One month in Europe - where would you go?!

[LondonLynmouth]

Ideas and opinions needed please Mumsnet!

Where would you go for a month in Europe in June with a 6 month and 3 year old?! And how would you travel/ where would you stay so it’s wasn’t super stressful?
Ideally staying a week or so in each place with at least 2 weeks on the coast….thanks in advance

What kind of holiday are you after, eg beach family holiday or are you wanting to sightsee as well?

Personally I’d find a month too long to be away from home with children that young. I’ve probably done three weeks max & that was staying with family at least some of the time & going by car/ferry so we could bring all the equipment & toys needed.

If you do go for 4 weeks I would minimise the number of locations- but maybe choose places where you could do a mixture of low-key beach days with the odd day trip.

If you want to sightsee, I would just go for walks around the area, not queue to get into places or spend hours in museums.

You can always return when they are older to do things they are too young to appreciate now.

Self catering is probably easier than a hotel.

Thanks! Defo beach family friendly hol, not sight seeing. And yes have been thinking driving might be best which limits us to France really

Island hopping in Greece and Turkey

2 weeks in the French Alps followed by 2 weeks on the Cote d'Azur.

What are your financial constraints? I would only consider doing this if I had or could hire a camper van - I have done a lot of backpacking type travelling, especially in Eastern Europe (which I came on to recommend before I read the details) but I wouldn't contemplate it with kids this age unless I had a camper van.

Are you on your own, or with another adult? Against don't think I could have done it with these ages of kids on my own, though massive respect to you if you can - I used to meet some single parents, usually mom's, travelling and just making it look so easy and I admired them so much!

I'd drive into France making a stop at perhaps Dijon overnight, then go on south.
Look for an Airbnb/villa/apartment just over the border into Italy. Diano Marino on the Ligurian riviera is a lovely little seaside town and will be gearing up for summer season then. There's a bus that runs along the coast all the way back to Nice, so San Remo, Menton, Monaco accessible.
Another option is to look at the map on the Eurocamp website site and work out a trip using a few nights at several parks. That way you know the accommodation is going to be child friendly, there will be pools and activities/scenery at each stop and a bit of a safety net if this is your first road trip. There's no minimum stay at these parks, and I think the maximum is 3 weeks so would suit your timescales. I would do Ardeche/Dordogne, Fr Riveira, Chamonix/Mont Blanc, Lauterbrunnen, Into Belgium for the Ardenne area, across to coastal Belgium (beaches and big sky!) and then back from Dunkirk.

@LondonLynmouth France is probably definitely doable but I have also had family holidays on the Belgian & Netherlands coast - lovely golden beaches though of course the weather is similar to UK!

I would recommend the upmarket campsites such as La Garangeoire. Loads to do on site & beaches nearby

This type of thing is exactly what I was considering so it's good to know that you agree and tips of actual places to go , thank you

For a whole month id be tempted to fly to Thailand, Cancun or somewhere further than Europe. Flight will be long and a bit more expensive but hotels (or villas with pool) and food will be cheaper so overall similar cost.

My main advice would be to get somewhere with aircon, have good travel insurance and pack plenty of swim nappies and suncream.

Are you driving? Flying and hiring a car? If you are driving then yes two weeks south of France and spend some time getting there and back, stopping off en route for a few days each way . Flying is probably less stressful with a two centre holiday - but you are very limited as to what you can take with you .

I'd take the Santander ferry to northern Spain and spend a month travelling along the coast and eating, mainly! I'd prioritise staying in week long stretches in accommodation with good local ties - agricultural tourism, bnbs or air bnbs with good local hosting. Have a brilliant time!!

I’d do Faro to Valencia or Barcelona.

Cadiz, Malaga, Grenada, Xabia, Valencia

Ferries will get you to other places than just France - although France is an excellent destination.

Belgium and Netherlands have beaches and Eurocamp-type places that are set up for kids. From the Hook of Holland you have more than enough time to drive across to the German Baltic coast, or to the west coast of Denmark where you can rent a summer cottage or apartment (June is before the main season starts, so prices would be reasonable). Both countries are very child-friendly and temperatures are comfortable in the summer. Consider whether a scorching hot beach holiday further south is really going to be ideal for a 6 month old.

Instead of France you can also easily drive to Netherlands, Belgium or Germany or via France you could also on further to Spain/Switzerland etc given that you have a month.

you could easily do a combination of Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and northern France