Europe end of Oct with kids

[rezberry]

So, the latest development in Egypt has left us in a fix about where to go for Autumn holiday with kids. We wanted a relaxed week at a seaside, and Egypt seemed the obvious option for that time of year (no, I´m not going to Dubai or any other ME place. Don´t ask.).

Now that the seaside holiday seem to vanish in the haze, where in Europe would you take two kids (4, nearly 8) for a ten day holiday at the end of October? We want to drive, so Spain, Greece, Norway, Finland, and anything east of Uzhorod is out of question.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

[mei]

I would think somewhere Greek is kind of within driving range from your part of Europe? Or am I totally off?

Maybe Italy somewhere? Tuscany, Puglia, etc are places that seems very nice (though i can't advice on the kidfriendliness of anywhere, really)

[rezberry]

Umm, mei, it would také us at least two days to drive to Greece...

Yeah, I was thinking Italy too, as we all love the food and wine. Or, France and the bloody Disneything. (we could hop over the channel for a day or two from France.

[HalcyonDaze]

Rez take earplugs if you do the bloody disney thing. Just walking from the train station had me wanting to tear my hair out with the piped muzac.

LC loved it though.

[mei]

ah. oops. in my mind you moved further east, but yeah, distances are probably longer than I think.

[rezberry]

Ummm... so it´s France. Where would you rather spend a week? Normandy or Brittany?

[thelittlesthobo]

They both have wine, right?

[rezberry]

I HOPE so, hobo!

[Oweena]

Brittany.
We spent 7 days between the two and I preferred Brittany.
Course I didn't have rug rats with me and am mostly basing the choice on my memory of buckets of mussels accompanied by thick crusty bread soaked in the broth, copious amounts of wine, and enjoying the coastal views.

I'm guessing that's not necessarily the criteria you will use to choose.

<BTW, Miss you Ms Rez.>

[shilgia]

I'm confused about where you are . . . Egypt was the original plan, but Greece is out because you couldn't drive there.

[rezberry]

Shilgia, we would fly to Egypt.
And I´m in SE Czech Rep at the moment.

[rezberry]

Sept 3, 2013 19:50:57 GMT -5 Oweena said:

<BTW, Miss you Ms Rez.>

I miss you too, O.! Will have to visit photoblog more often. Or, alternately, you´ll have to come to Prague in November.

[poppy]

You do know a really good place to go don't you - just a bit further south and a bit to the east. I know someone who would be over the moon to see you and I probably would head west for that purpose.

[rezberry]

Heheheh, Poppy! But I think my idea of "a bit" is a bit different from yours!

Has anyone been to Burgundy?

[HalcyonDaze]

After looking at River's photos, I'd go to Bordeaux!

[rezberry]

Halcy, I thought that too, but sadly, it´s totally out of our route...

[tucano]

Burgundy only when I was a kid on one of many family camping holidays in France. Beaune has some beautiful tiled buildings. Good for wine round there I imagine!

[mei]

no clue about burgundy. but I really enjoyed the bits I saw of brittany when I was there a few years ago. for kids I think it could be good too, lots of things to go and see and play outdoors probably (beach, rocks, i imagine), though october may not be too great for weather maybe?

[rezberry]

Yeah, October will be bitch for weather, but we can´t go any other time...

Wellies and Macs will be the hit of the season!

[riverhorse]

I've been to Burgundy as well as Bordeaux. It's a lovely area, although the weather would be a bit iffy in October. I just googled "Burgundy region with kids" and there are a few links to various places of interest for kiddies - zoos, fun parks and the like. Or there's a Center Parc that's between the Loire region and the Burgundy region, for instance. And of course the lure of the Disney thing...

[riverhorse]

Another idea - is Lake Balaton in Hungary still a nice place to go in October? Or is the weather already too dismal? I looked on Google Maps - it's not THAT far away from you guys...

And my perennial fave is the Dolomite mountains in Italy - great destination no matter what time of year.

[viv]

Although I adore Brittany, I would say head to the south of France and try to catch some warmer weather if you can. Marseille etc.

Or go somewhere like BudaPest with hot spring waters so you can wallow in the hot water in the fresh air. It'll knock the kids out and I found it incredibly relaxing. I've never slept so well as I did the night after a few hours in HOT water!

[treehugger]

Barcelona. I went there in November once and it was still warm enough for sprog1 to enjoy playing on the beach.

[rezberry]

Viv, I´d love to go to southern France but it´s a loooong drive from the czech Rep... But I´ll look at flights if I could get some deals!

I hate living so far from the sea.

[vinnyd]

You just haven't looked hard enough for the Bohemian seacoast. Shakespeare knew where it was.

Normandy is more about cider than wine. And cream.

[janeyd]

a friend just got back from 3 weeks in egypt with his 10 year old. wasnt in cairo though. said it was brilliant because there was so few tourists, but still safe where he was.


Normandy and Brittany are both nice. just bring your wet-weather / cold weather gear just in case!

[Tulipana]

I would suggest the Algarve, but that's a hell of a drive!

What about Croatia? It has great beaches, lovely food and it's so damn pretty!

[wombatrois]

Yes I was going to suggest Croatia - the beaches and food are great.

[rezberry]

Thanks for your tips, ladies!

Tulip, Wombat, we go to Croatia twice a year, but I´m afraid the end of Oct will be rather chilly...
Janey, we´re planning on going to Egypt in March! Can´t wait.

In the end we settled on Alsace - good wine, good food, Alsatians to pet , and it´s only a six hours drive.

[Deleted]

I wanna go to Croatia!! when are you next going rez??