wanderlust524

I am in the beginning stages of planning my honeymoon, and I would appreciate some feedback!

My fiance and I both enjoy great food, people-watching, music, and markets. I particularly love nature, and architecture, and I can drag him along. Neither of us is into clubs or a busy nightlife. Seeing the beach wouldn't be a priority either. I also know both of us prefer low-key environments, so I'd like to avoid crazy crowds. I'd love to mix public transportation and renting a car. We will be staying in airbnbs and I plan to cook often. I would love to find good regional ingredients (especially cheese and chocolate). We both happen to enjoy smoking marijuana, so any tips on that would be great as well.

We will be in Europe for 3 weeks, from April 28 - May 19, 2017. This is my tentative schedule:

4/28 - Catch flight to Amsterdam (we wouldn't arrive until 4/29 early A.M)
4/29- Amsterdam
4/30- Amsterdam
5/1- Amsterdam
5/2- Paris
5/3- Paris
5/4- Paris
5/5- Paris
5/6- South France (I'm struggling with this part, and deciding where to stay. I'd love a more rural setting to relax, but where day trips are possible. We would have a car)
5/7- South France
5/8- South France
5/9- Barcelona
5/10- Barcelona
5/11- Barcelona
5/12- Seville
5/13- Seville
5/14- Seville
5/15- Seville
5/16- Madrid
5/17- Madrid
5/18- Madrid
5/19- Catch flight back home

I feel like I left enough time in each city to appreciate it, but still have time for day-trips. I realize the route for Spain is a bit odd, but flights are best out of Madrid, and I feel like I would love Seville.

I would love feedback and recommendations on this trip. All your help is truly appreciated!

MmePerdu

Trains are fine, I'd say, with the exception of a "rural setting...day trips" in S. France where a car would be useful while there, and possibly saving time between cities in Spain, where you may want to fly.

I assume that the first date in a given place on your itinerary above is the travel day to get there. So keep in mind you'll essentially have 1 less day in each location than you may feel you do, so adjust accordingly. I'd be inclined to omit Barcelona as a result, add some time in S. France.

wanderlust524

MmePerdu: I'd definitely be willing to fly, but my fiance is scared of flying, and I try to keep the air-time to a minimum.

What do you prefer about Barcelona over S. France?

Whathello

Aix en Provence would be a nice base.
Marihuana is legalized in holland but not in france. Don't take it on the thalys train there are dog coppers from time to time.
You'll find plenty of it in Paris at Barbes. No idea of the quality though.

MmePerdu

I don't prefer Barcelona, why I suggested giving yourself more time in the S. of France. But then I prefer smaller places. I do like Seville, though, and maybe another reason to skip Barcelona if you'll be taking a train to Seville.

inspiredexplorer

I agree with MmePerdu that you are shortchanging both the South of France and Barcelona in this version, and removing one will likely improve your overall experience tremendously. You can certainly add the time to the South France and remove Barcelona, which will give you a great country and nature oriented break between urban exploration, without missing the markets/people watching/great food aspects.

The other option might be to eliminate the South of France, and add that time to Barcelona and Seville, going straight to Barcelona from Paris. If you gave Barcelona an extra day, and two others to Andalusia, that might allow you more time for daytrips, or consider an overnight stay in another town (Cordoba springs to mind, if you're at all interested in Moorish architecture, Granada seems like something to add, but probably requires at least two nights for the Alhambra).

I do think its a tossup based on your interests, although if architecture and music is very important, Barcelona and Andalusia might have the edge over the South of France (thinking of flamenco experiences, and of course the unique architecture of Andalusia and Barcelona, especially if you like Gaudi for the latter). On the flipside, you'll get better pure nature experiences in the countryside of the South of France with proper time (think the Camarague, Gorges du Verdon) than you'll have based in Barcelona, so add the time to the South of France if that's the bigger priority.

Sounds like a lovely trip!

PalenQ

Trains are best for your itinerary except for southern France-basing in a town near Avignon or Arles gives so so many neat easy day trips by car -but the rest trains as you are going to large cities where cars are more and more useless and even a liability.

The only railpass you would consider is the France-Spain Eurailpass which gives you flexibility to chose which trains to take once there- discounted tickets are typically non-changeable from a specific train and non-refundable and as sold in limited numbers must be booked in stone weeks or months in advance. Vs full fare tickets the pass could be a bargain even though you must pay a seat reservation fee on top of using the pass - just a few euros on most French TGVs but 10 euros or more per trip on high-speed Spanish trains like AVE.

for lots of great info on trains check www.seat61.com -great advice on discounted tickets and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

kimhe

<enjoy great food, people-watching, music, and markets. I particularly love nature, and architecture>

Then you should definitely stay with Barcelona!

Fabulous food scene, some of the finest food markets in the world, all the people-watching you could want in Central and local atmosphere neighbourhoods, all kinds of music all around town all the time, fabulous medieval, modernistic and cutting edge architecture and plenty of opportunities for nature experiences, both within the city and in the immediate surroundings.

- Food. Some great tips here, have been to several of these places in recent years. And aslo 22 Michelin star restaurants in town: http://www.cntraveller.com/recommend...d-in-barcelona
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/res...michelin-stars

- Food markets: http://www.gardenista.com/posts/la-boqueria-market/

- People-watching in Poble Sec, Gràcia or Barceloneta?
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...to-bodega.html
http://blog.lifestylebarcelona.com/lively-gracia/
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/things-to-do/gracia
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...taurants-spain

- Music: http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.co...celona-music/#
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/mus...s-in-barcelona

- Architecture: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...hitecture.html
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...a-del-mar.html

- Nature:
The Montjuic park and hill right outside the city centre, lots of greens, all the musuems, theaters, the Olympic sports arenas and the Castell on the top with the best views of both the city and the sea: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montjuic.html
Montserrat: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...rat-spain.html

And these three Spanish cities are connected on the high speed AVE Train line, from city center to city center in "no time". Barcelona to Madrid is 2h 45mins, and Madrid to Sevilla is also 2h 30 mins. renfe.com

kimhe

And Barcelona is also huge on chocolate, and marijuana is everywhere in Spain.
http://emilyluxton.co.uk/spain/barce...hocolate-guide
http://sweets.seriouseats.com/2013/0...barcelona.html

wanderlust524

Thank you, everyone! I'm still not sure what I will be doing, but I think I'll cut out one city. A few years ago I did 2 months in Europe, and I was traveling too often. There is just this desire to see it all! The fiance promises we will be back to Europe though, so I should plan the more relaxing trip!

PalenQ

Marihuana is legalized in holland but not in france. Don't take it on the thalys train there are dog coppers from time to time.
You'll find plenty of it in Paris at Barbes. No idea of the quality though.>

Yes I've seen dogs checking passengers from Thalys trains sniffing folks bags as they got off the train too.