Episode #37: How to Plan a Multi-Country Europe Trip with Kids: Real Tips from a Family of 7

Behind the Scenes of Planning Our 3-Week European Family Adventure

How We Planned a Multi-Country Trip with Kids

By the time this episode airs, we will already be in Europe.

This is one of our biggest family trips yet. We will be gone for nearly three weeks as a family of seven, traveling across multiple countries with a mix of cruising, city exploring, and family experiences.

In this post, I am taking you behind the scenes of how this trip came together. From choosing the timing to structuring the itinerary, booking with points, and planning for kids, this is a real look at what it takes to plan a large international trip with a family.

Why We Chose These Dates

One of the biggest decisions we made was to have the kids miss the last couple of days of school.

This allowed us to take advantage of better pricing, especially for the Disney Cruise. Cruise fares increase significantly once peak summer travel begins, so leaving just a little earlier made a meaningful difference.

This is one of the biggest lessons in family travel. Flexibility with timing can save money and open up better options.

Overview of Our Itinerary

This trip is built in layers, combining several destinations and experiences into one cohesive plan.

Our route looks like this:

• Fly from Las Vegas to Barcelona

• Spend one night in Barcelona

• Board a seven-night Disney Cruise

• Visit multiple stops in Italy

• Return to Barcelona for two nights

• Fly to Paris for four nights

• Visit Disneyland Paris

• Fly to Copenhagen for four nights

• Drive into Sweden

• Fly home with a layover in Amsterdam

This structure allows us to balance big experiences with slower moments and family time.

Barcelona and Our Disney Cruise

We are flying into Barcelona and staying one night at a Marriott hotel using points. Because we are a family of seven, we needed to book two rooms.

From there, we will head to the port to board the Disney Dream for a seven-night cruise.

Our cruise includes stops in:

• Cagliari

• Naples

• Rome

• Livorno, where we will visit Pisa

We chose a Disney Cruise because it simplifies travel with kids. It allows us to experience multiple countries without constantly packing and unpacking, while also providing built-in entertainment for the kids.

One of the biggest benefits is the kids club. We have heard from many families that kids often do not want to leave, which allows parents to enjoy some downtime as well.

Time in Italy

We are especially excited to experience Italy with our kids.

Some of these destinations are new for us, and others are places we have visited before. Experiencing them again through our children’s eyes will make it feel entirely different.

We are looking forward to the history, the culture, and simply walking through these cities together as a family.

Returning to Barcelona

After the cruise, we will spend two nights in Barcelona in an Airbnb.

This will give us time to slow down and explore the city more intentionally. We are also meeting up with my mom and sister, who will already be traveling in Europe before joining us.

While in Barcelona, we plan to visit La Sagrada Familia and explore the city together.

Paris and Disneyland Paris

Next, we will fly to Paris and stay at a Marriott Vacation Club property, which helps keep costs down since we are using ownership benefits.

We will spend several days exploring Paris and also visit Disneyland Paris.

We love visiting different Disney parks around the world, and this is something we are especially excited to experience as a family.

Disney parks are also helpful when traveling internationally with kids because they provide a familiar and structured environment within a new destination.

Copenhagen and Southern Sweden

From Paris, we will fly to Copenhagen and stay for four nights.

Finding accommodations for a family of seven in Copenhagen was challenging. Many Airbnb options were very expensive, so we chose a hotel room that can sleep all of us together. It includes multiple bunk beds, and while it will be close quarters, it was one of the most affordable options.

We plan to rent a car and explore Copenhagen, then drive into southern Sweden.

This part of the trip is especially meaningful because my husband has family ancestry in this region, and we are excited to experience those areas together.

Family Photos in Copenhagen

We have scheduled family photos in Copenhagen on our first full day there.

They will be taken in the Nyhavn area and surrounding locations.

Although this is toward the end of our trip when we may be tired, I always feel that capturing these moments is worth it. These photos become some of the most meaningful keepsakes from our travels.

Amsterdam Layover Plan

On our way home, we have a six-hour layover in Amsterdam.

Instead of staying in the airport, we plan to take the train into the city and visit the Anne Frank House.

As a family, we recently watched the series “A Small Light,” which tells the story of Anne Frank. This visit will be both meaningful and emotional, but also an important opportunity to teach our children about history.

We have never been to Amsterdam before, so even this short experience will be a special addition to the trip.

Packing for a Multi-Country Trip

Packing for this trip requires a lot of strategy.

We are preparing for:

• Different climates

• City exploration

• Cruise activities

• Disney parks

Our plan is to pack versatile clothing that can be worn in multiple settings and to do laundry throughout the trip.

The goal is to bring less and rely on rewearing and washing rather than overpacking.

How We Plan Trips Like This

Planning a trip of this size can feel overwhelming, but we approach it in phases.

First, we book the major anchors:

• Flights

• Cruise

• Accommodations

Then we fill in the details over time.

Using points and miles plays a big role in making trips like this more affordable. It allows us to reduce costs on flights and hotels significantly.

Breaking the trip into manageable pieces makes it much more doable.

What We Are Most Excited About

There are many things we are looking forward to on this trip:

• Experiencing a Disney Cruise for the first time

• Exploring Italy as a family

• Visiting Barcelona and Paris

• Seeing Copenhagen and Sweden

• Sharing new cultures and history with our kids

• Spending extended time together without everyday distractions

What’s Coming Next

After this trip, I will be sharing detailed episodes on each part of our experience, including:

• Disney Cruise tips and review

• Italy port experiences

• Barcelona with kids

• Paris and Disneyland Paris

• Copenhagen and Sweden

• Amsterdam layover strategy

There will be a lot of helpful content coming for anyone planning similar trips.

Final Thoughts

Trips like this may look overwhelming at first, but they become manageable when broken down step by step.

With the right planning, flexibility, and mindset, even a multi-country international trip with kids is possible.

This trip is not about perfection. It is about experiencing the world together and creating memories that will stay with our family for years to come.

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