Help Needed Reusable water bottle question!

[HarlemSong]

Hello, We are off to Europe for 6 weeks shortly. 3 weeks in Venice/Bologna/Lucca, then 3 weeks in Paris/Normandy/Brittany.
One question that popped up is the use of reusable water bottle, especially since we are going in the summer with an 8 year old (who would "die of thirst" if he can't get water right now! And he drinks so much! lol).

I read that many museums and landmarks do not allow you to bring water bottle in (even if it's empty) or that they limit the size to 16 oz (500ml). I poked around different sites to check and asked ChatGPT and the findings are inconsistent whether they strictly enforce it or not. What were your experiences like? I would hate to keep on buying plastic bottles esp since our trip is so long. And I would hate it even more if I bring reusable 16 oz water bottles and those get taken away at the door (which I read could happen). Or has anyone had good luck with a particular brand of collapsible water bottle?

If any insight, I would appreciate it!

 

[Eleanor]

Have you got any 'old' 16oz bottles (from pop or water) that you would normally throw away and could bring with you instead of specially bought reusable bottles? I always have a couple of old coke bottles I use for holidays. Apart from the inconvenience if they do get confiscated, you aren't losing youyr special reusable bottles.

 

[Tina]

I detest plastic bottles but on this sort of trip I do compromise. I buy a 500ml bottle and keep refilling it and using it until it has to be eliminated - so more or less what Eleanor suggests. The sparkling water bottles work best. The others are very flimsy.