Please help me give good travel advice

Old Apr 26th, 2015, 04:02 PM
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Please help me give good travel advice

Good friends with two young teens have traveled a lot in SA, France, Greece, Malaysia and misc places in Europe. Kids both play piano and other instruments and love music and concerts. They also love swimming and enjoy history, biking, but not much hiking,

In mid-June, they are going to Turkey, three days in Cappadocia and three in Istanbul. They are then going to Venice for at least five days.

By then, it will be July. They were considering Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast or the CT or perhaps Tuscany, all mostly because they would already be in Italy. They asked my advice.

I told them it is further than they thought from Venice to the AC, that Pompeii will be miserably hot, etc., that they should consider doing that as another trip during their kids' Spring break next year.

I did not advise the CT because of crowding and hiking not really being their thing.

Tuscany would also be hot, but could work if they get a place with a pool and rent a car.

I would say Provence, but it would also be hot and crowded in July.

What DH and I both think might be great for them, especially the kids, would be Bavaria with lakes for boating and swimming, castles (I know, not old, but they are fun), quaint towns and villages, taking in an evening concert at Herrenchiemsee, Salzburg, the Romantic road, the Eagle's Nest, etc.

The other area I think they would love is Amsterdam - canals, Anne Frank House, museums, etc., and other places in the Netherlands, perhaps parts of Belgium.

I am also thinking London and the Cotswolds, Bath, etc.

The problem is, it has been over 25 years since I have been to Southern Germany or Amsterdam.

They will have 7-10 days. I want to give them the best ideas Possible.

Any and all ideas any of you have will be much appreciated.
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Old Apr 26th, 2015, 04:06 PM
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More time in Turkey, perhaps on the Turquoise Coast?
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Old Apr 26th, 2015, 04:16 PM
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We have been to the Amalfi Coast, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Spain with three kids all in July and August over different years. The only time I hear or read about the heat is here. I have never heard a teenager complain about heat.
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Old Apr 26th, 2015, 06:12 PM
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Have them hike in the Dolomites and see more of the Tyrol and Bavaria--no reason to go long distances to see natural beauty.
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Old Apr 26th, 2015, 06:45 PM
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I'm with cold. We traveled through Italy, Spain and France extensively with our boys in August (even hotter) when they were teens, including renting farmhouses in Catalonia for a month at a time. They never said a word about the heat. Also England-Wales (where they did complain about the rain). The worst summer heat we encountered in Europe was a month in Salzberg. If you're looking for a compromise, your friends can try Prague and Croatia, both hugely popular with teens.
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Old Apr 26th, 2015, 07:54 PM
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Oops - sorry, I do know it's spelled Salzburg, especially after we spent a month there. Where' the edit function, Fodors?
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Old Apr 27th, 2015, 01:49 AM
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What about the Italian Lakes, Garda, Como, Maggiore? If they are in Venice, it's a shortish hop across to Lake Garda, via a train to Verona, change and train to Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano.

They could hire a car to visit the towns on the lake or use the ferry system to get about. They could break the trip across to the Lake with a night or two in Verona.
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Old Apr 27th, 2015, 02:06 AM
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Rubicund, I was thinking about that. I have not been to any of the Italian Lakes. How does it compare beauty wise with the AC? Are there enough things for young teens to enjoy? Are there places they could safely rent boats?

kja,
I have suggested more time in Turkey, but wasn't sure exactly what to recommend. They might enjoy a gulet trip, but I have read they can be sticky and uncomfortable in summer. I also thought of Ephesus, but I know how hot that can be. I was there in October and was pretty warm.

Anythings more specific would be very helpful.
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Old Apr 27th, 2015, 03:07 AM
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My sister, her DH, DS & DD (21 & 18) spent the whole of July in Italy last year, they rented a car and toured around northern and central Italy, mixing up farm stays and big cities (Rome, Florence & Venice). My sister complained a bit about the hear and crowds, certainly not the kids, like the others say I don't think it bothers them at all. The Lake Como/Garda area would be particularly lovely, especially since they'll already be in Venice. Or a week at an agriturismo in Tuscany.
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Old Apr 27th, 2015, 04:42 AM
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It's a different scenery offering to the AC on, for instance, Lake Garda. The lake has scenic (in the main) villages dotted along its shores, linked by frequent ferries and the further north you go, the mountains come into focus and dominate the skyline. IMO the best resort at this end is Riva del Garda.

There's a theme park called Gardaland on the east side, http://www.gardaland.it/resort-en/ and a lovely cable car ascent from Malcesine to the top of Monte Baldo. People ski up there in the winter, hike a lot and we've seen parachutists jumping from the top down to the lake.

You can hire bikes at various villages and bike along the lake-shore road. The villages at the southern end are perhaps busier in the summer, especially Sirmione and Desenzano, but in the evenings they are wonderful to stay in. If they would be out most of the day, day trippers won't worry them.

I also like Bardolino, which is a small place with a newish lake front promenade. Nice hotels and restaurants and they also produce the wine of the same name.
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Old Aug 26th, 2015, 01:58 AM
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Completely off the posted topic, but perhaps sassafrass will recognize what prompted this response...

Sassafrass, you consistently give thoughtful and constructive advice, IMO, and you do so with admirable gentleness and grace! -- I aspire to YOUR kindness and responsiveness. Thank you SO MUCH for your recent compliments. I hope to live up to them, but make no promises! ;-) Honestly, I know I sometimes veer off track, sometimes WAY off track...! But I'm working on it, with you (and others) as role models!

Thanks so much!
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Old Aug 26th, 2015, 05:31 AM
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I might look at some of the following for a more medium heat

Tarn Valley France (probably the hotest)
Ile de Re France
Mosel Germany
The Jura in France (possibly too much hiking)
Lake Constance (maybe too much of an old crowd)
Lakes around Berlin
Zeeland in the Netherlands

You always give great advice I hope some of these are interesting.
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Old Aug 26th, 2015, 05:36 AM
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The cliffs at the northern end of Laka Garda are almost as impressive as the Amalfi Coast. You have beautiful lakes (there are more in the area), dramatic mountains, beautiful villages (Limone is my favourite), history, art, wine... Verona is close.

And in fact, it is not far to Bavaria.
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