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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take a 3 yo backpacking/inter railing?

89 replies

FragrantBumFluff · 17/06/2023 20:27

Is this a total crazy idea?

We have been invited to a wedding in Europe next summer. All of us including DD who will be just 3.

The obvious thing to do is fly there and fly back but it’s a nice destination so we were thinking making a short holiday out of it, then had the idea of going to another destination nearby and suddenly we are considering taking a month off work to travel around Europe a bit. I travelled a bit in my student days but it was a lot of drinking and partying so there are so many landmarks I’d love to visit again or for the first time as a family.

Is this a totally mental thing to do with a preschooler?

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 17/06/2023 21:10

As long as you plan it with him in mind then I think it could be fun. Don't move around too much, pick places with stuff for him to do etc.

The people saying 'my child would be bored' are being silly. There's nothing in Europe to interest your children?! Not a park, a pool, a beach, a forest, a park, a zoo, a farm etc. Europe is just one big, boring museum, not suitable for children...?

VivaVivaa · 17/06/2023 21:12

VivaVivaa · 17/06/2023 20:40

Sounds great! 3 yo DS would love seeing new cities and if all else fails he loves a train ride Smile When I interrailed in my early 20s we moved on every 48-72h - I definitely wouldn’t do this with a toddler and I would instead do fewer places and stay for longer in each one so she doesn’t become too bamboozled (3 yos are very good at making their emotions known 😂) I also wouldn’t plan too much in the way of sightseeing…but i’d personally be more than chuffed just to see different play areas, cafes and parks in Berlin and Vienna and Prague etc! Happy planning!

To add to this, DS is not at all chilled 😂he needs a routine, lots of exercise and can be very emotional if he’s too tired or too hungry and certainly won’t sleep in a pushchair. So I do agree with a PP - highly depends what you are planning and expecting. If you are viewing it as parenting but with the benefit of being in different countries then I still think it could be great. I’d be looking at 3 or 4 locations with short train journeys in between, staying in air bnbs, cooking lots at home, respecting sleep and giving plenty of time over to toddler activities eg parks, play areas, zoos, cafes etc. If you are planning changing location lots, lots of walking and sightseeing, long leisurely brunches and late nights relying on sleep in the pushchair my answer would be very different!

Goldbar · 17/06/2023 21:20

I think your enjoyment would depend on whether you have a potato child or an intrepid explorer. Ironically, I might take the potato child but would walk on hot coals before going with the explorer.

Croissantsandpistachio · 17/06/2023 21:26

Sounds great! Our kids have travelled everywhere by train and trains are so so much better than driving. Lots of European trains have kids carriages with play areas.

I'd break it up into shorter hops and stay longer, research playgrounds and pools en route and enjoy. Do it now- so much more difficult once they start school. You and your DH can always split up a bit e.g. one of you take DC to a playground while the other sees a museum they've been desperate to do, then swap

CurlewKate · 17/06/2023 21:28

It's also important to remember that if it all goes horribly wrong, it's only for a very short time in the scheme of things. My mother used to quote
Winnie the Pooh-"It's only a small piece of weather." You won't know until you try. So TRY!!!

Madwomanuptheroad29 · 17/06/2023 21:37

As others said, depends on the child. I went interrail ING with a six year old and a none year old and they loved it.
With a three year old definitely take a buggy even if normally they do not use one anymore.

BlameItOnTheGoose · 17/06/2023 21:38

Young children really cannot appreciate travel and culture in the same way as adults, and they tend to want consistency and familiarity. I'm not saying it can't work, but it would probably be hard on everyone and certainly not like the party tour you enjoyed in your 20s

J0S · 17/06/2023 21:39

Why not do a trial run over a long weekend here in the UK? Take the train to Aberdeen or Inverness and do some sightseeing.

Ilovelurchers · 17/06/2023 21:45

I have travelled in similar ways with my daughter quite happily from the age of about 6 upwards, but it might have been hard work when she was three I think.....

Easier with two of you tho. Agree with the earlier suggestion - go travelling in the UK for a long weekend first. See how it goes.

That will tell you if it's feasible, and if it is, probably give you some good ideas about what you need to take with you.

SweetSakura · 17/06/2023 21:51

I travelled a lot, on my own mainly, with DS when he was a preschooler and it was amazing. But I think you have to plan for it to have a very different rhythm. They will need toys and stories and lots of time pootling in play parks/sandpits etc . So I did some sightseeing with him but mainly enjoyed just doing toddler/preschooler activities somewhere different.

He has severe allergies so I always self catered and I think that helped keep things calmish too.

And I was lucky as he was an incredibly early talker so didn't really tantrum as he could always say what he wanted, so was pretty easy to travel with (dd had a rather different temperament Grin)

SweetSakura · 17/06/2023 21:53

I'm glad I did it because even though he can't really remember, I can, and the adventuring together made us really close. And he likes hearing stories of our adventures. Plus I have a neurological condition that prevents me travelling at the moment so I am glad I did while I could

Blueroses99 · 17/06/2023 21:54

I did a 2 week campervan tour with a 4 year old and it was great because we were in control of both travel and accommodation while having freedom to roam. Would this work for you as an alternative to trains?

Jenniferturkington · 17/06/2023 21:57

Yes, do it!
we travelled for 12 months with an 8, 6 and 2 year old. Toddlers travel surprisingly well ime - just make sure you think about buggy/carrier options.

Jenniferturkington · 17/06/2023 22:00

BlameItOnTheGoose · 17/06/2023 21:38

Young children really cannot appreciate travel and culture in the same way as adults, and they tend to want consistency and familiarity. I'm not saying it can't work, but it would probably be hard on everyone and certainly not like the party tour you enjoyed in your 20s

Couldn’t disagree more! My children loved travelling the world and appreciated experiencing different countries and cultures.

ReviewingTheSituation · 17/06/2023 22:00

Have you considered hiring a camper van and travelling around that way instead? You can be a bit more flexible (no train timetables), have somewhere to store stuff, have somewhere to make food, the ability to change your plans, go away from the bigger cities etc. You might not get as far, but you'd have a lot more control.

Lullibyebye · 17/06/2023 22:00

I went travelling around Europe with my six month old and loved it! Toddlers might be a whole different ball game but if you think it's something you'll all enjoy, go for it. Everyone told me I was mad travelling with a baby yet it was amazing so ignore the negative posts!

VivaVivaa · 17/06/2023 22:07

Everyone told me I was mad travelling with a baby yet it was amazing so ignore the negative posts

Ive posted to say I think the OP should definitely do it, so not a ‘negative post’ (which is a little harsh on people giving opinions the OP has directly asked for). But a 3 year old is a completely different kettle of fish to a 6 month old. Travelling around with the average 6 month old is a piece of cake compared to the average 3 year old. There is A LOT more to consider with a toddler than an immobile, barely eating baby who still sleeps a lot.

NEmama · 17/06/2023 22:08

I'd rather shit in my hands and clap. Would be absolute torture

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 17/06/2023 22:14

W went to Paris with the dc when they were 3 and 6. DD - the 3 year old - remembers the orange seats on the metro platforms. A year later we went to Copenhagen. DD remembers the cheese at breakfast and the funfair in Tivoli gardens. We did a great deal more in both cities! Just don't expect a 3 year old to appreciate sight seeking or being abroad and away from home for so long.

nosyupnorth · 17/06/2023 22:34

I think it depends on a) your child - can/will DD spend hours on trains and sit still/behave nicely? Have you taken her away before and are you confident in how she handles travel (not going to get very upset by the having her routines disrupted etc)?

b) How you interrail. If you're gettin planning spending a few days to a week at a time in accomodation in a few different places then I think that's managable with the right child, it's really just holiday by train. If you're talking about train hopping every day or second day and sleeping on trains etc, I think very few young children would be able to handle that. Even for a 20 something that's a high energy way to spend a few weeks, it would be exhausing to a small child.

mindutopia · 17/06/2023 22:38

Yes, I’d do it, but keep the journey times short and try not to do too much (more playgrounds and cafes than big days out, and plan in naps- for everyone- and downtime). I’ve not interailed but I’ve travelled with both of mine and really enjoyed it.

purplepencilcase · 17/06/2023 22:39

I took my 2 year old backpacking around Ireland, public transport and tent. It was amazing and we loved it. Very special memories.

SaxSick · 17/06/2023 22:43

Come on - three year olds do not get excited by seeing new cities! They don't give a shit where they are 😂 They won't remember it and would rather be on a beach with a spade.

ginswinger · 17/06/2023 22:46

My 12yo has been to over 20 countries, starting at age 1 so I can definitely advocate for this! TBH it's harder travelling with her now than when she was younger; everything has to start and end with a waterpark and she thinks castles and fossil hunting are boring.

SandandSky · 17/06/2023 22:48

I depends on the child, surely?

I would have loved to do this sort of thing but my DC was still waking four times and night and couldn’t even sit in a bloody car seat for ten minutes let alone be trusted travelling on a train across Europe 😂

I would be a hot, frazzled, anxious mess and be miserable to be around the whole time

good for you if you can do it though - what an experience for you all

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