Fly Wpg-Paris
1 day Paris
Train to Dijon, rent a van there
Driving loop, 2-3 days in each spot:
Beaune, France
Colmar, France
Rothenburg aub der Tauber, Germany
Interlaken, Switzerland
Lake Como, Italy
Somewhere on the Riviera near Italy/France border
Lyon, France
Back home via Dijon/Paris
Has anyone rented a van in Europe? I’m having a hard time finding availability.
Planning to do mostly air bnb- any recommendations?
Suggestions of activities in these areas that the boys will enjoy?
Suggested teaks to the itinerary?
Thanks for any input!

Jeanne
I found no need to rent a vehicle the rail system is amazing. Parking is non existent Europass is the way to go for me you will waste less time getting to your destination on rail allowing yourself more time to explore. You’ll meet more locals on the train and bus
I went fromLondon to Paris to Dijon through Switzerland and up to Germany alone on the rail system I am a single (late 50’s )female traveller if you miss a train you just catch the next one It was a fabulous holiday

I think train is a great option for one or two travelers, but I think a vehicle rental will be a lot cheaper for a group of 6.

Kurt do your homework on that because you may be surprised.

We did France for a month last Aug with an 11 & 17yr old. One of their favourite stops was Chamonix. They loved all the hikes in the Alps and were in awe of Mt Blanc. Passes for the gondolas are pricey, but worth the extra.

My boys would love castles and they would really love the Crime & Punishment Museum in Rothenburg! (I found it fascinating, too!) They're into medieval history and video-gaming and Europe has so much of that kind of thing at your fingertips! I would also try to keep my travel time between places down. It takes so much time to orient yourself in a new place, unpack, pack, get your bearings, etc. Your itinerary would be too ambitious for me.

I recommend you travel in May or early June to avoid the summer heat, the crowds, and the high summer season accommodation costs. The flowers are blooming in the spring, summer will see parched gardens trampled by hoards. If spring doesn't work then aim for September or October ! If you must travel in the summer then be sure to advance book. If you travel in the spring or fall months then you can 'wing it' and drive into a region and find accommodation through your mobile phone. (or through wi-fii). Some rental vehicles come with a GPS with nearby hotel recommendations. In a pinch your family can stay in a clean, cheap Ibis Hotel (that are in most towns). Please avoid Europe in the summer: hot, crowded, expensive, difficult to find suitable accommodation, and full of sometimes rude European tourists. Canada, on the other hand, is the place you should be in the summer months!!!!

'agro-tourismo' are suites or rooms for rent in rural areas of Italy. some are like boutique hotels, others are simple rooms with a bed, a nice washroom, and a kitchenette. The local tourism office in every town typically can recommend something to suit almost any budget.There are French or German equivalents. Please be aware of national holidays in Germany, France, Italy, etc (as the holidays will see everyone wanting to book a hotel or tourist accommodation compete. -You have to advance book before such holidays, local music festivals, or other events!!)

We rented a moter home after staying in Paris for 4 nights, so much to do there. It was pre booked In Canada. We then roamed about in France, Germany, Austria an returned to Paris.

For rental vehicles, rent through CAA. BE sure to ask for the comprehensive, ' zero deductible' insurance. Get the insurance in advance. Ensure you have a working cell phone and have a planned strategy to argue that you have insurance when the rental vehicle agency in Europe tells you that you have to buy local insurance.

Get a GPS system that includes current, and updated road information. Even then, be prepared to use your cell phone google maps or equivalent to provide a second opinion. Be very aware of the fact that European towns see photo radar as a cash cow....(especially Italian European regions and towns). Check your speed with the GPS. set the GPS to chime when you are over the speed limit or when you are approaching photo radar.

We rented a van through Hertz, in summer 2016, for an 8-person group. We found rental vans online easily enough, but they book up fast and the rates spiked dramatically. If I remember correctly, I think we confirmed our booking in January, for a trip in peak tourist season, late July for a month.
Have no advice to offer on your planned destinations. Similar to your comment, we prefer the local scene rather than the city tourist hit-lists. But it sounds like a LOT of driving to cover a fairly wide-spread area over a short trip. Having lived and traveled in Western Europe a bit, we always marvel at the different sense regarding distance here versus there. 400km feels so much further away there, than does 400 km in Manitoba - due to the density. When we are there, we see really small areas geographically, because there is SO MUCH going on in a small area. Driving is very manageable, but WAY more demanding than it is here - partly because it will be unfamiliar to you. You could not likely plan for days with the same combination of hours and sight-seeing and hours of driving, that you might plan here on the prairies.
We used air bnb for part of our trip and that worked out great.

Note that in Switzerland, Italy and France (and soon Germany), most motorways are subject to a toll. Make sure to add this cost in your budget. I am using the following link (in French) to add/remove tolls https://www.viamichelin.fr/.

European's like standard transmissions. Be aware of some of the intricacies of European standard vehicle transmissions when you are on a hill waiting for a stop light (ask any owner of a new standard transmission volvo.) Its not like the standard transmission in a north american vehicle. ..

Dijon has the walking tour around town. That was free and enjoyable

I've been to Dijon. Really historic city. They have huge parking underground with many levels! It was amazing!

Personally, I would find Normandy on my list, less than 3 hr drive from Paris, as well as Carcassone.

I strongly recommend the Visit a City app. It has detailed daily itineraries. It’s fabulous.

Take your boys out of school early!!avoid the summer heat in europe.

the tourism experience in the springtime is far superior than in the summer. Your children will learn more on a European trip than they would in school.

Ashly Dawn Jeandel has a wonderful home for rent in Ventron. And she would have lots of advice. She is originally from Manitoba

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