hetismij

It is our 35th anniversary on September 1st. We'd hoped to celebrate it with our children and grandchildren, but it is impossible to get them all together at anyone time.

So we want to go away for a few days on our own. I'm happy with 3 days but up to 7 would be possible.

I am a bit stumped. We considered just going to Rotterdam and staying on the Rotterdam ship hotel, but it has terrible write ups so that's out.
We also thought about revisiting the scene of the crime so to speak, but honestly - Staines has no appeal as a holiday destination

We are not really city people, though we've been to some of the usual suspects like Barcelona, Munich, Strasbourg and Brussels. Paris is an absolute no-no for me.
I even considered New York, even though we are anti city, but it scares me a bit, and is expensive nowadays for us. A lot of cities for people who don't really care for them

So any suggestions for somewhere, preferably in the Eurozone though that's not essential, are most welcome.

A lovely hotel for a couple of days or an area where we can look for a house to rent for a week? Somewhere we can drive to- say up to 6 hours drive from Amsterdam, or fly to makes no difference.

All ideas welcome.

Cholmondley_Warner

The Hamsterjam Botel is excellent.

julia_t

A house to rent for a week?

A randon suggestion...

Put your car on a ferry to England and drive to the south Cotswolds. Or fly to Bristol and rent a car. Stay in this lovely romantic cottage along the lane from me in the next village...

http://www.cottageguide.co.uk/coopers/

Fellow fodorite songdoc stayed here in March and loved it. It's within very easy reach of Bath and all the rest of the Cotswolds, also south Wales.

PS we see quite a few cars round here with Dutch plates so it's not that far from Holland!

Frances

Have you been to Edinburgh?
I've just returned after possibly my 10th visit in 4 years because my daughter was in college there. I can honestly say I've enjoyed every minute.
The festival will be just finishing (I think) and so you should be able to get accomodation.

zeppole

Take the cheap Transavia flight to Pisa, and then locate wherever you choose, If you like blue sea and pastel towns, drive a car to Tellaro, just south of La Spezia/Lerici on the Italian Riviera, and use it as a base to explore bits of famous Tuscany (Volterra, Lucca, etc) and such untoursited Italy as Sarzana, Bocca di Magra, etc.)

If you don't want to rent a car, you can base either in the Italian Riviera train line for complete relaxation, or somewhere on the Lucca/Pisa/Firenze train line for more cultural oomph.

lincasanova

I think the Italian lake district is beautiful and romantic. We stopped here for coffee and it looked like such a beautiful place to spend some time for an anniversary!

http://www.hotelvillacrespi.it/

StCirq

Have you been to Morocco? Marakkesh is fascinating, and La Maison Arabe is one of the loveliest hotels I've ever been to.

hetismij

Lots of great ideas, well except maybe the botel, thanks.

I shall put them to my husband when he gets back from Brest tomorrow.

Morocco is tempting, Italy too. That hotel is stunning lincasanova.

spaarne

Burgundy is nice in September. Try Dijon or one of the nearby villages.

progol

I'd go for a week in the Dordogne or Provence. I was also going to say Brittany, but I noticed he was coming back from Brest, so maybe that's not as much of a getaway for him (if it was business).

Then Tuscany or the Italian Riviera.

lincasanova

But yikes.. I saw later that prices have really gone up since we were there and inquired. Coffee was worth every penny though!

My kids just got back from Croatia and can say nothing but wonderful things abut every single little place and coastline they traveled along. Food was great. Fresh swim kept in wire cages in the sea under the docks in front of all the local restaurants. The best calamari, fresh grilled, my son says he has ever eaten.. ( and he has lived his whole life in spain ) and the absolutely most amazing waters they could have ever imagined.

They loved Dubrovnik, Korcula island , some other smaller ones they rented a boat to visit, and the last two nights were in Mljet.

Once you get there it is really inexpensive. They say they had dinners for 10E each with no wine. Also, even now in July, there were not hoards of tourists except in Dub.

hsv

If you care for some wine tasting and good food, the Piemont region in Italy is quite nice and still not too touristy. Dolcetto, Barbera and Barolo wines come from Alba and many wineries let you sample their products.

Not too far away there is a very interesting and as I find quite charming Agriturismo/B&B that offers basic, but interestingly designed rooms in medieval buildings. It is situated around a courtyard with only an open terrace to one side, that offers some splendid views of the region.
The owner cooks a quite spectacular menu upon request and for a very reasonable price. Their own wine is terrific. Alternatively you can have them arrange for a picnic or pick up your own food and drinks along the way and have them provide plates and glasses only on the terrace.
It's quite a relaxed place with very reasonable prices.
http://www.riondino.it/

jubilada

You could fly to Bilbao, Spain and explore the coastal and inland Basque towns, staying at a casa rurale or on the water in one of the coastal towns such as Geteria or Lekitio. If you like wine you could drive into rioja, if you don't you could focus on the wonderful food and completely unique Basque culture. If you felt like a dose of small manageable city, San Sebastian is right there.

ribeirasacra

Get a direct flight from Amsterdam to A Coruña in Galicia.
If you do than I can tell you where to go...in Dutch or English!

hetismij

Lots of great ideas. Thanks. My husband has had to extend his time in Brest - I have no idea now when he'll be back, but I shall put all these ideas to him when he does eventually get home.