April 09 - Help me choose a destination?
 

Hello everyone!
I have three destinations in mind and i would like your suggestions please!
1. Nice (Cote d'Azur area)
2. Amsterdam (and maybe Bruges..not sure though)
3. London (for the 6th time) and Edinburgh -or Oxford - or Cambridge.

We will have 5-6 days approximately and it will be around 17-21 April.
What would you choose and why?

In the French Riviera, we'll rent a car and drive from Milan.

I'd pick #1 with the hopes of the best weather in April.

I like Amsterdam fine, but I think it's nicer to visit in warmer weather. Can feel a bit grim if it's still winter-ish and cold or rainy.

I'd pick Edinburgh because I've been reading a series of books that are set there and I'm quite intrigued. Then I saw Greendragon's incredible photos here on Fodor's and that was all I needed to feed my obsession. Plus I hear it is a great walking city which I love.

I've been to Nice twice and I still am not in love with it try as I may so I'm not going back again. I did love the Chagall museum but not too much else.

I do love Amsterdam, but I've already been. It would be my second choice. I spent 4 days there in the rain and I loved every minute.

gruezi

Another vote for Edinburgh.

I went last April (3rd week of month) and am headed that way again next April.

The days were long (light until 8:30 pm, I think) and the weather was wonderful. The temps. were mostly high 40s F. Coming from chilly 20s and lower 30s, I thought upper 40s were great!

There was more rain on the Glasgow side than in the Edinburgh area. Yes, I will be ready for rain if it should be reversed next year :-)

You won't need a car in Edinburgh: great walking and lots of busses. Interesting museums to explore. Plenty of day trip tour operators to get out of the city, too.

If I didn't make that sound warm enough, several afternoons were so warm and bright that I bet they were in the low-mid 50s F.

I went to Amsterdam in March 07 with our high school trip. We went from 30 at home to mid 50s. Maybe that was a warmer than usual few days, but it was so nice!

Weather comfort is very relative :-)

the weather on the Cote will be better - you can drive around and see more than Nice.
The first choice is sort of" outdoor sightseeing trip", the second would allow you to see some great museums and art ( Amsterdam more than Edn.) - although there a several very good museums on the Cote.
I have been to Edn, and Amst. - like both very much but not in the rainy weather.

So do you think that in mid April there will be much rain in Amsterdam or Edinburgh? I know..noone can predict the weather but i thought as it's spring we might enjoy good days as well.. Honestly i can't decide!

French riviera seems a very nice option as well, although do you think it's worth going there when we won't be able to swim or enjoy the beaches?

Hmmm, is there a fourth choice?

I'd prefer to go to Nice when it was warmer and in fact all three choices would be better in May or June.

Hi Christine,

JMHO, but in my 20s and now in my 40s I have both times felt very underwhelmed by the French Riviera.

My Nice days are definitely over after 2 tries.

I'd prefer rain in Amsterdam to sun in Nice.

What do you enjoy doing?

gruezi

Give the time of year, I vote for Nice too. It's an interesting city in itself, plus a good transportation center for trips along the coast and into the mountains north of Nice. You don't really need a car.

Would you be flying into Milan? Is it possible to fly into Nice? Alitalia flies from Milan Malpensa to Nice, also Marseilles. Germanwings flies from Malpensa to Marseilles also.

That said, it would be fun to drive the corniche.

If you go to England, consider York. Lots to see there, in a small area, which would work well in bad weather.

When you decide on one place, we can give you lots of suggestions.

sassy_cat there could always be a fourth choice! I'm open to suggestions! ;-)

gruezi why didn't you like the French Riviera?

Also to answer your question enerally we like cities and we enjoy walking, eating, drinking coffees and watch the world go by.. We may go to one or two museums but it's not something that WE HAVE to do. And we're not the kind of people who rush from one place to the other in order to see everything but prefer to stroll around in different neighborhoods!

How about Lisbon and Porto?? Anyone been there?

Mimar
if we'll go to Nice, we'll arrive at Milan because there is a direct (and very cheap) flight from Athens. Also since we won't be only in a city we prefer to have our own car for flexibility!

For the French Riviera would you stay in Nice or somewhere in the vicinity? I'm in a website right now checking some wonderful cottages in the area..

There is no reason to expect any more rain in Amsterdam in April than any other month. It could be a lovely spring (let's hope so ;)) but temperatures could be anything from freezing to low 70's.
But then it could be like that in Edinburgh too - given that it is further north also it is possibly even more likely there.
If the weather is wet there a plenty of museums, shops etc in Amsterdam to keep you busy. If it is fine then you can get out of the city to Keukenhof or Zaanse Schans, or even the beach at Zandfoort. You could even travel a bit further afield and visit some of the other cities or the countryside, which should be just greening up and lovely.

Dear cristine,

I guess I'm just spoiled. I don't "get" the beaches in the French Riviera. I've been to a million better beaches without all the chock-a-block tacky motel strip added to it.

I found the Matisse museum a disappointment - just set up really weird. I could better organize this place in one weekend. I threatened my husband I would;)

The Chagall museum I loved and that was my favorite thing in Nice.

The city itself just didn't seem charming to me at all...

There was a pretty area near the above 2 mentioned museums but it seemed mostly residential.

IME there are so many more beautiful, charming places in Europe that Nice and the Cote d'Azur just didn't measure up for me. Even the villages nearby that we visited were nice (Such as St. Paul de Vence where there is another very nice modern art museum), but not so very special to fly all the way from the US. We only went from Zurich, so not so far, but still disappointing after so much hype.

As I said, I gave it a second try, but I wouldn't give it a third.

The best part of Provence/Cote d Azur for me were the art museums. But, you can see a ton of amazing art in Amsterdam.

For fun strolls, neat pubs and good food, I think Amsterdam is a great spot.

But, I also have the urge for Edinburgh so I hope you go and then report back here!!!

Of course, take my opinions with a grain of salt. As the "must see" thread proves over and over, one traveller's heaven is another traveller's hell. I can't believe how many people did't like Paris! And another person found Alhambra boring. Go figure!

gruezi

Gruezi i'm one of those people who don't like Paris that much! :-) (a little 'cold' for my taste)
I'm more of a london or Rome kind of girl!

you might consider Spain as an option! I would say Seville, but it would be very crowded, so - Barcelona ?
bigger than Nice, warmer than Amsterdam, great place to walk around and shop, possible day trips and (if you like) many museums.

Okay then, go to Nice...

Just kidding.

I think you will like Milan though if you are flying into there.

It gets a bum rap, but I really enjoyed the one day I spent there. I do have to get back sometime. It's a 3 hour train ride from Zurich.

What are your thoughts on Barcelona?

I think that may be more what you are looking for. I've not yet been, but most who love Rome also seem to love Barcelona and the weather will be wonderful in April.

gruezi

We were in Barcelona last April, and the weather was indeed great! We enjoyed ourselves very much and we liked BArcelona a lot but we would like to try something different this year!

I've been to Milan for one day as well. It was ok but it lacked the charm of other italian cities!

Do you live in Zurich? Do you recomend Switzerland in general?

Hey, if you're a Rome kinda girl then go to Rome! You mentioned driving from Milan so maybe just stick with Italy for this trip?

I'd suggest Athens and a Greek island but are you coming from Athens anyway?

Malta?

A no brainer-- NICE.