We are loading up and heading to Cefalu and Palermo for some more Sicilian adventures. Hard to believe it has been a year since our first trip to Palermo. Keeping our fingers crossed that the weather won't be too rainy, the kids won't be too cranky, and the "family rooms" we reserved in the hotels will work out for us. Have I written yet about that aspect of European travel? Booking hotel rooms with more than one child in Europe is not always easy. It is one reason we usually go the apartment or tent route. Most hotel rooms accommodate 2 people and occasionally 3. Finding a hotel for a family of 4 requires some extra searching and additional costs...room charges are frequently per person, including children (sometimes there is a discount for kids, sometimes not) and the rates don't always include breakfast. One thing we have never done, but I am curious about, is to stay in a Kinder Hotel. Anyone out there stayed in a Kinder Hotel?
Searching for the hotel rooms for this weekend's trip took a little more time than usual because we booked so close to the time of travel. On the bright side, I have to remind myself that we are traveling with our kids at a great stage of life (ages 4 and 7)...no diapers, no strollers, no adolescent angst. And to make this coming trip even better, we will have built-in entertainment: Nana and Poobah who tell lots of good jokes, dole out jelly beans, play dinner games, and love to travel. Ok, enough rambling and back to packing. Have a good weekend!
*Photo taken last weekend in Zaffarena, Sicily. I love the Sicilian carts, but I am very happy that we'll be hitting the road in our Mazda van instead of a cart.
Good Morning. While we haven't stayed in a Kinder hotel, my girlfriend, who has 3 kiddos similar in age to yours, swears by them. Their family travels quite a bit as well, and if the weather is nice enough, they are in the tent.
Have a great trip!
D
Good Morning to you, too, Dana! Thanks for the quick reply and the Kinder Hotel recommendation. Some friends are headed to one in Austria soon so I am eager to hear their reports, too. I am thinking it might be a good option for a ski trip this winter.
Have a good weekend!
Such beautiful colours in that photo. Hope the journey goes well!
Have a wonderful trip with the kids and parents! Sounds like you always have fun and I like reading about the places you visit. My hubby and I keep saying we are going to spend a month each year in Italy once we retire.... It is lovely there. Thanks for the photos too!
Alyzabeth's Mommy
Ahhh Cefalu, have fun. Aren't you glad you have that Mazda?!!! We were sad we sold our before coming back. I loved that thing!
we have not done a kinder hotel, but we did once stay in a Landal Greenpark resort in germany, which i think is similar. it was great! though they only have locations in 6 countries. switzerland has a similar thing too (it might be at least partially government run?), that is also in different countries and the name is escaping me at the moment....darn! i will try and think of it and get back to you. have a great trip! you are right about the age of your travelers--and having grandparents along?? it will be a breeze!!!
got it! reka: http://www.reka.ch/en/reka/pages/default.aspx
they have tons of places to stay in switzerland, of course, but also in neighboring countries.
Yeah, and is there ANY hope for a family like us with FOUR kids???!!! I don't even want to think about it.
We have had many friends in Europe stay in Kinder hotels and love them because they include things like bikes, baby wipes in bath rooms, things you would need for your children. However, I am not sure if they are cheap. I agree with you though on difficulty finding hotels in Europe for families with more than one child. We have three, so it is always tricky. Have fun on your trip!
safe travels! we always rent a home or apt - it is SO much easier - and we only have one kid! looking forward to hearing abt your trip.
Hope you guys have a great time.
We have not left North America with the kids yet. Interesting to here all the issues with hotels.
Love reading through all of these great comments...thank you! Update on our recent stay: the family rooms were ok, but I have to admit that I kept thinking about all of the great apts we have rented for the same or less money but with so much more space and perks. I really think apt rentals are the way to travel with kids, but on such a short trip it was too hard to find a place that fit all of our needs and would allow us to only stay for one or two nights.
Off to check out the links mentioned in the comments!
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