itinerary advice for before/after RS tour

It seems reasonable to me. The only change I would suggest is to stay in Brussels and take a daytrip to Ghent, if your return flight is in the morning (but that's my preference, to be in the departure city the night before). Ghent (and Brugge) are easy daytrips from Brussels.

travelmom (it would be nicer if we could address you by name),

This is one of the most well organized first draft Itineraries I've seen posted here. You've not only allowed enough time in each location to allow sightseeing, but have also allowed for travel days. It's also great that you've planned to arrive the day prior to the start of the tour, as that will give you some time to get oriented and see a few locations that won't be covered on the tour.

As this is your first trip to Europe and also as you'll be travelling on your own for part of the time, I'd suggest reading Europe Through The Back Door prior to your trip, as that includes a LOT of good information on "how" to travel well in Europe. You should be able to find a copy at your local Library. Which part of the U.S. are you travelling from (your location isn't shown in your profile)?

A few thoughts, comments and questions.....

• Barcelona - have you researched how you'll get from the airport into the city? Which part of Barcelona is your apartment located? Have you considered whether you'll wear MoneyBelts? You'll all need to be vigilant for pickpockets and scammers, as they WILL be operating.
• Barcelona to Rome - you'll also need to consider how to get from your apartment back to the airport.
• Rome - have you planned how to get from the airport into the city of Rome?
• RS Family tour - I'm SURE you're all going to have a fantastic time!
• Paris - which sights are you interested in seeing, other than those covered on the tour? You may find it helpful to use a Paris Museum Pass, as that will help to minimize queues. It will likely be BUSY in Paris at that time of year! You may find it helpful to buy a copy of the Pocket Paris Guidebook (or the larger Paris version), as that provides a lot of good information which will help to plan sightseeing.
• Paris to Ghent - are you clear on the trains you'll be using on that trip?
• Belgium - be vigilant for pickpockets there as well. The stations in Brussels are a favourite spot for scammers that use the fake pigeon crap or mustard routine (I've been approached at Brussels Central with that).
• Technology - are you planning to pack along any electrical or electronic items, including hair dryers, cellphones, tablets or whatever. There are a few important points you'll have to consider if that's the case.

Happy travels!

Travelmom..

You are going to LOVE the tour.. I took my 11 yr old on it almost 6 yrs ago ( can't believe how time flys) and we had a ball.. I think its especially ideal for first timers to Europe as you learn a lot of travel skills on it.. I had travelled independently a lot before, but I knew this tour would give me a chance to show my dd a lot of places in a relatively short amount of time and without too much stress on my part( no worries about getting to train stations , airports, and finding hotels for every 2 -3 days) We too extended out stay by 12 days. I think the idea of sticking with the family tour is a good one,, pretty well guarantee your kids will love it.. its like the funnest summer camp ever for grown ups and kids.. l wish they had a 21 day Family tour.. I would take it again myself .. but now of course my kids are too old.. lol

I think your schedule looks fine.. I am not big on the whole Belgium part but since it saves money ( flights for five are expensive!!) then why not enjoy yet another country!!

Thank you all for your replies and reassurances. I have been reading here at RS and also other forums to work this out. I will be ordering the book ETBD and we will be picking up guide books to take along.

Ken, thank you specifically for your time and thorough list of things to think about. Many we have started addressing, others were not on my radar, so I really appreciate. I originally signed in under my name and location, however my husband asked me to edit it since we have included specific dates that we will be traveling ... a little paranoid perhaps but if it will keep him happy... We are leaving from PHL in PA.

In Barcelona we believe that we will be taking the Aerobus from the airport to the center (Placa Cantalanya ?) from there our apartment is just under .5 of a mile walk. My husband, oldest, and I will have backpack/suitcases and our younger 2 will have pull behinds so walking should be manageable. We are following the RS luggage guidelines. It appears that these buses/shuttles run every 10-15 minutes from the airport and are inexpensive, fast, safe, and efficient (?) We know that it is the morning after quite a large party eve so we are hoping that most of the pickpockets will be sleeping it off as we hear that the tourist areas will be quite "dead" this morning. For the return to the airport, we may be doing the same shuttle. We have created a "short list" of sights to see in Barcelona and will pre-purchase tickets to the Sagrada Familia Church and Park Guell. We will also book a Family walking tour in Barcelona. Otherwise, we are happy to wander and explore.

Security -- we believe that RS will be sending us moneybelts that we will be using. Our biggest concern is our suburban children. We have been trying to talk to them about the scams and the need to pay attention -- we will do our best to be prepared but not scared. The squirting "crud" on us is the one scam we are most worried about since we will have very limited luggage and will be washing on the go - not exactly the best situation for removing stains! (mixed with girls who will not like wearing stained clothes for weeks). We will hope for the best.

Once in Paris after the tour we will be staying in the Latin Quarter. We have tentatively have planned to return to the Louvre on Bastille day. My children would like to walk to the Pantheon, the museum with the Roman baths and tapestries (can't remember right now), and a return to Notre Dame. We will be purchasing tickets to go up the ET OR the Arc de triomphe depending on ticket availability. The rest of the time we are leaving open dependent on weather and interests -- we are with kids so we do not want to "over museum" them and when traveling we are usually happy to wander and explore. We have toyed with the idea of going to Versailles on the Friday after the tour departs but will wait to see the weather and the stamina - currently leaning towards a visit. We really want to avoid the Saturday and Sunday (7/13) there so Friday would be the day.

Trains from Paris to Ghent are TBD -- we have been on the Belgium train website and it "seems" easy to navigate if our credit cards are accepted. My children are excited to visit the castle in Ghent and chose Ghent over Brugges when researching. If we feel that one and half days in Ghent is plenty, on 7/17 (our last full day) we may decide to take the train to Brussels or Brugges for a day trip. We may just want to stroll and relax in Ghent. Again, a lot depends on the weather and the general stamina of the group. Apparently there are direct trains from Ghent to the airport in the mornings - a reason we first started looking at Ghent.

Technology is the "big question" we haven't thought of much yet. We will have many electronic questions to research in the next few months.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the help.

It is a dilemma-how to prepare your kids for dangers without freaking them out. Especially difficult when the pickpockets may be the same age as your own. When my girls were 12 & 15, we talked about the petition girls, etc. We also arranged a code phrase that any of us could use if we felt danger. I think it was, "OK, let's walk!" Different than the usual, "So, you wanna go now?" discussion. I think we used it once but it helps to have a plan.

You're not just showing them the sights. You are teaching them how to travel and be confident in the world. Greater gifts than airfare and hotel rooms.

travelmom,

Thanks for the detailed information. A few more thoughts (I'll put in point form so that the formatting is easier to read).....

• The AeroBus is absolutely the easiest and least expensive method to get from the Barcelona airport to Plaça Catalunya. The trip will be about 45 minutes, depending on traffic. You might consider packing along perhaps €100 in small bills in order to pay your fares. As I recall, there was a luggage rack in about the centre of the Bus for larger items (keep carry-on items with you). Have a look at THEIR WEBSITE for all the details.
• The RS luggage guidelines are a bit "relaxed". The basic criteria is that if you bring it, you're responsible for hauling it around on the tour as there won't be any Porters.
• You may find it helpful to pack along a copy of the Pocket Barcelona Guidebook to help figure out sightseeing, transportation, etc.
• Be sure to buy your tickets for La Sagrada Familia EARLY, as they do sell out quite quickly. You can buy them online and pick up the actual tickets from a La Caixa super-ATM, but with a group of five I'd suggest pre-purchase. Note that they're quite punctual so you can't arrive too early for your appointed time. I was there in June and arrived about 15 minutes early. They wouldn't let me enter until about five minutes before time. The same seems to apply if you make an appointment to go up either the Passion or Nativity towers.
• Yes, each of you will be receiving a Money Belt with the tour. AFAIK those will all be the waist-style. There are other models available in the travel store such as a neck or belt model. As you're probably aware, these should NOT be accessed where others can see. Keep some daily operating cash in another, more accessible location.
• Doing your best to be "prepared but not scared" is a good policy. The scammers are there, but if you take reasonable precautions you shouldn't have any problems. Regarding the "squirting crud" problem, that's not a huge problem. You'll probably be sink washing some items during the tour, but keep in mind that you'll also have a couple of free days on that tour, as well as free afternoons or evenings. Therefore you'll be able to do a proper laundry if needed. Your Guide will have information on available laundry facilities.
• When visiting the Louvre and especially in front of the Mona Lisa, be vigilant as that's a "prime" spot for pickpockets. You'll find that there's quite a "scrum" in front of the ML, and everyone is packed like Sardines. I was there in July and decided to get in the thick of it to see if I'd be victimized. I noticed a couple of "probes" but my iPhone and other valuables were safely tucked away, so no problems.
• Visiting Versailles is certainly something to consider. The trip via RER is easy and the walk from the station to the Chateau is not long. I'm not sure if the children will have the stamina for the gardens as they're HUGE! However the Chateau is magnificent (entry to the Chateau is covered by the Paris Museum Pass). However at that time of year, there will probably be a queue for entry, even with a Pass. Be sure to take water, sunblock, hats, etc. in case you have to wait. If you have an iPod or similar device, you might consider downloading Rick's Audio App and you can download the specific tours you want. The Versailles audio tour works really well!

Continued.....

travelmom - Part 2....

• The first leg of your trip from Paris to Ghent likely be via TGV or Thalys high speed, which travel at up to 300 kmH when they get going. The second leg will be via slower InterCity. Note that your departure station will likely be Gare du Nord, so be sure to allow time to get there from your apartment. If you're going to buy tickets locally, you could use one of the SNCF Boutiques, which have offices in several areas of Paris.
• Regarding credit cards, that part of Europe seems to be further ahead with the inexorable switch to "Chip & PIN" cards than some other areas. For example, Amsterdam Central station ONLY accepts C&P cards. In France you should be able to use your magnetic strip cards at staffed ticket offices, but they probably won't work with automated ticket Kiosks. That's certainly the case with the Kiosks at CDG. Therefore you may want to keep some cash at hand (just in case).
• One other point to mention regarding financial products. It's a really good idea to have a "backup" ATM card in case of problems with your primary card (I've had that happen!). At least one credit card is also prudent. Be sure to notify all of your financial institutions that you'll be travelling so they don't "freeze" your cards when they detect transactions in Europe!
• Either Brussels or Bruges would be good for a day trip. You'll have to decide which city is of more interest to your group. Bruges is beautiful, especially with all the canals, but of course Brussels has Mannequin Pis and other "interesting" sights. There's also a really interesting military museum in Brussels so if your children are interested in that sort of thing, it's well worth a stop.
• If you need further information on "technology" questions, the group here will be able to provide lots of information.

Cheers!

I went on the best of Europe 14 day tour last year and I would say that after the tour, plan on a relaxing day! You will need a day to recoup, before you press on the rest of your journey! Paris is a great place to do that! That would be my only advise! Sounds like an amazing trip, just wish I were going with you!

Wait before you buy any guidebook.. We were sent guidebooks included with the tour.. confirm which ones they send( I can't remember now which ones we got)

I took my 11 yr old to Paris first . 7 days before the tour.. and two years before I took my 13 yr old to PAris and London and we were not on a tour at all. I was alone with my child each time so of course needed to prepare them.

My children were not in the least "freaked out".. and we live in a very small city on an island off the west coast of Canada.. so very "suburban kids " too.

I just spelled it out .. there are pickpockets, they will try and get near you or trick you to get your money. I told them the usual ploys ( be sure YOU learn what they are) .
Pickpockets are not rapists or muggers.. 99% of their method is stealth.. they are not going to attack you . .BUT they have been known to use the swarm and distract method. I think little children are especially used for this method.. so tell hubby especially if swarmed by a group of little children to become a bit heartless and hold onto his stuff and scream to get away.. they count on tourists being too surprised and kind hearted to yell at children. I personally have never seen this happen so don't freak out about it,, its just good to know.
While there my 13 yr old son didn't experience anything other then us ignoring the "petition girls" but when I was with my 11 yr old dd we did have a lady pull the "Ring Scam" on us. My daughter laughed and said "oh look mom she is doing the ring scam" and we simply continued walking.. we didn't even slow down.. She was excited to see it tried.

I can suggest a way to do Versailles that will likely make it a highlight for the kids.. a Bike Tour.. I have done a Fat Tire Bike tour there and had a blast.. it was like my 7th or 8th visit there, but my friends first.. she talked me into trying it and I thought why not.. since I had been there so many times anyways. I am likely older then you ( my kids are now almost 18, 21 and 23 and I was not a child when I had them,lol) and the bike tour was easy and fun .. so its not about being a fitness person at all.

The museum with the tapestry (The Unicorn and the Lady ) is the Cluny..

The tour does the Louvre and includes a nice tour with a guide.. you are toured about for a few hours then set free.. a great time to grab some lunch in the food court and then re enter and do some more visit in the afternoon( you can revisit on same ticket ) .

If you wish to do the ET you really should pre purchase a timed slot visit.. in the summer the wait can be hours. The other option is to elect to do the stairs.. they are doable. and line is never as long or them .. Tickets for ET must be purchased three months to the day in advance of your desired visit, they sell out that fast!

Thank you David for the advice to stay close to the airport. We have not yet made reservations in Belgium and will look into staying in Brussels in place of Ghent. My children have fallen in love "virtually" with Ghent and have spent quite a bit of time planning their days there. We gave them each an area to research but for some reason Belgium really appealed to them and they are looking forward to those last days of the trip. We are also happy with the prices we are seeing after planning for a week in Paris. The Brussels Airport is not actually in Brussels and we were under the impression that it was about equal distance from the city as well as from Ghent - with daily direct trains running from each. If that is not the case, we may move to an airport hotel the evening of the 17th. We have a late morning flight, but we need to catch the train early to make it to the airport with a 3 hour cushion recommended for overseas travel. After spending much time in larger cities we thought we might enjoy the pace of a smaller city for the last few days. We have a bit more planning to do on those last few days and appreciate the insights.

Everyone has given us much to think about and much more research to do (thank you again, Ken - your responses have been very helpful). I am overwhelmed by the time and helpful advice that everyone has shared here with us "first timers". It is putting my mind at ease. Hopefully, when we return and after more trips I can pay it forward to another newbie.

I spent a few days in Belgium between London and Holland. I chose to stay in Ghent because:
1. It is conveniently located between Bruges and Brussels
2. Lodgings are cheaper than in those cities
3. I love the Gothic feel, especially after dark when the ancient buildings are floodlit.

I considered a day trip to Brussels, but there was not enough there to entice me (though that is a personal preference). I loved spending a day trip to Bruges, but I was happy to return to quieter, less touristy Ghent. There are direct trains from Ghent to the Brussels airport at least once an hour, from as early as 5 a.m. that take just under an hour. It does seem reasonable to stay in Ghent rather than have to pack and change hotels again.

You can buy Thalys tickets online, about 120 days in advance, and get huge discounts on non-refundable tickets. Book through the official website, thalys.com These discounted tickets go quickly, so if you want them, be prepared to purchase when they first go on sale.

Keep in mind one of the best safeguards against being pick pocketed are your own family members. Ask everyone to keep an eye on each other's pockets, backpacks etc and you will be sending a warning to the thieves (they watch to see who is paying attention and who is not; they want to pick on the easiest potential victims). No need to be paranoid about PP's, just be aware.

BTW: pack less, way less, then you think you will need. Our daughters had to learn the lesson that Mom and Dad are not pack mules (Cuz we took no mercy on them when they begged for help) and after the first trip of lugging too much around; substantially packed less on future trips. Strongly recommend you pack one week prior and take a walk through the neighborhood with your luggage. May sound/look strange, but really helps fine tune what you really need in comparison to what you are able to carry. Also, keep in mind the wariness factor of lugging stuff at the end of the day. There is an inverse proportion to ability to carry, weariness and need to relax and drink.

TIP: ditch the thought of buying t-shirts as souvenirs and keep an eye out for value priced fashionable blouses, etc. It provides a better memory to wear something you bought when you get back home and the opportunity to say "This old thing? Oh, it is just something I picked up in Barcelona." High on the green envy meter plus longer lasting memory than a tee shirt.

You will have a wonderful time and kudos for being parents investing in your family with international travel!