A Week in Europe with My Parents: The Plan, and What Actually Happened

For the first time in almost fourteen years, my parents came to visit me in Europe. It was their first time in Germany, and I was more excited than I can properly describe. I wanted them to see cities and mountains, to travel by train and by boat, and to visit the places I love. So I planned a week for them.

The aim was comfort, scenery and no stress. What we got was train stories, an Airbnb surprise, a hospital emergency and, in spite of all of it, a set of memories I would not trade.

The rules I set myself

Planning a trip with parents means finding the point where their wishes meet their comfort. It was their first visit to Germany, so I wanted a taste of everything: German culture, Swiss mountains and a few scenic detours. There was one complication — I do not drive. We would rely entirely on trains and public transport. My criteria were:

• No more than four hours on a train between stops.
• Comfortable hotels or stays near stations, or easy to reach.
• Vegan and vegetarian food that would not be a daily hunt.
• Beautiful nature, lakes and mountain views.

Berlin: the wish, and the train

My dad's top request was Berlin. My mum wanted anywhere scenic and peaceful. Berlin became the first stop, right after they landed. Bags packed, tickets booked, everything planned. What could go wrong?

July, that is what. July is peak summer in Europe, and our journey to Berlin fell on the first weekend of the school holidays in the Frankfurt region. German trains also have a mind of their own. Our regional train to Frankfurt was delayed and overcrowded, and we watched the Berlin connection pull out as we reached the platform.

Our carefully booked Senior Saver Fare tickets were suddenly useless. The stations were full of travellers, and we ended up swallowing the cost and buying full-price tickets at the last minute to keep going.

We stayed near Friedrichshain and saw the Brandenburg Gate, the Olympic Stadium, Museum Island from a boat and the pandas at Berlin Zoo. It was exciting, and it was hectic.

The lesson cost us money, but it is worth passing on: with family in peak season, especially in Germany, flexibility is worth the extra euros. Peace of mind beats saving. Long stretches of standing, or hunting for seats, were genuinely hard for my parents, so I reserved seats whenever I could and, once or twice, upgraded to first class when the trains were hopelessly full. Always choose flex tickets when you are travelling with parents; it gives you room to move when the plan collapses.

Related: 15 things to do and see in Berlin, walking through divided Berlin and the cheapest ways to travel in Germany.

Offenburg: the base that worked

After Berlin, the proper week began in southern Germany. I chose Offenburg as an unusual base, and it turned out to be the right one. We had a lovely Airbnb near the station, which made everything easier. This was the sweet spot of travelling with parents: no rushing, short rides, and the same bed each evening.

Day one: Strasbourg, thirty minutes by train

We crossed into France and spent the day in Strasbourg. My parents loved the blend of French and German culture: the Gothic cathedral, the canals of La Petite France, and cosy cafes where we found vegetarian-friendly meals.

Day two: Triberg, forty-five minutes by train

Triberg has Germany's highest waterfalls and the famous cuckoo clock shops. My parents took the gentle walk to the falls and browsed the handmade souvenirs. Nothing hurried, nothing difficult.

A tip that earned its place: choose a hub city for short day trips. Parents appreciate one familiar home base far more than a new hotel every night.

Switzerland: when plans change

The next stage was Offenburg to Basel, then Interlaken, then Lucerne, with a stop in Heidelberg on the way back to Frankfurt. Then everything changed.

On our first evening in Basel, after a quick tour of my favourite spots and my old university, my mum had a serious health emergency. She was admitted to hospital for what turned out to be almost three days. The Interlaken and Heidelberg bookings had to be cancelled.

Thankfully, Airbnb made an exception on a non-refundable stay. Otherwise we would have lost hundreds of euros in July, at peak season.

I had planned Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen for cable cars and waterfalls, plus Giessbach Falls and Iseltwald by boat. Once my mum was better, we stayed based in Basel and kept it simple: a boat ride in Lucerne with the cogwheel train up Mount Rigi, and a slow day in Zurich with plenty of stops.

The lesson from that week is not one I expected to learn: buy local insurance in the country you are visiting. Our Indian travel insurance has covered only part of the Swiss hospital bills.

More Swiss ideas: scenic day trips from Lucerne and offbeat Lucerne attractions, the best activities in autumn, the best things to do in winter, and what Switzerland is famous for.

Feeding vegetarians, vegans and Jain eaters

Food planning was a large part of the trip, since my parents are vegetarian and often avoid onion and garlic. What helped:

• Staying in Airbnbs with kitchens for quick meals — Haldiram's frozen aloo parathas were a hit.
• Researching vegan and vegetarian restaurants in advance. Asking for Jain food, or food with restrictions, worked at Indian restaurants in Berlin and Switzerland, and Interlaken is full of them.
• Carrying ready-to-eat meals and snacks.
• Using supermarkets such as Migros, Coop and Rewe, and farmers' markets for fruit.

Some days we cooked. On others we ate local vegetarian food. My parents especially liked sitting in cafes and watching the city go by.

What I would tell anyone doing this

1. Insurance first. Find an EU-based company. Swiss medical bills are no joke. ADAC, Allianz and Axa are among the options.
2. Stay flexible. Book refundable stays and flexible train tickets. Things will change.
3. Choose hub cities. Fewer check-ins, less stress.
4. Plan the food. Especially if vegetarian, vegan or Jain options matter.
5. Keep the pace gentle. One or two highlights a day is plenty.

Looking back

The journey did not go as I imagined. We missed Interlaken, spent anxious days in a Swiss hospital and learned the hard way about train tickets and insurance. But we also watched waterfalls in Triberg, wandered the canals of Strasbourg, sailed across Lake Lucerne and strolled through Berlin at sunset.

Travelling with parents came down to shared memories, flexibility and looking after each other. Plans change. The joy of exploring together makes the difficulty worth it.

Until next time. What travel plans do you have in mind?