Booked!!!

OK - so it's only taken a full week, but we have finally finalised our itinerary and I've booked all the hotels we'll need.... and the 2 extra flights we've decided to take as well. Having access to Rail Europe has been both a godsend and a nightmare. A godsend because we've been able to adjust our plans according to the train schedules and see where travelling to certain destinations is not as straightforward as it would seem .... and this is exactly why it's also been a nightmare. We tried finding a way to get from Avignon to somewhere in Italy... en route to Rome. But, for some reason, on the days that we want to travel, the more direct routes are not available and we'd have to take major detours, resulting in many hours on the train and many changes as well. In the end we decided to fly from Nice to Rome, and were able to book cheaply with EasyJet (whom we are flying with on all 4 flights of this holiday). A similar situation occurred when trying to get from Venice to Paris. We wanted to get an overnight train, but unfortunately the seats for people with rail passes (like us) are sold out and we'd have to pay full price. Instead, we are travelling to Milan, having on night there and then flying to Paris. We hadn't intended to go to Milan, but neither Martin or I have been before, so it'll be something new for us both - as many of the stops on this trip are to places we have already seen - but of course not with the children (nor with each other, for that matter).

New places for me will include, Antwerp, Barcelona, Milan.... places I've been to already will include Amsterdam, Paris, Avignon, Nice, Rome & Venice.

I'm really looking forward to it now - especially as the organising is all done!