15 days of exalting happiness in Europe: Badar’s family trip with Thrillophilia

“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.” — Og Mandino. 

My wife and I are firm believers in the power of travel and how it can shape you as a person. Luckily, I was born to parents who worked in the Indian Air Force which made us feel travelling is just a part of life. When my wife and I had kids, we wanted them to understand the value of travelling as well. 

With my profession as a software engineer, I found it difficult to have impromptu travel plans with my kids as I used to have with my father. But when my kids were past the age of toddlers, my wife and I realised that it was high time to go on trips with them, so we decided to have an annual trip with the four of us. 

Over the years, we explored many places in India. But this time time my kids were nagging about planning a trip abroad. For that, I knew that I would need the help of a reliable tour operator. While searching for the same, one of my friends suggested Thrillophilia and I started planning our most-awaited trip with their destination experts.

Our trip planners suggested a brilliant itinerary of 15 days which broadly covered a massive circuit in Europe. With a lot of excitement, we boarded our flights from Hyderabad and a couple of flights later, we found ourselves in the city of Love-Paris.

To French delights and beautiful sights 

From visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower to exploring the famous French museums, my kids were excited to cover all the experiences. We couldn’t control our amazement after climbing the Eiffel Tower, it was like a dreamy adventure that offered us sweeping views of the sparking Parisian evening. And I must mention, we were delighted to taste the French breads and desserts. 

We had the best guide-Michel who helped us throughout, especially at the incredible Louvre Museum. I was so proud to see my son who took an interest in the history of all the stunning artefacts and paintings displayed there. Thanks to Michel for explaining every bit of the answers to the questions my son asked. My wife was looking forward to catching a glimpse of the famous painting Mona Lisa. And when she did, she remarked gleefully, ‘This painting is a testimony to the fact that even small things can play big roles in the universe.’

Other prominent landmarks that we visited in Paris were Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe. At my daughter’s insistence, we had a full day planned for an outing to Disneyland Paris. She leapt with joy when she saw Mickey Mouse and rushed to hug him. My wife and I were really relieved to see our kids find their muses there. 

Rome wasn’t discovered in a day

One of my favourite places on this trip was Rome, and to be honest, it has always been on my bucket list.  Filled with ancient wonders, and glistening with the hues of modernity, Rome mesmerised all of us. I always wished I could bond with my son and daughter over stories of Caesar and Cleopatra, but I was not sure if kids would like exploring the historical monuments. Thanks to Rome, and Michel of course, I think I succeeded in fostering a beautiful bond with my kids over history. 

Next, we visited the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum. We also loved our day outing to the Vatican City. As there was a lot of walking to do, I had to keep feeding my kids with gelatos and pizzas in order for them to continue walking. Kids these days are quite lazy, it was clear to me on this trip. 

Then went on a road trip to Florence and Venice. While Florence boasted stunning architectural marvels, the city of Venice won our hearts with its charming canal rides. The hotel arrangements provided by Thrillophilia in these cities were amazing. Besides that, the food was also delicious.

Of sparkling crystals, lifelike statues and shining cars 

Our trip planners suggested a wholesome itinerary across London, Austria and Belgium as the second part of the trip. When we were in London, we visited the famous Madame Tussauds Museum. My daughter was elated to click a selfie with wax replicas of Deepika Padukone and singer Rihanna. While my son loved exploring the section dedicated to the Marvels, my wife gazed curiously at the statues of the Royal Family of Britain. 

My wife was excited to see the Swarovski Kristallwelten- the Crystal World Museum in Austria. It felt like we had entered a universe where every corner glistens and shines beautifully. I would like to especially mention the walk inside the Crystal Forest- it was truly amazing. The crystal-covered trees and the art installation called  “Crystal Cloud” made our day. My wife kept clicking so many pictures that in the middle of the day, she had to sit down with her phone and delete some photos to make space for new ones. 

My son’s favourite place during the trip was the Autoworld Museum in Belgium. My son and I bonded over the collection of vintage and classic cars. The Ferrari collection and the Mercedes display at the museum were awe-inspiring. We were thrilled to see the Formula 1 cars and perfectly restored models of Rolls Royce, however, the old-school Bentleys stole our hearts. 

It was an awesome experience for all of us. Adithi from Thrillophilia checked up on us every day throughout the trip. From hotel selection to smooth transportation, they had created a meticulously crafted itinerary for us. Our guide was really helpful, helping us find the right spots to eat and the best places to spend our leisure time.

Thrillophilia scored a 10/10 on making our first family trip out of India so special for us, and for this, we will forever be grateful to them.

Read More: Thrillophilia Europe Reviews