What to take my 12 year old DS away, please advise a clueless lady.

[Ifonlyicouldseethelight]

Hi all,

I was hoping for some advice/ideas. I have travelled but never alone and I'm not usually responsible for the booking!

It's my son's 13th birthday this year and I was thinking I'd like to take him away for 3 nights in Europe as a mum/son trip. He's an amazing boy and fab company, loves visiting places, very interested in geography and I'd happy going out for meals etc.

Firstly, of I do take him...am I a bad mum for leaving my 4 year old behind? It's only 4 nights and I was hoping his dad (not my eldest sons dad) would have him. A.lot of the focus is on the youngest, as he's more demanding and the trip would be a lot harder with him.

Also, I'd love some ideas on where may be suitable, as I'm a bit clueless. I was thinking Krakow but what sure what there is to visit apart from the obvious. I fancy I eland or Norway but it's more that I'd like to spend as both are expensive.

Here are the wants/don't wants of the trip...

• ideally no more than a 2/2.5 hr flight
• 3 days is probably the limit due to leaving the youngest
• weather doesn't matter
• don't want Spain/Italy as been here several times
• don't want a beach holiday
• would like some points of interest, things to see, also like natural beauty
• nightlife not an issue as we won't be out drinking!

Thank you so much for any help! Any ideas of countries and things worth visiting would be much appreciated.

Sorry, title meant to say where, not what!

What about Athens. Get him reading Percy Jackson before you go, and then go and see all the ancient sites.

Athens is great
Amsterdam is great
Berlin is really brilliant and would be my first choice
Reykjavik
Budapest
Copenhagen

would also add Vienna or Salzburg and Prague too

Paris?
Eiffel Tower, a river trip, visit Versailles, the lovely parks and gardens , galleries, fantastic food options (check Time Out Paris cheap eats for example)

https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/attractions/paris-sightseeing

Option for flight or Eurostar

Iceland is good. Although it's even better if you can spend a week and do it properly. You could still do a lot in a few days though.
Amsterdam or Paris if not.

I would second Budapest and Berlin, also consider some of the french big towns or cities, or Dutch cities - all of those you can have a day out in the country too. I think it's fine to leave four year old behind, but tell him you also have planned a just you and him thing e.g day out at Peppa pig world and when he is 13 you will do a special teenager holiday too.

It sounds like a great plan and I wouldn’t worry about leaving the 4 year old, the age gap is big so that means occasionally you need to do separate things.

Paris is an obvious one, small travel time means you get more time there. Could include Versailles or other day trip out of Paris.

Or agree with Athens, Copenhagen or Amsterdam.

What time of year?

It’s never been cheaper to visit Norway in recent memory as our currency is currently in the toilet.

I think Copenhagen might be more fun though if you fancy the nordics, Tivoli, lovely museums, big sandwiches, great shopping.

What about Porto? Lovely place for a short break on the river + has the Harry Potter Lello book shop place and some cool street art. Not a long flight and not too big and overwhelming like some of the big cities mentioned here can be.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/portugal/porto-travel-guide-restaurants-things-to-do-b2223275.html

I did Paris by Eurostar when ds was that age and had a lovely time - lots to see and do and no flying. I've also done Berlin, Lisbon and Barcelona with him and they're all great cities with lots of interest. He is older than yours now though (2nd year at uni) and has just been off interrailing, and loved Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest so those all have the thumbs up from a boy traveller.

Poland’s really wonderful. They have some great water parks too if he likes those, usually with great spa/ sauna areas as well as all the fun stuff (slides etc). Prices are reasonable, and there’s an nice culture of families dining out late , going for ice cream and so on , so the days feel long.

Munich. It has some great museums, the Deutches Museum in particular, BMW World, the Englische Garten and who doesn’t like giant pretzels?

Copenhagen is expensive. Tivoli is £20 just to get in, without doing any rides. A meal for 1 at Wagamama was £34!!!

Prague is lovely

I often take my dc away on their own (and leave the other at home). It's great to have one on one time. We've recently gone to Barcelona and to Venice. You said you don't want Spain or Italy, so what about Copenhagen? Various places in Germany, Munich or Berlin? Lots of history in both and good food/markets.

If close to Xmas, what about Germany for a Christmas market? Lots to do and see otherwise, fairly short flight, and the markets are magical, especially at night! I’ve skating rinks, hot chocolate and nightly shows!

Seconded, we had a brilliant time in Munich when DS was around this age.

Also they have playparks in the beer gardens, so ya know, everyone is happy. If he's doing WWII at school there's a lot of interesting stuff (though not particularly well translated, I will say) on the rise of the Nazi party in one of the museums. And it's car heaven.

Gdańsk! Awesome place to visit!