London/France/Switzerland itinerary feedback

Have you traveled to Europe before? I ask because your plan is for a string of 2-night stays. If you've done that before and the pace suits you, that's fine. If you haven't, then you definitely should cut back on the number of stops.

Changing locations takes time. The rule of thumb is 1/2 day per change. This includes packing, getting to train station (allowing time for traffic, getting to the train platform, boarding), then getting from the train station to your hotel to check in and drop off your luggage. With a car, allow time to rent the car (or drop it off) and to find parking. Your family can only move as fast as the slowest one in the group. If you need to check for forgotten items before leaving your room, have someone who has trouble getting out of bed (or the shower), who dawdles over breakfast . . . well, you get the idea. 2 nights in a place equals 1 day of sightseeing.

A string of 2-night stays is tiring. You are constantly packing/unpacking and getting oriented to new surroundings, languages, signage, currencies (in your plan, 3 countries, 3 types of notes and coins and exchange rates). You will need time to do laundry (even if it's washing by hand at night), picking up supplies (unless you are bringing enough for everyone for 2 weeks - but then you're lugging a lot of stuff around with you). Most people also need time to relax a little.

I agree with Chani, unless you have done this kind of European trip before, you have way too many 2-night stands. I suggest eliminating Switzerland and adding those days to London and Paris areas.

Thank you! We did a trip this past spring with two nights each stop, and you are right, it was crazy with just two nights in each hotel. I already have booked airfare back thru Zurich, but maybe I can eliminate Cabourg for two nights and add those nights onto London or Paris. I could also eliminate one (or both) night in Lucerne and add it onto Murren.

Definitely drop Cabourg and Luzern and add two nights to London. With one full day (2 nights) I do not think you can accomplish all that is on your list. Add a night to Paris and one to Muerren.

Thank you for all of your input! I have a revised itinerary below.
Two nights stay in Surrey while visiting friends. Stonehenge/Bibury
Three nights in London. Thames River cruise? Tower of London/Buckingham Palace/The British Museum
Four nights in Paris. Eiffel Tower, NotreDame, Luxombourg Gardens,Jardin de Plantes and Natural History Museum, Louvre/Musay D Orsay
Three nights Murren- visit Colmar on the way to Murren from Paris for a few hours to break up the train trip?
One night Luzern, fly out of Zurich - Chapel bridge, lake cruise

Should we get a rail pass based on the above travel? I already purchased the train ticket from London to Paris.

Thank you, again! Happy New Year!

Near Stonehenge, consider adding Avebury and the West Kennet Long Barrow

Train times to consider ...
Paris to Interlaken via Basel - 5hr 05min
Paris to Colmar direct - 2hr 55min
Colmar to Interlaken via Basel - 3hr 05min

There does not seem to be luggage storage facilities at Colmar Station - you may have to overnight.

Thank you! We loved Newgrange in Ireland, so these are great suggestions!

I don't know if you already have lodging ideas, but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Relais Bosquet in Paris and at the Hotel Jungfrau in Murren. I would look at regional railpasses that might provide children free traveling with parents. I doubt that you would save money with a traditional Eurail railpass when you will know your schedule and trains in advance and could do advance bookings. Also, remember that the TGV trains in France that go to Switzerland will require an expensive reservation in addition to a railpass and offer a limited number of seats to railpass holders. If you do decide to do railpasses, make your reservations 90 days out to assure that you will have space available on the TGV. If you are already having to make reservations 90 days out, the logical question is why not just do point to point tickets?

Thank you!