Interailing with three kids (9yo,7yo and 3yo) are we mad? Help us plan!

[LadyCurd]

So free kid ticked with every adult ticket and under 4’s go free so this summer is last time we can take kids for free. Planning on going for up to a month 🙀 and doing the 7trips within that month. So we need 5 places to stop at that would be great for kids. We have family in Berlin so that’s pretty definite, and we were thinking on ending on Disneyland Paris so we have a massive bribe for good behaviour on the trip! Any other ideas? Yes we are completely mad and it will probably be hellish at times but also hopefully awesome.

If you can afford it, the Swiss Alps - Glacier Express or Bernina Bahn. I think they are private railways so you may have to pay a supplement.

I don't drive and have traveled far with my kids on the train, did sleeper to S of France when kids were similar ages to yours.

It's a great plan, v jealous. As you are 5 if you are doing a sleeper pay the supplement for the sixth berth, we didn't do SNCF in their wisdom but a sixth person in with us even though most of the carriages were empty and would not move him (who came in, stripped to his boxers and fell asleep and started snoring. Trying to get 3 yo to whisper to not wake him up especially hard as he was on bunk opposite).

From our experience whilst trains may look less plus they invariably are far more reliable than ours in UK and less crowded.

We did this with older kids, we went on to Munich and then Switzerland before coming back up through France. Book seats on all your journeys, lots of the trains were really busy.
The Swiss part was great (and yes- supplements but completely worth it). We stayed in a few youth hostels which were fun, because there were other kids to play with. Such a great holiday, enjoy!

Alps for sure! Switzerland is super expensive, but somewhere like Garmisch or Innsbruck, or the Dolomites in Italy are more affordable.
From Berlin, go over to Wroclaw in Poland. It's a beautiful, small city. Very kind friendly, with lots of great public parks, beautiful square, botanic gardens, museums, etc. Great weather in the summer, too. There are often music events on the island in the river.

Just thinking of places I know, I'd maybe do this loop

Le Tuquet beach France
Berlin big city
Wroclaw small city Poland
vestonicka national park Czech Republic
Salzburg or somewhere around there for Alps
Then head towards France to end up in Paris as your final stop.

If your kids are like mine, i'd make sure to have plenty of nature and adventure built in.

Have a fab time!

I think it’s getting the balance between time spent on trains (the younger ones might struggle with very long trips) and time spent outdoors and seeing city sights. We flew out to Berlin as the journey to get there is very long.

All great suggestions thanks! Any great hostels? Some of the cities are so expensive per night. Air b n b not cheapest option

I’d do London to Antwerp. You can get to Antwerp easily with Eurostar, just change onto a local train at Brussels Midi/Zuid and you'll be in Antwerp in under an hour.
Antwerp to Amsterdam
Amsterdam to Berlin (there’s a direct intercity train)
Berlin to Munich (there’s a new high speed train)
Munich to Paris (there’s a new direct train between these cities. Alternatively you can do what we did, and take an early train from Munich to Stuttgart, put luggage into luggage storage, grab a bite to eat and go into the park near the station for a run around before catching an afternoon train to Paris).

Antwerp is a good stop. We’ve stopped there multiple times. We like the city because there are lots of big beautiful parks, street art and plenty to keep the kids entertained.
If you want something relaxing, I’d recommend Middelheim Sculpture Museum. It’s a good place to stretch the legs and it’s fascinating.
Antwerp also has the largest chocolate museum in the world. It’s incredible.
If you want a full day out, then go to Antwerp Zoo - it’s one of the best I’ve been to. Besides spacious open cages, the zoo features many cozy areas for rest, charming cafes and decent playgrounds. The zoo has even a planetarium, a greenhouse and a special house for penguins.
If you are in search of a good place for walking, go to Antwerp Miniature Park – an amazing park full of precise miniature copies of the most famous landmarks of the city.
A boat trip in the harbour is also relaxing and there are a few options to choose from. We liked the Jan Plezier pancake boat. www.janplezier.be/en/pancake-boat/
The art park known under the name Verbeke Foundation is another fantastic place for family rest. The park is in the Antwerp suburbs, in the village of Kemzeke. This is a marvelous and an unbelievably beautiful place. It is easy to spend a whole day in the park.
We usually like to finish our evenings in Antwerp with a relaxing horse and carriage ride.
There are a few good hotel options
ramadaplaza-antwerp.com/rooms/family-rooms
www.antwerpinnhotel.be/en/rooms/family-room
www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/antwerp/hilton-antwerp-old-town-ANRHITW/accommodations/family-rooms-and-offers.html

The youth hostel in Grindelwald, Switzerland is amazing, breakfast on the terrace looking right at the Eiger. Basically look online at the YHA, join for a small amount and look at the map of places.