We are committed to be open and candid with our travel planning and experiences and this is an example of just that. After many discussions over dinner and family walks we’ve decided to narrow the scope of our France trip.
The biggest driver for this was financial. We’ve had some unforeseen health care costs recently and are also trying to move from an every-two-years trip to annually. Back to back trips to Italy and Spain were due largely to our shock at cheap Madrid flights from US (<$500!) but we now see how traveling overseas, as a family of 4, every year requires a more aggressive saving schedule.
Turns out doubling your travel can become expensive. Can’t believe it took us this long to realize that.
This may seem like a downer but not to us. Truly.
We didn’t spend any money yet so really it just trims our planning and itinerary a bit. We know we’ll be back and the kids might even enjoy it more when they’re older. (In fact it was some of the costs that came out of our Normandy/D-Day research that told us we were better off not trying to “stretch” funds or try to break any of our travel principles.)
Here is what we cut:
- Paris
Bayeux and D-Day beachesMont Saint-MichelLoire Valley*
We are still leaving the door open for a day trip to Château de Chenonceau but otherwise this leaves us with 7-9 days in Paris proper.
Our daughter has never been (in utero only) and I son was 18 months old last time so we’re very excited for them to see the Eiffel Tower, all the museums, walks along the Seine, and a bunch of other things we never got around to doing the first couple times to Paris. Montmartre, Latin Quarter, more French food, art, writers, history are all waiting for us.
March will be here in no time so next up is a trip to the library for some Paris research. The flights, then lodging.
Talk soon,
Dan & Betsy
Family conversation topic: The benefits to a shorter, cheaper trip abroad.