strollers in europe

[rednails]

We are thinking about going to the med with a 3 yr old and 7 yr old. Would a stroller work in europe or should we go without. If so which would be better a BOB revolution or Maclaren Quest? I think the quest would be easier more compact but not sure it would be great over cobblestone roads. TIA

[I&MsMom]

We've done several European trips (land-based) with strollers. You've hit upon one of the key issues: it needs to have really sturdy wheels to stand up to cobblestones and uneven surfaces. Also, you'll find that the curb cuts we take for granted to transition from, say, sidewalk to street, aren't very common, so you'll either have to "back" the stroller off the higher surface, or "carry" it - one parent holds the handles and the other grabs the footrest. This latter method was used constantly when we were in Venice for the bridges. In any case, it puts more than usual stress on the handlebars and the footrest, so those have to be sturdy as well.

 

That said, given how much walking you're likely to do, I'd say bring it. It's also useful to keep the younger child contained at times when you are necessarily a bit distracted, such as airport check-ins.

[mmcruise]

It was not a cruise, but we took our Quest all over Tuscany and Rome - lots of cobbles everywhere - and while it was bouncy, it definitely did the trick. It's a very sturdy stroller, despite its size and portability. My son was 3 3/4 and not into the stroller thing at home anymore but welcomed the chance to sit (and sleep!) on the trip. We were so glad we brought it. Best of all, he had the impeccable timing to fall asleep as we entered both the Capitolini Museum in Rome and the Accademia in Florence, giving us time to enjoy the museums without "are we done yet???"