Traveling abroad with kids is amazing. It’s a chance to open them up to worlds they’ve never seen before. Europe is one place that offers a rich history that goes back thousands of years. While it’s great to travel in the USA and learn our 500+ year history, it’s pretty incredible to take a kid into a castle that’s 1,200 years old!
We took our son to Chirk Castle in Wales and he was mesmerized.
It wasn’t just about the beautiful exterior or even the rich history on the interior. The vast gardens made for a beautiful walk and even a bit of running. Believe it or not, this can be a great place for a kid to simply be a kid.
Ok, so the experiences are amazing, BUT let’s be honest… the transportation logistics are enough to make our heads spin!
Car Rental PROS and CONS:
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- CON – Navigating yourself in a new country is difficult. If you plan to rent a car make sure you have GPS. If you can use your phone data that’s one option but most of the time you can rent a satellite GPS from the car rental company.
- PRO – A rental car is nice. It allows you the flexibility to load the kids in. Once they are strapped down safely into car seats and your stuff is all in one place, off you go. If you plan to visit more remote locations this is likely your best option.
Train Travel PROS and CONS:
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- CON – Train travel is convenient when you don’t have all your luggage. Keep in mind these trains often don’t stop for long. Getting on and off for adults is usually easy but for kids, they’ll need your help. For example, The Tube in central London {an underground train} has a relatively large gap between the platform and the train.
- PRO – If you are staying in a city center for the entire trip trains can be the best option. It is cheaper and often times less stressful than driving in a city. My advice: stick to backpacks for carrying what you need. Keep in mind pickpocketing and opt for backpacks that offer safety features to prevent that from happening to you. For small kiddos who aren’t walking a lot yet consider a baby carrier. Keeping your hands free will make train travel much easier. Often times in these older counties stairs {and a lot of them} are your only option. If you need a stroller, check transportation maps to make sure you use train stations with elevators.
What we did was a combination of both. We rented a car for the majority of this trip to the United Kingdom, but when we went into London we only traveled via train. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with taking kids to new places, but take the time to make plans that accommodate everyone and adventure awaits! There is no wrong or right answer. It’s all about what works for you and your kiddos.
