How to Survive a Road Trip Across Europe With Kids (and Have Fun Doing It!)
Are you planning a road trip across Europe with your kids? If so, you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime! Traveling through some of the continent’s most breathtaking places, exploring fascinating cultures, and tasting delicious foods – it doesn’t get any better. But we know that such an ambitious undertaking can have its challenges. To make sure things run smoothly (and everyone stays sane!), I’ve put together this guide on how to survive a road trip across Europe with kids. Please keep reading to find out my top tips on making your journey safe, fun, and filled with lasting memories the whole family will treasure forever!
Tip 1 Pack Tiolet Paper: If I’ve learned one thing living in Europe, it’s toilet paper, and bathrooms can be hard to come by, especially if you’re on the highway. It’s unlike in The United States, where every exit has a gas station and bathroom. I’ve gone miles without seeing an exit, much less a bathroom. Not going to lie; I’ve used the bathroom on the side of the road a few times… If you’re traveling in Eastern Europe, you might run across a bathroom that’s just a hole in the ground. (Very common across Europe)
Tip 2 Pack 50 Cent and 1 Euro Coins: This might shock my American friends, but bathrooms are rarely free in Europe and often cost anywhere from 50 cents to 1 Euro. Pack lots of coins for everyone under 6 in your house.
Tip 3 Pack Snacks: Rest stations are not the same in Europe as there are in The United States; sometimes they’ll have food, but sometimes you won’t be able to find food for miles. Don’t find yourself in a situation where everyone is hungry, and food is nowhere to be found. We usually pack in a cooler that will keep things cool for days, like the YETI cooler.
Tip 4 Plan your hotels/Airbnb: I’m a planner, but during road trips, things happen (traffic, etc.). Don’t find yourself in a situation where you can’t be refunded for your stay because you can’t make your destination. I like to find places to stay during our road trip. If we plan on stopping in a bigger city during the weekend, I will make the reservation before arriving but make sure they can reschedule or cancel.
Pro Tip with kids find hotels that have a pool or a kid area to help your children run off their energy.
Tip 5 Sundays: In many European countries, many things will be closed on Sundays. Check the places you want to visit if you plan on staying on a Sunday.
Tip 6 Vomit Bags: We are a household of pukers; almost everyone in my house gets motion sickness, and on nearly every trip, someone vomits. These hospital-style vomit bags have been a lifesaver! Pack these and a roll of toilet paper before your next trip.
Tip 7 Ipad Holders: We have three boys, and on road trips, we break out the Ipads. We purchased these Ipad holders that go over the seat, and they exceeded my expectations. I also noticed less puking when the iPad was in front of them vs. them looking down at it.
Tip 8 Check if you need a Vignette: Vignettes are popular in Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and many other countries. You can face a high ticket if you don’t purchase the vignette and are caught driving on the interstate. You will always see signs on the highway and at gas stations letting you know if you need one. We always make it a game with our kids to see who will be the first to spot the sign.
Tip 9 Check if you need an environment-friendly sticker: Some countries require you to have a sticker on your car or are registered before driving in some regions of a country. Germany and France are two countries that come to mind that require registration. Make sure to check before traveling.
Tip 10 Don’t Forget To Pack Your Passports: Repeat after me, double and triple-check that you have your passports every time you get into the car. You want to be caught in Europe with your passport. You also want to keep your passport while on vacation as sometimes it takes a lot of work to get an emergency passport.
We always travel with the family passport holder, making keeping up with multiple passports much easier.
I hope my ten tips make your European road trip much easier and less stressful! If you can think of any tips and tricks to traveling in Europe that I left out, I would love to hear them in the comments below.