Family vacation to Europe

Easter week in Spain is a huge event. You would need to get all your hotels now. France can be cold in the north but warm in the south. Can't tell you about Italy.

In France mainly looking at Paris or at the most Versailles. Thanks for the reply

Umbo, It would help to have some idea on the types of things you and your family would be interested in seeing in each of the places you mentioned. For example: > How old are your children and what are their interests? > Are you interested mostly in Museums, Galleries, historic sites or ? > Have you checked flights to get some idea on the costs to each place? I rarely travel that early in the year, but suspect Easter week will be busy in all of those countries. I'd suggest booking accommodations early. Cheers!

Umbo, As the others have mentioned, it's VERY easy to get to Versailles via the RER train system. I wouldn't bother driving, as it's going to be more expensive and the car is going to be gathering dust while you're touring. I would highly recommend that you have a look at the France or Paris 2013 Guidebooks. There's a wealth of information there that will help your trip to go smoothly and the small investment in the book will likely save you some money. There are also good Hotels listed in the books, including several Hotels in or near Versailles. Cheers!

Easter 2013 or Easter sometime in the future? 2013 Easter is early (March). But I've been in Paris on Easter week in late April and it was quite warm.
In general the Mediterranean region has mild weather even in winter. Weather in the Med region is similar to California's. However climate varies depending on various factors: latitude, altitude, distance from the coast. South is warmer than north. Low altitude is warmer the high altitude. Areas in the interior have more extreme temperatures than coastal areas.

In Italy, Easter is generally a pleasant temperature, but there are considerable differences in climate among the north, center and south of Italy. At this time, in Milan there are 37°F and in Sicily there are 61°F, this says it all.

Thanks for all the responses. I have 3 kids 17, 14 and 7. They are all interested in Museums and Historical sites. Could one of you suggest what we can do Sunday and Monday (Easter)if we fly into Paris on either Friday or Saturday.I was thinking a drive out to Versailles and staying at some small Hotel nearby. Is that possible?
We would drive back on Monday.

If you are going to be in Paris, no need to get a car just to get to Versailles, just take train. It is very easy to do and doesn't take too long, can't remember but I seem to think less than an hour.

CAN ONE STAY THERE OR NEARBY.

As far as I know there is no public sleeping accommodation at the Palace of Versailles. There are plenty of hotels in the vicinity. After you have seen the traffic in Versailles you might decide that the previous advice of going there by train was good advice.

UMbo, no point at all in renting a car to visit Versailles, its about 45 minutes by local train, and cost for each person is 7 euros return ( 7 yr old may be cheaper).. Renting a car /gas and parking will make a car a foolish expense for what most everyone conisders a day trip( some even consider it a half day).

France is great any time, but in terms of your original question note that Easter is on the early side this year. It will be cold and probably a bit wet in Paris at the end of March, more pleasant in Spain, Catalonia, or Italy.

Yes, you can stay very close to the palace of Versailles. The Trianon Palace Hotel overlooks the gardens of the Chateau. It's expensive, but a beautiful hotel with a great indoor pool. If you had the budget for it, I would highly recommend staying in the main building there. You can sometimes get packages that include the very nice breakfast buffet. It feels like staying in the chateau.