Europe Suggestions
Dec 1st, 2011, 05:51 PM
#1
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Europe Suggestions
Going to Europe for first time with two young adult children (18 and 21). Not sure where to start. They like Paris, Spain, Italy, Ireland. We only have 10 days so probably will try to go to one or two destinations. Any suggestions would be helpful, we don't know where to start since everywhere looks appealing.
Dec 1st, 2011, 05:57 PM
#2
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To give you the best guidance, we need you to tell us what you like to do and see. Do you love/hate art? hiking? fine dining? architecture? museums? outdoor sports? relaxing? Also, what time of year do you plan to travel? What about Paris, Spain, Italy, or Ireland is appealing to you? Many here would love to help you and could offer better suggestions with a little guidance.
Dec 1st, 2011, 06:15 PM
#3
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What time of year is really important. Also - what your interests are and your budget. (Spain will probably be the least expensive option).
And what do the "kids" say. surely they know where they want to go - not more than 2 (close) destination - or one with a couple of day trips.
And what do the "kids" say. surely they know where they want to go - not more than 2 (close) destination - or one with a couple of day trips.
Dec 1st, 2011, 06:33 PM
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"Not sure where to start. They like Paris, Spain, Italy, Ireland." With only 10 days (on the ground) you'll find that you should concentrate on what you want to see/do as your first experience in Europe. Not knowing anything about the you or the members of your party, nor the time of your trip, it's difficult to make any pertinent recommendations. If your are interested in art, then there are several places you could easily spend your first week. If it's adventure, then it's an open book, but I would keep it to no more than two major destinations since you will only be there less than two weeks.
Dec 2nd, 2011, 02:42 AM
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Welcome to Fodors.
Ricksteves.com great euroewbie site
great guides small group tours
If you want a nice overview take a good Globus Tour
what I did when a newbie many moons ago...
affordabletours.com
or pick 3 neat cities Paris Venice Rome and fly/train yourself
www.eurocheapo.com www.betterbidding.com best deals
seat61.com train skyscanner.net for flights
Very much depends on travel style either is fine really.
Happy Planning!
Ricksteves.com great euroewbie site
great guides small group tours
If you want a nice overview take a good Globus Tour
what I did when a newbie many moons ago...
affordabletours.com
or pick 3 neat cities Paris Venice Rome and fly/train yourself
www.eurocheapo.com www.betterbidding.com best deals
seat61.com train skyscanner.net for flights
Very much depends on travel style either is fine really.
Happy Planning!
Dec 2nd, 2011, 07:21 PM
#7
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We are going in May and we like nature and architecture. Interested in seeing some of the big cities but must have time for seeing the landscape/nature. It's hard to choose what to see when you haven't seen any of it.
Dec 3rd, 2011, 01:37 PM
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Hi BGerst
I am also a newbie, but my daughter and I really enjoyed our trip to Spain last year.
To figure out where to go I recommend checking out Rick Steves website videos, and seeing what catches your fancy. With only 10 days, and adjusting for jet lag, you should probably just stick to one country.
Just for reference, we had 12 days in Spain=10 hrs train travel time (and we didn't even get to Barcelona!)~
1 Cordoba
2-5 Sevilla
6-8 Granada
9-12 Madrid
I am also a newbie, but my daughter and I really enjoyed our trip to Spain last year.
To figure out where to go I recommend checking out Rick Steves website videos, and seeing what catches your fancy. With only 10 days, and adjusting for jet lag, you should probably just stick to one country.
Just for reference, we had 12 days in Spain=10 hrs train travel time (and we didn't even get to Barcelona!)~
1 Cordoba
2-5 Sevilla
6-8 Granada
9-12 Madrid
Dec 3rd, 2011, 02:06 PM
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For train info I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and superb IMO European Rail & Planning Guide for sample rail itineraries in each country. www.bahn.de is the best site I have seen for all European railway schedules.
Dec 3rd, 2011, 02:36 PM
#10
Bgerst - with 10 days, you have 9 nights and IMHO really have to limit yourselves to two places, and it'll be easier if they are in the same country.
you could do venice and Rome, or Paris and Rome, or...well, you get the idea. /with ur kids, when they were about that age, we did successive weeks in Venice and Rome and had a wonderful time. we also did Florence and they did not enjoy it as much, though we had a good time.
you could also pick one city, and spend 1/2 of the time in it, and the other half in the surrounding countryside. Florence is then a good place to think about as you can combine it with a stay somewhere in Tuscany.
However, think had before you commit yourselves to too much time outside a large town or city - the kids are likely to want to go off by themselves particularly at night and if you are stuck out in the middle of no-where, that might not be so easy. somewhere like Siena might be a good compromise - it's not so big that you are going to be too worried about the kids staying out, but it's big enough to provide plenty for you and them to do in the evenings. plus it'd relatively easy to get in and out of for day trips.
another alternative is a place like Barcelona - loads to do and see, beaches and coast nearby, and plenty of day trip options.
you could do venice and Rome, or Paris and Rome, or...well, you get the idea. /with ur kids, when they were about that age, we did successive weeks in Venice and Rome and had a wonderful time. we also did Florence and they did not enjoy it as much, though we had a good time.
you could also pick one city, and spend 1/2 of the time in it, and the other half in the surrounding countryside. Florence is then a good place to think about as you can combine it with a stay somewhere in Tuscany.
However, think had before you commit yourselves to too much time outside a large town or city - the kids are likely to want to go off by themselves particularly at night and if you are stuck out in the middle of no-where, that might not be so easy. somewhere like Siena might be a good compromise - it's not so big that you are going to be too worried about the kids staying out, but it's big enough to provide plenty for you and them to do in the evenings. plus it'd relatively easy to get in and out of for day trips.
another alternative is a place like Barcelona - loads to do and see, beaches and coast nearby, and plenty of day trip options.
Dec 3rd, 2011, 11:05 PM
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>>>Worried about the kids staying out<<<
Well, at 18 and 21 they're hardly kids now are they? I've got used to that sort of hand-wringing on Fodors from "helicoptor" American parents whose "kids" are actually adults in their 20's), but I didn't know it had spread to Cornwall!
Well, at 18 and 21 they're hardly kids now are they? I've got used to that sort of hand-wringing on Fodors from "helicoptor" American parents whose "kids" are actually adults in their 20's), but I didn't know it had spread to Cornwall!
Dec 4th, 2011, 12:00 AM
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I hope that's early May and not late May. The second half of May is when the crowds start in earnest.
Also for May, because of the weather, I'd do the northern places: Paris and Ireland. It can get sticky warm by May, but weather is such an unpredictable thing.
Also for May, because of the weather, I'd do the northern places: Paris and Ireland. It can get sticky warm by May, but weather is such an unpredictable thing.
Dec 4th, 2011, 02:55 AM
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May is an excellent time of year to go to Spain, both South and North. Spring is here, it's normally not too hot and the tourist invation along the coasts is a couple of months away. Two suggestions:
Fabulous San Sebastián at the Atlantic coast in the North is European Capital of Culture 2016. Recent article in New York Times: http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/08/07...tin-spain.html
More info about San Sebastián and the region: http://marshlands.blogstream.com/
Fascinating and diverse Andalucía in the South, beautiful cities with a very rich cultural and historical heritage (Phoenician, Roman, Muslim, Jewish, Gypsy, Christian), great scenery, mountain regions and more than 200 miles coastline.
http://www.andalucia.com/
Fabulous San Sebastián at the Atlantic coast in the North is European Capital of Culture 2016. Recent article in New York Times: http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/08/07...tin-spain.html
More info about San Sebastián and the region: http://marshlands.blogstream.com/
Fascinating and diverse Andalucía in the South, beautiful cities with a very rich cultural and historical heritage (Phoenician, Roman, Muslim, Jewish, Gypsy, Christian), great scenery, mountain regions and more than 200 miles coastline.
http://www.andalucia.com/
Dec 4th, 2011, 06:33 AM
#15
Well, at 18 and 21 they're hardly kids now are they? I've got used to that sort of hand-wringing on Fodors from "helicoptor" American parents whose "kids" are actually adults in their 20's), but I didn't know it had spread to Cornwall! >>
I was predicting that might, rightly or wrongly, be a worry for the OP, Gordon. Even those of us who pride ourselves on our lack of angst might have the odd twinge if our kids went out clubbing all night in Rome if they speak no italian and normally drink no more than a 1/2 of shandy at the squash-club bar.
who knows it might be the kids worrying about the parents!
I was predicting that might, rightly or wrongly, be a worry for the OP, Gordon. Even those of us who pride ourselves on our lack of angst might have the odd twinge if our kids went out clubbing all night in Rome if they speak no italian and normally drink no more than a 1/2 of shandy at the squash-club bar.
who knows it might be the kids worrying about the parents!
Dec 5th, 2011, 12:00 PM
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Agree that 2 bases is probably best for that lenght of time.
A simple trip, is London/Paris.
Simple, becasue when you land in London, there is a level of familiarity, so you can get your 'ground legs' before you venture a bit further into a diffrent culture.
So, you land, get settled, get over jet lag.
While you are based in London( and wuill have lots to do), this does not mean that you cannot plan a day trip to Windsor Castle/Stonehenge/etc..
Once London is done, hop on TGV train and get off couple of hours later in central Paris.
Both cities would offer much to entertain young adults.
You set up your flights so you fly into London, home from Paris.
Alternatively, London/Dublin, London/Amsterdam, London/Rome.
A simple trip, is London/Paris.
Simple, becasue when you land in London, there is a level of familiarity, so you can get your 'ground legs' before you venture a bit further into a diffrent culture.
So, you land, get settled, get over jet lag.
While you are based in London( and wuill have lots to do), this does not mean that you cannot plan a day trip to Windsor Castle/Stonehenge/etc..
Once London is done, hop on TGV train and get off couple of hours later in central Paris.
Both cities would offer much to entertain young adults.
You set up your flights so you fly into London, home from Paris.
Alternatively, London/Dublin, London/Amsterdam, London/Rome.
Dec 5th, 2011, 01:13 PM
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I am a big fan of Italy for a first time in Europe trip. It has a little bit of everything, architecture, history, amazing food, beautiful countryside. With 10 days you will barely scratch the surface. You could do Rome and any one of the following: a few days in Tuscany countryside, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre or Positano.
