FHurdle

jamikins,

An ATM in Europe ate my wife's ATM card and there was no way to get it back since it was a Friday and the bank wouldn't be open until Monday. Fortunately, I had plenty of cash and of course my credit card. Tulips, I find that I need a good deal of cash on vacation, even when I have a credit card, which I use often.

I don't have an ATM card. I find them dangerous. My wife's checking account was raided for about $2,000 through her ATM account number. My cousin had more than $20,000 drained out of his account. Getting the money back was not instantaneous and many British banks are now declining to compensate their customers for ATM fraud. It was a two-week ordeal for my wife, and of course our finances were thrown off a bit.

We're really hijacking the thread here. The OP expressed some worries about going to Greece. I think it's fine to go there, but I wouldn't go without some cash in my pocket. You think going with empty pockets is fine. The OP now has two opinions and the reasons behind them.

jamikins

Thank you for explaining, I was genuinely interested, and it puts your points into context for people to understand and consider.

My bank card was also eaten on our honeymoon. Annoying, but we had prepared for something like that by setting up a joint account and transfering money online simply and easily into that so my hubby could use his card.

That kind of thing and the other things you mention actually have nothing to do with the economic situation in any country, but could happen at your own bank - happened to me at the Subway in downtown Vancouver, banked deposited the money that had been skimmed in a couple weeks. You are right that was a pain.

Anyways, you are totally right. Back to the purpose of the thread!

Gardyloo

I'd have a look at Brittany. Warm but not scorching, plenty of history and scenery to go around - everything from neolithic sites to cathedrals, fishing villages, cliffs and lighthouses - fantastic food, and affordable prices.

Trip report from a couple of years ago - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-movements.cfm

suec1

San Sebastian? and that area, not so hot as other parts of Spain - maybe start out in Barcelona which is such a neat neat city. But Normandy is getting lots of votes - that would be nice too!

suec1

Oh I forgot to add, the food scene in San Sebastian is the most amazing that I have experienced. The city is full of tapas bars - you go inside and in front of you is a 20 foot counter full of gastronomic art. Also there is a great surfing beach that your kids would enjoy, even if just watching. I did not get to SanSeb until late in the calendar of my European travels and I WISH WISH WISH I had first gone there years ago! You can also take a night train from there down to Lisbon which is a city we found very enjoyable as well - better prices than alot of European cities!

And I agree with you, go now - "the only trips I have regretted, were the ones I did not take".

cybertraveler

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've done some initial research, and we're leaning towards Belgium (definitely Bruges, but also Brussels?). We' d also spend some time in Paris to share some of the magic there with the boys. Then, we could either go to Brittany or the Loire valley, and just possibly squeeze in some time based in St. Remy and visiting areas nearby.

DH. And I were in Provence two years ago, and loved it. We stayed in the Luberon, and could return there, but since there is so much more to see, it might be good to get to places we missed last time.

Paris was cool and rainy when we were there in 2010, and I heard last summer was the same. We'd rather be too hot than too cold any day, so we want to spend most of our time in the warmer parts of France.

Any thoughts on Brittany vs Loire valley? Our sons really enjoyed the ancient architecture and art throughout Italy, so touring chateaux would probably be fun for them, as long as we don't do it exclusively! I don't know much about Brittany yet, but I'm looking into it.