cybertraveler

Hello all,

My favorite way to spend a summer is visiting various small towns and historic cities in Italy and France. Usually, I get started planning much sooner than this, but this year we have been remodeling our kitchen and a couple of other rooms. In fact, we're still in the process. Unfortunately, we've also been dealing with some health issues for DH which hopefully will have a good outcome. So this has me feeling like we should seize the day and enjoy every moment, while DH is more of the opinion that we've already spent more than enough this year. But all the money in the world can't buy health, so I'd really like to travel while we can.

That said, does anyone have any ideas for planning a somewhat last-minute trip for about 2-3 weeks this July? Last year we took our two teenage boys to Italy and they loved it. If you know of another family destination that would still offer warm weather, great food and beautiful art, with nice but not extravagant places to stay, we'd love suggestions.

(I originally posted this in the Lounge, and others suggested that I post here instead. I apologize for the double post.) Thanks in advance for any advice!

parosblue

Hi cybertraveler,
You said: " .....family destination that would still offer warm weather, great food and beautiful art, with nice but not extravagant places to stay, we'd love suggestions."
Any thoughts of Greece? Lots of history and mythology to intrigue your sons, plus warm weather, beautiful countryside and beaches, romantic moments with DH, etc.

Leely2

Are the health problems likely to affect your trip? If not, and assuming you don't want to revisit Italy, I'd go to France. Paris + almost anyplace in the countryside would be excellent. I've always wanted to go to Burgundy--haven't made it yet. Loved the Dordogne, Languedoc and also Provence.

cybertraveler

Thanks for your replies!

Leely, DH feels fine now, but just waiting to see results of his treatments after a few months. So we could go anywhere. We'd gladly return to both Italy and France. We loved Provence, but haven't been to the other places. Thanks for the suggestions.

Parosblue, I've always wanted to visit Greece, but I've been a bit hesitant with the state of their economy and the difficulties they're having. Have you been there recently? I think we'd enjoy all the aspects you mentioned.

Leely2

I love Italy but cannot abide hot weather, so have been contemplating Amsterdam and Belgium for a summer trip. Or fly into Amsterdam for about four days, train to Antwerp or Ghent or Brugge, spend several days there, then on to Paris for a week.

amer_can

Spain is awesome as is Portugal. The Basque country is beyond awesome (both Spanish and French). Greece will be pretty hot, but then so will most places since it is July. Don't know where you are coming from but as of yesterday SAS was offering great prices from many US cities. Don't know is the open dates fit your time frame however. Madrid is a wonderful place for your interest areas. You might take a look at various places on You Tube and see what they look like. There are many videos of many family friendly places. How lucky you are and continue that "Let's do it now" attitude..Happy Trails.

joannyc

Germany and/or Austria? Plenty of everything that you request.

michele_d

Will you have a car or are you using public transportation?

You could fly into Munich for a few days, rent a car, visit the castles and then make your way through Austria. Beautiful small towns. We stayed in Zell am See and Hallstat and loved it.

We visited Krimmel Waterfall, Eisreisenwelt Ice cave and Werfen fortress from Zell and the salt mines in Hallstatt. You could continue to Vienna for a couple days, drop the car and train to Prague for a few days before flying home.

Staying north of Italy might allow for a bit cooler temps in July.

jamikins

I would have no hesitation to go to Greece due to that! We went to Naxos, Athens and Nafplio in 2011 with my family and had a fabulous time! We also did a 2week sailing trip in the Dodecanese islands last August. Had a great time! As a tourist the people of Greece were very happy to see us. If around the main square during a protest you may see some protesters but that is easily avoided. Strikes tend to happen during the middle of the week so if you plan your travel around weekends you will like not notice much about the crisis!

parosblue

cybertraveler,
As stated by jamikins, the issues faced by Greeks have little to no effect on tourists. I will be there this summer and have no concerns at all. It is troubling times for the Greeks for sure, but tourists and travelers are always warmly welcomed. If you decide to go, start a thread tagged Greece and you'll get lots of expert info.

hetismij2

I don't want to put you off, but given your husband's health issues I think before you book anything you need to check on whether your health insurance covers you for Europe, and if not whether you can get travel insurance given his pre-existing condition.

If you have health cover for Europe then go for it. Maybe look at combining a week of beautiful art/museums/history, with a week or so of laid-back-enjoying-life-together-time. Maybe a weeks sailing or similar?
Don't dismiss Turkey either.

If Greece seems it will be too hot - and it can be really hot, then look further north maybe.

FHurdle

This isn't the country you asked about, but one of the best vacations my family has taken was to the German Rhine. We stayed in Bacharach and took the train to all the little towns along the Rhine. We visited a number of castles. It was just a laid-back trip.

There is a large amusement park just south of Cologne, called Phantasialand, that is a lot of fun. We went there.

Also, there is kind of a fare war going on for flights to Dusseldorf from New York and LAX. I got my July tickets for $750 each. Now New York is at about $850; LAX seems to have a few dates available under $1,000.

One thought to remember if you go to Greece. Contrary to the common wisdom on these boards, ATM machines do not always have cash available. Ask the people of Cyprus. If you go to any country with financial problems this summer, including Greece, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Spain, or Portugal, be sure to take a couple of thousand dollars in cash money, preferably already converted to euros, with you and divide it between you.

jamikins

I travel ALOT and have yet to have issues in getting cash out of a cash machine in Greece, Portugal, Italy, or Hungary. Living in the UK I have never heard (with the exception of recent events like Cyprus) of anyone of my friends or acquintances having an issue, nor has it been in the news for anyone else. This is not the norm.

Carrying a couple thousand dollars with you just in case is just silly and high risk if you ask me. A couple hundred emergency would likely be fine.

FHurdle

jamikins,

Two months ago I'm sure you would have urged people not to take cash to Cyprus.

We know that all of these countries are on the brink of economic collapse, and we now know that any future EU bailouts are going to involve confiscating money out of checking and savings accounts. Even if money is available one might face hours in line and then only be able to withdraw a pittance.

I'm not suggesting that people put 2,000 euros in their wallet and carry a sign that says "Massive Amounts of Money Here." But the husband can put a few hundred in his wallet, he can carry a thousand in a money pouch and his wife can carry a few hundred. They are protected, and if they get their money wisely before leaving the U.S. they can get a great exchange rate.

I am firmly of the belief that it is better to have money and not need it than to need money and not have it. Even though Greece and some of these other countries are almost certain to have a economic meltdown over the next three or four years, the chance of it happening while a single tourist is in one of those countries is probably one in 100 or even less. But if someone were to hand you a hundred-chamber revolver and tell you that you had to play Russian Roulette, but that merely by putting a thousand in cash in your pocket you could remove the single bullet from the gun, wouldn't you do it? Wouldn't you choose to eliminate the one percent risk of disaster? I would.

jamikins

FHurdle - just curious, where do you live?

How many people do you personally know that couldnt get money out of ANY ATM machine in a city in Europe(outside of Cyprus which was obviously an extreme and very sad case)?

Can you give us some context to your views to help us better understand them?

Tulips

Even if you could not get cash, your credit card would still work. Do you pay your hotel bills with cash? How often do you need a 1000 euros in cash?

Gretchen

Normandy and Paris. Rent a car at CDG and go to Normandy and maybe Brittany. Tour for a week. Return to Paris.
Is Italy the only place you've been?

Gretchen

Normandy and Paris. Rent a car at CDG and go to Normandy and maybe Brittany. Tour for a week. Return to Paris.
Is Italy the only place you've been?

Tulips

Sorry Cybertraveler; to answer your question, Netherlands and Belgium would be great to visit - but weather is pretty unpredictable. You could have 3 weeks of rain. Or you could have a heatwave.

Southam

Maybe Normandy? Second World War tours, museums and cathedrals in Caen and Rouen, day trips into Britanny such as Mont St-Michel, easy access to beaches (admittedly chilly water.) Cider and dairy farmers fuel the cuisine and you won't be dead-centre in the annual French southern migration.
With a few days in Paris, always worth it, and your family being old enough to research activities on the Internet, you could quickly fill up your schedule while remaining within easy access of the excellent French medical care.