Interail with kids

[deflatedbirthday]

Hello

I'm looking for some advice from people with experience of interailing with kids.

DSC are at an age where they are starting to be interested in city destinations now and I'm keen to introduce them the European travel.

My plan is to take the ferry to Rotterdam from Hull and then interail:

Amsterdam 2 nights
Bruges 1 night
Brussels 1 night
Paris 2/3 nights
Then back to Bruges (Zeebrugge) to pick up the ferry back to Hull

All over approx 7 days in Feb half term.

I'd be keen for some advice re hotel bookings for our stay. Ideally I'd like to use one chain and book all the rooms with them.

DSC will be 12 and 8 by that time and I'm excited to take them to experience some culture. I introduced them to Tin Tin a few years ago hence Brussels. They will love Paris (zoo and maybe one day at Disneyland which I might keep as a surprise!).

We have been to Amsterdam previously but only as a day trip so given the extra time I'd like to take them on a windmill tour which they would really like.

Equally, we know Bruges very well so it's just a nice stop off somewhere familiar that we've enjoyed previously (pre covid we went annually to buy c&a kids clothes - both my mum and grandma worked there so it's very nostalgic for me!).

Any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated! or perhaps I'm going absolutely mad and you'll all tell me it'll be a nightmare!

Another option might be multi destination coach tours, if such a thing exists!

I know someone who's just done similar and they had a fantastic time! They went further into France towards the Alps and their kids are a bit older (maybe 12 and 14) but it seems to have gone well. Make sure everyone has their own luggage they can carry and pack light. Maybe try IBIS hotels, i think they're in most European major cities.

Hi, I wouldn't buy an interrail ticket for those journeys - it would be complete overkill. Under 12s are free with an adult on trains in Belgium. Child and Youth tickets on the Thalys (Amsterdam and Paris) part are very cheap if you book in advance and an adult ticket is normally under 40 euros. You can book via the trainline or SNCB.be. For accommodation, I'd look at all.accor.com/united-kingdom/index.en.shtml Accor website. They have Ibis, Novotel and cheaper all in one place. Novotel and Ibis in Bruges are very central and perfectly nice, ditto the ones In Brussels which are close to the Grand Place. There will be plenty of options for Paris and Amsterdam.

I'm interested to hear more about this type of break with kids.

@MissAmbrosia thank you! You may have saved me a small fortune looking at the prices and knowing the under 12s are free! Excellent!

Another recommendation for Accor hotels. They have ranges for all budgets, and it's easy to book on their app. You also get a 10% discount as a member.

You could alway miss out the first stop, and get a train from Brussels to Lille as an extra stop before Paris.

Hi OP!
What train tix have you booked now? And did you find hotels?

We stayed earlier this year at Meininger in Amsterdam & it was good value & right next to train station. There's a late shop nearby & it was mix of families & young people. Think we got money off as DS was 12.

www.meininger-hotels.com/en/hotels/amsterdam/hotel-amsterdam-sloterdijk/

No advice on the trains though. But interested in your trip. Sounds great!

Feb will be f'ing freezing!

I stayed at a great hotel in bruges with a pool which would be fun for the dc. It seems a lot for one week.

Day trip to Amsterdam!? Was that flying or eurostar?

We did Paris with the DC a few years ago, stayed in an airbnb.

We did the zoo and it was full of rats (particularly around the aviaries). I'd recommend the Luxembourg Gardens instead, ours were between 5 & 10 at the time and loved it, and it was my favourite day. You can sail traditional wooden boats on the pond, ride ponies, ride on the carousel and there is an enormous play area as well. I'd recommend the Eiffel Tower at night as well, DS (our youngest says it's the thing he remembers the most, it's so exciting going out at night when little).