Anyone done Europe by train??

[sailorsgal]

Haven't booked a holiday this summer and am desperate to do something other than a package.

Yesterday after a couple of glasses of vino something cold suggested to dh that we jump on the train over to Europe (with ds) and just go wherever the mood takes us. We could take the tent and could stay in hotels aswell.

We have a reasonable budget, is this possible or should I have booked Mauritius after all.

obviously vino should have been crossed out.

we did this a few years ago when DD was 7 and DS 5. DH joined us for the second half. We had 2 10 day interrail cards, with a week in the middle pre-arranged in a self catering with my inlaws.

Look at seat61.com if you haven't already - loads of advice on there. We pre-booked everything - i was too nervous given that i was on my own for half of it and kids were young - plus you really need to pre-book to do the overnight trains (fantastic experience, the kids loved them). We liked the medium sized towns where stations are in centre and you can walk to hotel and restaurants easily - places like Avignon and Pisa were perfect - but having said that we all loved Berlin too.

we would do it every year if funds and time permitted - it took a lot of evenings online booking it up - but it's a brilliant and memorable holiday

I would do it, we use trains a lot as we ive in Switzerland and they are always on time. The only problem I could forsee is luggage. Unless you are staying in one place for a couple of days, you will need to find left luggage lockers. DD loves trains, she can walk about (as well as sit with her DVD player)

Agree swiss trains fab, we always go skiing on the train too .

Good point on luggage, we took one big bag that i coukd pull along and had all the kids books, iPods etc down the side pocket. We packed light and did laundry a couple of times. We found left luggage no problem in most places, having one bag minimises costs. Worth researching that tho as not all the big paris stations have facilities for example.

We often go to the south of France by train. As seat61 etc points out, try to avoid changing trains in Paris, Lille is much better.

Great advice, thanks. This is really appealing to me now, though is it just men but dh is showing very little enthusiasm for any kind of holiday. [fustration emotion]

Sailorsgal

My DH is exactly the same - loves going on holiday, but is SOOOO crap at making a decision. Unfortunately, quite often, I'll suggest something and his lack of enthusiasm is TOTALLY palpable, so my response is always "Well, what then?!", and the reply??

"I dunno, but not that!!"

AAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really want to go to Berlin and I have never been to Switzerland so these are two areas of interest.

Not quite the same, but this summer DH is taking the boys to south of France in the car; I will follow a few days later as I have less holiday. going on train from London to Grenoble...and it cost (on eurostar website) £61 - I think that is great value and can't wait!!!

We have decided on Berlin first as has the zoo and legoland for ds.

Wondering whether we should go onto Switzerland after that.

That seat61.com website is fab.