Tips and advice... |
Arriving in a foreign country...
Arriving in a foreign country after 22 hours on a plane. To find a man holding a sign with our name on it. Ready to wisk us away to our hotel, was worth every cent we paid. Rick Steves' tours provide very detailed information on how to get to your hotel from the airport. But after our long flight, we were not in the right frame of mind to navigate our way around a forein country. We organised our airport transfer after booking our flighst. Keep in mind that in order to get on any form of transport, especially travelling as a family of five. You must travel light. It is hard enough to find someone that will take five people, let alone luggage as well.
Travel light... |
All Rick Steves' Tours advise you to pack light. There is a reason for that, you are responsible for your own luggage at all times. The bus can only get so close to some of the accommodation. You will be required to carry your bags, up and down hills, over cobbled paths, up flights of stairs, in all types of weather. Pack Light!
It can be done. I steeled my kids for six months prior to our departure, as to the what they could take with them. Each of us was allowed a cabin sized suit case and a day backpack. If it didn't fit in that it wasn't coming. We took the bearest amount of toiletries, so that we could take our cases in the cabin with us. Once we arrived we went shopping for shampoo and spray deodorants. This mean't no lost luggage, and enabled us to walk straight off the plane in Rome, straight into the arms of our transfer driver. I will never travel any other way from now on. It was brilliant. (We did however by a small case in Venice to enable us to pack any purchases we made along the way)
It can be done. I steeled my kids for six months prior to our departure, as to the what they could take with them. Each of us was allowed a cabin sized suit case and a day backpack. If it didn't fit in that it wasn't coming. We took the bearest amount of toiletries, so that we could take our cases in the cabin with us. Once we arrived we went shopping for shampoo and spray deodorants. This mean't no lost luggage, and enabled us to walk straight off the plane in Rome, straight into the arms of our transfer driver. I will never travel any other way from now on. It was brilliant. (We did however by a small case in Venice to enable us to pack any purchases we made along the way)
When the kids say...not another church...
There is really only one response.."Suck it up Princess". There is no point arguing, you will never apease them. It not worth raising your stress levels, and destroying any hope of you enjoying the visit.
*The phrase "Suck it up Princess" will work for either sex if the right tone is adopted.
*The phrase "Suck it up Princess" will work for either sex if the right tone is adopted.
The good thing about a family tour is that all guided tours are geared to suit both the young and the old. So you don't feel overwhelmed with information. Having said that in Florence we were spoiled by having two tour guides. One for the kids, and a separate one for the adults. This meant that the adults could go off to the Uffizi Gallery for a more adult oriented tour of some of the great masters.
Toilets...
Don't get caught short. Always carry some small change in your pocket. There is a toilet on the bus, but in the interest of passenger comfort, only use this in an emergency. There are regular toilet stops all through out the tour. Most of the Autobarns toilets are free and usually very clean, make the most of these. Occasionly one may need a few small coins to enter. Some of the tourist attractions require a small fee. Like the one at the base of the hill at Neuschwanstein castle. After queing up after our tour, we realised as we we got closer there was a turnstile that reuired change to enter the toilets. With no money on us and busrting bladers, my daughter made a dash back to the tour group while I held our place in line. Crisis adverted. From that moment on, I always had loose change in my pocket.
Photograph itinerary changes...
There are bound to be changes to the itinerary. This may be due to weather conditions or other circumstances out of our control. The itinerary for each leg of the tour will be posted in a prominent position, usually in reception. Take a photo of these sheets, then you will never be caught out. You will always know where to be and when.
Daylight into the night...
Coming from down under no one prepared us for the fact it remains light up until 10.00 pm at night. It was a real shock to the system. That on top of jet lag can be very taxing. But once you get use to it, it's fantastic.
Sensible shoes...
I had taken sensible shoes with me for the trip. A pair of runners and a flat pair of shoes with a good sole and arch support. All was going well, shoes were working a treat, until l got some gravel in the back of my shoe at the Forum in Rome on an extremely hot day. By the time we reached our motel that night, the skin had been rubbed off the back of my heal. I could still wear my runners with socks, that was fine. but with the temperature soaring, it was incredibly hot. So in Venice I succumbed... I bought a pair of Birkenstocks. After all millions of Europeans can't be wrong. Back home I had never liked the look of them, at least not on me. But desperate times call for desperate measures. OMG, I have not had them off my feet since. In fact the first thing I did when I got home was buy a second pair. I walked all over Paris in these, I climbed the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triumph in them. No complaints.
Travelling with kids...
What are you waiting for? Stop procrastinating and just do it. Book that tour, you will not regret it
Yes there will be moments when you think...what the hell have I done?, during the preparation, and upon arrival. But once you get there and get going, all those fears just vanish. For us seeing Europe for the first time was amazing, but to be able to see our kids experiencing it for the first time was a precious gift. Upon our return family members, friends and teachers have all commented on how the kids now seem to have a new air of confidence. Don't get me wrong, they were certainly no shrinking violets to begin with, but they now appear more comfortable in their own skins. Travelling to a foreign country and mingling with strangers, forming friendships builds character. These kind of lessons can not be taught in a class room. But as for the standard school subjects taught in school, languages, history, geography even maths what a better classroom could you ask for.
Yes there will be moments when you think...what the hell have I done?, during the preparation, and upon arrival. But once you get there and get going, all those fears just vanish. For us seeing Europe for the first time was amazing, but to be able to see our kids experiencing it for the first time was a precious gift. Upon our return family members, friends and teachers have all commented on how the kids now seem to have a new air of confidence. Don't get me wrong, they were certainly no shrinking violets to begin with, but they now appear more comfortable in their own skins. Travelling to a foreign country and mingling with strangers, forming friendships builds character. These kind of lessons can not be taught in a class room. But as for the standard school subjects taught in school, languages, history, geography even maths what a better classroom could you ask for.