European Family Trip

With that many people and unless you have a big bankroll, my first thought is all about the costs ... need more info in order to provide any kind of assistance ... what countries? ages of travelers? any limitations? preferred transportation? etc...

Where ???? do you want to go and for how long. And the time frame?

need some itinerary help with 5 kids ranging between 11-3.

From another of OP's posts

Do you want to start the trip with the Greek Island beach stop or finish there?

WOW!!! 4 adults and 5 children. Bless you all and have an enjoyable trip.

I believe both of your threads on Greece and Croatia that have already posted provided a lot of information. It would be best if you posted an itinerary including your thoughts on flights. Try using Google Flights to see what is available.

Thank you for your replies. Yes I've posted in different threads as they are directed to those specific countries. I thought I would post here as it was just specific to a question about flights.

To answer the question, we are blessed to be able to do these trips and not worry about it. We are staying a total of 18 days. My dilemma in planning the itinerary is to where we should start to make the flight path make sense. As a family we've decided on going to greece and croatia which I've been tasked to plan every scenario and backups. Which includes flight delays and alternate travel plans to get to our destination. I enjoy these things and love reading everyone's experiences in these travel forums.

I know it might not make sense to some but we are really excited and the kids are very well traveled and have been in many travel situations that they will be able to handle anything that comes with traveling outside of the US. The only one that may be if a concern is my 3 year old but with a baby carrier we will be okay. He adapts well as we have traveled with him on numerous flights as early as 9 months old to Mexico and Hawaii and other countries.

We don't have a budget. I just want to make sure the flight path make sense. Thank you.

We have been to both Croatia and Greece.

You might look for a cruise that visits both countries. If you plan to visit any Greek Islands, then a cruise is great for that. Also, many cruises visit Split and Dubrovnik.
If you want to visit other places in Croatia than Split and Dubrovnik, you could do that after the cruise.

If you don't want to take a cruise, visiting Greek Islands will require taking ferries, which can take up time. Flying in to these islands is more expensive.

I recommend at least three days in Athens. The Parthenon is amazing. Also, see the New Acropolis Museum and the Archaeological Museum. Consider a trip to Sounion to see the Temple of Poseidon as well as Delphi and Corinth and the Corinth Canal.
For the islands, you can do the three island cruise from Athens that visits three islands close by. Also, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu and Crete are great.

You could do an open jaw ticket, flying into Athens and out of Split or a nearby airport, then find a one-way flight from Athens to Split.

I've been tasked to plan every scenario and backups. Which includes flight delays and alternate travel plans to get to our destination

Wow, good luck with this! ... don't think you can plan for every scenario without driving yourself crazy with lots of second-guessing, but always good to have contingencies ... don't forget to look into insurance in case of (God forbid) a medical emergency.

As far as the trip itself, I have never been to that part of Europe (hopefully within the next 5 or so years) so will leave these recommendations up to the others more experience ... sounds like a fun time with the family!

I would also recommend a flight JFK to Athens and a flight from Croatia to JFK with a separately purchased flight in between Athens and Split or Dubrovnik. The idea of a Greece/Corfu/Croatia cruise to get around seamlessly for your large group also sounds tempting…

I know it might not make sense to some but we are really excited and the kids are very well traveled and have been in many travel situations that they will be able to handle anything that comes with traveling outside of the US.

I am sure your kids will adapt. The biggest concern I would have is moving everyone on the ground. Ground transportation with luggage, strollers, etc. and 9 people, you will find to be your most difficult effort. Flights to and from will take care of themselves as you make reservations. Consider to and from airports, ferries, hotels, one town to the next, etc. Of all the countries in Europe, Greece and Croatia have the least amount of train transportation. While you can always take 3-4 taxis or opt for busses, planning on the ground is by far the most difficult when moving a large group from place to place. Once you establish lodging, ask your hotels about local ground transportation.

To address the flights question.

There are non-stops from NYC-ATH.

NYC-Croatia has a stop somewhere, where depends on the airline chosen.

Dubrovnik is the only non-stop choice to ATH; from Split there is a stop somewhere, en-route to ATH.

I suppose the question is, do you want to start the trip with a non-stop to ATH, or finish it with the non-stop homeward. That is a personal choice; there is no right/wrong answer. The other factor is whether you have a preference of which order you want to do your trip. Start on a Greek island beach, or finish there. Again, personal choices.
Happy travels

@ Mona

Thank you so much for the suggestion. I

@ Joe32f

Thank you so much for your reply. A very great point. I'll present the plan both ways to my family and see which one they want. They are open to what I plan.

I must agree with the cruise idea which sounds way more relaxing then the hustle of 9 people every which way.

When I first read this I thought why not cruise? Adriatic itinerary we did this past May is wonderful. It’s why we are doing a 3 generation Mediterranean family cruise next summer. It is the easiest and least stressful way to travel…esp. with larger group!

Oh meant to add…we also have 5 grandkids going with us…and their parents. The food and many childrens activies on a cruise make it a win win!

All great ideas and would love to cruise again but my husband and brother in law wants to stay on the island for 2-3 days before moving on to another island. I was thinking santorini for 3 days and then day hopping to another island and then go another island.

My brother in law wants to go to mykonos but was not sure. He told me that he's open to check out another island instead and island hop before going home to Los Angeles.

I cannot imagine traveling with so many people to Europe as you've got too many people (and luggage) for a regular van, but not enough people for a charter bus. Have you considered getting a real travel agent to ask their opinions on how to execute such a trip?

Croatia to Greece is also not the easiest place to travel to/from. (We just returned from Athens/Croatia/Montenegro.) You would do better to travel where the trains are the dominant source of transportation--like Italy.

I would find somewhere there are villas andl/or farm stays where you can stay in one place and do day trips out of there. Stay there and then move on to another region where you can rent a house to stay in. You could split up and with a couple of rental cars each could see what they're interested in.

There's a certain amount of pressure when planning a trip. But when you hit the ground and have to look out for so many people, that's where pressure turns into anxiety. There's just easier ways to do it than going thru Athens and having to hire 2 cabs/vans to get you around. A cruise, for example, takes the pressure off you.

Misskatr5: you are getting a lot of good information on this thread. One thing to think about since the ages of the children on this trip are 11 to 3, are car seats for the ones that will require them. Especially, if you are going to use taxis or rent cars. Each country will have their own requirements. Three years ago we accompanied our daughter, son-in-law and then 1 1/2 year old grandson to London and Wales. Specifically, we traveled only by plane, train and subway. The only time he was in a car seat was to and from the airport here in the USA. Also, expect the younger children to need fall asleep during the day while traveling. Our grandson sleep in a sling on his mother when we toured Westminster Abbey.