Traveling with family abroad without a travel agent- need help!!

[Anonymous]

I use old fashioned tour books like Fodors. Otherwise I am overwhelmed by the options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you can’t book this yourself? I run a business and still manage to plan trips for my family of 5 (plus sometimes 1-2 grandparents). It isn’t hard. Do a bit of internet research and find restaurant listings for the areas where you will be. Lots of message boards (including this one) give good advice for tours, restaurants and sites.
Or buy a good guidebook and book recommendations based on the guidance there.

We can, and are doing it ourselves so far. Doing lots of research and reading lots of travel boards. But realized, like for the soccer game, we way overpaid using a broker site rather than buy from a different direct site. So, just wondering what other tips or tricks since this is our first time abroad in over 15 years and first time ever bringing kids--- it's a little overwhelming and was hoping someone who travels more frequently can be a support so I don't miss anything or mess up bookings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are some tips-
Book Anne Frank house in advance - tix go on sale a certain number of weeks in advance and if you’re going in peak travel time, you need to get on it.
Van Gogh we also booked in advance.

Just look at a map and see where attractions are. Figure out an itinerary based on that.

Google 2-3 days in London / Amsterdam and you’ll get ideas for itineraries.

OP here--- Yes-- I am checking the Anne Frank site daily- tickets for our dates are not released yet. Been Googling a lot but just want to do things the smart way as there are so many options out there that you get to from Google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will help you out with one tip regarding transportation. For transportation for the adults, just use a contactless credit card or your phone (Apple or Google Wallet) to pay for the Tube/trains/buses. The 8 year old (and any kids 10 and under) can ride pretty much everything for free- Tube, buses, Elizabeth Line, Overground.

For the kids 11 and over, buy an Oyster card at a ticket machine at Heathrow for 5 pounds for each kid. Then go to an agent and have the agent put the "Young Visitor Discount" on each Oyster card, and that will make all fares 50% off. Then put say 20 pounds on each card and you are probably all set for the entire trip.

https://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/london_transport_child_fares.htm

Once you get to your very final destination in London (sounds like maybe St Pancras for the train to Amsterdam), after you exit the Tube for the last time, go to a fare machine and you can get a cash refund for any fares remaining on the Oyster cards. Unfortunately you can't get the 5 pound original price back. You can then cash in those pounds for euros at a bad exchange rate at St Pancras!

OP here--this is super helpful! Thank you so much---- these are the things I haven't even yet thought about---but we are planning on using the tube as our main way of getting around London and this is exactly the kind of tips we are looking for!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are some tips-
Book Anne Frank house in advance - tix go on sale a certain number of weeks in advance and if you’re going in peak travel time, you need to get on it.
Van Gogh we also booked in advance.

Just look at a map and see where attractions are. Figure out an itinerary based on that.

Google 2-3 days in London / Amsterdam and you’ll get ideas for itineraries.

OP here--- Yes-- I am checking the Anne Frank site daily- tickets for our dates are not released yet. Been Googling a lot but just want to do things the smart way as there are so many options out there that you get to from Google.

I went to Amsterdam March of last year, and booked the canal cruise with this company. It was great.

https://captaindaveamsterdam.com/

We bought Anne Frank tickets direct from the site. We also did a bike tour which was fabulous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are some tips-
Book Anne Frank house in advance - tix go on sale a certain number of weeks in advance and if you’re going in peak travel time, you need to get on it.
Van Gogh we also booked in advance.

Just look at a map and see where attractions are. Figure out an itinerary based on that.

Google 2-3 days in London / Amsterdam and you’ll get ideas for itineraries.

OP here--- Yes-- I am checking the Anne Frank site daily- tickets for our dates are not released yet. Been Googling a lot but just want to do things the smart way as there are so many options out there that you get to from Google.

I went to Amsterdam March of last year, and booked the canal cruise with this company. It was great.

https://captaindaveamsterdam.com/
OP here, thank you! Great link for the canal cruise!
We bought Anne Frank tickets direct from the site. We also did a bike tour which was fabulous.

[Anonymous]

Go to Tripadvisor Travel Forums for London and Amsterdam, and read through the questions and responses from other people. If you have a specific question about a place, post it. Experts from those areas will answer you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will help you out with one tip regarding transportation. For transportation for the adults, just use a contactless credit card or your phone (Apple or Google Wallet) to pay for the Tube/trains/buses. The 8 year old (and any kids 10 and under) can ride pretty much everything for free- Tube, buses, Elizabeth Line, Overground.

For the kids 11 and over, buy an Oyster card at a ticket machine at Heathrow for 5 pounds for each kid. Then go to an agent and have the agent put the "Young Visitor Discount" on each Oyster card, and that will make all fares 50% off. Then put say 20 pounds on each card and you are probably all set for the entire trip.

https://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/london_transport_child_fares.htm

Once you get to your very final destination in London (sounds like maybe St Pancras for the train to Amsterdam), after you exit the Tube for the last time, go to a fare machine and you can get a cash refund for any fares remaining on the Oyster cards. Unfortunately you can't get the 5 pound original price back. You can then cash in those pounds for euros at a bad exchange rate at St Pancras!

OP here--this is super helpful! Thank you so much---- these are the things I haven't even yet thought about---but we are planning on using the tube as our main way of getting around London and this is exactly the kind of tips we are looking for!

One more transit tip- use the "Transit" app to plan getting places. It is very good and includes up to date time estimates, next train/bus, etc. Really great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of 5 traveling out of the country for the first time (with kids). Going to London and Amsterdam. Kids are between 8-13 yrs old. Because we booked our own flights and hotels, (my husband is pretty familiar with the areas) no travel agent will work with us to plan tours, etc.

Doing 6 days in London and 2 days in Amsterdam. 1 day in London is already planned with a friends birthday event.

We know we want to do the tour of the Tower of London and Tate Museum and do an afternoon tea in London. Already purchased tickets to theater and to a soccer game. In Amsterdam we want to do Van Gogh Museum, canal cruise and Anne Frank House. Other than that, we want to walk around and explore parks, neighborhoods, etc. We also want to eat at some good restaurants that our kids will enjoy but we will also feel like we get a quality meal.

There are so many sites when you google tours/tickets/restaurant recommendations. First, is there a travel agent who will help with just booking tours and finalizing itinerary? Helping us with restaurant reservations, some car transport, etc? OR--- are there sites you can recommend to help with these bookings? We are thankful for any helpful tips and tricks!

Spent 9 days in Amsterdam last summer and did extensive walking. I think you should lower your expectations on "parks and neighborhoods." Amsterdam was filthy. Same with the food. We did enjoy a food tour there, and a few OK restaurants, but the food there is not anything special. But you are only there for two days. I think seeing the sights above will keep you relatively busy. Would also recommend the Maritime Museum for kids or the Context Rijksmuseum tour for kids. https://www.contexttravel.com/cities/amsterdam

[Anonymous]

Expensive, but great... and they buy the "Skip the Line" tickets:
https://www.contexttravel.com/cities/london/tours/tower-of-london-tour-for-kids?display_currency=USD

[Anonymous]

Rick Steves -check his website or/and buy his guidebooks. It's excellent.

[Anonymous]

We’ve never used a travel agent. Either book the attractions directly or email the concierge at your hotel. For easy things like tea in London, just book online directly.

Not sure of your price range, but we started using inspirato for family travel, and it’s amazing. You get a destination specific concierge for each trip

[Anonymous]

From Amsterdam you could do a fun tour out of the city and see the windmills and a cheese farm and some of the smaller towns near the Islemeer (sp). We did that with our kids and they had a blast. I was chosen as the “helper” for making stroopwafels and it was the funniest thing ever. And so low stress. In London, I suggest going to watch the Horse Guard Parade … easier than changing the guard. And then you can walk through the park. Also the Natural History museum is smallish and manageable and it is where Paddington was filmed. We also went up to the very top of the Dome at St. Paul’s and that is pretty cool.

[Anonymous]

AI can help you with this

[Anonymous]

Also highly recommend context travel. If you just do 1 tour, get Lawrence for the family British museum tour. My kids were same age as yours. They did not want to leave and in fact we ended up booking him for the following day bc he was so good.
Also - get matinee tix to Matilda or wicked. Very fun.