Europe ‘road trip’ suggestions and interail vs car?

[needtomovesomewherewarmer]

Thinking of doing a mini road trip this Summer somewhere in Europe. Initial thoughts were start in Geneva (dh has business there and I’d like to visit), then interail into Italy making way to Lake Garda and then possibly to Florence, but not sure really where to stop and in all honesty am open to anywhere. I suppose one country would be better as the interail pass is much cheaper if doing it that way. Dc will be 6.5, 4.5 and 2. Looking to go for 2-2.5 weeks with probably about 4/5 different stops.
So, firstly with age of children and timeframe would you suggest interail or car? I guess bonus of car is you can take what you need and are not lugging luggage and children about, but bounus of interail is no traffic jams and all the hassle that goes with having to drive with kids.
Secondly, any suggestions on a destination / route. Would like to incorporate nature, small village, history/culture, city and a bit of relaxation/slow pace. Not much of a tick list
Thanks x

Watching since I want to take dc interrailing this summer.

We were thinking France /Spain/Portugal but may be too hot. I don’t want to drive because I’m only driver. I think the key will be mostly not being on a train /in transit but spending time in a place before moving on.

I would stay in Italy where you can take advantage of beach/mountains/countryside as well as 2 or 3 cities.

If you can manage on minimal luggage, then go by train. Italy in the car can be very tough, wrt parking, dealing with maniac drivers, and fairly long distances.

If you want to go by train then look at the man in seat 61. He has lots of info on rail routes, we always look on there to plan trips.

We went to Italy on a sleeper from Paris to Florence, then back up along the shores of Lake Geneva and stayed in Vevey. It was a gorgeous journey with fabulous scenery. That was pre-children.

We’ve since been on the sleeper to Munich then through the alps to Verona, along to Lake Garda. The dds were 4 and 2 and they still talk about the sleeper!

More recently we went from Amsterdam to Milan. We had a stop in Heidleburg for a few nights. No sleepers this time but the children were 6 and 8 so able to read on the train.

We went to Berlin when dd was a baby but that was a v long day train from Paris.

There have been lots of cuts to sleeper services but if you can incorporate one children love them!

What fun!! Absolutely do a sleeper train. . You won't get much sleep but it will be fun!!

Switzerland is a beautiful country to visit and there are some awesome train journeys. Lakes, mountains, well kept cities, castles, cheese and chocolate.
Itinerary suggestions here. . www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/grand-train-tour-switzerland.html.

However, everything is eye wateringly expensive and your children are a little young to enjoy hiking etc so maybe Italy would be better.....

Thank you for the advice! I've done a bit more research and have put together a Switzerland/Germany route - starting in Geneva (2days) - Interlaken (3days) - Zurich (1/2days) - tirberg Black Forest (2 days) - lindau (5 days with day trip to Neuschwanstein castle - Munich (3days)

Will do a bit more homework but this feels good. If anyone has any advice, tips on things to do accommodation suggestions that would be great.

Each stop is a 1-2 hour train ride so I'm a bit gutted that the sleeper train wouldn't come into, it makes me tempted to get the sleeper back to Geneva and flight out from there just for the experience!

Excited!!!

Be warned Zurich is v. v. expensive, but there is a shop in the centre that sells bread, cakes / pastries that are 1 day old for half the usual price. Called Ässbar at Stüssihofstatt 6 in the old town. Also does coffee.

Lucerne is beautiful - worth at least a day! Interlaken is pretty but wee - personally I’d skip one of those Interlaken days for a Lucerne day or do that instead of Zurich (which is pretty & v expensive & quite corporate so may be a bit dull for the kids). I know you’ve probably already thought about this but take easily trainable luggage. We’ve done a number of train trips now, the first with HUGE suitcases which was a nightmare, dragging them through trains to allocated seats and having no where to stow them. It doesn’t have to be backpacks - we now have convertible slim line pull alongs that will fit on the luggage racks easily.