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Help me choose a place with the following parameters!

Help me choose a place with the following parameters!

Old Sep 4th, 2004, 07:14 AM
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Help me choose a place with the following parameters!

I have been asked to make some suggestions for a romantic holiday. They have 5 days and would like something in Europe with nice villages, good cafes and people watching and not too many Americans. The last requirement knocks out most of Italy and France. So far, I am considering Barcelona and Prague...any other suggestions??
Cheers,
Jan
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 07:21 AM
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not too many americans, that's too funny! Here in states, in some areas...they would say....let's find something in Florida or the Caribe where there aren't too many English snobs.

But in any case, a good area in Spain that you might want to consider is the Island of Formentera (south of Ibiza), beautiful, romantic, great fresh seafood!!
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 07:32 AM
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Thee are MANY wonderful places in Italy where there are "nice villages" and not too many Americans. However, there may not be too many "good cafes" in those places, so if that's a requirement, I won't suggest them.

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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 07:32 AM
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What is the logic of excluding places with Americans? Is this an example of cutting off your nose to spite your face thinking?
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 07:51 AM
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cmt...make those suggestions, please! I won't use them for my friend, but I will put them in MY file for the future. We are always looking for new places to go.

Degas...my friends are American and they would like to go someplace that is not shoulder to shoulder with their fellow countrymen. What is so hard to understand about that?

Cheers,
Jan
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 08:05 AM
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You did not mention when they are travelling. Anyway I would suggest Italy. I would recomend:- Capri island, very romantic and beautiful,but after September I don't know if it's hot enough.
-or, Amalfi Coast, they could stay in Positano, rent a car and drive the Amalfi Coast!! BEAUTIFUL!!!
- or, if they prefer cities, Florence and all the Toscana region!
In my three suggestions they will find marvellous cafes and restaurants, scenic drives, and not so many Americans!
I've just returned from Capri where I spent a week, and was surprised how few Americans there were! I have nothing against you, by the way. I'm from Brazil!
I hope I could help. If you need any tip about Italy, maybe I can help you!
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 08:10 AM
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Hi Slo,

Would they be happier being shoulder to shoulder with Aussies, Brits, Germans and Japanese?

They might like the Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire or Normandy regions of France.
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 08:15 AM
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Oops...they are traveling in April.

Ira...yes, they probably would. Part of the reason that they want few Americans is that they jsut finished watching the RNC and were a bit disgusted. Of course, by April, that feeling may have worn off.
Cheers,
Jan
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 08:19 AM
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Canary Islands or Madeira?
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 08:24 AM
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I rarely run into Americans in April in the Dordogne, and there's no shortage of pretty villages and cafés.
Of course, if they are similarly prejudiced against running into Brits, then the Dordogne should not go on the list.
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 08:58 AM
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>...Part of the reason that they want few Americans is that they jsut finished watching the RNC and were a bit disgusted. <

That'll teach them to watch TV.
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:07 AM
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:15 AM
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The places I could suggest want nothing to do with snobs, so there go you/your friends travel plans. Would you guys consider something in the Middle East, Caribean, or South America?
 
Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:16 AM
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Jan, I am a big fan of of Portugal. With 5 days they could stay near Lisbon in Sintra or Cascais and explore that area. The prices are right and the ambiance is authentic.
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:19 AM
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This is another one of those posts that shows little clear thinking. Millions and millions of Americans are into travel. They go anywhere that is worth going to. To think that you can find some really wonderful spot that hasn't yet been discovered by Americans is just plain foolishness. If there aren't a bunch of Americans there, then it probably isn't worth going to. Yes, it IS that simple.

Now, that said, I'll focus on the idea of "not TOO MANY" Americans. Just get off the beaten path. Even in Italy you can find such spots -- Sardinia (other than the Emerald Coast resorts), or the southeast of Italy.
Crete meets your definition. As do some of the lesser known smaller islands.
Slovenia -- particularly Ljubljana and Lake Bled.
Much of Scandinavia, other than the capital cities.
Malta.

I'm really confused by your mention of Barcelona and Prague -- where I think the vast majority of the tourists do seem to be Americans.
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:37 AM
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Let's back up in planning here! Since it is only a 5 day trip, my first question is where is this couple starting from? I would try to find a place that is fairly direct and easy to get to so they don't spend this entire 'romantic holiday' in transport.

As for saying that any place worth seeing is already filled with Americans is simply not true. Maybe so for a famous and heavily-traveled city (i.e., Venice). I just returned from Switzerland, towns outside Geneva along Lac Leman and it is absolutely gorgeous. I noticed some tourists in the train stations and at open air markets but without speaking to them could not tell for sure if they were Swiss German, Canadian or American.
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:39 AM
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Bob, I love your suggestion of Lisbon...but is it snobby enough? 8-)

Patrick...no, it isn't that simple. I asked for someplace that has 'not too many' Americans. Many travelers have a herd mentality and places are discovered in waves. You named several that are not commonly visited by Americans...indeed, most don't even know where Slovenia is! I agree to a certain extent about Prague but it comes nowhere near the levels of Americans I have seen in many parts of Italy, Switzerland and France.
Cheers,
Jan
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:42 AM
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Definitely do not send them to Prague. At least half the population seems to be American - not that I have a problem with that - but since they seem to.

I would really recommend a very small, out of the way vilage somewhere - perhaps they would like to stay in one of the privately owned chateaux in France. the last time we did that only a couple of the other guests were American - the rest were Canadian, Brits, Aussies and Argentinians.
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 09:58 AM
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I haven't been to Prague in 2-3 years. Wow...it sounds like it really has changed. Would it have a lot of Americans visiting in April? It's funny. I live in Slovenia so I have no problem with hearing lots of other Americans. In fact, I enjoy it. Here...we don't get many American visitors though 2004 definitely had/has more than 2003. I think countries come in waves with Germans and the Dutch being early adopters.

As far as the 'Americans' discovering all of the worthwhile places, well, I think that is just ludicrous.

Many people seemed to take umbrage at the comment that my friends wanted to go somewhere where there were few Americans. Why is that considered 'snobbish'? Why was it offensive?

Cheers,
Jan

OK...so I am enjoying stirring the pot a bit...it is a slow Saturday night after all!
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Old Sep 4th, 2004, 10:04 AM
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Maybe they could spend the time at M_kingdom's house. I can guarantee they won't find any Americans there!

I guess I over reacted to "not too many" Americans. To some people, including the above mentioned m_kingdom, one American is way too many, so I guess that's what I thought you were talking about. Sure some places have fewer than others. But I would challenge anyone to mention a place in Europe where you won't find some Americans. Tons of American travelers pride themselves on the idea of going where there aren't other Americans, which is kind of funny since as soon as they arrive, oops -- there are Americans there -- and I still say if it is worth going to then a number of Americans have already been there. Whether that is "too many" or not, certainly depends on the viewer.
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