Hey friends,
This Tuesday, Chris and I are taking our three kids on a camping trip around Europe for a month (I say camping, but there will be some hotel stays and Airbnbs along the way). The purpose of this trip is to have quality time together as a family, as well as teach our children about the fabulous food cultures (especially baked goodies :)) found around the world. While I know there will be some stunning places along the way, I really do not want this to be a “vanity” trip for the kids. Instead, my goal is that they make memories, gain appreciation for other people and places, and bond. I’m also super excited to have this experience with Chris. We have always loved going on adventures together!
For those of you who like to travel, I will post our general road trip itinerary below, and our detailed itinerary once the trip is complete. One of the reasons I’m only sharing the general itinerary is so that if we make improvements, you have the best version to use for your own future trip. Please say a prayer for us as we set out on this crazy European adventure!
European Road Trip Itinerary with Kids – (This makes one gigantic loop)!
Camper/RV rental: Indie Campers
Destination cities/regions:
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Madrid, Spain
- Barcelona, Spain
- Provence-Alpes-Cote D’Azure, France (Provence)
- Cannes, France (Day trips: Saint-Tropez and Monaco)
- Florence, Italy
- Lauterbunnen Valley, Switzerland (Day trips: Grindelwald, Bern, Luzern, etc.)
- Baden-Baden, Germany (Day trip: Black Forest National Park)
- Paris, France
- Bordeaux, France
- Bilbao, Spain (northern coastal road)
- Leon, Spain
- Porto, Portugal (Day trip: Nazare lighthouse)
- Lisbon, Portugal
Few tips for your future European road trip:
- Google Flights is an excellent way to find the lowest airfares. In fact, you can zoom out on the GF map and see rates during your timeframe all over the world. This is how we chose Porto as our starting place for this trip as it was the cheapest spot in Europe to fly into during our selected dates.
- For families larger than four, Glamping Hub, Hip Camp, and Airbnb are essential. Hotels will make you reserve at least two rooms for groups of four or more which adds up fast. We rented several incredible Airbnbs that are far less expensive than multiple rooms and SO MUCH BETTER!
- Pack in duffel bags. There isn’t much room on these RVs and when staying in cities you need to take your belongings with you. Duffel bags and backpacks are easier for everyone (kids included) to carry through cities (in route to hotels, etc.) than roller bags. Additionally, they can squish to a small size which is far more practical if driving an RV. Lastly, I must say busting out roller bags at your campsites will make you feel like a total “noob!” Don’t do it. 🙂
- Easy does it! The best tip I can give any parent when taking a long trip like this is to plan your primary destinations well in advance, but keep the “in-between” times loose. Many of us feel compelled to have everything planned out like a trip to Disney, but this isn’t your run-of-the-mill family getaway. Diving five hours and dragging a tired child to a fancy dinner reservation isn’t fun for anyone. Letting the family make a few spontaneous plans during your trip will make for the sweetest memories.
More to come!
Love,
Emily
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