Stroller in Europe

[lacey]

We are going to Switzerland, the Burgundy region in France, Paris and London at the end of May/begunning of June. DD will be 15 months old. We own a Britax B-agile which we like. We have taken it on vacation to San Diego and San Francisco, Disney, Savannah, Charleston, etc. The biggest problems are that the basket is small and it's large when folded.

For the Europe trip, would you take the B-Agile? Or would you look for a true umbrella stroller? I think the biggest negative of the umbrella stroller is that the wheels look small so they may not be great on cobblestones and the baskets are also generally small. We also are able to hang the diaper bag off the handle of the B-Agile, but I assume that would tip an umbrella stroller.

I would ideally like something the baby could nap in and I would also prefer not to spend a ton of money since we intend to TTC #2 late summer and will consider buying a double stroller at that point.

WWYD? And if you think umbrella stroller is better, which one?

[gigem]

The B agile will be fine. In Paris a lot of ppl have larger strollers for comfort/smoothiness (look up bebe comfort loola or peg perego book plus which are even bigger than tbe B agile from what I've seen). Dont buy a single umbrella just for this trip. Even in a restaurant you'd leave an umbrella stroller outside if you have a bunch of stuff in the basket and can't fold it up. The only issue is on a bus, normally no more than 2 strollers or you will get nasty stares. And an umbrella or other foldable stroller will be the same hassle. Have a good trip!

[miamigirl]

We're going to Europe in August and I'm taking the Cruz. I prefer to have a bigger stroller where S can nap and we can carry things around in the basket.

[lacey]

Thank you for your thoughts! I agree that there are pros and cons to both, which is why I keep going back and forth. I'm happy to hear that it's common to see larger strollers in Paris. The bus/train situation will be a pain, but it always is. We'll be walking a lot and I'll have the Lillebaby to carry her if we are just going out to dinner or something that doesn't involve 10 miles of walking!

[lacey]

Mar 27, 2017 10:23:21 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Mar 27, 2017 10:14:57 GMT -5 gigem said:

 

Basically I have no strong opinion either way, lol.  Except that if OP is going to buy an umbrella stroller, she shouldn't go for a total cheap-o one, because as her kid gets older and is in the stroller less and less, having a light one that is easy to carry folded up will be helpful.

I definitely agree with this. I saw a McClaren Quest for $90 on Craigslist and considered buying that if an umbrella stroller would makeep my life much easier. I just don't want to spend ~$250- $300 for a new reclinable Maclaren or G-luxe or something like that if I end up possibly needing a double for the near future.

ETA: We'll that quoting didn't work out too well for me!

[mskitkat]

Does anyone love their umbrella stroller? I haaaate the stroller we have for DD. It's so big and clunky. There is no way it is coming to Paris with us, but I can't decide which one to buy.

[orval]

I used a Maclaren Volo in Prague and Germany a few years ago. My ds was 3 so a bit older. I liked to be able to fold it up and throw it over my shoulder where necessary(it had a shoulder strap). There were some spots where stairs were the only option. At Oktoberfest, strollers were not allowed (which I didn't know until we got there) and I was able to carry it easily instead of taking it back to the hotel.
I would also use a backpack for the diaper bag, just much easier to carry around.

[lala]

We've taken our maclaren techno XLR to Europe several times and it's been great. Full recline, easy small fold, etc. Isn't the B agile like a city mini? If so, I think that's fine. We have a double city mini and even that folds well - we've never needed to take it abroad but it's been to California twice, Disney World, Disneyland, etc.

I have a volo as well and would prefer not to use that for a trip like this b/c there is no recline and it's just not as good on rougher terrain.

I do love love our maclarens and our city mini.

[UnderProtest]

Strollers are just a pain in general in London, but FYI, you can put them in black cabs with the kid in them. That does help some. Be careful of Tube stations, most don't have elevators, but with a single stroller and multiple adults you should be able to put it on the escalators. Oh, and be careful in Paris with what you put where, pick pockets are HUGE there.

[lacey]

Mar 27, 2017 11:43:58 GMT -5 lala said:

We've taken our maclaren techno XLR to Europe several times and it's been great. Full recline, easy small fold, etc. Isn't the B agile like a city mini? If so, I think that's fine. We have a double city mini and even that folds well - we've never needed to take it abroad but it's been to California twice, Disney World, Disneyland, etc.

I have a volo as well and would prefer not to use that for a trip like this b/c there is no recline and it's just not as good on rougher terrain.

I do love love our maclarens and our city mini.

Yes, it's very similar to a City Mini. I think the biggest pain for strollers in Disney (with one) was unloading everything to get it onto a bus. But that would be the same no matter the stroller!

[lacey]

Mar 27, 2017 12:58:51 GMT -5 UnderProtest said:

Strollers are just a pain in general in London, but FYI, you can put them in black cabs with the kid in them. That does help some. Be careful of Tube stations, most don't have elevators, but with a single stroller and multiple adults you should be able to put it on the escalators. Oh, and be careful in Paris with what you put where, pick pockets are HUGE there.

This is great advice! Thank you!

[lala]

Mar 27, 2017 13:09:26 GMT -5 lacey said:

Mar 27, 2017 11:43:58 GMT -5 lala said:

We've taken our maclaren techno XLR to Europe several times and it's been great. Full recline, easy small fold, etc. Isn't the B agile like a city mini? If so, I think that's fine. We have a double city mini and even that folds well - we've never needed to take it abroad but it's been to California twice, Disney World, Disneyland, etc.

I have a volo as well and would prefer not to use that for a trip like this b/c there is no recline and it's just not as good on rougher terrain.

I do love love our maclarens and our city mini.

Yes, it's very similar to a City Mini. I think the biggest pain for strollers in Disney (with one) was unloading everything to get it onto a bus. But that would be the same no matter the stroller!

Yes. Anytime we are somewhere we will need to collapse regularly (like Disney) we don't keep much in the stroller itself, instead we clip a bag onto it w/ the giant caribeeners. 

In London & Paris we were able to keep it open in a lot of places and between the 2 of us we carried it up & down stairs & escalators. In London, especially, strangers were always offering to help. 

[Deleted]

We took our uppababy vista to germany, france, and austria last year. Well worth the extra hassle of weight. DS had some great naps, and we used the heck out of the basket. In places where a stroller wasn't ideal, we just wore him in the backpack.

[lacey]

Thanks everyone! I'm just going to use the B Agile! It sounds like we should be able to manage it fine.

[erbear]

I'd bring a carrier. I would not want any stroller on that trip.

[grosnl19]

We have the Maclaren globetrotter and used it all over Europe (when we lived there...so lots of cities) without problems. I had an Uppababy Vista for local travel.

[mskitkat]

Mar 27, 2017 10:53:34 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Mar 27, 2017 10:48:03 GMT -5 lacey said:

The Summer 3D Lite is about $70 and the Inglesina Net was $140. I would definitely not spend $200+ on an umbrella stroller. The Net was pushing it for us, and I think part of why we went for it was that the weight limit was 55 pounds. We are team Stroller 4 Lyfe, so we were OK paying for the extra time it bought us. The seat was a little deeper than the Summer 3D lite, too, but that is probably not an issue for you.

How was the Net for napping? Not that my kid will nap in her current stroller anyway...

[Susie]

We have a Maclaren Triumph, which reclines all the way for napping. I like how lightweight it is for travel and it would be my go-to, but the basket is small, and a diaper bag would tip it.

[Cioccolato]

I live in Europe and have a big stroller but for a smaller one most people here have a Chicco lightway.

[lala]

Mar 27, 2017 14:31:00 GMT -5 erbear said:

I'd bring a carrier. I would not want any stroller on that trip.

If you time it right, you can eat many a meal out at night w/ a baby sleeping in the stroller. Not quite as enjoyable if a baby is sleeping hanging off of your back. 

I never travel w/o a carrier either, though!

[frlcb]

Mar 27, 2017 12:58:51 GMT -5 UnderProtest said:

Strollers are just a pain in general in London, but FYI, you can put them in black cabs with the kid in them. That does help some. Be careful of Tube stations, most don't have elevators, but with a single stroller and multiple adults you should be able to put it on the escalators. Oh, and be careful in Paris with what you put where, pick pockets are HUGE there.

The Mumderground app is great for this, you can see which tube stations are the best with strollers. I can't tell you how many times I would get off at a tube station, look at the stairs, and want to cry - but someone always came along, without a word, picked up the front of the stroller, and helped me up or down. And then walked away without a word, very British lol.

[janegold]

We are going to Europe next month and are taking our UB Vista. This will be our first time so hard to say what is best but I decided the pros of a big stroller outweigh the cons of an umbrella for us at this point. Plus B will not yet be 5 months so we wanted to be able to clip in the bucket seat. We will use the baby carrier for times where the stroller would be too inconvenient.

[preppy]

Mar 27, 2017 10:55:45 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Does anyone love their umbrella stroller? I haaaate the stroller we have for DD. It's so big and clunky. There is no way it is coming to Paris with us, but I can't decide which one to buy.

I LOVE our ippababy gluxe. Large shade, reclines for sleep, and stands up on his own.

[UnderProtest]

Mar 27, 2017 17:20:06 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Mar 27, 2017 12:58:51 GMT -5 UnderProtest said:

Strollers are just a pain in general in London, but FYI, you can put them in black cabs with the kid in them. That does help some. Be careful of Tube stations, most don't have elevators, but with a single stroller and multiple adults you should be able to put it on the escalators. Oh, and be careful in Paris with what you put where, pick pockets are HUGE there.

The Mumderground app is great for this, you can see which tube stations are the best with strollers. I can't tell you how many times I would get off at a tube station, look at the stairs, and want to cry - but someone always came along, without a word, picked up the front of the stroller, and helped me up or down. And then walked away without a word, very British lol.

Yes, I saw that a ton when I lived there.  Unfortunately no one offered to help me with my double stroller.

[frlcb]

Mar 27, 2017 17:41:22 GMT -5 UnderProtest said:

Mar 27, 2017 17:20:06 GMT -5 frlcb said:

The Mumderground app is great for this, you can see which tube stations are the best with strollers. I can't tell you how many times I would get off at a tube station, look at the stairs, and want to cry - but someone always came along, without a word, picked up the front of the stroller, and helped me up or down. And then walked away without a word, very British lol.

Yes, I saw that a ton when I lived there.  Unfortunately no one offered to help me with my double stroller.

True, we moved before I had two so I never had a double stroller. I can imagine that was less appealing