Hello! I am planning a vacation for my family. We are spending about two weeks in England not too far from London end of may into June. We are a group of 12, with six children ranging in age from 2-11.
Because of the kids we think our best option is to rent a place that is walkable to food, public transportation and gives us the option to break apart and sightsee some, but we also know our limits with the toddlers. The adults have been to Italy Germany a couple times, same with Switzerland, France, and iceland.
In England we are staying in a farm stay type place where the kids can play and it’s a train ride into London for those that are up to it.
We just can’t decide where to go for another week. We have considered Austria, Switzerland, and Amsterdam. One child wants to see Eiffel Tower. Would love to see some nice scenery like mountains to contrast our time in London. There is just too much to choose from. Would prefer to stay somewhere where the kids can run around outside if possible. We are willing to fly if we have to but would prefer to keep getting there simple as we are going to do direct flights to and from London. Thank you for any advice!
Posted by
TX, USA
4909 posts
When you are consider flights, your list of potential places could get long. For outside possibilities, I would add in Ireland and Scotland to Switzerland and Austria.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1114 posts
Please note that the Olympics will be held in Paris in 2024. This may impact your cost and availability of accommodations. Plus crowds.
Posted by
City of Seattle
1959 posts
If you are up for a big city with a big group, then Paris by train is an obvious choice. Accommodation might be tough though.
The Alps in general are very family friendly. I'm not quite sure why, but travelling Europe with our daughter every year from 4 to 14, the Alps were always the easiest place to make her blissfully happy. There's just so much infrastructure for kids.
As an example, or favorite Tirolean nook, Tannheimtal. There is a huge imaginative playground that is easy to walk to. In the same complex an indoor climbing gym that is seldom used, cheap, and staffed by nice, safety minded Austrians climber. There is a huge heated community pool with fountains and a slide. At the pool there is also a pretty lake for swimming or renting boats. There are separate bike trails all across the valley floor and dirt roads up into the mountains for bikes and ebikes (plenty of rental places). There is an extensive lift and hut network, with all sorts of hiking opportunities. A huge pretty mountain lake called Vilalpsee you can take a flatter walk around. Working agriculture, so farm animals in and around town and all over the mountains. Stunning baroque church with charming graveyard and some relics. Little onion dome chapels peppered about. Via Ferrata (climbing routes where you clip in to steel cables the way) course of all levels, including easy for kids. Busy community festival area with lots of live traditional music. Many family friendly restaurants, nice supermarkets, good bakery. Many large rentals. Mountain coaster nearby. Ropes course nearby.
This is just an example - there are dozens of places all over the Alps - France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy - that are similarly kid/family friendly.
The other place that stood out as easy with kids was the Netherlands. Many places in the Netherlands that also cater strongly to family vacations. I would probably pass on Amsterdam and do it as a couple of day trips (small country, fast trains). I'd look at staying in pr near Den Bosch or Leiden area, both good family cities (Den Bosch is my favorite), both close to natural areas and super-fun Dutch amusement parks.
Many other choices of course! Easy enough to find a good one :) Have fun
Posted by
Hickory, NC USA
498 posts
I haven't tried to rent a house for twelve, but I can imagine it might be possible in either of these places.
My kids loved the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland, but you are looking at a flight plus a train. Mountain views for days, train rides and lifts up to beautiful hikes, a waterfall inside a mountain and the list goes on. If adults buy a train pass they can get a family pass that lets the kids mostly take the trains for free. We used those to take a boat ride on lake Brienz and go to the Ballenberg open air museum which is very kid friendly - that make a long day for the toddlers.
You can fly direct London to Salzburg. The kids would likely all enjoy a salt mine tour, a sommer rodelbahn - used to be one near Bertchesgaden, Schloss Hellbrun with its trick water fountains, and maybe even the puppet theater if it's still going (been a long time since I took a child to that.) Longer day trips could be Munich, Vienna etc...
Of course, Paris is a train ride away from London if you decide to take the one child to see the Eiffel tower. A subset of you who are up to it could even make a long day trip during your two week farm stay to accomplish that.