Road trip through Europe with two dds (3yo and 5 yo) AM I MAD EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT?????

[Cloudhopper]

The best holidays dh and I have ever had have been rambling ones, where we have just packed a tent and gone without any reservations. We would just drive and decide day to day where we go.

Now the children are a little older, I am desperate to give it another go. I think it would be a fabulous family experience if we shoved a tent in the car and headed off into Europe to see where we end up. We could pack all the essentials.

I am thinking along the lines of down through eastern France, Burgundy, Geneva then down to Nice/Cannes. Then head across to Italy on the coast.

There is also a vague aspiration to end up in Eastern Europe and then back a different route, taking in Prague and Germany.

Then dh decided it was madness to take two little ones on a holiday that involves so much driving. Long journeys are probably not our favourite activity.

However, I think it would be an amazing experience for them to discover all these different places.

AM I MAD EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT?

Poppycake, what are your accomodation plans? Motorhome, camping, hotels?

cloudhopper tent in back with openmindedness toward hotels if nice ones hove into view! We have some in mind from previous journeys when it was just the two of us. But obviously would want a fall back option.

Re motorhome, I've always mentally discounted it in Europe (having got stuck behind underpowered ones going up mountain roads and got would be a bit to do it myself), but I'd definitely consider it for a trip in the US/Canada, which we also have in mind to visit the Canadian rellies.

I sailed to santanda and drove across the mts and back up through the middle of france and home from St Malo - I took just under 4 weeks to do this and only drove ealry in the day and stopped every two to three days.

i did this just me and my 18month old dd and a 7 year old dd.

the 7 year old map read, and so what if we take a wrong tuen we have campsite book just pick another camp site for the night.

i always packed up a small 3 man tent, at 6am and could apck everything into the car in an hour and we where off.

This way I had two hours of dd's sleeping in the car whilst I drove - then stopped for b/fast and off again for however long (till they got restless) then stop for lucnch carry on into the early afternoon or stop and find campsite.

It was a fantastic holiday and we had really great fun.

If I can do it on my own with two samll children i see no reason why two adults can't do it with two small children.

Though actually having a woman driving and a 7 year old map reading is a good combination for no rows So think about leaving d/h at home

Ivykaty44 I think that why I remember trips with my Mum so fondly. Dad never came with us! I loved the pickles she would get into and the nice people who would help her get out of them. But I just have to add my two pence worth I hate driving hoildays!

ivykaty, that sounds like so much fun but I bet it was hard work in equal measure. An 18n month old!!!!! What great memories you will both have though (you and the 7yo, not the baby).

I managed to lock myself out of the car this evening, leaving the keys in the ignition, and locked out of the house too. Not the best confidence booster for an adventure. Thank goodness for dh.

TBE, what are 'aires'? They sound useful.

I agree with the low expectations bit. I think as long as we are realistic about it, that there will be as many rubbish, boring bits as brilliant moments, we will be ok.

Mind you, I will never forget that French campsite we ended up on once, where there were teenage gangsters joyriding round the site, and we were camped miles away from anyone else.

On that same holiday there seemed to be thunderstorms every night under canvas, which freaked me out.

We took DS(4) and DD(18m) through Europe and morroco in a camper van for 6 weeks last summer and it was fantastic. Much easier than catching planes with 2 little ones. We tended to stay in places 2 or 3 nights each, they absolutely loved it as did we and can both now swim like fish as a result. DD still talks about camels and we all look at the picture together loads so I think she does remember it. DS asks to go to Morroco on average 3 times a week. It was the best holiday i have ever had I cannot recommend you do this enough. It was brilliant and not difficult at all.

NAguthmummy - can you tell me more about MOrocco? Where did you go and how did you do it. We are taking 2 year old ds there in Feb and don't know where to start!

cloudhopper,
i've serious wanderlust too.

I'd love to take mine on a year-long round the world trip.

In the meantime I've been gazing longingly at Europe and all the Eastern countries I haven't yet met. Those student days with interrail cards were the best. I think it's entirely do-able!

Last year (with a 3, 5 and 7 y.o) we did about 5 days travel around France i.e. spent 3 weeks staying 4 days or so in each location. Mostly we stayed with friends, but we did camp twice. We were really tired and glad to be home at the end. I believe practise makes perfect though. The kids will be able for the same and more this year so we may do something like you mention - we live in france so we'd drive along the south coast, stop in Marseille area (probably go to island for 2 nights), stop in Nice area, travel into Italy, stop once for 4 nights not sure where, travel on to Austria/Slovenia/Croatia.......

Although I'd love train travel it's more expensive to buy tickets for 5 people and it's harder to carry tents.

If you want to go to Southern Europe, you could consider Motorrail - either from France or Belgium you can load the car onto the train, and cut out the long drive. You do an overnight in sleeper/couchette car, which the DCs would love. Then just pootle round the Med for a bit and get the train home again. I've not done it, but always fancied it. (When I was v. little my parents did motorrail to Cornwall, now sadly stopped)

www.seat61.com probably has the details.

I thinks that what we might do in the future. I hope its not out of our price range.

oh we want to do that too.

Cloudhopper - that is why I always let the 7 year old look after the credit card and the spare car key I know my limitations.

Just saw about Aires

There is a book you can get showing the free aires in french towns aswell - the French seem to take the attitude that if they let you stay for free and give you electric that you will then spend your money in the local shopps and restaurants and so gain from your "free" stay.

This is ideal with a motorhome and you can travel the length of France for free if needed. Spain take a different veiw on "rough" amping and will move you on at 3am, so dont bother there.

Oranges are you driving ? Which part of Morroco are you going to.? The North is more touristy/ westernised than the south. We took nappies,wipes and antibaterial gel, sometimes difficult to find some where to wash your hands. You can find sealed packets of biscuits everywhere we tended to carry those also little packets of crackers, does he eat nuts ? They are amazing (and cheap) out there if you shell them yourself you know they are not contaminated. The morrocans don't always refridgerate meat so we became vegi for that part of the trip. We were they for 21/2 weeks and no one was sick. Dairy is difficult to find (and v expensive) so you might want to take babybels or similar if DS is keen. Many people asked us for childrens clothes, next time I would take tescos/primark t- shirts to give out or barter with. Also wine or spirits as morroco is dry (obviously not for DS). I am v

We are being faily mainstream - Marrakesh and Essouira and Ouirgane/Ourika in the middle. We are not driving - have arranged car transfers when out there. I'm mainly worried about food poisoning really. And should we take our huge pram? I've taken it to other distant locations and its really good as it provides a shelter and place for him to nap in the day and can get through most cobbled streets. I may risk the meat but keep ds veggie. thanks for that tip!

Eussiuora is absolutely beautiful- take him for a camel ride DD still obsessed with camels 6 months on. They are a lot of travel companies there so as long as you skick to those food poisoning shouldn't be too much of an issue there at least, i would be a little bit careful with street side cafes TBH. DS loved the cannons in the walled city there. Have you booked accomadation ? because we stayed in wonderful place about 12 miles away which did great food. I think you will struggle to get a big pram through the souks in Marrakesh, can you take an umbrella buggy as well? Take oral rehydration therapy eg diarolyte with you takes up no space and at least you are prepared if disater strikes. We washed all fruit and veg if not cooked and drank mineral water only when out there. Mint tea and fresh orange juice is great out there it is a good idea to take your own cup for them to fill in Markets etc. The cups they use are not always washed between uses.i think be prepared then you relax and enjoy

just how narrow are the streets? i think an umbrella stroller may fall apart. DS may just have to walk! I giess we an take the pram for Essouira and excursions and leave it in the riad in Marrakesh.
we've provisionally booked this place in Essouira

OOooh. Just caught up with the thread and loads of ideas. I really really want to do this. I have booked two weeks off in August, and will get saving .

The motorail looks promising (thanks for the link mrsgboring (great name!))

Morocco sounds amazing, but definitely one for next time for us - especially with the no alcohol thing.

Would love to try France - it sounds as though it is more difficult to go wrong there with the Aires and everything. Like the idea that they are positive about people camping out.

Am so excited now!