Carolyn Schonafinger - Europe with Kids: How to travel Europe the easy way

Essential travel tips to help you and your family experience a European holidayno matter what your budget.

Carolyn Schonafinger

2016. Carolyn Schonafinger

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which is it published.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.

Europe graphic: Gstudio Group/Dollar Photo Club

First published in 2012
Second edition published in 2016

www.holidaystoeurope.com.au/europewithkids

ISBN: 978-0-9872795-0-7

ABOUT THIS BOOK

The information provided in this book is of a general nature, based on my experiences and those of other families who have travelled to Europe with their children, and is to be used as a guide only. All the families quoted in this book are Australian however the information applies to families from all nationalities travelling to Europe.

Obviously every family is different with children of different ages and different likes and dislikes, so what appeals to my family and the families mentioned in this book, wont necessarily appeal to every family.

Younger children might find one cathedral visit one too many, whilst older kids may not appreciate a tour around Europes playgrounds and theme parks. There is SO much to see and do in Europe and the UK that you should be able to plan a sightseeing itinerary that appeals to every member of the family.

The information contained in this book generally relates to children aged 5 years or older who can comfortably walk around for a reasonable amount of time whilst carrying a small backpack. Some activities mentioned herein may not be suitable for infants or babies requiring a pram.

All prices mentioned in the book are in Australian dollars unless otherwise noted.

** Whilst all care has been taken in the preparation of this book, no responsibility will be taken for errors or omissions. We strongly recommend you check all information with the appropriate airline, accommodation, car hire or tour provider, etc before leaving home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I first visited Europe in 1988 whilst working as a travel consultant and it was love at first sight!! After a 14 day Contiki tour, a Greek island cruise and visiting my boyfriends (now husbands) family, I vowed to return and see more of this amazing continent.

Twelve years later with my husband and two sons in tow, thats exactly what happened and it has led to an even stronger desire to keep on exploring more of Europe.

Our family have now enjoyed six fantastic family holidays in Europe (plus there have been a few trips without the kids!), adding up to many months of travel, each time sampling a variety of holiday styles from camping and self-catering to living it up in hotels and resorts. Our boys are now at University but still enjoy travelling (occasionally) to Europe with Mum and Dad. We have amassed so many wonderful memories from our European holidays and I have a real passion for helping others to enjoy the same amazing experiences.

In 2007 whilst I was starting to plan our familys third European family holiday, I became frustrated when trying to find non-hotel accommodation for the four of us. In most places we were going to visit we would be spending at least four nights, and I was looking for apartments where we could cook our own meals and have a bit of space.

Sure, there were thousands of apartments, cottages and villas on the internet but after surfing hundreds of different websites I really couldnt remember which properties were the most suitable!

Having previously stayed in pre-erected luxury tents throughout Europe, I also knew that very few non-Europeans were aware of this style of accommodation, which is particularly family friendly, so I decided to start my own website www.holidaystoeurope.com.au to allow travellers (both with and without children), to search the widest range of European travel options.

The website also includes a blog where I share my tips and experiences from travelling in Europe, as well as destination articles, interviews with European travel specialists and lots of downloadable travel planning resources.

I hope you and your family will be able to experience a wonderful European holiday together and create your own magical memories just like my family and I have done.

Carolyn Schonafinger

Acknowledgements

Id like to say a big thank you to Birgit Schonafinger, Tait Bonito, Peter Whitten, Michelle Butler, Cameron Butler, Michelle Armstrong, Sue Hooper, Rosemaree McCann, Melinda Hall and Jenny Peet for sharing their tips and highlights from their European family holidays.

Thanks also to Jeff Whitten and Peter Whitten for their proof-reading skills.

And special thanks go to my wonderful husband and sonsJurgen, Jacob and Joshfor being the best travel companions ever! Our shared holiday memories are ones I will treasure forever.

Introduction

This book combines our experiences from six family holidays to Europe, as well as detailing some of the other options available to families planning an overseas holiday.

Whilst the information in this book is based on our experiences and those of friends who have also holidayed in Europe with children, much of the pre-trip planning information also applies to holidays in other overseas countries. The information contained in this book is also, in most cases, relevant to travellers without children.

I hope that my familys holiday experiences help you and your family to enjoy your own overseas adventure. Happy travelling!!

WHY TAKE YOUR KIDS
TO EUROPE?

Why not? There are so many good reasons for taking your children to Europe that, budget aside, there is really no excuse!

Whilst a trip to the UK or Europe will generally be of at least three weeks in duration (for Australians and New Zealanders), meaning your kids may miss quite a bit of school, the educational benefits that they experience as a result are immeasurable.

With new cultures, new languages and new currencies to discover, your children will be learning without even realising it. Younger children will enjoy getting to know the flags of each country they visit and picking up a few words of the local language.

Older kids may appreciate visiting places theyve seen on TV or in movies, and to actually stand in front of priceless artworks like the Mona Lisa, will stay with them for a long time.

Apart from the educational advantages, the opportunity to share such a unique family experience is definitely high on my list of reasons for undertaking such a trip. Youll create memories that the whole family will cherish.

Our European family holiday gave us the opportunity of being together as a family and anticipating, enjoying and reflecting on activities undertaken.