Car rental, trains, or tour?

Edith, how old are your children? Would this be your first trip to Europe? What countries, besides Italy, are you wanting to travel to? What tour are you considering? This info will help us to help you.

Edith As this is right around the corner, less than 60 days away, you really need to get on the stick. Are you sure the tour you had in mind still has places? Have you got your airfare? Discount train tickets will be selling out.

edith, I most definitely agree with Nigel and Denise! Some additional information on your trip would really be helpful, especially your tentative Itinerary. Also, as your trip is only a few months away, you really need to get the details sorted VERY soon! If this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend reading the Guidebook Europe Through The Back Door prior to departure, especially the "Rail Skills" chapter. Which "12-14 day tour" are you considering? Is that $2100 USD p.p. for each of you? I would not suggest renting a car, especially as this is possibly your first trip and you'll be driving in Italy (which presents a number of "unique" issues). Travel by rail in Europe is the easiest and usually the quickest method for getting between cities in Europe. Good luck!

Hello friends, thank you for your advice. I already have the airplane tickets. I am actually going to Croatia for a wedding from June 19 through July 2nd. Plan on visiting Italy, France, and London (departing from London). Have 19 days for all this traveling. My kids: 7 and 9 years old. The tour prices are from AAA. Yes, price range from 1700 - 2500 USD per person. Same for kids (-5% discount). I have heard a lot about point to point train tickets. Is this something I should plan on as best option?

Train: Figure out what towns you want to visit, see hpw many of them you can get to by train and whether th sights you want to see are reachable by walking or public transport
Car: If you are comfortable driving in strange places and want to see smaller towns and villages Both above require you to be comfortable looking out for yourself and not wanting to be totally dependednt on the tour guide.: thousands have done this before organized tour; you leave yourself totally in their hands and go by their schedule. Not so much freedom. But really easy Figure out which you feel more comfortable with Cities like Munich, Paris, London (among others) are very easy on your own using local public transportation

It's a tad hard to champion a mode of transportation without knowing where you're going.

Edith: There's a video on You Tube on itinerary planning by Rick Steves. I can't seem to get it to embed here. Please try to search for it. It is very helpful. You'll need to set some specific priorities if you are going to self-guide. Also written info here http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/itin.htm. July is very busy. You will most likely need to make room reservations in advance which means knowing your itinerary. With children in tow, you don't want to be tromping around a hot city, with which you are not familiar, trying to find a room for 4. Have fun planning!

edith I have seen your response but it is still not clear to me if you mean a tour in the traditional sense of meeting a group of people at a place then travelling on a predetermined route with all hotels and sights and much food preplanned, usually on a big bus; or some other means of transport and hotel, perhaps by tour you mean the AAA guy/gal said it will cost you so much to do certain things if you do these things, then you are left to plan and execute by yourself. Once we have more info we can be more help...