Atri I

We have progressed from early stages to tickets booked - now I'm
terrified ;-) A few people have asked me for details and experiences,
and I will certainly post a trip report on our return.

We have decided to travel by train (getting Eurail passes), though we
might rent a car for some smaller side trips. The main reason for
going for the train as opposed to driving was that train is more
relaxing than a car, both for the parents as well as the kids. We
sacrifice some flexibility, but on balance, I think it is better this
way, especially for longer distances. We will do long trips as
overnight in sleepers, and shorter trips during the daytime.
Tentatively, we will be there for around 3 weeks (Sept 25 to Oct 16),
and the trip will be roughly Paris, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Brussels,
Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Switzerland (might do this by car),
Paris. Venice and/or Barcelona are also under consideration, but we
will have to drop something else, else we will spend too much time
traveling.

My questions now deal with luggage and child carriers. Neither of my
kids stayed in an infant child carrier . We tried the Evenflo Snugli -
looking at the reviews below, it looks like we are not alone in this.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...485773-8865422

Now, for this trip, we are considering something like the Evenflo
Trailblazer or REI Tagalong.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=glance&s=baby

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ory_rn=4500629

Any experiences or recommendations for these or similar products? How
would they be for getting in and out of trains, especially something
like a crowded metro?

We will also take an umbrella stroller, so, one kid in the stroller,
and the other in the backpack carrier. One suggestion I have received
is to take two umbrella strollers, and some straps, so that we could
bind the two to make a double stroller, or keep them separate,
depending on where we were, and how many hands we had free. My older
daughter will be almost 4 during the trip, and while she will walk
quite a bit, I think she will need to be carried or in the stroller
quite often. The younger one will be 15 months, and will not walk
much.

In terms of other luggage, my wife and I will each have a small
backpack for essential, easily accessible supplies (change of clothes,
diapers, some food and drink, first aid kit), as well as a small
suitcase on wheels for each of us. Since we will have to be prepared
for all kinds of weather (hot to cold to rainy), luggage space will be
tight, but I think we can manage.

Any suggestions and recomendations? Any similar experiences?

Atri



(Atri I) writes:

    >
    > We are in the early stages of planning on a trip to Europe (probably
    > from amongst two or more of Italy, France, Switzerland and
    > Austria). Our children are 13 months and 3.5 years old. One of the
    > main decisions is whether to drive or take the trains (I have done
    > both, including a trip to Paris and Rome by train, when the older
    > child was 2 years old). The main question at this point is about
    > European cars and child restraint laws. Do they have similar car seat
    > laws, and do rental car agencies provide car seats?
    >
    > At this time, I am leaning towards the train (though a car might be
    > useful for some local travel away from major cities). Any
    > recommendations/suggestions would be welcome.
    >
    > Thx,
    >
    > Atri

John Bermont

Atri I wrote:
    > We have progressed from early stages to tickets booked - now I'm
    > terrified ;-) A few people have asked me for details and experiences,
    > and I will certainly post a trip report on our return.
    >
    > We have decided to travel by train (getting Eurail passes), though we
    > might rent a car for some smaller side trips. The main reason for
    > going for the train as opposed to driving was that train is more
    > relaxing than a car, both for the parents as well as the kids. We
    > sacrifice some flexibility, but on balance, I think it is better this
    > way, especially for longer distances. We will do long trips as
    > overnight in sleepers, and shorter trips during the daytime.
    > Tentatively, we will be there for around 3 weeks (Sept 25 to Oct 16),
    > and the trip will be roughly Paris, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Brussels,
    > Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Switzerland (might do this by car),
    > Paris. Venice and/or Barcelona are also under consideration, but we
    > will have to drop something else, else we will spend too much time
    > traveling.
    >
    > My questions now deal with luggage and child carriers. Neither of my
    > kids stayed in an infant child carrier . We tried the Evenflo Snugli -
    > looking at the reviews below, it looks like we are not alone in this.
    >
    > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...485773-8865422
    >
    > Now, for this trip, we are considering something like the Evenflo
    > Trailblazer or REI Tagalong.
    >
    > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=glance&s=baby
    >
    > http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ory_rn=4500629
    >
    > Any experiences or recommendations for these or similar products? How
    > would they be for getting in and out of trains, especially something
    > like a crowded metro?
    >
    > We will also take an umbrella stroller, so, one kid in the stroller,
    > and the other in the backpack carrier. One suggestion I have received
    > is to take two umbrella strollers, and some straps, so that we could
    > bind the two to make a double stroller, or keep them separate,
    > depending on where we were, and how many hands we had free. My older
    > daughter will be almost 4 during the trip, and while she will walk
    > quite a bit, I think she will need to be carried or in the stroller
    > quite often. The younger one will be 15 months, and will not walk
    > much.
    >
    > In terms of other luggage, my wife and I will each have a small
    > backpack for essential, easily accessible supplies (change of clothes,
    > diapers, some food and drink, first aid kit), as well as a small
    > suitcase on wheels for each of us. Since we will have to be prepared
    > for all kinds of weather (hot to cold to rainy), luggage space will be
    > tight, but I think we can manage.
    >
    > Any suggestions and recomendations? Any similar experiences?
    >
    > Atri
    >
    >
    >
    > (Atri I) writes:
    >
    >
    >>We are in the early stages of planning on a trip to Europe (probably
    >>from amongst two or more of Italy, France, Switzerland and
    >>Austria). Our children are 13 months and 3.5 years old. One of the
    >>main decisions is whether to drive or take the trains (I have done
    >>both, including a trip to Paris and Rome by train, when the older
    >>child was 2 years old). The main question at this point is about
    >>European cars and child restraint laws. Do they have similar car seat
    >>laws, and do rental car agencies provide car seats?
    >>At this time, I am leaning towards the train (though a car might be
    >>useful for some local travel away from major cities). Any
    >>recommendations/suggestions would be welcome.
    >>Thx,
    >>Atri
    >

You are biting off much more than you want to chew for 3 weeks and 2
toddlers. Make it Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels, and Amsterdam this time.
Put the rest on hold. Heck, just Paris plus Amsterdam and environs of
each would make a good 3 week trip even without the kids and their
stuff. The kids will have more luggage than you and spouse. Besides the
wheelies think about a portable crib, or two.

You will need a child seat for each of the kids. A regular seat belt is
death for a small child. Car rental agencies have child seats for a
price. Book these in advance. The children must ride in the back seat.
'Are we there yet?'

John Bermont
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/

JOhn Bermont
http:\\wwww.enjoy-europe.com\