OUR FAMILY OF TWO ADULTS AND TWO SONS, 8 AND 3-YEARS-OLD, WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE IN JULY. GIVEN THE AGE OF OUR SONS, SHOULD WE JOIN A GUIDED TOUR OR DO SELF-GUIDED TOURING?
AS WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO EUROPE WE WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT OUR TRIP TO TWO OR THREE COUNTRIES IN TWO TO THREE WEEKS. WHICH COUNTRIES WOULD YOU SUGGEST?
A. DUONG. HURLSTONE PARK
I suggest you don't take a guided tour. Guided tours can be gruelling for young children, they travel at a reasonable pace and days are often long and tiring.
Also, guided tours are most likely going to be focusing on cultural wonders, history, churches and museums that have zero appeal for a three-year-old and that spells trouble.
What you could do though is focus your trip on cities, which have plenty of scope for all to enjoy, beginning in London.
In July you don't want anywhere that's too hot, and a familiar language, food and customs makes it easier to find your feet and get the kids and you off to a good start. First stop might be the Science Museum in South Kensington, which is packed with exhibits to do with dinosaurs, space exploration and much that will amaze the boys and most likely give them an appetite for more. My own short list would also include the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the Natural History Museum, the London Eye, a stroll along Piccadilly from Hyde Park Corner, the Tower of London, the British Museum and a tour to Windsor Castle.
Visit London has a website specifically for children with suggestions for family-friendly accommodation and you can find plenty more on the Time Out London kids' website .
From London you could take the Eurostar train (eurostar.com)to Paris and spend a few days exploring this lovely city. You can find plenty of helpful suggestions for your time there if you Google "Paris with children".
After Paris my pick would be Amsterdam, another great city packed with marvels to see and do. Once again, Google has plenty to get you going.
