My family heritage is Polish & my parents would like to visit for their 50th wedding anniversary. It would be their first overseas trip. My husband & I are seasoned travelers, but we now have 2 children ages 2 & 4 who would also be travelling abroad for the first time. Is a trip to Poland able to accommodate the needs & interests of toddlers, a teenager, and senior citizens? Advice & suggestions greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
545 posts
Kristin, with careful planning I think Poland could work for you and your family. For your parents' first overseas trip, Poland will certainly feel foreign, but not frightening. People are friendly and helpful, and young people learn English in school so language barriers are minimal. You don't mention your parents' health and general endurance, so I don't know if that will be a factor. Just a few suggestions: it might be a good idea to find hotels and b&b's with elevators or minimal stairs. In Warsaw, you might consider staying at Saint Andrews Palace (www.residencestandrews.pl) because it has small apartments (our kitchen even included a washing machine) and is equipped with elevators. It's close to the train station. Another suggestion is that for some of your sight-seeing, it might be helpful to split up for different kinds of activities. The little ones won't have much patience for museums, but they'll probably enjoy chasing the pigeons in town squares, inspecting all the statues, and riding on trams and trains. What aprts of Poland were you considering? I'd limit the number of cities you visit. Write if you have any specific questions.