Hello, me and my family are looking to travel to Europe this summer. We have two boys at the age 9 and 13. We were thinking of visiting Rome at first, but we had heard it’s going to be very hot since we’re going in early July. We are first time visitors and we want to stay there for 14-15 days. We would like visit France, but I am open to any suggestions.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvan, USA
78 posts
I'm not sure what the question is but you are right to think it will be very hot. The big, tourist destination cities in Italy in the summertime will be very crowded and very hot. Are you saying you want to visit Italy for 14-15 days or you want to visit Italy and France for that time or you aren't sure?
Posted by
North Carolina
2490 posts
Do the kids have opinions about what they would like to see?
Posted by
New York, NY
1586 posts
Xavier you ever considered doing a combo of Switzerland and Austria for the 14-15 days you will be in Europe? Rome and France will be very hot in July. Do the Swiss Alps and Austria like Vienna.
Posted by
Costa Mesa, CA, USA
503 posts
Take the family to the library and check out a bunch of travel guides! Have everyone grab one and start seeing what's popular among your crew! With that time frame, I would limit your trip to one or two countries - preferably ones that are relatively close together! Then start putting together a plan. Aim for no less than 2 nights per change of location and bear in mind that each change is going to eat up anywhere from 1/2 to 3/4 of a full day.
Most of Europe will be warm at that time of year. If heat is really an issue for you all, look to more northern climes - England, Scotland and Ireland, Amsterdam, Germany, etc.,, etc.
For a first trip - both London and Paris would be great introductions. Lots of day trips from both and minimal travel time/hassle between the two cities. However, it's only a good choice if the things those cities have to offer are of interest.
Once you have some choices narrowed down, let us all know and we can help with feasibility, etc.
Planning is half the fun!!!
Posted by
11551 posts
Scotland, Ireland, the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Austria,and parts of Germany would give you a better trip as far as summer temperatures. Save Rome for a spring break trip someday.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Will London and France be hot? The kids really want to see The Eiffel Tower and The Mona Lisa. If we go to London and France where else can we go that’s close?
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
I agree with the suggestion of London and Paris. We took our Tweens a few years ago and they loved the trip. We started in Paris and took Eurostar to London. They liked the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London but I think The Louvre was a bit overwhelming for them.
Posted by
Washington DC
27908 posts
These days a heat wave can hit you at least as far north as London, but those are uncommon. High heat in most of Italy is simply to be expected in the summer. That's the difference.
With about two weeks, London and part of France would more than keep you busy. You could even spend all your time in England and see only a small part of the country. Europe is different from the US in that you are likely to find multiple interesting places to visit within a 10-mile radius of wherever you are, and cities like London can keep an adult occupied for weeks. About children, I do not know.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3100 posts
Another approach is right here on the RS website - every RS travel program ever produced can be accessed here.
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show
These are fun programs, with the patented RS charm and nonchalance that has gotten many off their butts and into a trans-Atlantic plane ride. Pick a country, watch the videos, look at the "suggested tours", read for more details.
Get the kids involved. Tell them "You are in charge of planning 1/2 our trip".
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3100 posts
They want to see the Louvre? What about the Tomb of Napoleon, Les Invalides (French military museum), and models of French cities which were also examined by Peter the Great in 1604? Paris is a lot of fun, and has a lot for kids. But remember that the Louvre is huge and the attention span of a 9 YO is about 23 minutes (which you know better than me).
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
I was in Naples and Greece in August over a year ago, and really the heat wasn't too bad. People make a big deal of not traveling in the heat, but it's a personal tolerance thing. If you get hotels/apartments with A/C and take normal measures you can handle heat if you want to. In fact, I'd argue that going to a normally hot place like Rome is better than going to somewhere farther north and hitting a heat wave. Places that (pre-climate change) weren't normally hot are less likely to have air conditioning, architecture that manages heat well, and traditions for dealing with heat. So in Greece or Spain you have whitewashed villages with canopies over the streets to protect from the sun, houses with good airflow, and afternoon siestas.
If you do go to a hot place - sightsee early and late, spend afternoons in cafes, the hotel, the beach, or air conditioned/cool indoor sights
My point is to look into where you (the whole family) care to go and let that make your decision, with only a bit of decision making weight put on the weather. It's one factor, not every factor.
So - I'll suggest Rome and Greece. A bit in Athens, then on to an island or smaller town. My boys (similar ages) loved Greece - the myths, the ruins, the beaches. It has it all - kids will learn important history while feeling like Indiana Jones or Percy Jackson, then everyone can go to the beach. We went to Athens, Nafplio, and Hydra, and I'd recommend those places, but there are many options.
OR
Iceland and then...elsewhere. You mentioned France or London, either of which would work. Iceland is great for kids if they like hiking and outdoor activities, and July is perfect.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Ok. Thank you for all the advice. We are maybe thinking of flying into London spending 5 days there, Then going to France and spending 5 days there and then traveling to Rome/Italy and spend another 5 days there. Is that to much? Will the kids be bored?
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA
162 posts
For two weeks, London, Paris and possibly one other nearby destination, such as Normandy, the Loire or Alsace, would be plenty.
London and Paris both can easily take up five days.
If you want a taste of a third country, consider spending the remaining days in Alsace, which is like if France and Germany had a child. Colmar and Strasbourg are lovely towns. You could also add in Reims and Verdun, if time permits.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
My kids would also love to visit Pompeii. Where is that? Also what Is the best airline to fly to Europe?
Posted by
CT by way of FL
211 posts
Posted by
2737 posts
Pompeii is near near Naples and Sorrento Italy. If you really wanted to go there, you could fly from Paris to Naples. It will be hot. We went in July from Sorrento which we went to after a couple days in Naples. We got to Pompeii when it opened, took a tour, ate lunch there, and wandered around for another couple hours and then took train back. We then took a shower!!!
We also went to mt Vesuvius and climbed it (a different day).