides and hired my own private tour guide for a day so I didn't get lost in that city and saw some amazing things! I found her online by looking at several websites and corresponding with people.

I love, love, love traveling and planning trips but I think your needs are kinda just all over the place and strange. A park? I am not saying that people in Rome don't go to parks but usually toursits who go to Rome don't go there for the parks...they are there to see the Coliseum. I mean they spent all this money for just a few days in an ancient city...they can go to the park any time they are at home in Kansas. Rome is a city similar to New York.. congested city, concrete all over, tall buildings and apts on both sides of you except there are grassy hills with ruins and out of no where a major historic site like the Pantheon or the Vatican. I would have to do a search but I can't think of any parks that I saw. But again I was in a mad rush to see all of Rome in 3 days I had no interest or need for a park especially with swings and slides and stuff. If you want cheaper rooms you can find them by train stations or farther out from main tourist attractions but they are all easy to get to via subway or train....but if you want to be across from the Eiffel Tower than you are going to pay for it. Don't worry subways are easy...you just need to have a good stroller. I might forget about the park idea or improvise (stop if you see one on your way). You will lose a lot of time traveling back and forth trying to go to your hotel for naps and trying to see sites. Liam is just going to have to nap in the stroller some days.

The trip is more for you and your hubby not for Liam. He's going to not understand or care about most of it so you need to look in some travel books or websites and see what the top 10 sites to see in Paris or Rome and decided if you want to go see them or not. Take a great sturdy comfortable stroller with you for Liam and make him comfortable for the ride. One thing that is cool about Paris and Rome is there are tons of fountains!

I have stayed in some pretty nice hotels but because I went during an off season it was very cheap...hotels are priced on many things and you need to determine what's important to you...a view, the size of room, vicinity to attraction sites, air conditioning or if meals are included etc.

I think you need to be flexible and realize just because they aren't going to provide a meal for you doesn't mean the hotel sucks balls. It could be a great location but there may be restaurant and or cafe right below you or at the corner that provides cappuccinos and croissants in the morning.

ONLY after you determine what your length of stay and where you want to go and must have needs then can you start looking. I have never traveled with a baby but yes I might begin with a very small itinerary (1 tourist site a day) then lunch near by (or I may pack my lunch to save money) or near the next site and then another site in the afternoon) and depending on how Liam does at the Coliseum then I might cancel any other plans to another location etc.

Obviously if your needs make your price go up for lets say hotels then I guess you are just going to have to be cheap somewhere else...either food or transportation or not going to as many cities or countries. But first you have to get the basics down like for how long do want to go...start looking at prices of things and if you aren't finding what you want than either go to the experts such as a travel agent or move around your length of stay and dates etc. It does take time to get EXACTLY what you want but a first time google of trips to Paris should be easy. Heck google travel websites and see how many websites there are! Like I said it's completely doable to do Europe on 6K...the most expensive thing will be air fare and then hotels. If you are traveling to other countries check out Ryanair.com...very cheap air fare. The only thing is the airports are small and far out from major cities but they always proved transportation to the big cities via bus or train etc.

Holy effin' shiit! This has to be the longest reply I've ever seen on TB.

I don't know the backstory to this post, but GL with your plans. We, attempt, to take a family trip to San Diego every summer. We go for a long weekend, and stay at a decent hotel (not 5 star, but that doesn't matter to us). We've taken G to Sea World, and plan to take them to the zoo this year. We enjoy it, it's relaxing, and we have good, happy memories there. We drive there, which for us only takes a few hours.

Yeah I didn't even get into a lot of the websites and stuff that I have used in the past. My information may be out of date since I haven't lived in Europe for a couple of years. Traveling in Europe is a little different then hopping in a car and just going. Not that you can't do that....but you would have to be familiar with the road signs and language and feel confident. Jamie can barely plan her vacation let alone drive around Europe. The OP actually sounds very flustered and overwhelmed with planning and so I was trying to help get her focused and start her out. Most Hotels in the US come with a lot basic stuff that you don't even think about and take for granted like if they have a/c and bathrooms. I've stayed in places where the bathrooms were shared...and that was in Paris.

Que*Syrah · January 2011

Hip2Bsquare:
StarAnnice:
Hip2Bsquare:

I have very quickly read all the replies here. I have been quiet through this because I think a lot of these women have given a lot of good sites and ideas.

I think you need to figure out what do you want first. Where do you want to go? how long do you want to go for? what are some must see things to do for YOU? what are your requirements...i.e. kitchen in hotel, park near by etc. and seriously begin typing that stuff into google. YOU WILL get results. Type in Hotels with kitchens in Paris and just see what you find.

I know you have been to travel agents but I think you just need to go to them and be honest and tell them everything that you are looking for. They will make your trip designed around all of that.

When I went to Russia...I told my travel agent specifics...like, this is my budget. This is what I want to do on New Years Eve. I need a hotel close by because I don't know the language and the area and I need to be able to walk to Red Square. In St. Petersburg I googled tour guides and hired my own private tour guide for a day so I didn't get lost in that city and saw some amazing things! I found her online by looking at several websites and corresponding with people.

I love, love, love traveling and planning trips but I think your needs are kinda just all over the place and strange. A park? I am not saying that people in Rome don't go to parks but usually toursits who go to Rome don't go there for the parks...they are there to see the Coliseum. I mean they spent all this money for just a few days in an ancient city...they can go to the park any time they are at home in Kansas. Rome is a city similar to New York.. congested city, concrete all over, tall buildings and apts on both sides of you except there are grassy hills with ruins and out of no where a major historic site like the Pantheon or the Vatican. I would have to do a search but I can't think of any parks that I saw. But again I was in a mad rush to see all of Rome in 3 days I had no interest or need for a park especially with swings and slides and stuff. If you want cheaper rooms you can find them by train stations or farther out from main tourist attractions but they are all easy to get to via subway or train....but if you want to be across from the Eiffel Tower than you are going to pay for it. Don't worry subways are easy...you just need to have a good stroller. I might forget about the park idea or improvise (stop if you see one on your way). You will lose a lot of time traveling back and forth trying to go to your hotel for naps and trying to see sites. Liam is just going to have to nap in the stroller some days.

The trip is more for you and your hubby not for Liam. He's going to not understand or care about most of it so you need to look in some travel books or websites and see what the top 10 sites to see in Paris or Rome and decided if you want to go see them or not. Take a great sturdy comfortable stroller with you for Liam and make him comfortable for the ride. One thing that is cool about Paris and Rome is there are tons of fountains!

I have stayed in some pretty nice hotels but because I went during an off season it was very cheap...hotels are priced on many things and you need to determine what's important to you...a view, the size of room, vicinity to attraction sites, air conditioning or if meals are included etc.

I think you need to be flexible and realize just because they aren't going to provide a meal for you doesn't mean the hotel sucks balls. It could be a great location but there may be restaurant and or cafe right below you or at the corner that provides cappuccinos and croissants in the morning.

ONLY after you determine what your length of stay and where you want to go and must have needs then can you start looking. I have never traveled with a baby but yes I might begin with a very small itinerary (1 tourist site a day) then lunch near by (or I may pack my lunch to save money) or near the next site and then another site in the afternoon) and depending on how Liam does at the Coliseum then I might cancel any other plans to another location etc.

Obviously if your needs make your price go up for lets say hotels then I guess you are just going to have to be cheap somewhere else...either food or transportation or not going to as many cities or countries. But first you have to get the basics down like for how long do want to go...start looking at prices of things and if you aren't finding what you want than either go to the experts such as a travel agent or move around your length of stay and dates etc. It does take time to get EXACTLY what you want but a first time google of trips to Paris should be easy. Heck google travel websites and see how many websites there are! Like I said it's completely doable to do Europe on 6K...the most expensive thing will be air fare and then hotels. If you are traveling to other countries check out Ryanair.com...very cheap air fare. The only thing is the airports are small and far out from major cities but they always proved transportation to the big cities via bus or train etc.

Holy effin' shiit! This has to be the longest reply I've ever seen on TB.

I don't know the backstory to this post, but GL with your plans. We, attempt, to take a family trip to San Diego every summer. We go for a long weekend, and stay at a decent hotel (not 5 star, but that doesn't matter to us). We've taken G to Sea World, and plan to take them to the zoo this year. We enjoy it, it's relaxing, and we have good, happy memories there. We drive there, which for us only takes a few hours.
Yeah I didn't even get into a lot of the websites and stuff that I have used in the past. My information may be out of date since I haven't lived in Europe for a couple of years. Traveling in Europe is a little different then hopping in a car and just going. Not that you can't do that....but you would have to be familiar with the road signs and language and feel confident. Jamie can barely plan her vacation let alone drive around Europe. The OP actually sounds very flustered and overwhelmed with planning and so I was trying to help get her focused and start her out. Most Hotels in the US come with a lot basic stuff that you don't even think about and take for granted like if they have a/c and bathrooms. I've stayed in places where the bathrooms were shared...and that was in Paris.

i thought it was helpful.

Hip2Bsquare · January 2011

Que_Syrah:
you are totally underestimating your child's ability to be flexible. he'll adjust. go. have fun.

I agree with this!

lpstl · January 2011

Ok, here are some other options for you. This is for London/Paris/Rome from May 15 - May 27 leaving from Charlotte, all transfers included.

I put together 2 options for you:

Option 1 spends $4080, a little more money goes towards accommodations but LO won't have his own seat on flights. Option 1 Rentals: London - Paris - Rome

Option 2 spends $4237, a little less on accommodations but LO gets his own seat on flights. Options 2 Rentals: London - Paris - Rome

I tried to find places near parks, but a couple of the options might be a little bit of a walk. If you decide to compromise on that requirement you could probably upgrade accommodations a little, I saw some really awesome flats that weren't near any parks, so I chucked them.

All the details are here: Linky

Good luck!

SassyPanties · January 2011

Jamie, since you don't seem to be much of a traveler, and you've never been to Europe, my suggestion is that you pick ONE place to visit. This will help you get into a routine with LO, which you seem to want to be able to do, and it may be a lot less stressful since you will have plenty of time to explore one place.

Why don't you combine the coastal/Europe experience? Barcelona is AMAZING, as is the Cinque Terra in Italy, or Sorrento. If it were me, I would choose Greece. I think you could easily spend a week there on that budget.

Turkey is another great option.

Pick one place, find a place to stay and a flight and then you have four months to plan activities. I promise you it really isn't that complicated.

grapeape73 · January 2011

I can tell that you are frustrated. It isn't as hard as you are making it out to be. I have been to Europe. Find a hotel and worry about the park later. He can play anywhere including the lobby. Don't google maps a park and try to find a hotel from there. That can only lead to frustration.

I will give you a piece of advice I was given when traveling. When in doubt, find a Hilton. They are everywhere. They are clean.

Let someone help you. I have traveled with children, and really that is the least of your problems.

Hip2Bsquare · January 2011

Sassy_Panties:
Jamie, since you don't seem to be much of a traveler, and you've never been to Europe, my suggestion is that you pick ONE place to visit. This will help you get into a routine with LO, which you seem to want to be able to do, and it may be a lot less stressful since you will have plenty of time to explore one place.

Why don't you combine the coastal/Europe experience? Barcelona is AMAZING, as is the Cinque Terra in Italy, or Sorrento. If it were me, I would choose Greece. I think you could easily spend a week there on that budget.

Turkey is another great option.

Pick one place, find a place to stay and a flight and then you have four months to plan activities. I promise you it really isn't that complicated.

I agree with this! If you picked Rome....It could easily take you 7-10 days to see all the stuff there and if you started getting bored you could venture out to Pompeii or Pisa for a day. Here are just a few things to see in Rome

Trevi Fountain

Pantheon

The Vatican - the Sistine Chapel - the Pieta (This could take a day or two or more)

The Spanish Steps

Coliseum

The Catacombs

and this was just at the top of my head.

Sassy I LOVE Cinque Terra

RadicalDreamer143 · January 2011

Hey all - I'm looking over all the options that lmp posted. I guess we're focusing on the London/Paris/Rome trip, instead of one place, because who knows the next time we'll be able to swing Europe, you know? I think we would enjoy something like the coastal cities if it were just DH and I.

I expect Liam to have to sleep in his stroller - my thing with the park is, it would be a nice relaxing place for him to just run around. Everyone talks about how tiny the rooms are in Europe and this kid is all over the place. I grew up in NYC, so I suppose I am envisioning something that's the equivalent of - find a place near a park, let's say Central Park. In the morning go to a museum, have lunch at a cafe, do some window and actual shopping if Liam naps in the stroller, otherwise head to the hotel for a little while. Take him to the park in the afternoon, then figure out dinner. To me, that's taking a huge, busy city like NY and making it less stressful. Sure, we might only see 3 - 4 things in each city, but that's fine by us.

RadicalDreamer143 · January 2011

lmp, Dh is VERY interested in the flat rentals. His question is - he assumes there is no front desk. How do travelers normally figure out the metro and things of that nature? In places like Paris and Rome, will it be difficult for english-speaking tourists to get our own cabs, etc? He also wanted to know if that price was also the plane back to Charlotte. I told him we have to buy you a nice souvenir, LOL.

Hip2Bsquare · January 2011

JamieS2006:
lmp, Dh is VERY interested in the flat rentals. His question is - he assumes there is no front desk. How do travelers normally figure out the metro and things of that nature? In places like Paris and Rome, will it be difficult for english-speaking tourists to get our own cabs, etc? He also wanted to know if that price was also the plane back to Charlotte. I told him we have to buy you a nice souvenir, LOL.

Each Subway/metro entrance has maps when entering them and all over the walls in the cars as well. Tourist books also have the maps. They are easy and so much cheaper than a cab.Sometimes you may have stairs though (some subways have escalators). The metro stops are pretty close if not right in front of the tourist site in front of you.

Also in the big cities like Rome and Paris....most cab drivers and people that work at or around tourist attractions know a little English.

If you go to the Louvre in France you could spend days in there. The courtyards and the outside of the Louvre and Vatican are so ridiculously grand that Liam could run outside there and if I remember the Eiffel Tower has a long stretch of lawn and park like area to run around. You got to go to Notre Dame when you are in Paris....It is so beautiful!!!

lpstl · January 2011

JamieS2006:
lmp, Dh is VERY interested in the flat rentals. His question is - he assumes there is no front desk. How do travelers normally figure out the metro and things of that nature? In places like Paris and Rome, will it be difficult for english-speaking tourists to get our own cabs, etc? He also wanted to know if that price was also the plane back to Charlotte. I told him we have to buy you a nice souvenir, LOL.

I've stayed in hotels all over europe, and honestly I don't think I've ever asked the front desk for directions. That's not because I'm some navigational wiz, I suck at finding my way around, but really once you figure out where the closest metro/tube station is, and you get a map, you're good to go. Also, when renting a flat you always have a point contact who meets you upon arrival and gets you settled in, that person can give you the run down of where everything is.

You don't have to know french to get around in Paris. But, you absolutely have to start the conversation in french if you don't want to be looked at like a stupid American tourist. All you really need to know is how to say hello, do you speak English (Bonjour. Parlez-vous anglais?). 90% of the time the answer is yes in Paris. If it's no, whip out a phrase guide. I've never been to Rome, so I'm not sure about the etiquette there, but I believe most people speak some english.

Yup, the flight I looked up gets you from Charlotte to London, and back from Rome to Charlotte too.

Ahh, a souvenir would be awesome. I think I'd like an Italian pool boy. Never mind that I have no pool, and H might side eye me. We'll sort those things out later .

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