We are thinking about taking our eight year old grandson with us on the Family Europe - 14 day Amsterdam to Rome. Are there any families out there (with children of a similar age) who have done this tour and could provide some feedback? Thanks.
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
Took our grandson and granddaughter (age 8&7) on Family Europe 2008. It was such a wonderful experience, we have all been on Rick Steves tours every two years since and have another coming up this summer. There were plenty of children of varying ages and the kids had a terrific time. I cannot express adequately what I feel is the value of experiencing different cultures, languages, foods and drinks at such an impressionable age. They are truly (at 15 & nearly 14) truly "citizens of the world". Or at least Europe!
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks Andi. I agree, the best global education youngsters can get is through experiences like these. Our own teens loved visiting distant lands with us. I was concerned about the strenuous walking for an 8 year old. Your grandchildren didn't find it to be too much?
Posted by
franktown, colorado
2252 posts
Not at all! That first tour is still their favorite (because it was their first trip out of Colorado??) and still talked about. Because it is a Family tour, kids' capabilities are taken into consideration. On our tour, we had a wonderful assistant guide and sometimes the activities were split into "adults" (the Uffizi in Florence) and "kids" (the wonderful, wonderful food market). My husband and I went with the guide and kids to the market as we had been to the Uffizi and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I think you will love the experience as much as your grandson.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Excellent, thanks for alleviating my concerns.....you covered them all.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Bell .. the strenuous walking will be harder on you then the child.. lol.. I took my 11 yr old on the 14 day Family Tour 5 years ago.. and there were younger children then her ,, one girl was only 7 ( I think the age limit is posted as 8, but they allowed her as parents assured them she would be fine. .plus they were a family of four.. ) anyways.. the little girl was fine.. practically skipping ahead of us..
I think the term "strenuous" is a bit of an exaggeration.. I think they use it in case people who are really out of shape, or have mobility issues don't take the tours.. but any normal healthy person of any age should be just fine.
The most "strenuous" walking we did was up the hill to see Neuschwanstein Castle ,, and if you wanted you could pay and take a trolley up..none of us bothered though... the walk was lovely.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks Pat, I appreciate your comments.