Tag Page europewithkids

Snickerdazzle

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traveling europe with teen boys: safety and staying connected

Last summer, we finally took the plunge and booked a trip to Europe with our two teenage boys. I thought I was prepared, but the reality hit me the moment we landed in Amsterdam: how do I keep track of these two, especially in busy train stations or crowded city squares? I stuck AirTags in their backpacks, but then worried they’d lose the bags or just leave them somewhere (which, of course, happened in Brussels). Is there a better way to make sure I know where they are, without making them feel like I’m spying? Another thing that caught me off guard: staying in touch with family back home. My husband’s mom wanted daily updates, but with the time difference and spotty Wi-Fi in some places, it felt impossible. I tried group chats, but the boys barely replied, and my mother-in-law got anxious when she didn’t hear from us. Has anyone found a good system for keeping relatives in the loop, especially when teens are not exactly chatty? And then there’s the whole meeting-relatives-for-the-first-time situation. In Wales, the boys were shy and awkward, and in the Netherlands, they just wanted to play on their phones. I tried prepping them with stories about the family, but it didn’t seem to help much. I felt like I was forcing them to be social, and it just made everyone uncomfortable. How do you help teens connect with relatives they’ve never met, especially when there’s a language barrier or big age gap? I’d love to hear what’s actually worked for other families, because honestly, I felt like I was failing at every turn. #familytravel #teentravel #europewithkids #Travel

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OpulentOwl

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is tuscany really the best for a month with four kids?

Last night, my wife and I sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by maps and half-finished cups of coffee, trying to figure out where in Europe we could survive (and maybe even enjoy) a month with our four kids. Our oldest is 9, then 7, and we’ve got twin 4-year-olds who can turn any quiet Airbnb into a circus in under five minutes. I’ll be working remotely in the evenings, so good Wi-Fi is non-negotiable, and my wife is on sabbatical, which means she’s dreaming big. We’ve been eyeing Tuscany, Provence, Bavaria, the Cotswolds, and Southern Sweden. Tuscany keeps popping up—everyone says Italians love kids, the food is fantastic, and there are pools everywhere. But I can’t help but wonder: is it really as family-friendly as everyone claims, or am I just falling for the Instagram version? Are there enough playgrounds and easy day trips to keep four kids from mutinying? And will I actually get any work done, or will I just be refereeing pool fights while trying to join Zoom calls? Then there’s the big debate: do we stick to one spot for the whole month, or split it up? I’m tempted to just park ourselves somewhere near Siena and call it a day, but my wife thinks we’ll get bored. Is it worth the hassle of packing up the whole crew and moving to a second location halfway through? Or will that just double the chaos? And here’s my real worry: apartments in cities. We love the idea of spending part of the trip in a walkable city, but I’m terrified our kids will be the loudest thing in Florence. Are there any city rentals where we won’t get dirty looks from neighbors every time the twins start their daily wrestling match? Or is it safer to stick to the countryside, where at least the only thing we’ll disturb is the local wildlife? Honestly, I know the kids might not remember every detail, but we’re doing this for us too. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re either about to make the best memories ever—or completely lose our minds. Anyone else wrestle with these same doubts? #familytravel #europewithkids #tuscany #Travel

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