Is anyone else completely stressing out??!!

[paddles]

We're leaving for our Paris/Italy trip in less than a month and I don't feel like I'm ready at all. I've traveled a lot (and many times abroad), but this is the first time my kids will be in Europe and we'll be gone for 2 weeks.

I'm stressing about what to wear (and having enough cute stuff), doing laundry while I'm traveling, etc.

Also, we're spending a few days in Paris and Rome outside of our Bella Italia trip and need to think about what to do there.

I need to focus this weekend and start really planning. But I'm super-excited and looking forward to meeting the other travelers (and having lots of good coffee)!

 

[Karabee]

How long will you be in Rome? I studied there and have been back many times. I'm happy to help you pick a few exciting places or things. Did you book your hotel yet for Rome? Or are you just adding on through Disney?

 

[Tozzie]

We're leaving for our Paris/Italy trip in less than a month and I don't feel like I'm ready at all. I've traveled a lot (and many times abroad), but this is the first time my kids will be in Europe and we'll be gone for 2 weeks.

I'm stressing about what to wear (and having enough cute stuff), doing laundry while I'm traveling, etc.

Also, we're spending a few days in Paris and Rome outside of our Bella Italia trip and need to think about what to do there.

I need to focus this weekend and start really planning. But I'm super-excited and looking forward to meeting the other travelers (and having lots of good coffee)!

Relax, I did the same thing last year, I was home sick a recovering from surgery and with all that going on I didn't realize the time and then paniced as I didn't have anything planned for my predays. I did a little on line research and inquired at the hotel and really enjoyed my alone time.

Just think about what you wanted to do when you booked the extra days and start there.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[LionKingRules84]

I can understand, my trip isn't for 4 months and I'm stressing out too!!!

I have an idea of what I want to do but haven't gotten around to etching it in stone, so to speak.

At least the 'Adventure' part is already planned it's the pre and post stuff I'm still trying to figure out, that and airfare. Oh and the OYO time I still haven't figured out.

Plus I realized I need to buy pants. I have jeans that are falling apart and nothing truly 'nice'.

 

[pclaire]

Hi Paddles - I cant believe our trip is so close! I look forward to meeting you. I'm stressing a bit too - its just so crazy with finals, sports and graduation, not to mention getting my my own work wrapped up before leaving town for almost 2 weeks. We will be in rome for 3 days before the disney trip. We are doing a few tours (ancient Rome and the Vatican) and on Saturday we are doing a cooking class. I know we are going to miss seeing a lot of great things, but I didn't want to cram too much into 3 days, especially with jet lag. Here's what I'm stressing about: my daughter's nut allergy, the trip from rome to sorrento, and generally just the 2 of us travelling alone. It feels really different traveling to eurpoe with a child, doesn't it?

Anyway, all will be fine! Where did you decide to stay in rome and when will you be there?

 

[paddles]

I've made myself a list of things to do before our trip, so I'm feeling a little less stressed now. But it is so different traveling with kids!

@pcclaire: My son has a tree nut allergy and that makes me a little concerned (esp because it seems like all European chocolate has hazelnuts in it). But luckily, he's not allergic to peanuts or almonds, so I'm hoping he won't have to miss out on too many desserts.


We're arriving into Paris a few days before the 6/10 Bella Italia tour. I know Paris really well and speak some French, so I feel good about that leg. After the tour, we'll spend a day in Venice (does anyone have any good tour group info for Venice?). I looked at Viator's and they seem expensive and a little generic (I could be wrong).

Then we're onto Rome for a couple of days. I found this tour company and they seem amazing (www.througheternity.com), so we'll do a couple walking tours with them.

I can't wait for the trip!!! Its amazing how time flies and we're nearly there.

 

[RSM]

Just a quick heads up on tree nut allergies (our son also has a tree nut allergy). When we were in Italy/Switzerland a couple of years ago we would ask if the chocolate had nuts in it and were told that it didn't. After a little more conversation the waitress mentioned that it was nutella (which has hazelnuts). Apparently she didn't realize that nutella is hazelnut based. This happened twice during meals on our own. The ABD guides were great about proactively setting ensuring my son's meal was nut free. Although, he did end up eating alot of fruit cups for desert.

Just a quick anecdote about how helpful some people are. We were at a fondue restaurant in Switzerland (on our own meal). We asked about the chocolate fondue and was told it was nut free. So, we ordered it for desert. About 5 minutes later the waiter came back and told us it is actually pre-made in the morning and is nutella. Our son was bummed out, but at this point used to another fruit cup. When desert came, the owner brought a big bowl of chocolate fondue. He said that he had his chef run out to the chocolatier down the road and make a fresh batch special for us. That made our day.

 

[jlou]

Just a quick anecdote about how helpful some people are. We were at a fondue restaurant in Switzerland (on our own meal). We asked about the chocolate fondue and was told it was nut free. So, we ordered it for desert. About 5 minutes later the waiter came back and told us it is actually pre-made in the morning and is nutella. Our son was bummed out, but at this point used to another fruit cup. When desert came, the owner brought a big bowl of chocolate fondue. He said that he had his chef run out to the chocolatier down the road and make a fresh batch special for us. That made our day.

This made me smile today. How nice that they did that for your son!

 

[pclaire]

RSM, how nice was that! I'm hoping that there will be a lot of gelato that is nut-free, because if my daughter cant eat the gelato, I swear she'll get on a plane and fly home herself! She is planning on living on pizza and gelato. Paddles, thats great that your son isn't allergic to almonds, as its used so commonly in baked goods. My dd is allergic to all tree nuts, but no peanuts. At least it will be easy for the guides on our trip. We bought some translation cards that say "I'm allergic to nuts and nut oils" in italian. That tour group does sound great- we booked with Nancy Aiello tours - I read some good reviews, so fingers crossed.