my husband and me are planninng a one week holiday in the first week of August. It's our first year in Switzerland, we live in Basel, and there are a lot of places we would like to visit (in Switzerland, Germany or France).
We have a 2 years and 1/2 very lively boy.
We're googling around and we see that Germany is very children-friendly (since our boy is very, uhm, extrovert , we need to go in a place where children are contemplated and welcome). But still no clue where to go.
Do you have any suggestions?
thanks!
PS: We would love to find a place with some water around Lakes, swimming pools or water parks, everything counts.
I would go for Lugano it is very good for young children, right on the waters edge, plenty to do to fill a week and a great kids play area and pool at the Lido. Depends on budget but some of the hotels around the lake are really geared up for the liveliest of 2 1/2 year olds!
we've got two boisterous boys and in Italy (ok i know not Switzerland) they're welcome to go nuts and make as much noise as they want - which is a relief
we tend to rent villas for a week as then we can really relax and not worry about keeping quiet in hotels or having to stick to someone else's timetable
i recommend taking his trike/car to burn off extra energy too
We just came back from a holiday at Bodensee. We rented a ferien Wohnung (Holiday home) for a few days. We had a wonderful time just cycling, going around visiting various places around the lake like Insel Mainau, Meersburg, Lindau etc. There's a reconstructed stilt house village on the lake in Uhldingen which is both educational and fun for kids. Also you money goes much further there as meals out cost 30-40% less at the current exchange rate. Our holiday home cost only 67Euros/day for 4 adults. The land lady lives downstairs and is super friendly and helpful.
If you want more info, please pm me and I'll give you the link to the site.
We found locals in Italy pretty welcoming and tolerant of our toddler and his constant need to be on the move and chattering at a dull roar. However, the same can't be said for the childcare facilities - absolutely no changing facilities anywhere and bugger all in the way of highchairs in restaurants.
Some had them but everyone with kids tends to hit the restaurant at the same time so it was a scramble every time (regardless of the restaurant) to get a highchair.
I'd recommend center parcs for families. I worked in a travel agency once and their whole offers were very well appreciated by parents and kids. They have lots of activities to keep your kids budy as well.
There are many parcs all over europe, incl. Germany, France etc.
I strongly recommend Legoland in Germany ( www.legoland.de ). Both kids and the adults are sure to have fun there! Take a change of clothes for everyone, a lot of their attractions have to do with water.
It won't keep you busy for a week, though. Maybe you can combine it with something on the way?