aussiedreamer

We've booked our flights and our car, now to start planning. We are a 47 yr old couple taking 3 months to visit the above countries.
Depart Brisbane July 26 to London (we will spend 10 days 'somewhere' in the UK) and then arrive Paris August 5. We plan on spending two nights in Paris before collecting our Leased Peugeot.

From then on we can pretty much do as we please until we depart Paris Nov 1st for a stopover in Dubai on the way home.

Very very roughly we are thinking of spending August and part of September in France and Spain. Then head to Italy where we will try and base ourselves in some different regions for a week or two at a time. We will be joined off and on by some family/friends over this period and will probably source accommodation with two bedrooms.

For most of Oct' we will have another couple with us. Our thoughts were, the Lakes area of Italy, Venice and then drive to Croatia/ Dubrovnik and the Adriatic coast. Crossing back into Italy and making our way over to the Amalfi Coast. We will then all head back to Paris for our flight home.

So as you can see there is so much to plan and my head is spinning. If you have suggestions for certain sections of this trip I would be so grateful. We are all active well seasoned travellers. We have been to Paris & Rome before, but not outside of the city. We have also travelled the UK very extensively and were thinking we may even go to Ireland for a week.

We will be looking for self catering accommodation most of the time. I presume we should get August accommodation booked ASAP?
Thanks as always for your help and guidance.


AD

Aramis

You lucky dogs.

I don't think I wanna talk to you no more.

Michael

Since you will have a car, Gites de France, whose locations are usually outside towns, might be a good place to start:

http://www.gites-de-france.com/gites/uk/stopover_gites

These photos of our 1985 trip to Spain, starting and ending on the French side of the Pyrenees, might give you some ideas of a tour. We did not go to Madrid. It was in August and it was hot everywhere. The photos pretty much follow our itinerary.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622975757180/

zeppole

If you don't want to spend all your driving, you can cover a lot of ground by utilizing the overnight car ferry from Barcelona to Genova -- and from there you could drive to the Italian Lakes in about 4 hours or to Chianti area of Tuscany in about the same time.

For a trip like that, I would begin in France, maybe in a base in the Dordogne, and then move to Spain's Basque region for its great food, beautiful coast and cooler summer weather. From there, drop down to Barcelona and take the overnight ferry. It's about a 6hour drive, so you could do it one day with a stop for lunch.

I can't comment on the rest of your trip through the Adriatic coast, but the long haul from the Amalfi back to Paris looks dreary. Again, you might try a ferry to get you back to France, or even Barcelona. For instance, you can ferry from Civitavecchia (just north of Rome) to Barcelona, and from there be in Paris in 10 hours.

And yes, you should get August accommodation ASAP.

zeppole

Here's the map for finding ferry connections:

http://www.directferries.co.uk/routes.htm

aussiedreamer

We do feel like "lucky Dogs" lol, but also a little overwhelmed at the moment. But getting our BIG map today and start by breaking the trip up into sections.

Thanks so much, all great suggestions.

Revulgo

I also recommend the Basque Country in northern Spain close to France. Visit the beautiful San Sebastian, Bilbao and the coastal villages.

La Concha bay in San Sebastian:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eduydor...45665/sizes/l/

A traditional activity in the Basque country is barhopping before lunch of dinner, which is essentially a regional sport. Bar counters display numerous pintxos (pronounced peen-choze), the equivalent to tapas in other areas of the country. A pintxos bar in San Sebastian:
http://www.donostia.org/info/sansebastianturismo/turismo_imagenes.nsf/0/FC12010BA7B44139C12575EF003253C7/$File/foto52.jpg

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao:
http://www.iadat.org/images/guggenheim.JPG

Mundaka, known all over the world due to its long left wave,considered Europe's best wave:
http://www.oakley.com/a/6e/d0/BAh7CG...UhpCGkCSBI.jpg

Superb grilled fish in Getaria:
http://www.kaia-kaipe.com/galeria2.swf

Hondarribia, close to the French border:
http://www.xelu.net/imatges/fotos/67...is_basc_34.jpg

aussiedreamer

Thank you revulgo...........wonderful consice suggestions.
More please

wug

I'm with Aramis, You Lucky Dogs. I'm insanely envious, but in a good way.

I definitely recommend the Lakes Region of Italy. My husband and I stayed on Lake Como for four days last June and it was incredible. We took the ferry all over the place, did some hiking, relaxing, wandering. We rented a little apartment in Carate Urio, a small very non tourist village on the west side of the lake. We can't wait to go back and spend more time there.

We also really enjoyed Annecy and Chamonix in France, not to mention Provence, the Riviera, Normandy, etc. Our next goal is hanging out in St. Emilion area for a week or so.

Keep us posted on your plans. If I can help with any questions I'll definitely respond.

aussiedreamer

Hi wug............I'd love to hear about your "little apartment in carate Urio".

wug

Hi Aussiedreamer, here's a link to the apartment.

http://tinyurl.com/ydd63pw

The price absolutely can't be beat. It's a small basic apartment but has everything you need. The view is incredible and we loved it because we felt like we lived there, not a part of a tourist area. The lady who owns it is wonderful. She picked us up at the train station in Como, stopped by a grocery store and waited on us while we got groceries. She was available via phone any time we had a question. The boats stop just below the apartment. There aren't as many boats as say in Bellagio or a larger town but, they stop enough throughout the day that you can plan your day and not feel like you're tied to the departure and arrival times, as long as you plan ahead.

As you'll see on the website, there is definitely a climb to get up to the apartment. I counted the stairs but now can't remember how many it was. If you have large suitcases, it may not be ideal. There's no way to get a car up the apartment and you can't pull your suitcase for a lot of it. It's a great workout though and so worth the view. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

aussiedreamer

Thanks for taking the time............i will definately check it out.

Revulgo

aussiedreamer,
If you drive from San Sebastian to Barcelona spend a night halfway in Zaragoza. Some tips:

La Aljaferia, a former Moorish palace:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...94311057hHgTxv

La Seo (Cathedral)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi.../8b/La_Seo.jpg

Museo del Foro. This permanent exhibition allows the visitor to view the remains of the colony of Caesar Augustus (the Roman town which gives Zaragoza its name) in situ. The remains are those of the city forum and the market, foundations of various shops, the porch of the new forum and the drains. In addition, several archaeological artifacts found during the digging, such as glass, coins and ceramics, are exhibited in display cases. The entrance to the museum (which is beneath the Plaza de La Seo) is via an immense portal built in Iranian onyx. Other important artifacts can be seen in the Museo del Puerto Romano and in the Museo de las Termas Publicas de Caesaraugusta.
http://www.limacoedizions.com/public...031_1_ar-2.jpg

Wine bar & tapas at "Los Vitorinos", Calle José de la Hera 6 --a narrow alley close to Calle Don Jaime I --
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gorriti...08980/sizes/l/

Mombasa Café, Calle del Cuatro de Agosto, at the evening. British colonial decor. Beware of the rhino! LOL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/romared...55770/sizes/o/

aussiedreamer

Woh, thank you Revulgo. Wonderful help.......Your had me at....................Wine & Tapas

Revulgo

aussiedreamer,
What about a few days in Madrid?

City Hall and Goddess Cibeles fountain
http://kollinz.ironcube.info/kollin/...d,%20Spain.jpg

The Royal Palace
http://guiasobremadrid.com/wp-conten...lacio_real.jpg

El Retiro Park
http://mediateca.educa.madrid.org/im...7a8745vhhh.jpg

Gran Via
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...75488960WKDNoB

Plaza Mayor
http://vincentvanderveken.com/wp-con...laza-mayor.JPG

Charming shops
http://www.turismomadrid.es/COMU/DOC...canto_INGL.pdf

Full info about Madrid
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

aussiedreamer

We would love to go to Madrid. I will look at all your links. Your awsome, thanks.

flokate

I've lived in Florence for over 20 years and can offer some tips for the Italy part of your trip. September and early October are big tourist months here, just like August, so I’d book accommodation far in advance especially if you want to be on Lake Como. When you head over to Venice, I’d look for a self-catering apartment outside the city and take day trips by train into explore it. You’ll spend half what you would staying in very pricey Venice and the Veneto countryside is well worth exploring by car [lots of Renaissance villas, gardens, vineyards and charming walled towns] on the days you don’t feel like dealing w/ the hordes of tourists in Venice proper. Select Italy in Chicago www.selectitaly.com can help with the planning and accommodations. Croatia/Dubrovnik is well worth seeing -- you arrive via Trieste, a really interesting port town, and you can return by overnight car ferry to Bari, Italy. Then spend some time in Apulia; maybe around Lecce or Martina Franca. The Salento beaches should be beautiful in October; this region is relatively unknown but has a lot to offer in terms of authenticity – good food, friendly people and unspoiled scenery. The Amalfi Coast shouldn’t be missed but I’d split the time between it and Apulia, maybe even renting a characteristic, cone-shaped white trullo to stay in – a unique experience and one you won't soon forget!

aussiedreamer

thats great flokate. We hope to book accommodation as soon as we can due to the season. Theres just so much to research. We hope to do self catering most of the time and yes we like your Venice idea re staying outside. We plan to do that most of the time. Thank you so much. My head is spinning with so many options for accommodation.

Keep it coming,

thanks