[Sunnycat]

My cousin is getting married in Italy in 2014 and myself, parents and brother are all going. I'll have a 11 month old and a 2y8m old. It'll be okay getting over there as my parents and brother will be able to help out, but. My parents are going to continue on to England and Europe and I'd either need to come home by myself with the kids, or I was thinking of maybe going for a week or two somewhere else in Europe.

I won't be able to tag along with my parents so will be on my own with an 11 month old and the 2y8m old. I'm not sure where I'll go yet either.

Do you reckon that would be nuts? Or two hard to get around with 2 little kids? I've never travelled on my own before let alone with 2 kids!

[PurplePaperFrog]

I'd just go to Italy for the wedding and come back.

I don't think I'd enjoy any part of Europe wrangling two little ones around with me.

[elizabethany]

If it was just the baby, I would say it will be a challenge, but go for it. Add in a toddler as well? No chance. Come home, and enjoy a europe trip when they are bigger or you found someone who can look after them for a weeks holiday.

[Sunnycat]

I'd just go to Italy for the wedding and come back.

I don't think I'd enjoy any part of Europe wrangling two little ones around with me.

I'd be going to Napoli for 10 days but hoping to go to Sorrento and maybe Rome with my parents as I think 10 days with my non English speaking relatives in Napoli might be boring for the kids.

Yeah I have no idea how hard it will be especially since I've never travelled, I think I could do it If it was just DS but not sure what the next one will be like.

[cb2]

I have travelled with kids to Europe and DH and I strongly advise NOT to do it alone!
Go to the wedding and come home.
There is so much going on and you have to think about how to get around, maps, time tables, etc and it is so much easier with another adult not necessairly to help out with the kids but to sight see and know what to do.
We were in London and went on the tube, got a map and my goodness I nearly cried when I saw it as there were lines of all different colours all over the place. DH has a very good eye for maps and he knew how to read it and how to follow it, if I was alone and had to get the tube to somewhere I literally would have just sat and cried as I found it to be quite confronting to be out of a comfort zone I didn't kn ow anything about. Besides the ages of your kids would not be all that interested in seeing the sights anyway so why waste your money and time go when they are a little older

[lsolaBella]

The never travelled before and on your own with two kids cold be interesting.

I take it you speak Italian? That should help take some of the stress out.

From pre kids, I do not remember Rome as being very kid friendly. Cobblestones and prams can make for interesting rides plus lots of the footpaths were very narrow Talking right in centre (Spanish steps to Panthenon and the Vatican).

Generally speaking in find the 7-8 m to 24m the worst time for travel on a plane. Bubs is too big for bassinet but does not get their own seat. They are not really entertained by movies etc.

Any chance you DH could look after the kids and you go by yourself? That would be my preferred option.

This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 02/01/2013, 02:17 PM

[cb2]

OH PS
I suppose that if you are going all that way and spending the money then you might as well see what you can as who knows when or if you will be back, but with two little ones on your own will be hard and you will most likely need a holiday when you get back to recover

[Akeyo]

Having travelled throughout Italy earlier this year with a 3.5 yr old and 20 mth old visiting family, I would have to echo PP and say NO WAY! Although enormous fun, it was hard work enough wrangling the 2 kids and the mountain of stuff you inevitably have to take around with you, on and off trains, in and out of hotels and accommodation, sight seeing, restaurants etc and I had my DH there as well as my parents a lot of the time! I would never have attempted that on my own.

I would go over for the wedding and if you have assistance then sure, visit Rome but I would advise against travelling on your own with the kids. Especially if you have not travelled before. You want to be able to enjoy yourself after all. The flight there and back will be an endurance event all on it's own!

Good luck

[MooGuru]

Couple of things to consider:
1. How flexible are your kids? Routine can be very difficult to maintain when travelling.
2. How big is your budget? Something that may make it easier is having a base where you can leave your luggage and do washing and generally come home to. However this will limit places you can go to and also may mean doubling up on accommodation if spending a night elsewhere.
3. Depending on where you go will English be common? Are you likely to get anxious or flustered by that? Lots of places people speak fantastic English so not necessarily a major issue.
4. Could you do a trial run i.e. Fly interstate for a wkend with the kids?
5.realistically can you manage kids pus suitcases by yourself? Don't budget for public transport and assume you'll always need a taxi!

When I was little my family lived in 4 continents and travelled all the time often just with my Mum as Dad had already left earlier for work and we were following so travelling to Europe was normal and quite easy but I know others who find the idea of it terrifying!

Whatever you do you'll be flying home by yourself and that'll probably be the hardest part!

Good Luck!

[ekbaby]

Personally, no, I wouldn't do it on my own. With 2 kids on your own you will be outnumbered! I would go for the wedding bit only, unless you have another relative who is interested in travelling with you. (Actually, I probably wouldn't go at all given the cost of the flights to Europe, if we had $1000-2000 to spare on travel I would rather have a family holiday)

One idea might be to have a stop-over in Asia on the way back, somewhere like Sinagpore or Thailand, Bali. If you wanted to make a holiday of it, somewhere resorty where you are not travelling round every day and can pretty much just hang on the beach or pool with your kids might be more relaxing. The other bonus is that everything is cheaper, and some resorts will have kids clubs or babysitters available at inexpensive rates. In Bali you could probably hire a babysitter to help one-on-one with your 2 year old, for less than $10/hour- even if you don't feel comfortable with him being cared for without you there, you could hire them for a few hours each day to play with him nearby while you and bub relax.

However I personally still wouldn't do that, having 2 kids that age on my own 24/7 for a week I would find relentless and there would be very little time for relaxation, I would spend most of the time stressing about managing their needs.