pmw1115

Both of my children, ages 31 and 27, are graduating from grad school and med school so we want to take a 7-10 day trip together while they have a little time off in May or early June. They have both traveled fairly extensively during school and doing various medical missions trips and other vacations. We were thinking about Iceland and some other Scandinavian countries, or maybe a Mediterranean trip, but are open to any suggestions. Thanks!

thursdaysd

If you have settled on Europe, you will get more replies if you post this on the Europe board. You should tell us where they have already been, and what interests you - scenery, architecture, food, wine, art, history etc.

Tabernash2

We did a similar family trip after DD graduated Med School, in early June a couple of years ago. There were five of us: two parents and three young adults.

We loved The Buccaneer Resort on St Croix. Lots of housing options. We opted for three oceanfront rooms, two of them connecting for the young adults. It was ideal. A family-owned plantation property with history. The owner hosts a cocktail hour once a week and takes interested guests on a walking tour.

A fabulous complete breakfast buffet is included, served in a lovely open air restaurant overlooking the grounds and the water. The Buccaneer is not AI, which we preferred. It is not 'glitzy' or glamorous, just beautiful and laid back. Click on my name for details of our visit.

http://www.thebuccaneer.com

Be sure to check out the USVI Department of Tourism's special promotion:
http://www.thebuccaneer.com/special-offers-en.html

http://www.visitusvi.com/package_and_promotions

It's a $300 credit. Maybe if you reserve each room separately, under different names, you could get the credit per room. I'm not sure.

Free_Wifi

If your children have not yet been to Central Europe, a fun thing to do might be to travel between the cities of Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary, and Bratislava, Slovakia (I did this with my family, a lot of stuff packed into a short timeframe). All of these cities are within 2.5 hours driving distance of each other and have a rich history as this was the center of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Since your kids are grown up they might enjoy some of the cultural highlights like palaces, live classical concerts and plays. Slovakia and Hungary are also quite cheap and Hungary has in my mind an under-appreciated and expansive cuisine. Hungarian wine was the first red wine that I ever enjoyed!

Scandinavia is also a great place to visit that does not get enough credit, especially for nature travel. I used to live there so that area has a special place in my heart, so I might be biased! Scandinavia would be more expensive and each country has a different currency.

Tabernash2

pmw, what kind of trip do you want? Are you interested in trying to see several cities and schlepping between them every few days?

Your post says your adult children have traveled a fair amount, and they are graduating from grad school and med school.

In a similar situation, we wanted to stay put in a beautiful place and relax, where we each could choose what we wanted to do. We didn't want to coordinate or manage departure times, activities and meal times.

We just needed to chill. Same might be the case for your family?

PatriciaSM

I would recommend going to Croatia. The temperatures aren't too high yet and it is less crowded than July/August. The Adriatic coast is so beautiful and diverse that you will feel as you are in heaven! I've been to Croatia few times already, with friends and with bf, like a backpacker and also renting apartments - each time it was great experience and I always want to come back asap!

Cities of Zadar and Split are very good options for your base location. They are big enough to find various kinds of daily entertainment, good restaurants and even pleaces to go out for you children. From either city you can very easily go on a day trips to nearby towns, beaches and islands. I definetly recomend to visit Plitvice Lakes and/or Krka waterfalls.
www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/
www.np-krka.hr/en/
If you like an active vacantions, you can visit a horse ranch on Velebit mountain lindenretreat.com/ or go on rafting adventure on Cetina river www.visitomis.hr/en/active-holiday

Regarding your activities on the sea, you can visit Kornati islands www.np-kornati.hr/en/ (there are many daily boat transfers to/from) and enjoy awesome beaches and excellent fish restaurants (ask locals for recommendations).

If you choose your station in Split, you have great options of exploring islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula and Vis. Each has its own perks and you won't be disappointed with old villages, culture and of course nature.

If you need more info, I will gladly give more tips

toddhicks209

How about taking a Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas?

janisj

ToddHicks -- just a bit late to the party, the trip was last Spring . . .