Family City Break In October - Suggestions?
Discussion
Hi all. October half term we usually head to the South West for the week but thinking we might change it a bit this year and do a few days in a European city. My go-to is Paris as I love it there but never taken the kids...
Looking for somewhere where there is stuff to do/see for us two and the boys (aged 11 and 14) - any suggestions?
And where do people suggest to book stuff like this?
Just been looking on the Jet2 website and the total cost of a central hotel for 3 nights (Novotel near the Louvre) is about £2500 and looking on skyscanner, just over £1000 of that is the flights and the room direct via Novotel is about £1000 (so booking via Jet2 - the skyscanner flights are via Jet2!) costs me about £500 more for seemingly nothing.
Looking for somewhere where there is stuff to do/see for us two and the boys (aged 11 and 14) - any suggestions?
And where do people suggest to book stuff like this?
Just been looking on the Jet2 website and the total cost of a central hotel for 3 nights (Novotel near the Louvre) is about £2500 and looking on skyscanner, just over £1000 of that is the flights and the room direct via Novotel is about £1000 (so booking via Jet2 - the skyscanner flights are via Jet2!) costs me about £500 more for seemingly nothing.
We've done Paris twice with our daughter who was 3 the first time and 8 the second time. I'm a bit of a cheapskate, so just booked IBIS Budget hotels. First time we went between Xmas and New Year and paid just over £100 for 3 nights in the hotel (total) and return Eurostar from Ebbsfleet was about £150 (total) in their sale. Car parking at Ebbsfleet was £25 for 4 days. The hotel was basic, but fine and about 20 minutes from the Eiffel Tower on the metro and the station was about 500 yards away. Booked that via Booking.com. We were hardly in the room apart from sleeping, so didn't see the point in spending a fortune on a room and we just got breakfast as we left in a morning and then ate at Xmas Markets or made some picnics up. Did the same the second time as well, but that was October half term and costs were a little bit more, but not much and we did Halloween at Euro Disney.
Loved walking around Paris on both trips for 3-4 days, so much to see and do. We did a couple of viewing platforms that weren't the Eiffel Tower, those being the the Grande Arche in La Defense and Galeries Lafayette Rooftop Terrace.
Last city break we did was October half term 2018 and we went to Florence for a week, with day trips on the super quick trains to Rome, Pisa and Venice as well. Booked in advance the trains were pretty reasonable, from memory the most expensive was about £100 return for all 3 of us to Venice. Had some Avios points so we only paid £105 for the flights with BA from Birmingham and 7 nights in an apartment 20 mins on the train from Florence was £280. Apartment was on Owners Direct which I think is VRBO now.
Loved walking around Paris on both trips for 3-4 days, so much to see and do. We did a couple of viewing platforms that weren't the Eiffel Tower, those being the the Grande Arche in La Defense and Galeries Lafayette Rooftop Terrace.
Last city break we did was October half term 2018 and we went to Florence for a week, with day trips on the super quick trains to Rome, Pisa and Venice as well. Booked in advance the trains were pretty reasonable, from memory the most expensive was about £100 return for all 3 of us to Venice. Had some Avios points so we only paid £105 for the flights with BA from Birmingham and 7 nights in an apartment 20 mins on the train from Florence was £280. Apartment was on Owners Direct which I think is VRBO now.
We had a week in Porto last October - the weather was unseasonal, high 20's all week, 30 on some days but the Atlantic breeze kept it nice.
We absolutely loved it and can't wait to go again.
Such nice people, great food and a wonderful vibe. And for the kids... the Harry Potter bookshop.
One of our favourite cities together with Florence
We absolutely loved it and can't wait to go again.
Such nice people, great food and a wonderful vibe. And for the kids... the Harry Potter bookshop.
One of our favourite cities together with Florence
Probably not what you were expecting but Bucharest, Romania has this insane indoor water park with an outdoor beach and pools.
It could well be the biggest in Europe with just about everything water park related, including an indoor cinema that's a sauna! Probably enough to kill 2 days . Outdoor village museum and the lake area with watersports, parks etc should kill a day.
We went early October for a very different type of city break but the weather was 25-28 degrees which is normal for October.
It could well be the biggest in Europe with just about everything water park related, including an indoor cinema that's a sauna! Probably enough to kill 2 days . Outdoor village museum and the lake area with watersports, parks etc should kill a day.
We went early October for a very different type of city break but the weather was 25-28 degrees which is normal for October.
RichFN2 said:
Probably not what you were expecting but Bucharest, Romania has this insane indoor water park with an outdoor beach and pools.
It could well be the biggest in Europe with just about everything water park related, including an indoor cinema that's a sauna! Probably enough to kill 2 days . Outdoor village museum and the lake area with watersports, parks etc should kill a day.
We went early October for a very different type of city break but the weather was 25-28 degrees which is normal for October.
Been to Bucharest with work before and loved it. Wasn't aware of the water park but there didn't seem to be much else in the way of museums etc - loads to see though if you're just wandering around (which on my own, I was happy to do - with kids in tow maybe less so!).It could well be the biggest in Europe with just about everything water park related, including an indoor cinema that's a sauna! Probably enough to kill 2 days . Outdoor village museum and the lake area with watersports, parks etc should kill a day.
We went early October for a very different type of city break but the weather was 25-28 degrees which is normal for October.
Berlin definitely an option too. Never done Germany and really want to!
We went to Krakow last October and it is an amazing place.The city has a lot to offer and My 12 and 14 year old kids loved it (they want to go back). To break up the cuty aspect, we went to Energylandia theme park (you can book a coach that takes you from the bus station) and it was one of the best them parks that I have been to (done USA and other European parks) especially as it was their Halloween festival and it's on another level. Obviously Auscshwitz has to be experienced and the Salt Mine was pretty cool too.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
RichFN2 said:
Probably not what you were expecting but Bucharest, Romania has this insane indoor water park with an outdoor beach and pools.
It could well be the biggest in Europe with just about everything water park related, including an indoor cinema that's a sauna! Probably enough to kill 2 days . Outdoor village museum and the lake area with watersports, parks etc should kill a day.
We went early October for a very different type of city break but the weather was 25-28 degrees which is normal for October.
Been to Bucharest with work before and loved it. Wasn't aware of the water park but there didn't seem to be much else in the way of museums etc - loads to see though if you're just wandering around (which on my own, I was happy to do - with kids in tow maybe less so!).It could well be the biggest in Europe with just about everything water park related, including an indoor cinema that's a sauna! Probably enough to kill 2 days . Outdoor village museum and the lake area with watersports, parks etc should kill a day.
We went early October for a very different type of city break but the weather was 25-28 degrees which is normal for October.
Berlin definitely an option too. Never done Germany and really want to!
https://www.therme.ro/
Outdoor village museum (not far from Hard Rock Cafe)
https://muzeul-satului.ro/en/descopera/tur-virtual...
As you have seen for yourself it's a great city to wander around, maybe not the most obvious but I was surprised at how warm it was in October. Very affordable with flights, hotels etc compared to other cities which helps
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Hi all. October half term we usually head to the South West for the week but thinking we might change it a bit this year and do a few days in a European city. My go-to is Paris as I love it there but never taken the kids...
Looking for somewhere where there is stuff to do/see for us two and the boys (aged 11 and 14) - any suggestions?
And where do people suggest to book stuff like this?
Just been looking on the Jet2 website and the total cost of a central hotel for 3 nights (Novotel near the Louvre) is about £2500 and looking on skyscanner, just over £1000 of that is the flights and the room direct via Novotel is about £1000 (so booking via Jet2 - the skyscanner flights are via Jet2!) costs me about £500 more for seemingly nothing.
How about Nice and the region, got Monaco, Cannes etc.Looking for somewhere where there is stuff to do/see for us two and the boys (aged 11 and 14) - any suggestions?
And where do people suggest to book stuff like this?
Just been looking on the Jet2 website and the total cost of a central hotel for 3 nights (Novotel near the Louvre) is about £2500 and looking on skyscanner, just over £1000 of that is the flights and the room direct via Novotel is about £1000 (so booking via Jet2 - the skyscanner flights are via Jet2!) costs me about £500 more for seemingly nothing.
Paris pricing you have seems expensive, look at airbnb options with a family.
Update to this as someone might be interested...
Did Paris again in the end. Went Eurostar because the only flights we could find from northern airports were crazily only flying into Beauvais which looks like its half way to Calais
Stayed here which was pretty much the cheapest hotel we could find anywhere near the centre: https://all.accor.com/ssr/app/novotel/rates/2953/i...
15/20 minute stroll down to the Louvre etc. so really good positioning we thought and only 10/15 minute walk from Gare du Nord.
Also for anyone interested, my wife is in a wheelchair and she couldn't have been more nicely treated by the attractions we visited. Had an impromptu visit to Musee d'Orsay (no advanced tickets booked etc). Joined the queue and were immediately ushered to the priority queue. Brill. Went to the ticket desk to pay - oh no, completely free for us (2 adults and 2 kids). Similar experience at the Eiffel Tower - straight to the front of the queues etc. And again, very similar on Eurostar coming home.
Really good trip - kids loved it.
Did Paris again in the end. Went Eurostar because the only flights we could find from northern airports were crazily only flying into Beauvais which looks like its half way to Calais
Stayed here which was pretty much the cheapest hotel we could find anywhere near the centre: https://all.accor.com/ssr/app/novotel/rates/2953/i...
15/20 minute stroll down to the Louvre etc. so really good positioning we thought and only 10/15 minute walk from Gare du Nord.
Also for anyone interested, my wife is in a wheelchair and she couldn't have been more nicely treated by the attractions we visited. Had an impromptu visit to Musee d'Orsay (no advanced tickets booked etc). Joined the queue and were immediately ushered to the priority queue. Brill. Went to the ticket desk to pay - oh no, completely free for us (2 adults and 2 kids). Similar experience at the Eiffel Tower - straight to the front of the queues etc. And again, very similar on Eurostar coming home.
Really good trip - kids loved it.
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