Advice Needed-Traveling with 20-Month-Old Twins

Take a look at www.kinderhotels.com
It's a hotel chain that caters to kids in Austria/N. Italy area. We love them and they're fantastic for kids.

Maryam - I'm sure you will get lots of replies that tell you to go for it, so I'm going to be the more negative one. I you are looking to plan a fairly extensive trip for over 1 year from now, when your adorable babies will toddlers - a DIFFERENT situation that what you have now. I've done LOTS of traveling with very young children - 4-5 hour flights cross country beginning with my own when she was 4 weeks and continuing on with my grandchildren who are now 2,4,6. In many ways it will be easier - they will have a regular sleep schedule, able to walk - but those are exactly the things that make it harder to do an extensive trip. Toddlers do NOT want to sit in their seat and they cannot be reasoned with or given a bottle. They do better with a schedule - many still having 2 naps a day. So without a REALLY good reason (i.e. this was the only way they could see their Canadian grandparents) I would not plan an extensive trip with a longish flight when there are other options available. If you like cities, how about New York for a week? Or try a cross country flight to San Francisco and spend a few days there and in the Monterrey. Especially since you say it would be your first trip with JUST the 4 of you, I'd try something closer and more low key to see how you all do. I know you said no beach but the Charleston area of South Carolina has lots of history, a great walking around city and the beaches there are so beautiful, family friendly and interesting - we did that for 5 years straight beginning when my youngest was 2. He loved climbing around the aircraft carrier, even the horse carriage ride was doable. I love Europe and I know people are able to travel there with very young children, but personally I'd do a trial run on the Toddler Vacation thing at least once before I planned Europe

Speaking as a g'ma to a 20 mo.old and from watching him in action - step away from the plan(e)! Stay home unless you can take a nanny, two harnesses, ativan and a divorce lawyer. Not necessarily in that order. Or spend your time in the Calabrian apartment with
lots of beach time. JMHO

Sorry, I vote nightmare. I've never met a toddler who enjoyed museums and historical stuff. I agree, test the waters with a trip closer to home. There is LOTS of 200 year old history from coast to coast in the US. Lots of land that is NOT a beach, but you might just find that children ARE beach people. The San Diego area has a lot to offer, including a couple of the greatest Zoos. Lots of history and parks (Balboa). Don't Stress!!

Just back from traveling with year old granddaughter and her parents. When we had a good trips, all went well, the fact is -- everything really revolved around the granddaughter's schedule. I cannot begin to think what it would be like with two twins at that age. It is tough at home let alone in a strange environment. Staying in an apartment would be helpful as you have suggested. But you will be limited in the time you have available to do things that you want to do. It can be done but it could be very stressful. Good luck. PS -- our son and dil thinks that bonding with the grandparents in the US will be a good idea for the next trip.

I've taken my 2 sons everywhere we went (except Jazzfest), but started locally: put 'em in the car, drive 3-5 hours, and then spend a few nights somewhere. Work up to a week and then 2 weeks away from home and routine, which most kids need to cope with different foods, smells, schedules and beds. Especially since this is a first vacation, go USA. Charleston or San Diego are good ideas; I love L.A., and if you get tired of it you can drive up the coast to San Francisco, which has lots of places to stop along the way for fun. History in LA can be the Getty villa or the missions or the ferry to Catalina. Colorado in the summer is a pleasant trip also. Coping with 2 people tired from the time change is tough on everyone. Save money for Europe and enjoy just being together in a location where everything is conveniently in English. A few of these trips and you'll also find out who likes to travel before you spend big money. Never underestimate the power of a playground, an ice cream cone, a small new toy- and a rest- to change attitudes.
If you still feel the lure of Europe, find someone with whom you can leave the kids and go with just your husband for a week. That's my 2 cents!

We took my son for his first trip overseas when he was 21 months old. Yes, it was completely different then when we were traveling on our own, but still a fun trip, nonetheless. As Frank said, as long as you realize that the trip will revolve around the kids and their schedule, you'll be fine. As far as places to go, I'd opt for someplace smaller. I wouldn't discount Paris or Amsterdam, but maybe just a few days in each and then head out to someplace more rural. Also, if you can get an apartment where you're going, that would be ideal. Kids that age aren't always the best in restaurants for dinner, especially in places like Paris, where most people like to linger, and it can be hard to get the wait staff to bring your check. An apartment will give you access to a kitchen, and then you can put your guys down early and enjoy a bottle of wine. Museums can be hard with little ones. Historical sights can work, depending on what they are. Castles they can roam around are great. Ones you have to do on a tour, not so much. Daily playground visits are a must.

Thanks everyone. My husband thinks I'm crazy to think we should try and pull it off, and I'm wavering too, which is why I posed the question. We will travel in the US to wonderful places, such as Burlington, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia, but as I mentioned before, they are to visit family (including grandparents :). I just wanted to go somewhere and be the four of us. I will start to think more locally, especially since there will be two of them. I think the doubling of the kids at toddler age makes it even more difficult. I think I'm just going through withdrawal.
@ Mimi, very clever with your play on words.

" My husband thinks I'm crazy to think we should try and pull it off, and I'm wavering too, which is why I posed the question. " You already have your answer. Wait a few more years and enjoy the trip.

My twins are finally the right age to take to Europe, they are 24! :) They were nuts when they were younger, a real challenge in familar surroundings, let alone someplace new.

As I read the other responses I had a mental picture in my mind of our trip with children (older) to the rural Cotswold area of England a few years ago. We had a lovely week-long cottage rental in an idyllic setting and visited nearby villages each day. That is the kind of trip to Europe that could work with toddlers. Very calm and low key but still interesting and pleasantly "foreign" if you have enough funds for that sort of thing. I would certainly not suggest anything like the more intense (or more urban) trip most people here like to take.

You are the best judge of your twin babies and how you all will cope. If you decide to go to Europe, I suggest London and Paris. Do find an apartment close to a park.

If you want more "international", maybe consider combining Vancouver with either Victoria & island or the Rockies (Banff/Jasper). Go condo or apt. for sure! Europe with twin toddlers doesn't sound like fun at all... just the thought of all those stairs, everywhere, with a heavy twin stroller makes me cringe! Besides which, no airline will give you a sufficient baggage allowance... especially if you're counting on doing the trip with the toddlers in your lap ;-) Mimi has it right on the money: this trip, IMO, would not be conducive to quality family time.

You live in Washington DC with twins... do you do anything with them or just stay in the house? Obviously you know how to manage in a big city with twins. I think the hardest part of the trip would be the flight. And that could be difficult....depends on your kids. Of course, anyone who does not have twins could look at it as a nightmare. I would think an easy agenda might be the same as you would do if you go to Disney. (down time and do things on the kids schedule)However it might be more fun for you in Europe than in Florida. I would think about someplace in a quiet village where you can be part of village life... markets, parks, picnics, outdoor cafes,etc. Then do day trips to museums, etc. the same as you would in DC. I have a friend who went last year with 4 kids (12, 4year old twins and 3 year old with down syndrome) They rented a Chateau in the french countryside and had really quality family time and they are going to Italy this year.

There are plenty of places that just the four of you can go that won't cost as much, either in money or stress, as taking them to Europe at this age. I agree with those who have said to limit your vacation to something more local. Even spending the night in a motel in your own city will be enough of a change for them to give you an indication of how they would do away from home. At the very least, dealing with twin toddler schedules would severely limit your own enjoyment of your surroundings, and I think it would be terrible to spend all that money and then end up sitting in an apartment (even in Paris) most of the time.

In 1992 my husband and I went to Ireland with an 8-yr-old, a 5-yr-old, a 2 1/2 yr-old, and a 4-month-old. We chartered a boat and rented some bikes and went up and down the Shannon River for two weeks. We had a great time. We have been traveling with the kids ever since, including South America, Africa and Asia.