My son graduates HS in June. I celebrate my 20th anniversay in July. I've never been to Europe. The Isle of Capri looks like a great place to celebrate 20 years but your proviso about temps has me worried (although I live in LA). I'd like to spend a little time with my husband, then have my son join me (hubby will go home) to see Italy (Venice for sure). What about France? Not really interested in UK I'll get dictionaries for language. I love architecture, food and the arts... so does my son. Also, my prefferance would be to spend a few days in each place rather than moving every day. What's your advice

Hi Carrol,

I suggest you visit Venice (3 nights) and the Amalfi Coast(4 nights) with your husband.

If that is too much traveling, then 3 nights in Venice and 4 nights in Florence.

With your son, you can do a week in Rome.

Venice is not the sort of place to visit with your mother; it loses some of the romance.

CARROL, My advice is to stay in one country for 2 weeks and limit yourself to 4 destinations in that time-- and Italy is the best option.
The key will be flight connections. Try to do an open jaw itinerary to save backtracking.

Some info on budget, along with total time available for this trip, would help in choosing destinations - - and clarification of how many days with your husband versus how many days with your son?

And I'm a little bit worried about this statement: "I'll get dictionaries for language". Is this so that you can refresh rusty skills on French or Italian?

I am a strong believer that the more/better prepared you are (in your desire to learn) to speak and understand the language(s) the better. Any language skills, son or husband?

You can enjoy any/many parts of Italy/France/Europe without having learned much of any second language - - but not all places can be enjoyed equally - - and if using/learning/hearing/reading another language is part of the enjoyment, then that might drive your destination choices.

Could make for all the more reason to put the whole trip in one country.

I'm also curious about "your proviso about temps has me worried", in reference to Capri, or anywhere else maritime. Like the Catalina islands, there are virtually never excessively hot temperatures at locations directly ON the Mediterranean (or at least I don't think - - but I'm sure there are the rare exceptions, and with last year's record heat wave, I'm sure someone will offer contradictory testimonials!)

I agree that Venice is for hubby time, though maybe it can be his last 2-3 days, and your son's first 2-3. You wouldn't tire of Venice in 4-5 days. Learn about the Brenta canal tours, if you love (especially the history of) architecture.

I would have many more ideas if I knew more about what factors might influence you in all Italy, all France, both, or one plus any other one country (consider Austria - - or even Slovenia, since you want to go in July, to get up into some mountains where it will be cooler).

Best wishes,

Rex

Another "lost" first-time poster, I suspect! (When, oh when will Fodors listen to my repeated chant here, to inform new registrants by a one-time e-mail when they join the forum? - - click on your own name to find your posts!)

Bringing this message back up "to the top" since it is Carrol's first message here, ever...