Shanna512

Hello there!

I am currently trying to plan a trip for June of this year. I've traveled several places in the U.S. and now I am looking to finally go overseas. I have a top 3 for choices:

1. Amsterdam/Ireland
2. Thailand
3. Greece

I have it planned for the 15th through the 30th as of right now. Would like to know other's thoughts on the destinations, and if they have any tips for someone who is traveling that way for the first time!

Thank you!

Kathie

Do lots of reading about all of these places. Which one appeals to you most? Also, look at the weather in each place in June. I use www.weatherbase.com

Only you can decide where you want to go - we really can't help with that.

MmePerdu

Don't underestimate the impact of travel time. For a short trip I'd recommend either of the Europe options over Asia for that reason.

Myownheroine

The weather will be perfect in Europe and not so much in SE Asia then. If it's your first time abroad, I generally recommend Europe over Asia. Amsterdam is lovely and small, though it also has a lot of great places around it, such as Brugges.

I've never been to Greece, but would still recommend Amsterdam/Ireland of the three. The sites probably won't be as great in Amsterdam and Ireland (speaking as someone who loves Greek/Roman mythology) but the friendliness of the Irish people is legendary an the Netherlands are lovely. I wonder how much the migrant crises is impacting Greece and wonder if that might dampen your trip a bit.

Thailand is probably the easiest SEA country to visit, though if you go there you need to take a sidetrip to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat (spend 3 days there). I don't think 2 weeks is that short.

Guenmai

I took a lot of 2-week trips to Thailand starting back in the 90s, flying out of L.A. I'm here now, but for 3 weeks out of my 6-week S.E. Asian vacation. I've even flown over for only a week, in past years, as that's all the time that I had and took advantage of whatever time I had. So, two weeks don't seem like a short period of time to me. I've been flying here, for vacation, 1-3 times a year since the 90s. Now, I come once a year, but for a longer period of time.

I haven't been to either Greece or Ireland, so I can't comment on that. I have been to Amsterdam. I would imagine that the weather in Ireland might be similar to Denmark. Last summer Danish, June and early July weather was quite good (for Denmark), but the summer before it was cold and pouring raining. Last summer, after I left at the beginning of July, friends wrote that it had turned cold and rainy. I've been going to Danmark regularly since the early 70s and have been spending anywhere from 1-11 weeks in Europe since then.

I would personally pick Thailand. At least it will be warm. I've spent August in Thailand in the past and it rained on and off, but it didn't bother me. I think some of the rain starts up in June.

As for Europe, I prefer to go in the summer, when the weather is usually warmer than when I've gone in the spring although I've had some European summers that were colder than winter in L.A. But, you'll have to decide if weather (temps and possible rain) matters to you. It does to me as I like warm to cool weather. As for rain, in S.E. Asia, that doesn't matter to me as it's warm rain and usually comes in spurts and then stops.

As far as taking a side trip to Cambodia, I don't know about that as in the 19 years of coming to Thailand, I've never gone to Cambodia as I've found plenty to do here in Thailand.

Have fun planning.

Happy Travels!