Right MSE experts. Help with a trip of a lifetime to europe.

anonymousie

Kids will be 16 13 and 10 next summer.

I have managed to grab some sabbatical leave (ie unpaid) to extend my holiday to allow me to take all the 6 weeks (DH teaches so it isn't an issue for him). We want to do something memorable before he kids are too old to be too busy to come with us.

Initially "Voluntourism" appealed (and still does) but doesn't really seem feaseable with a 10yr old in tow.

We went to DD1s A level choices evening and it dawned on me that, as she is doing history (mostly post 1900 political history it seems) along with RE (ethics and philosphy based syllabus- sounds bril!) as well as english and music that it would be an opportunity to visit historical sites/places both to help her, but it is something DH and I would love as well (and the other kids would enjoy it).

We will be driving and will need to sort out places to stay as cheaply as poss for 5 of us, so probably houses rented via the web.

We also like walking/spectacular views, cities and cathedrals/churches.

Random list of places so far to try to include:

War cemetries

Anne Franks house

A concentration camp (Auschwitz would be the obvious, but don't know if we'll make it to poland ? buchenwald)

Rome

pompeii

Prague?

What would you add to your list of places to visit?
(we have visited france a lot incl paris over the years, so probably not more than a fleeting "pop in" on the way through I think).

richardw

Granada, Cadiz, Jerez, Seville

easyJet and ryanair have lots of flights across Europe

http://easyjet.com/EN/routemap/

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/dests.php?flash=chk&culture=GB&pos=HEAD

would save a bit of time over long distances.

kb36

Have you considered house swapping it really is a great way to live like the locals and see the sites and has the added bonus of saving you a packet on accommodation.

glitterycloud

how about Florence (for its art history), verona (romeo and juliet), Vatigan City, you could time your visit to take in a classical musical festival - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/artsandculture/1308162/Europes-top-classical-music-festivals.html
You could take in a battle field tour and/or museum Normandy sites - http://www.roanoke.com/dday/sites.html
Acropolis in Greece or Olympia the birth place of Olympic Games

Thats all ive got for now hth


*edit* here is another link with some dates of musical festivals http://www.martinrandall.com/Music-Festivals.aspx

pandora205

What a wonderful opportunity for everyone.

It's worth checking the English and music syllabuses, as there may well be literature set in Europe, and certainly some some musicians certainly will come from various locations en route.

Amsterdam is certainly a great place with kids those ages (as I've done it twice with mine and they love it). There's a very impressive science museum there which is supposed to be very hands on, which I've not visited but is on the list.

I found the Dorling Kindersley Top Ten guides useful if making just a quick visit to cities.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barcelona-Eyewitness-Top-Travel-Guides/dp/1405327790/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227366473&sr=8-3

dmg24

If you are going to Spain, why not hop over to Morocco and take the Marrakech Express? Marrakech is a fascinating place, and the train journey would make it all the more of an adventure.

blindman

Dachau concentration camp is just outside Munich

Hercluaneum is near Pompei and you can go to the very top of Mt Vesuvius

Pisa is worth a trip.

BTW
Don't forget top factor in some fun!

Voyager2002

Istanbul has a lot to offer. On the RE side, it is fascinating to be in what is now a Muslim city that was the capital of a great Christian empire for a thousand years. Tons of history, including lots of memorials to Attaturk, so World War I and events at the time are very much alive there. And it is the most fabulously beautiful place, with great buildings and the sea.

knightstyle

Go up Mt Blanc from the Italian side, less queues great alpine garden half way up etc. Take the kids to Puy du Fou near Cholet in Western France. Go to an opera in Verona.

anonymousie

blindman wrote: »

Dachau concentration camp is just outside Munich

Hercluaneum is near Pompei and you can go to the very top of Mt Vesuvius

Pisa is worth a trip.

BTW
Don't forget top factor in some fun!

Hi
Don't worry fun will feature too! I have parc asterix as a possible for a start!

misscomickat

How about Berlin-Prague-Krakow? Easily done by train. Auchwitz is easily accessible from Krakow. Berlin is a great city - so much history and yet so modern.