What a great website! I've been lurking for a few weeks and am now finally getting around to posting. My husband and I are taking our children on their first trip to Europe next year and we are already very excited about it. Planning is almost as much fun as going!

Our trip won't be as slow as I would like it to be, but we will hopefully still soak up some local flavor. We will spend 3 days in Paris on our way to a week in Tuscany(renting a villa with another family) and then finish with 4 days in Rome. I teach our children at home and we have been studing ancient Rome for several months now. I can hardly wait to see Rome and Tuscany through their eyes.

I'm still finding my way around SlowTrav and need to see if there is any advice on travel insurance. Comparing the cost/value of the packages I've looked at so far gives me such a headache!!

Many thanks to all the wonderful travelers here who so graciously share their experiences!

Tracy B.

Hi Tracy - welcome to Slow Travel Talk.

It sounds as if you have a great trip planned for your family. Your kids' knowing some history will add a positive element, I think.

Take a look at the "Everything About Travel" forum for previous topic threads about travel insurance.

"See" you on the boards!
Colleen

Hi Tracy and welcome to Slow Travel! It sounds like you have a great trip planned for your family. We have traveled in Europe with our daughter since she was 14 months old.

We have an enthusiastic group of members from the southeast USA, including several in the Atlanta area.

This website should help you sort through alternatives for travel insurance: http://www.insuremytrip.com

Kathy

Hi Tracy,

Welcome to SlowTrav! I live outside of Atlanta and have been part of this wonderful travel community for a couple of years. There is a wealth of information here for you.

Regarding travel insurance, it really depends on what type of coverage you are looking for. If you would like to email me directly, I would be more than happy to give you a comparision.

What part of Tuscany will be be basing in? My husband and I have traveled there a number of times with our daughter. She started going to Tuscany when she was a year-old, so we know where all the fun playgrounds are if that helps any. How old are your children ?

Once again, welcome to Slow Trav and I look forward to your future posts.

All The Best,

Thanks very much for your warm words of welcome. I appreciate the tips on getting more info about travel insurance. Mostly, I need to try to understand what is offered and what we really need.

Kathy, I have read most of what you wrote about your family's big 14 month trip in Europe. Believe me, I now have many ideas of future trips swirling around in my head. Thanks so much for taking the time to record your experiences so faithfully and all the best with your Provence business.

So far, I have booked our flights using Delta skymiles and a Paris apartment through VacationinParis. My friend took care of booking our Tuscany villa through Invitation to Tuscany. It is located near Casole d'Elsa. We plan to do a few day trips and lots of relaxing too.

I still need to zero in on an apartment for 4 nights in Rome and book a rental car from Rome to Tuscany and back for the middle week. I'll definitely be using this website to help with those.

I'm afraid I may have blown it by not covering our Paris apartment in case of cancellation since I booked several weeks ago. When my husband and I traveled before kids, I was much more carefree (more ignorant?) and never bothered with insurance except on a big trip to Australia and New Zealand. Being a parent has changed my perspective!

My daughter is 11 and my son will soon turn 9. They are already great little travelers and I know we will enjoy our trip together.

Leslie, I will figure out how to email you about insurance. Thanks very much.

Thanks again everyone,

Hi Tracy – your kids are a great age for this trip – and I agree, seeing it through their eyes will add a huge dimension to it for you.
Our family travelled to Italy last year – We (joking) referred to it as the “Ultimate Grade 7 Field Trip”. The youngest (12 at the time) is a home learner like your kids. He was so taken by the experience that he is learning Italian this year and lobbying hard for a return trip.

They loved Rome in particular, I can’t think of a better place to make history come alive for them.

Colleen

Colleen, thanks so much for your post. I was so glad to hear that your children loved Rome in particular. We've been calling this planned trip a field trip too. We've also been using Rosetta Stone to learn a little Italian this school year. With May fast approaching, I feel the urge to really step that up for all of us.

I'm hoping for return visits down the road. From all I have read,there is much to see and experience in Italy.

All the best to you and your family this holiday season,