Where to go in Europe and how???

[JennCa]

I need the British insight so I'm asking you all!!!

Our American family is spending sabbatical (8 weeks vacation) next summer mostly in France, Italy and possibly Austria/Switz. I'll have a 4 year old boy and 10 year old girl.

My hubby is English and we met at University of Lancaster and while I was there I noticed travelling with packages from England was MUCH cheaper than what we see advertised from the US.

We typically go to timeshare type places where we can cook and have shared facilities of pool, jacuzzi, kids activities, etc. I can't find any really nice timeshares that have the facilities we are looking for since I don't know where to look! All I see is camping and we aren't bringing camping gear.

I was also considering renting a gite if it is very nice and I can get some real reviews on it. I hate to spend a whole week stuck in a dive!!! Any websites that have real reviews and pricing for gites?

Any destinations you've really enjoyed? Our tentative plan is fly to Rome, transfer to Venice and stay 4-5 days, see family at Lake Garda, train to Provence area week there, Dordogne area for one week, Normandy one week, Loire Valley 4-5 days?, Paris one week and possibly Eurodisney area for a week. Not sure yet and am open.

Am also open to another destination in Europe that would be fund for the kids and have things for adults to do also. Any other places you've really enjoyed?


Any other ideas?

Jenn

 

[~Piglet~]

My friend has a gite in the Dordogne area, I haven't been there personally (I would like to in the next year or two though) but it looks very nice

They have a facebook page called 'pretty little cottage in the Dordogne' (Here) if you want to have a look. If it's not suitable for you they may be able to suggest something else in the area

 

[Mr Stoat]

We stayed in a cottage in Normandy a couple of years back, near Vire, not particularly close to anything but centraly located to go to the Normandy Beaches, Caen, Bayeaux, Mont Saint Michelle and Swiss Normandy. La Vigne I think its name was.

 

[JennCa]

I've never rented a property before, how do you know it is as it is represented? Are there reviews?

How do you know what you are getting?

Jenn

 

[Mr Stoat]

We just searched on cottages to rent in Normandy, this was all arranged via a company cottages 4 you. Worked out quite well, nice place to stay, they have lots of properties, in various different locations.

 

[chmurf]

So, about that eurodisney thing. I would not advise you to spend more than 3 nights around DLP (Disneyland Paris). The parks are rather small (although pretty) and if you're familiar with Disney (I suppose you are since you're on this board) I don't really see the point in spending too much time there. The size doesn't compare to US Parks, and the distances are really short (2 minutes walk between both parks)
I would suggest you get a Disney Hotel to take advantage of the EMHs in the morning.

If you're planning a week in the paris area, leave 2 or 3 days for DLP and the rest for Paris itself.

while in Paris, if you have a car, you'll notice that parking there is a nightmare, and parking regulations are strictly enforced.
Park in the wrong spot and you could get your car towed away before you even had a chance to lock it (nearly kidding, lol)
Most hotels will have a parking lot (underground) but will charge extra (minimum is 8 euro per 24hrs but some are just plain ridiculous prices)
you could also get a hotel outside of the city and use the RER and Metropolitain (metro/subway) to get around (Paris being a major city, it can also become unsafe for tourist not being too aware that they are tourists and that it shows - cameras around your neck, iphone or wallet in the backpocket, backpacks with easy to open zippers, and carefree attitude is just asking for trouble in public transportation - rule of thumb, don't do there what you wouldn't do in a major city in the US)
warning for all travellers to France, some people have reinstated the "stain con". Basically one crook will fake tripping or running into you and spill something on your clothes (coffee, water, juice, whatever) and while he offers to help you clean or dry the stain and keeps you distracted, an accomplice will come from behind and pickpocket you.


If you plan to go up the Eiffel Tower, it is more than strongly advised to book in advance (you need to choose the date) that will allow you to skip the line (at the busiest times you could be in line for 1.5 or 2hours under a blazing sun if you don't have a reservation)

Plan to take a ride on the "bateaux mouche" along the seine river. Definitely worth it if you don't know the city.

If you plan to walk around in paris, remember that this is a very old city, and the road/street system is pretty complicated
do get a map and plan an itinerary.

For more comprehensive information, go to the DLP planning board (here on DIS) some folks like Carrie_cat who lives in Paris are very helpful and knowledgable.
For the rest of France you'll also find DISers with pretty good knowledge of the places of interest

 

[~Piglet~]

I've never rented a property before, how do you know it is as it is represented? Are there reviews?

How do you know what you are getting?

I would do the same as I would if looking for a hotel - read any reviews from previous holidaymakers, look at the photographs, google the area (and property)

 

[JennCa]

Thank you for the advice, we are visiting Paris during peak time so I know the Eiffel tower will be busy.

I am curious is crime is worse now than it was 6 years ago, that was the last time we went to France. We are always cautious and honestly don't have too much to steal anyway!

We won't have a car in Paris at all.

My kiddos and I are big into Disney and have been to Disneyland, that is only 500 miles away, Florida lots of times and only to Hong Kong once. While Hong Kong in terms of Disney was not overwhelming culturally I found it fascinating! I loved seeing the different snacks for sale and how they dealt with all the different languages.

I am hopeful that EuroDisney will feel culturally different.

One of my main pulls to the area is that I can get a timeshare rental for an affordable price and at that point in my trip the kids may be content to sightsee a lot less and just hang at the pool.

I'm still trying to see real reviews of different properties and figuring out which features are the most important.

Still open to any advice, reviews, ideas of companies to book through and where to see reviews. So far I use airbb, tripadvisor, redweek, priceline, homeaway to get some ideas.

I was also considering looking at a few Thomas Cook type places to check for prices and see what companies may work for us.


Jenn