Anyone done train holiday?

[Rainingdogsandcats]

Myself, DH and kids aged 17,15, 13, and 9. DH has a fear of flying so the past couple of years we've travelled separately to holiday destination, Myself with DC and him on train meeting us there later the same day. He has to leave a day or so earlier to make this work.

For next year I've suggested a rail holiday so visit 3 or 4 countries along the way to a destination, Italy, spending a couple of days in each place then 7 or 8 days in Italy, then straight back. Whole holiday will be 2 weeks or just over.

Am I being unrealistic that this will be fun? Plan is to stay cheaply on the way then 5* in Italy.

Will be fun! So long as you are fairly chilled travellers, and take HALF of what you think you need to take (excess luggage makes rail travel, and stops, miserable). You can get stuff shipped to the end place really cheaply if needed.

(I've done London to Sicily w 9 and 6 yr old, and grandparents - we loved it)

Oh wow-sounds fab!

man In seat 61 website is very helpful.

We did London - Paris for lunch - two nights each in Zurich - Lugano - Milan - Naples then 5 nights on the Cilento coast. Home in one long journey using the Milan - Paris sleeper. It was a lot of fun!

Thank you. DH was involved in a situation where one of the engines caught fire a few years ago whilst flying and so perfectly understandable. I think it would be nice for us to do a trip like this. I expect it'll be the last holiday with all 4 younger DC for a while.

I'll take a look at man in seat 61 thank you annebronte

I love train travel, have done a decent amount in Europe. Can't wait until my kids are a bit older because family holidays like this are my dream, bugger sitting on a beach all day

Thanks. I home school youngest DC, she's 8, so it'll be fun incorporating our cities, and route etc into our learning.

I'm pretty good at packing light.

* DH was involved in a situation where one of the engines caught fire a few years ago whilst flying and so perfectly understandable*

Can’t believe he’s been ok with you and his children all going on one when he travels by train given his terrifying experience

lovemenorca to be fair he has mentioned it but I've over ridden him if I'm honest.

DH was involved in a situation where one of the engines caught fire a few years ago whilst flying and so perfectly understandable.

Well, yes and no.
It may have been scary at the time, but to be so scared of all future air travel based on one massively rare incident, that doesn't sound like it came to much, is rather excessive (unless there is a massive drip about to drop). Planes fly with stuff gone wrong on them all the time. They don't even need all their engines to stay airborne. His issue is now affecting all of you as well. That isn't healthy.

I'd be more worried about my commute to work than an airline crash.

buzzshitbagbobbly of course, I understand that but I'm not the one with the phobia. I suffer from PTSD from a car accident that I was involved in a few years ago do I try to be understanding for him. He knows it's not healthy and we have talked about him getting some help but I think he has to be able to seek that himself.

The incident didn't come to anything beyond a short sudden drop and passengers screaming and obviously statistically air travel is safe. No drip.

I did this as a student through Italy and loved it! Trains were always very reliable and modern, so were comfortable for a long journey. We got interrail tickets which I think cost 180£, though this was 5 years ago, and covered us for all our longer journeys. Never had to reserve seats but I think the cost was 10€ to reserve

we have done organised rain holidays (one of which was to Italy - look up their routes!) - it was a great way to see Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) via Strasbourg there/Turin on way home. I would suggest smaller suitcase (25 t0 27 inch & rucksack) because you can easily put it in rack above you or the gap behind seats rather than the luggage rack near door - security.