Help Me Decide: Once Upon a Fairytale or Central Europe

[hilarys]

Last year everyone here was really helpful when I was evaluating ABD for my family. We decided to push it off until the kids were a little older, but now we are ready to take the plunge for 2014 (late July/early August). I would love to do any of the trips but we have narrowed it down to Once Upon a Fairytale or Central Europe (we also are still considering Greece cruise with ABD add-on, but I am not going to confuse the matter with throwing that into the discussion).

Travelling is me , DH, DS (11 next summer) and DD (9 next summer). The kids like to travel and DS especially really likes historic sites. The Mayan ruins were his favorite part of our recent Western Carib. cruise. Both kids are very creative and into fairytales and fantasy. DS loves to write his own stories and DD is still fascinated by princesses. I keep reading each itinerary and they both seem amazing. Pluses to Germany seem to be all the beautiful castles and the fact that it emphasizes fairytales and old Europe It also seems to have a little more down time. Central Europe is just jam packed by amazing things (salt mines, ice cave, sound of music, waltz lesson, Spanish riding school (dd is a dancer and loves horses), pretzel and strudel making, amazing hotels). The schedule does have some days that seem quite busy.

I know everyone has their own preferences and thoughts but I can't make up my mind! This will essentially be a first trip to Europe. DH and I have been to London and Switzerland once and Russia 5 times when we adopted the kids (which they don't remember).

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[Tozzie]

I haven't been to Germany, that was going to be the trip for me this year until the Central Europe trip came out. I then asked my travel agent knowing she had done the trip that included Prague before it was removed and then reworked and she basically said that while she has never been to Germany the When she went to Prauge and Austria that it was an awesome trip and that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities to visit. I decided to go on the Central Europe trip. I also think with the zoo, the ice cave and saltmines and the pretzel making on the Central Europe trip along with all the History and the sites of the Sound of Music it would be a great balance for kids. You will get the History and then the other things. Just my opinion.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

I'm going on the Once Upon a Fairytale trip in September and we are adding a couple of days in Salzburg and Vienna. Honestly, if I were not doing the Germany trip with friends, I would rather do the Central Europe one, especially if I was travelling with children. You will see lots of castles in Austria and the Habsburg history is amazing. The Vienna Zoo has a great panda exhibit and Schonnbrunn Palace is incredible. With the salt mines horses and musical aspects, I think that trip would be great for kids.

Laurie

 

[Calfan]

I can't really help with your choice either but just thought I would chime in to say that we just booked the Central Europe ABD today. My DD will be 11 and my DS will be 9 at the time of travel. We haven't actually done an ABD yet. Our first one is coming up (to Scotland). However, Once Upon a Fairytale was definitely on our list. However, I was blown away by the itinerary and activities for the Central Europe ABD. And although I'm not sure this is true in all (or any) cases, I have a theory that the first year of the ABD is the most "first-class" for lack of a better term. I suspect they might pare back a little after the first season if they decide they went a little too upscale or included too much.

 

[SingingMom]

I am almost disappointed that we booked Germany for July instead of waiting until next year for the Central Europe! (Hindsight is 20/20, right?!). The Sound of Music and the horses would have been exactly what our DD19 would LOVE!

But, I have to just think about doing that another time and enjoy the Germany trip this year!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Tozzie]

I can't really help with your choice either but just thought I would chime in to say that we just booked the Central Europe ABD today. My DD will be 11 and my DS will be 9 at the time of travel. We haven't actually done an ABD yet. Our first one is coming up (to Scotland). However, Once Upon a Fairytale was definitely on our list. However, I was blown away by the itinerary and activities for the Central Europe ABD. And although I'm not sure this is true in all (or any) cases, I have a theory that the first year of the ABD is the most "first-class" for lack of a better term. I suspect they might pare back a little after the first season if they decide they went a little too upscale or included too much.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

In fact the only trip that I was happy they tweeked the itinerary with was Ireland as they added Blarney Castle.

 

[hilarys]

Thanks everyone for the advice. We took the plunge and booked the July 5 Central Europe Trip over the weekend.

Very excited for this trip and I know it will be here soon. Let the planning begin. So excited to finally be planning an ABD trip!

 

[west&east]

So excited and glad for the decision you made!
Time to update my signature block to include the July 5th Central Europe ABD trip!!!

 

[nemofans]

I had originally picked the Germany itinerary for our 1st ABD trip until Central Europe came out. DH & I compared the 2 & we have decided to do Central Europe instead. Our thoughts are to do a few days in London b4 ABD. Not sure if we will want to do another city after ABD tour. We were thinking Switzerland at 1st, but I wonder if we will be wiped out.

 

[west&east]

I had originally picked the Germany itinerary for our 1st ABD trip until Central Europe came out. DH & I compared the 2 & we have decided to do Central Europe instead. Our thoughts are to do a few days in London b4 ABD. Not sure if we will want to do another city after ABD tour. We were thinking Switzerland at 1st, but I wonder if we will be wiped out.

Did you book yet? What date? Come join us on the Central Europe thread...

 

[nemofans]

I wish I could book it now, but our younger DS is still a little young. We will have to wait a year or 2 b4 we do this. But as you can see, I am doing the research for it & anticipating when I can book it! I will look forward to hearing your reviews on this new itinerary!

 

[JsMom2]

I just don't think you can beat the Once Upon a Fairytale trip! We did that when DD was 9, and then the Czech Republic and Austria when she was 10. Even our guides the second year said that Germany is the best!