Hi everyone,

I’ll be visiting Copenhagen in July with my wife and two young kids, ages 2 and 3. We will be staying for 6 nights and mostly exploring Copenhagen at a slow family pace. We’ll have two compact strollers and will rely on public transport.

I’m trying to decide between these two hotels/hostels:

1. a&o Copenhagen Nørrebro
2. a&o Copenhagen Sydhavn

Since we made this plan last minute the option of hotels are pretty limited and the prices are too high. We are booking a private family room.

For locals or people who know Copenhagen well, which one would you pick for a family with toddlers?

The main things I care about are:

• Easy public transport with strollers
• Convenient access to family-friendly sights, parks, playgrounds, zoo, harbor areas, etc.
• Not too much hassle getting back for naps/rests
• Safe and comfortable area in the evening
• Quieter/better area for sleeping with small kids
• Good grocery/cafe options nearby
• Overall convenience for a 6-night stay

I understand these are budget hostel-style properties, so I’m mostly asking about the location and area, not luxury.

Would Sydhavn be easier because of access to trains and Copenhagen Central, or is Nørrebro a better base because it has more neighborhood life and food options?

Any local advice would be very helpful. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a possible family trip in July and would really appreciate local advice from people in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

We are a family of four: two adults and two young kids, ages 2 and 3.5. We travel with two compact strollers and light luggage, mostly two carry-on size backpacks. Our original Europe plan was to continue from Amsterdam toward Belgium, Paris, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg, but because of the current heatwave risk we are considering changing the second half of the trip to a cooler northern route.

The rough idea would be:

• Amsterdam -> Copenhagen
• Copenhagen -> Finland, probably Helsinki
• Helsinki -> Tallinn by ferry
• Tallinn -> Riga
• Riga -> Vilnius
• Vilnius -> Poland, possibly by train toward Warsaw/Kraków/Katowice

We are not trying to rush. We prefer slow family travel: parks, playgrounds, short walks, easy museums, ferries/trams/trains, early dinners, and getting the kids to bed on time. We do not need nightlife or intense sightseeing.

I have a few questions:

1. International connections: How practical is it to move between Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, and Poland using ferries/trains/buses with two toddlers and strollers?
2. Stroller access: How stroller-friendly is the city? Are the old towns too difficult with strollers because of cobblestones/hills?
3. Kids: Are these cities enjoyable with toddlers? Any favorite playgrounds, parks, children’s museums, ferry rides, or easy family activities?
4. Trip design: Would you recommend doing all three Baltic countries plus Finland in about 12–15 days, or is that too much with small children?

I would really appreciate honest local advice. If this is a good idea, I’d love suggestions for the best route order and family-friendly places to stay. If locals think it is too much logistics or not ideal right now, I’d also appreciate hearing that.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a possible family trip in July and would really appreciate local advice from people in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

We are a family of four: two adults and two young kids, ages 2 and 3.5. We travel with two compact strollers and light luggage, mostly two carry-on size backpacks. Our original Europe plan was to continue from Amsterdam toward Belgium, Paris, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg, but because of the current heatwave risk we are considering changing the second half of the trip to a cooler northern route.

The rough idea would be:

• Amsterdam -> Copenhagen
• Copenhagen -> Finland, probably Helsinki
• Helsinki -> Tallinn by ferry
• Tallinn -> Riga
• Riga -> Vilnius
• Vilnius -> Poland, possibly by train toward Warsaw/Kraków/Katowice

We are not trying to rush. We prefer slow family travel: parks, playgrounds, short walks, easy museums, ferries/trams/trains, early dinners, and getting the kids to bed on time. We do not need nightlife or intense sightseeing.

I have a few questions:

1. Safety: Is this route currently safe and reasonable for a tourist family with small children, considering the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war and the regional security situation?
2. Russia-related concerns: Are there any areas, border regions, routes, or activities we should avoid because of Russia/Belarus/Kaliningrad-related concerns?
3. International connections: How practical is it to move between Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, and Poland using ferries/trains/buses with two toddlers and strollers?
4. Train vs bus: For Tallinn -> Riga and Riga -> Vilnius, would locals recommend train, bus, or something else for a family?
5. Stroller access: How stroller-friendly is the city? Are the old towns too difficult with strollers because of cobblestones/hills?
6. Kids: Are these cities enjoyable with toddlers? Any favorite playgrounds, parks, children’s museums, ferry rides, or easy family activities?
7. Trip design: Would you recommend doing all three Baltic countries plus Finland in about 12–15 days, or is that too much with small children?
8. Return to Poland: Is Vilnius → Warsaw/Kraków/Katowice by train practical with kids?

We are comfortable flying when needed, but we generally prefer trains/ferries when they are practical. We are also not planning to visit remote border areas or anything political/military-related, just normal city tourism with kids.

I would really appreciate honest local advice. If this is a good idea, I’d love suggestions for the best route order and family-friendly places to stay. If locals think it is too much logistics or not ideal right now, I’d also appreciate hearing that.

Thank you!

I’m looking for honest local advice. I’m traveling in Europe in July with my partner and two young kids, ages 2 and 3.5. We travel by train mostly, use two compact strollers, and try to keep a slow family-friendly pace with parks/playgrounds, short sightseeing blocks, and early bedtime. We are currently in Poland and the heat wave here has been hard too but the temps are still not like Paris.

Our original plan after Amsterdam was:

• Jul 2: Berlin
• Jul 5: Amsterdam
• Jul 10: Ghent
• Jul 14: Luxembourg
• Jul 16: Paris
• Jul 20: Strasbourg / Alsace
• Jul 24: Munich
• Jul 27: Berlin

Because of the current Europe heatwave, I’m now considering cancelling the trip from Amsterdam onward and replacing Belgium/Luxembourg/Paris/Strasbourg with a cooler route such as Denmark / southern Sweden etc.

My main concern is not just being uncomfortable myself, but managing two toddlers in strollers during hot afternoons, train delays, hot platforms, metro stations, and hotel/Airbnb rooms that may not have good AC.

For Paris specifically, I was planning a very family-friendly itinerary: Seine / Île de la Cité stroller walk, Eiffel Tower area, river cruise, Luxembourg Gardens, Tuileries / Louvre courtyard / Palais Royal, maybe Jardin d’Acclimatation, and lots of breaks. I am not trying to rush museums or do a packed sightseeing trip.

Questions for locals / recent travelers:

1. Is Paris in mid-July still reasonably manageable with toddlers if we plan only mornings/evenings and stay in AC lodging?
2. Would you personally keep Paris for 4 nights with two toddlers, or would you switch to a cooler region this year and save Paris for another trip?
3. If we keep Paris, what changes would you make to our plan to make it safer and more enjoyable in hot weather?

I really want to see Paris, but I also don’t want to force a trip that becomes stressful for the kids. I’d appreciate honest advice, especially from parents or people who live in Paris during July heatwaves.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’ll be visiting Strasbourg with my family in mid July and would love some local advice to make sure this plan is realistic.

We are a family of 4: two adults and two young kids, ages 2 and 3. We’ll have two compact travel strollers, and the kids will be in the strollers for a lot of the time. We are traveling by train and staying by Strasbourg station.

Current plan:

Day 1: Arrival + Strasbourg

• Arrive around mid day
• Check in / luggage drop at hotel near Gare
• Rest/nap
• Late afternoon walk around Petite France, Ponts Couverts, Barrage Vauban
• Early dinner

Day 2 : Strasbourg

• Cathedral area and old town in the morning
• Lunch + rest/nap
• Batorama boat tour in late afternoon
• Early dinner

Day 3: Colmar day trip

• Train Strasbourg -> Colmar after breakfast
• Slow old town / Little Venice walk
• Lunch in Colmar
• Park/playground/snack break
• Return to Strasbourg around 4–5 pm
• Back at hotel by 6–7 pm

Day 4: Second Alsace day trip
This is the part I’m unsure about. Since we are already doing Colmar, which would you recommend as the second day trip with two toddlers and strollers?

Options I’m considering:

1. Obernai - seems easy by train, charming, compact, and less complicated
2. Sélestat - seems very easy by train and quieter, but maybe less “wow” than Obernai
3. Kaysersberg - looks beautiful, but I’m not sure if it is practical without a car and with two strollers
4. Bergheim - also looks beautiful, but again not sure about public transport/stroller logistics

We are not looking for wine tasting or a packed adult sightseeing day. We mainly want a pretty Alsace town where we can walk slowly, eat lunch, take photos, let the kids have some breaks, and return to Strasbourg by late afternoon.

My questions:

• Does this overall itinerary look good?
• If we are already doing Colmar, what would locals recommend as the best second day trip: Obernai, Selestat, Kaysersberg, or Bergheim?
• Is Obernai the most practical choice by train, or is another town worth the extra effort?
• Any specific recommendation in these towns?
• Anything you would change about the Strasbourg day itself?

Thanks! We’re trying to keep the trip enjoyable for the kids and not overdo it, but we’d also love to experience Alsace beyond Strasbourg.

Hello,

I’m visiting Paris with my family in mid July, and would love a local sanity check on our itinerary.

We are 2 adults with two young kids, ages 2 and 3.5 years. Both kids will likely be in travel strollers most of the time. We are arriving by train on around 5 pm and leaving by train to Strasbourg on 10 am. We are trying to keep the trip slow, kid friendly, and realistic, with one main activity per day plus rest time.

We are planning to skip going up the Eiffel Tower because lift tickets are sold out, and with two toddlers it seems like the queues/crowds may not be worth it. Instead we want to enjoy the Eiffel Tower from the ground and do a Seine cruise.

Current plan:

Day 1 - Arrival / Canal Saint-Martin

• Arrive around 5 pm, check in, keep evening very easy.
• Short walk around Canal Saint-Martin / Jardin Villemin if the kids have energy.
• Dinner at Pink Flamingo Pizza probably (read about the Balloon thing, kids love ballon) takeaway/eat near the canal.
• Early bedtime.

Day 2 - Eiffel Tower area + Seine cruise

• Morning: Trocadero view of the Eiffel Tower, then walk toward Champ de Mars.
• Let kids play around Champ de Mars/playground area.
• Simple picnic lunch from a boulangerie.
• Early afternoon or late afternoon: 1-hour Seine cruise from the Eiffel Tower area. Any recommendation of the Tour company to use?
• Return to accommodation for rest.
• Easy dinner near where we are staying.

Day 3 - Jardin d’Acclimatation

• Main kid-focused day.
• Go early to Jardin d’Acclimatation.
• Spend the morning/early afternoon there with rides/play areas/animals/splash areas if open.
• Lunch inside or nearby.
• Taxi or easy transit back for rest.
• Optional very light evening: Place des Vosges / Marais, only if kids are still doing well.

Day 4 - Luxembourg Gardens + central Paris

• Morning: Jardin du Luxembourg for toy boats, playground, carousel, and relaxed garden time.
• Lunch near Luxembourg / Saint-Germain.
• Midday rest.
• Late afternoon: Louvre courtyard from outside, Tuileries Garden, maybe Palais Royal.
• No full Louvre visit unless locals think a very short visit is actually worth it with toddlers. Is it?
• Early final dinner and pack for Strasbourg.

Day 5 - Departure

• Breakfast/bakery run near accommodation.
• Leave for train station

Questions for locals:

1. Does this pacing look realistic with two toddlers and strollers in July?
2. Is skipping the Eiffel Tower ascent the right call?
3. Is Jardin d’Acclimatation worth dedicating most of a day to for ages 2 and 3?
4. Any better stroller-friendly alternatives to the Tuileries/Louvre courtyard/Palais Royal afternoon?
5. Any advice for getting around with two strollers, bus vs taxi vs Metro?
6. Anything else I should consider to add, remove or replace?
7. Also considering Jardin des Plantes but not sure how to fit it by removing something.

Thanks! We are trying to enjoy Paris without over-scheduling the kids.

I have 500k+ Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I used to have 900k+ and recently used 400k+ points to book a few international flights through the Chase travel portal. Since I get 1.5cpp value through the portal, it has been simple and flexible: I can pick the exact flights, airlines, timings, and routes that work best for my family.

I am just starting to look more seriously into award travel, but I am not sure if it makes sense for my situation.

My main route is California to Poland. I fly there every year as a family of four. We usually fly economy, often on United or partners, and cash tickets are usually around $1,000–$1,300 per person round trip. I do not usually book business class because it consumes a lot more points, and my goal is to stretch my points as far as possible.

I had previously considered transferring Chase points to United, but the value never seemed good enough compared with just booking through the portal at 1.5cpp.

Recently I learned about Flying Blue transfer bonuses, sometimes 20–25%, and checked award availability for my route. A sample round trip showed:

50,000 Flying Blue miles + $368.73 (25k is minimum miles required one way on this route )

Since 50,000 Chase points are worth $750 through the Chase portal at 1.5cpp, I calculated the effective cost as:

$750 in point value + $368.73 taxes/fees = $1,118.73

That seems very close to what I would pay through the Chase portal or with cash, but with less flexibility and fewer flight choices.

So now I am wondering:

Is it even worth getting into airline transfer partners for economy family travel, or should I keep using Chase points through the portal at 1.5cpp?

I also have about $3,000–$5,000 of hotel spend coming up (I don't stay in Hyatt and use basic hotels again to maximize how far points go to enable me travel more), and my 1.5cpp redemption option expires in October 2027. Should I use more UR points now for hotels at 1.5cpp, or preserve them in case better airline transfer opportunities come up next year?

For people who mostly fly economy as a family, especially on routes like US to Europe, do you find airline transfers worth the extra effort compared with portal redemptions?

Hello fellow travelers,

I’m planning a 28 days Europe train trip with our two toddlers and would love feedback from families who have done something similar.

We are a family of four with two kids, ages 3.5 and 2. We’ll be in Poland this summer for about two months to visit family, and we’re hoping to use one of those months to travel through nearby countries. We will be doing this one month of travel in July.

Our priorities are slow travel, trains over flights, stroller-friendly cities, playgrounds, parks, and built-in laundry/rest days. The goal is to make the trip enjoyable and realistic with young kids.

This would not be our first time traveling in Europe with children. Last summer, while we were in Poland, we spent about 2.5 weeks traveling to Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava. We used trains for all cross-country connections, and once we were in each city, we mostly walked or used public transportation. We stayed in middle of the city which worked well for us.

For luggage, we travel fairly light: two compact strollers, two large 40L backpacks, and two small daypacks.

This summer, we’d like to do a similar style of trip but extend it to around four weeks. We prefer trains because they are easier with kids, strollers, and luggage, and we like the option of family compartments or more space compared to flying.

Planned Itinerary

After researching cities, train connections, and family-friendly pacing, this is the itinerary we are considering:

Krakow -> Berlin (3 nights) -> Utrecht/Amsterdam (5 nights) -> Ghent/Brussels (5 nights) -> Paris (4 nights) -> Luxembourg (3 nights) -> Strasbourg (5 nights)-> Berlin (2 nights) -> Krakow

Days 1–3: Berlin (3 nights)

Travel from Krakow to Berlin.
Berlin is mainly a soft landing and recovery stop. We would stay near Berlin Hbf, Tiergarten, Zoo, or Charlottenburg.

Plan:

• Arrival day: no sightseeing
• Berlin Zoo + Tiergarten
• Light central Berlin walk: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag exterior, river walk, Museum Island from outside

Days 4–8: Utrecht (5 nights)

Train from Berlin to Utrecht. This is one of the longer travel days.

Plan:

• Utrecht local day with canals, playgrounds, groceries/laundry
• Miffy/Nijntje Museum day
• Amsterdam day trip: Vondelpark, canals, optional short boat ride
• One rest day or do something else if we do not need to recovery.

Days 9–13: Ghent (5 nights)

Train from Utrecht to Ghent.

Plan:

• Ghent old town, canals, waffles/fries/chocolate
• Bruges day trip
• Rest day or something easy.
• Antwerp or Brussels day trip, depending on energy.

Days 14–17: Paris (4 nights)

Train from Ghent to Paris.

For Paris, we plan to stay somewhere near Luxembourg Gardens / Saint-Germain / Montparnasse edge, ideally with AC as we read it gets hot.

Plan:

• Arrival day: no sightseeing
• Eiffel Tower view from Trocadero + Champ de Mars + Seine cruise
• Luxembourg Gardens + Notre-Dame exterior / Île de la Cite
• Louvre Pyramid from outside + Tuileries Garden We are not planning a full Louvre museum visit with toddlers.

Days 18–20: Luxembourg City (3 nights)

Train from Paris to Luxembourg.

This is meant as a calmer reset after Paris.

Plan:

• Old town
• Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator
• Grund views
• Tram ride
• Parks/playgrounds
• Slow laundry/rest day

Days 21–25: Strasbourg / Alsace (5 nights)

Train from Luxembourg to Strasbourg.

Plan:

• Petite France, canal walk, cathedral exterior
• Parc de l’Orangerie toddler day
• Colmar day trip
• One slow day before the long train back to Berlin

Days 26–27: Berlin — 2 nights

Train from Strasbourg to Berlin.

This is mostly a recovery/buffer stop before returning to Kraków.

Plan:

• Arrival day: pure travel day
• Recovery day: park, laundry, packing, early bedtime

Day 28: Berlin → Kraków

Final train back to Kraków.

--------

Main questions

1. Does this pacing seem realistic with two toddlers?
2. The initial plan which we created after some research included Amsterdam and Brussels as they are the major cities. But we also read some discussions around preferring Utrecht and Ghent as they are slower paced cities better to visit as family and then do day trips to Amsterdam and Brussels. I am wondering if this is true or should we stick with major cities?
3. We are not sure about Strasbourg as a stop. Are there any better stops while our way back to Berlin?
4. Will 4 nights in Paris be enough. We do not plan to cover everything as we know Paris is large but just get a feel of the city since we are traveling that side.
5. Any major attractions which we should consider in any of these cities as must see?
6. We also considered doing Baltic area instead: Warsaw -> Lithuania -> Latvia -> Estonia -> Finland. But preferred this route as we read the train connectivity is better in the above select loop
7. Last year both kids were in diapers but this time one is potty trained (almost). I know all restrooms are paid in Europe and we plan to carry lot of coins. Any tips on doing this travel with almost potty trained kids and making emergency toilet stops?
8. Any tips for doing this kind of trip by train with two young kids?

Thanks

Hello fellow travelers,

I’m planning a 28 days Europe train trip with our two toddlers and would love feedback from families who have done something similar.

We are a family of four with two kids, ages 3.5 and 2. We’ll be in Poland this summer for about two months to visit family, and we’re hoping to use one of those months to travel through nearby countries. We will be doing this one month of travel in July.

Our priorities are slow travel, trains over flights, stroller-friendly cities, playgrounds, parks, and built-in laundry/rest days. The goal is to make the trip enjoyable and realistic with young kids.

This would not be our first time traveling in Europe with children. Last summer, while we were in Poland, we spent about 2.5 weeks traveling to Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava. We used trains for all cross-country connections, and once we were in each city, we mostly walked or used public transportation. We stayed in middle of the city which worked well for us.

For luggage, we travel fairly light: two compact strollers, two large 40L backpacks, and two small daypacks.

This summer, we’d like to do a similar style of trip but extend it to around four weeks. We prefer trains because they are easier with kids, strollers, and luggage, and we like the option of family compartments or more space compared to flying.

Planned Itinerary

After researching cities, train connections, and family-friendly pacing, this is the itinerary we are considering:

Krakow -> Berlin (3 nights) -> Utrecht/Amsterdam (5 nights) -> Ghent/Brussels (5 nights) -> Paris (4 nights) -> Luxembourg (3 nights) -> Strasbourg (5 nights)-> Berlin (2 nights) -> Krakow

Days 1–3: Berlin (3 nights)

Travel from Krakow to Berlin.
Berlin is mainly a soft landing and recovery stop. We would stay near Berlin Hbf, Tiergarten, Zoo, or Charlottenburg.

Plan:

• Arrival day: no sightseeing
• Berlin Zoo + Tiergarten
• Light central Berlin walk: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag exterior, river walk, Museum Island from outside

Days 4–8: Utrecht (5 nights)

Train from Berlin to Utrecht. This is one of the longer travel days.

Plan:

• Utrecht local day with canals, playgrounds, groceries/laundry
• Miffy/Nijntje Museum day
• Amsterdam day trip: Vondelpark, canals, optional short boat ride
• One rest day or do something else if we do not need to recovery.

Days 9–13: Ghent (5 nights)

Train from Utrecht to Ghent.

Plan:

• Ghent old town, canals, waffles/fries/chocolate
• Bruges day trip
• Rest day or something easy.
• Antwerp or Brussels day trip, depending on energy.

Days 14–17: Paris (4 nights)

Train from Ghent to Paris.

For Paris, we plan to stay somewhere near Luxembourg Gardens / Saint-Germain / Montparnasse edge, ideally with AC as we read it gets hot.

Plan:

• Arrival day: no sightseeing
• Eiffel Tower view from Trocadero + Champ de Mars + Seine cruise
• Luxembourg Gardens + Notre-Dame exterior / Île de la Cite
• Louvre Pyramid from outside + Tuileries Garden We are not planning a full Louvre museum visit with toddlers.

Days 18–20: Luxembourg City (3 nights)

Train from Paris to Luxembourg.

This is meant as a calmer reset after Paris.

Plan:

• Old town
• Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator
• Grund views
• Tram ride
• Parks/playgrounds
• Slow laundry/rest day

Days 21–25: Strasbourg / Alsace (5 nights)

Train from Luxembourg to Strasbourg.

Plan:

• Petite France, canal walk, cathedral exterior
• Parc de l’Orangerie toddler day
• Colmar day trip
• One slow day before the long train back to Berlin

Days 26–27: Berlin — 2 nights

Train from Strasbourg to Berlin.

This is mostly a recovery/buffer stop before returning to Kraków.

Plan:

• Arrival day: pure travel day
• Recovery day: park, laundry, packing, early bedtime

Day 28: Berlin → Kraków

Final train back to Kraków.

--------

Main questions

1. Does this pacing seem realistic with two toddlers?
2. The initial plan which we created after some research included Amsterdam and Brussels as they are the major cities. But we also read some discussions around preferring Utrecht and Ghent as they are slower paced cities better to visit as family and then do day trips to Amsterdam and Brussels. I am wondering if this is true or should we stick with major cities?
3. We are not sure about Strasbourg as a stop. Are there any better stops while our way back to Berlin?
4. Will 4 nights in Paris be enough. We do not plan to cover everything as we know Paris is large but just get a feel of the city since we are traveling that side.
5. Any major attractions which we should consider in any of these cities as must see?
6. We also considered doing Baltic area instead: Warsaw -> Lithuania -> Latvia -> Estonia -> Finland. But preferred this route as we read the train connectivity is better in the above select loop
7. Last year both kids were in diapers but this time one is potty trained (almost). I know all restrooms are paid in Europe and we plan to carry lot of coins. Any tips on doing this travel with almost potty trained kids and making emergency toilet stops?
8. Any tips for doing this kind of trip by train with two young kids?

Thanks

Hello fellow travelers,

I’m planning a 28 days Europe train trip with our two toddlers and would love feedback from families who have done something similar.

We are a family of four with two kids, ages 3.5 and 2. We’ll be in Poland this summer for about two months to visit family, and we’re hoping to use one of those months to travel through nearby countries. We will be doing this one month of travel in July.

Our priorities are slow travel, trains over flights, stroller-friendly cities, playgrounds, parks, and built-in laundry/rest days. The goal is to make the trip enjoyable and realistic with young kids.

This would not be our first time traveling in Europe with children. Last summer, while we were in Poland, we spent about 2.5 weeks traveling to Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava. We used trains for all cross-country connections, and once we were in each city, we mostly walked or used public transportation. We stayed in middle of the city which worked well for us.

For luggage, we travel fairly light: two compact strollers, two large 40L backpacks, and two small daypacks.

This summer, we’d like to do a similar style of trip but extend it to around four weeks. We prefer trains because they are easier with kids, strollers, and luggage, and we like the option of family compartments or more space compared to flying.

Planned Itinerary

After researching cities, train connections, and family-friendly pacing, this is the itinerary we are considering:

Krakow -> Berlin (3 nights) -> Utrecht/Amsterdam (5 nights) -> Ghent/Brussels (5 nights) -> Paris (4 nights) -> Luxembourg (3 nights) -> Strasbourg (5 nights)-> Berlin (2 nights) -> Krakow

Days 1–3: Berlin (3 nights)

Travel from Krakow to Berlin.
Berlin is mainly a soft landing and recovery stop. We would stay near Berlin Hbf, Tiergarten, Zoo, or Charlottenburg.

Plan:

• Arrival day: no sightseeing
• Berlin Zoo + Tiergarten
• Light central Berlin walk: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag exterior, river walk, Museum Island from outside

Days 4–8: Utrecht (5 nights)

Train from Berlin to Utrecht. This is one of the longer travel days.

Plan:

• Utrecht local day with canals, playgrounds, groceries/laundry
• Miffy/Nijntje Museum day
• Amsterdam day trip: Vondelpark, canals, optional short boat ride
• One rest day or do something else if we do not need to recovery.

Days 9–13: Ghent (5 nights)

Train from Utrecht to Ghent.

Plan:

• Ghent old town, canals, waffles/fries/chocolate
• Bruges day trip
• Rest day or something easy.
• Antwerp or Brussels day trip, depending on energy.

Days 14–17: Paris (4 nights)

Train from Ghent to Paris.

For Paris, we plan to stay somewhere near Luxembourg Gardens / Saint-Germain / Montparnasse edge, ideally with AC as we read it gets hot.

Plan:

• Arrival day: no sightseeing
• Eiffel Tower view from Trocadero + Champ de Mars + Seine cruise
• Luxembourg Gardens + Notre-Dame exterior / Île de la Cite
• Louvre Pyramid from outside + Tuileries Garden We are not planning a full Louvre museum visit with toddlers.

Days 18–20: Luxembourg City (3 nights)

Train from Paris to Luxembourg.

This is meant as a calmer reset after Paris.

Plan:

• Old town
• Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator
• Grund views
• Tram ride
• Parks/playgrounds
• Slow laundry/rest day

Days 21–25: Strasbourg / Alsace (5 nights)

Train from Luxembourg to Strasbourg.

Plan:

• Petite France, canal walk, cathedral exterior
• Parc de l’Orangerie toddler day
• Colmar day trip
• One slow day before the long train back to Berlin

Days 26–27: Berlin — 2 nights

Train from Strasbourg to Berlin.

This is mostly a recovery/buffer stop before returning to Kraków.

Plan:

• Arrival day: pure travel day
• Recovery day: park, laundry, packing, early bedtime

Day 28: Berlin → Kraków

Final train back to Kraków.

--------

Main questions

1. Does this pacing seem realistic with two toddlers?
2. The initial plan which we created after some research included Amsterdam and Brussels as they are the major cities. But we also read some discussions around preferring Utrecht and Ghent as they are slower paced cities better to visit as family and then do day trips to Amsterdam and Brussels. I am wondering if this is true or should we stick with major cities?
3. We are not sure about Strasbourg as a stop. Are there any better stops while our way back to Berlin?
4. Will 4 nights in Paris be enough. We do not plan to cover everything as we know Paris is large but just get a feel of the city since we are traveling that side.
5. Any major attractions which we should consider in any of these cities as must see?
6. We also considered doing Baltic area instead: Warsaw -> Lithuania -> Latvia -> Estonia -> Finland. But preferred this route as we read the train connectivity is better in the above select loop
7. Last year both kids were in diapers but this time one is potty trained (almost). I know all restrooms are paid in Europe and we plan to carry lot of coins. Any tips on doing this travel with almost potty trained kids and making emergency toilet stops?
8. Any tips for doing this kind of trip by train with two young kids?

Thanks

Hi everyone, looking for a second pair of eyes on my college savings strategy. I’m a California resident and I’ve been aggressive with 529s early on, but now I’m wondering if I should pivot to maximize flexibility.

The Current State:

• Kids: Two children, aged 3 and 2.
• 529 Total: ~$158,000 (split roughly $79k each in separate accounts).
• Location: California (No state tax deduction for 529s, and high state capital gains tax).
• Investment: Aggressive/Moderate-Aggressive (Targeting ~7% returns).
• Retirement Saving: Maxed out 401k, after tax 401k (mega backdoor), backdoor (for me and stay at home spouse), HSA.

The Projections (in 15–16 years): Using a 4% college inflation rate and 7% market return:

• Projected Balance at Age 18: ~$220k for the 3yo and ~$235k for the 2yo.
• Estimated Public In-State COA (4 years): ~$165,000.
• Estimated Private COA (4 years): ~$480,000.

I have around 20k sitting in saving account as of now (beside emergency fund) and will have 3-5k per month till end of 2026 to invest.

The Strategy I'm Considering: I am debating stopping 529 contributions for now and putting this year's extra savings into a standard taxable brokerage portfolio (VTI/VXUS) instead.

My Logic:

1. Public is Covered: My current 529 balances already cover the projected cost of a top-tier Public University (like a UC) plus the $35k SECURE 2.0 Roth IRA rollover limit. But I am not fully covered for more expensive medial degrees.
2. The "Flexibility Premium": While CA tax is high, the "cost" of the tax on a brokerage account feels like a fair trade for the flexibility to use that money for a home down payment, a wedding, or my own retirement if they don't end up at an expensive private school. I know the 529 can be passed down to the grandkids but I am not sure if I prefer that over helping my kids with their down payment etc.
3. Overfunding Risk: I'm worried about "trapping" too much money in 529s if they get scholarships or choose the public route, especially with the 10% penalty on non-educational earnings.

My Questions for the Community:

1. Is it too early to stop 529 contributions at ages 3 and 2? Am I being too optimistic about a 7% return over 15 years?
2. For CA residents, does the lack of a state tax deduction make you more likely to favor taxable brokerage accounts once the "baseline" (Public school) is met?
3. If you were in this spot already having ~$80k per kid this early would you keep "superfunding" the 529 for the private school "what-if," or take the tax hit for the flexibility of a brokerage?
4. Overall how does one decide how much is enough in 529 with so many variables of future?

Appreciate any insights or "blind spots" you might see in this plan!