First of all, understand that Europe is a wonderful destination with kids of all ages. It is an opportunity to expose infants to new language sounds, and it's a chance to expose teens to new cultures. It will encourage children to try new foods, and to accept people who are different. You will encounter wonderful art, food, shopping and history.
Affording Europe with Kids
One of the first obstacles for many families when it comes to visiting Europe is the price tag, especially with a large family. When you consider the rising cost of gasoline for longer road trips, the cost of airfare for a family starts looking better. And there is less difference when you compare domestic airfare for a family during peak season to off-season airfare over the Atlantic.
Some tips for making Europe with kids affordable include visiting during the shoulder or off seasons, staying in smaller cities or towns instead of popular cities, and camping instead of staying in a hotel (which is a family-friendly lodging option that can shave hundreds off the cost).
Making Europe with Kids Fun for Everyone
Another hang up many people have about Europe is they think it isn't kid-friendly. First of all, Europe is different from, say, the U.S. if that is your home. So you should be prepared. You won't necessarily find a ramp or elevator at every single train station for your stroller, so be prepared to carry it up and down steps, for example.
But there are loads of things for kids and parents to do. Europe is possibly even better for families, because there are so many things that appeal to both kids and adults, from zoos and art museums to sidewalk cafes and pedestrian-friendly/stroller-friendly cities and towns. And don't assume your kids can't handle a couple hours at the Louvre, because they can.
Finding Time to do Europe with Kids
Another big challenge is finding the time for a trip to Europe. It just isn't worth it to cross the pond for a long weekend by the time you wrestle baby gear or several suitcases for a family. It's probably best to allow for a good week of time in Europe with the kids. You also might keep the itinerary low-paced and casual instead of trying to hop several European cities in a short time frame.
Yes, it can be hard to set aside time for everyone in the family to break away, but make it a piority and it can happen. Conserve vacation days at work, and help kids stay ahead on classwork if they might need to miss some school (and yes, they will be learning). It is worth the trouble for the amazing experience for both parents and kids visiting Europe.
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