3 weeks in Europe with tweens

[HiGunny]

So the school calendar for next year was sent to us this week and the DC start their summer holidays on 20th June for almost 10 weeks! This is longer than usual so DH and I were thinking of maybe doing a 3 week holiday starting then, rather than our usual 10-14 days.

Normally we do Eurocamp style holidays in France but were thinking of something slightly more adventurous instead. Has anyone got good suggestions? DC will be 12 and 10. Eldest is good on city breaks, likes history etc. Youngest is more into fun so likes the pool, theme parks and campsite entertainment 😁 I'd love to take them to Rome/Vesuvius but fear it will be too hot for them at end of June.

Also thinking of incorporating something like a night train for the adventure aspect but open to all suggestions. Obviously it's over a year away but I love planning! 😆

10 weeks! Sounds amazing 🤩. Do you have a rough idea of budget?

Oh we wouldn't be travelling for 10 weeks, they just have no school for that length of time - I'm already panicking about how to entertain them! It would just be a 3 week trip as DH wouldn't get any longer off work. Not sure of budget...maybe around €5k.

3 weeks - interrailing might be good. Ticket should be free for the 10 year old. Get them involved in planning - things they want to see.

Europapark in Germany is good
Energylandia near Krakow in Poland is good
Therme Buchuresti is great also.
We loved our 3 week trip in Central Europe last year. We landed in Krakow spent a few nights there and then took a train to Budapest, overnight train to Zagreb and Lubljana. We rented a car in Slovinia and visited the lakes Bled and Bohinj -absolutely beautiful. Then we spent a few nights in Croatian Coast caught a ferry to Venice then train to Paris London and eventually Scotland.

Interrail could be an option. Look at the Seat 61 website for ideas and info about European trains. InterRail pass guide | How InterRail passes work | Prices, how to buy a pass (seat61.com) and InterRail & Eurail reservation fees | How to make reservations with a pass (seat61.com)

As you have to pay a supplement to use Eurostar from the UK, you could spend that money on a cheap flight to somewhere in Europe (e.g. Krakow, Pula, Budapest, Malaga) and then work your way back to the UK from there. Travel some days ... stop for a few days in an interesting city or resort ... have a few days where you have nothing planned and just see what turns up (a detour to Roman ruins, a ferry across to an island etc).

That sounds an amazing trip @Marquis81 Have started looking into rail passes etc, have a lot of reading to do! At the moment I'm thinking Amsterdam/Dunreill, then night train to Munich/Bavarian Alps. Not sure after that then. Possibly south to Italy, or east to Slovenia or Croatia. I don't want to pack in too much for the kids either as they'll want days by the pool etc.