What age to take kids to Europe?

[Anonymous]

Assuming no family visits, what age is best to go? Exposure to London, Paris, Rome, etc for museums and culture.

[Anonymous]

I don't think this is any different than deciding when to take your kids to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone or any other great destinations. When will your kids appreciate it and when will you, as a family, think it is fun. I started on these kind of trips when my older kids were 3 and 7 and had the greatest times ever. But, success is really dependent on the personality and behavior of your kids.

[Anonymous]

I'm waiting until my kid is 6 or 7, because it's a cost factor for us. I don't want to spend thousands if he doesn't enjoy it in some way. I'll make sure there is a good mix of kid activities there as well.

[Anonymous]

We first took kids when youngest was 5 and he was great and remembers the trip. I lived in Europe until I was 3 and don't remember a bit of it so I'd say 3-4 is too young (not to travel, but to get anything out of it).

[Anonymous]

I plan to wait at least until they're past 10 or so - I want them to be able to comprehend and appreciate some of the historical aspects of the trip and I just don't see that happening before then. Actually, we may just wait until they're teens - that way you KNOW they will remember it and learn something from the experience. It's such an expensive proposition for a family trip that I really don't want to do it until they can receive maximum value from the experience.

[Anonymous]

We started taking our kids every other year since they were 3 month old. We love to travel and have been all over Europe. My son has an amazing memory and can still remember things from Paris when he was 2.5 (he is 7 now) and my daughter still talks almost daily about her last trip last December (she had just turn 4). I don't believe she remembers anything before that, though, but she surely enjoyed the experience. We take it really easy when we go, combining museums with parks and allowing for extra time for everything. For example as adults we would not have done the zoo in every city, but the kids just love it, so we accommodate. We love eating out and our children are very use to it so that allows to eat at fine restaurants everywhere, but of course not at every meal. As the PP said it depend a lot on your family dynamics. I also liked what the other PP said about not thinking of it as something different from the Great Canyon or a trip to NYC. There are really great things to do in every city. Don't just equate Europe to "culture" and think that only older kids can "benefit" from the experience. For example, DC has so many wonderful things to offer. I am sure you do not keep your kids away from the National Gallery because it is full of paintings and you are not sure if they will remember about it later. Climbing up the Washington Monument is as exciting as the Empire State or the Eiffel Tower! Of course, cost is a huge factor and everyone wants their money worth but at least for us it has been money well spent at all ages.
Happy traveling!

[Anonymous]

I'm a big believer in the idea that kids will learn to love seeing the world if they enjoy it with you. I also think that aside from "really absorbing" the historical significance of a place, it is important to me that my kids learn and appreciate from a young age how big the world is and how many different lives and lifestyles there are. Every family is different, but we love to travel and wanted to travel with our kids as soon as we could!

We took our first Europe trip when our older child was 18 months and I was about 4 months pregnant (no longer sick but not yet huge), and found it easy and a lot of fun. You have to scale down your expectations a bit--long museum outings aren't realistic, nor are lingering dinners and late nights. But the countries we have visited (Italy, Germany. France, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria) have incredible, large public gardens where kids play with pond yachts (Paris), rent little bikes (Bruges), ride canoes (Versailles), gondolas (Venice), run through "trick" fountains (Salzburg), run around in a safe, pedestrian only zone (all), enjoy people watching (all) and try interesting foods and a different way of life (all). It is also fun to enjoy a new place and its foods with your little ones--Italian gelato, Belgian chocolates, pizza, Dutch fries w/mayo, French crepes.

Usually we do a home swap or rent a house or apartment, and use it as a home base for the week, taking day trips the same way we would at home. It's hard to be in a hotel for a long stretch with kids, with all the food stuff most of us need to store (yogurt, crackers, applesauce, milk, etc) Plus in a house or apartment, you can do laundry, which is simply inescapable for people with young kids. We did stay in a convent once in Italy, for under $30/night! For people who worry about the cost factor, I think airfare is really the only difference--in our case we have miles accumulated from work travel which we are allowed to keep. 1 week in a 1br rental in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower, in a nice neighborhood, with a washer dryer costs about $1,000, about the same as 7 nights in a mid-grade US destination.

Our typical day's itinerary: quick breakfast when DC woke (usually before 7am, sadly), out the door by 8:30, see a sight (Chartres, Notre Dame, Heilbrunn Palace, whatever), eat a simple lunch out, get home for afternoon nap, out again in the late afternoon/early evening.

Now that my kids are school age, we have added Latin America and Asia to our travels. I find that they are very accepting of other ways of life and other cultures. My kids may avoid certain foods (the whole world ain't pizza and gelato) but seem interested in all the different lifestyles that children their age around the world lead.

[Anonymous]

We lived in Europe when my daughter was 1-4 years old and did a lot of travel with her. I think the only things she might remember for any period of time are the trips we took when she was 3.5-almost 4. This was also the time period that was easiest to travel with her, she could do more, didn't need naptime, was more interested in things.

Still, I think if we hadn't had that experience, I would've waited until she was much older, late grade school. I went on my first overseas trip when I was 10/11 and I still remember most of it vividly.

[Anonymous]

We just did Italy (rome, florence, venice) with our 8 and 10 year old this spring and it was great. Did less time in the museums than we did when we travel on our own, but did hit all the highlights. They particularly liked the Colloseum, gondola, the David, pizza and gelato.

[Anonymous]

Simple answer: any age but plan your schedule accordingly.

[Anonymous]

I would just keep in mind that most European cities are not as stroller friendly as US. Paris would not be a great place if you had a stroller. If you plan on backpacking or they can walk, age should not be an issue. We have gone all over with our little ones, just leave the stroller behind

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP, took my twins to London when they were 3 and it is most definitely NOT a stroller-friendly city. That said, we had a terrific time!

If you can afford it, I say kids get something out of traveling to places that are different from their everyday environment at ANY age.

Bon Voyage!

[Anonymous]

I live in Europe with 2 kids. We travel around a lot here and my kids have seen a lot and learn somethingn from every trip (sometimes what we thought they'd learn, but usually something copeltely different). Of course, they will learn and experience things at any age, but from a practical standpoint, it depends on your finances and your child's personality.

If it's a once in a lifetime trip because that's what you can afford, I'd wait until your kids are at least 10, probably closer to 14, so they can appreciate the context of what they are seeing. If you can afford to go more than once, take them as soon as you feel comfortable and then go back when they are older and can put the expereince in context.

If your children are very young and still require naps and certain food, I think it's harder -- but can be done. If your children are inflexible, it can be difficult. If your children hate museums and that's all you want to do, it's not a good fit. I love museums and cathedrals, etc., but I know my kids' limits. I let them take the lead and look at what they want and when they are done, we leave (but I live here and I can go back to some places and others I've already seen anyway). You're setting yourself up if you think your 5 year old will happily go through every museum, castle, cathedral in Europe. Trust me, they get bored!

Have fun!!!! It is a great experience for kids!