For France try googling immobilier and the town of your choice. In Italian it is immobiliare.
Lots of companies will have an English version of their site especially if they are in a touristed town/area.
Do you speak a European language? If not my advice is to enroll yourself ASAP in a language class or at least buy a learn from the CD course/book.
I lived in Europe on and off for 6 years pre DS. However I would advise if you are planning on doing extended weekends that you get a base centrally. Somewhere close to an airport that has flights to destinations you are interested in. Switzerland was my favourite place to be based as English is widely spoken if you don't have a second language, Geneva and Zurich airports are great and its an 'easy' drive to east and west Europe. The public transport is also amazing and you get 4 cultures in one country.
I would also check with the visas, while most places were fine with me popping in and out for a weekend, some places you need to plan a bit in advance.
We have done 6-8 week European stints with the kids and each time we have leased a car also - through Peugot and Renault. Much cheaper option then hiring, the car is brand new straight off the show room floor so the chances of having mechanical issues are almost nil. We were also able to organise car seats through them as well which at the end you had to purchase.
From memory their car seat requirements were slightly different to ours, but mind you this was a couple of years ago. Their car seats look completely different and ours are not compatible with their cars - they are installed differently so you can't simply take yours over.
Last time we went to Europe the kids were 1, 4 and 6. They were all easily amused and travelled well. DVD player for the car is essential.
The plan as its evolving is that we will spend a couple of weeks around central London and "do" there, and then drive around the UK. Then we'll base ourselves we're thinking around Lyon for a month - easy gateway via train to pretty much everywhere. DD2 is a seriously dreadful flyer (who knows what DD3 will be like) and so for that reason we will predominantly stick with either driving or train travel. Then thinking either around Florence (I've always wanted to spend extended time in Italy) or somewhere else - just not sure of the somewhere yet ! Seems that its also morphing into a month or two in the US on the way home too - combined work visit to "the office" for my DH and holiday. I'm insisting on at least a week somewhere like Hawaii on the way home with a whole lot of childcare options ;-)
Ang and Zazou - with the car lease thingy did you arrange that from home before you arrived, or did you just walk into a dealership and say hey I want a short term car lease?
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