Hate Crowds, Want to go to Europe--in the summer!
 

Hi Folks,<BR>Because I'm a teacher, I'm locked into the school calendar, so timewise, summer affords me the most time to get away. Of course, I realize it also means higher prices and more people--not exactly my ideal, but don't know how to get around it.<BR><BR>My goal is to leave the US (Atlanta) early June and stay about 3 wks. My hope is that it might be slightly less crowded and a bit more economical than in July--the airfare deals seem to end by 6/15 if that's any indication of supply/demand...I've toyed w/visiting Portugal and Spain, Scandinavia, but am open to other ideas...Should I consider South America?? (I really haven't done any research on that...) I've been warned by several people to avoid a crowded Italy at that time of year.<BR><BR>I'll probably be travelling alone and am in my 30s. I think I'm pretty adventurous, love the outdoors but also like cultural pursuits like looking at architecture, going to museums and love yummy food and wine. I think I'm a pretty easy traveller...give me a great location w/good people-watching possibilities, a tasty glass of wine or beer, a sunny day and maybe a local to shoot the breeze with, and I am in my happy place.<BR><BR>Can you head me in the right direction? <BR><BR>Thanks!!<BR>Debbie

depending on where you go, South America could be cold in June. <BR><BR>I think June would be less crowded than July or August - and who knows, this year, very much less so.<BR><BR>where have you been/not been? You could visit the coastlines - Spain to France across to Italy then home. (for instance).<BR><BR>not sure what weather is like in June in Scandinavia...

Hi Debbie,<BR><BR>Last summer I traveled through Norway at about the same time as your planned trip. There were very few crowds and the trip was fantastic. I'm also in my 30's and traveled alone - met lots of people and had a great time. The weather was sunny (aside from Bergen, where it apparently rains pretty much every day). The long long days were a real boon to travel - since I was able to be active and out exploring for many more hours each day. I found Norway much less crowded than other areas of Europe I've visited during the summer.

My wife is a teacher, so we have the same issues. Our last 3 trips to Europe were in June--to London/Paris, to Germany and to Italy. The only place we encountered very large crowds that were daunting was the Vatican. Everywhere else we went in Rome and other cities (London, Bath, Paris, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Capri, Bamberg, Munich, Rothenburg, Hohenschwangau, Mosel and Rhein Rivers) it was busy, but not crowded.<BR><BR>We did take the precaution of going early each day to the most popular sights (e.g., Versailles, Giverney, Tower of London, Neuschwanstein, Burg Eltz, Basilica San Marco, etc.). I have a photo of my wife and son standing in P. San Marco in Venice at 10 AM in mid-June and no one is within 20 yards of them--in the background there is a small crowd around the entrance to B. San Marco, but no mob.<BR><BR>So I think that by using some common sense (like going to the most popular sights early), a June trip can be quite pleasureable.

3 Europe trips have been in the summer... I stay with a friend who lives in Switzerland and have then gone on to Venice, Paris, Amsterdam (different trips). I didn't find &quot;crowds&quot; a problem but then I spent most of my time simply walking in various neighborhoods, sitting in cafes drinking wine, sunning in the parks, not standing in long lines to get into the mainstream sites or museums.

Hi People,<BR>Thanks for the encouraging remarks!<BR><BR>Flygirl: I haven't been to enough places, but I'm trying damn hard to rectify that ;-) I've been to the UK but not Ireland...I've been to Spain but only around Madrid and Sevilla and that was way back in high school. I have been to quite a bit of Mexico and Central America, spent a month in Australia last year, so there's lots left for me to see!<BR><BR>Debbie

One thing I've learned in many, many travels. Places that are busy are busy for a reason -- they are great places to visit. And if they are busier at a particular time of year, that will in large part be due to the fact that is the best time to visit them. If you start choosing places to go, merely to avoid the crowds, you will miss many of the best places to visit. <BR><BR>Look at it this way. Suppose you go to Disney World and there are big lines at several attractions so you only go to the places that don't have lines. When you leave, you are likely not to be very impressed with the place. Why? Because you saw the least popular, and therefore, the least exciting attractions. <BR><BR>And as to time of year, well there may not be crowds in Amsterdam in the middle of January, but I'd much rather be there in fair weather, crowds or not.

Hi I am from Europe, and all I can tell you that early July is a very good time to go anywhere here, as school holidays start mostly in July in all countries. Did I help? Where have you been in Europe before? Perhaps I can give you some ideas. I have been mostly everywhere except Roumania and Finland.

Sorry I made a mistake, I meant JUNE!

I am a teacher, too. We have been to Europe many times during the summer. I don't think it is a huge problem. I sure wouldn't stay away for that reason. This could be the most uncrowded summer in Europe (although we will be in Tuscany!) Just go and don't listen to other people!!!

Though I suspect that tourism will be down cosiderably this year (especially American tourists) -and your aversion to crowds, I would suggest that you explore some less traveled but equally intrigueing and wonderful destinations.<BR>1) The Baltic - Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersberg, Riga, Lubeck, Hamburg, Copenhagen.<BR>2) Central Europe - Gdansk, Posnan, Torun, Wroclaw in Poland, Dresden and Leipzig in the &quot;old&quot; East Germany, and Budapest and Prague and other sites in Hungary and the C. Republic.<BR>Being a teacher, I am sure you will find these destinations fascinating and though not on Fodor's mainline they are definitely worth a visit. ENJOY!

Hmmmmm....if I tell you about these, will you promise not to tell? ;-)<BR><BR>Early June in the Hasliberg region of Switzerland was lovely and uncrowded; amazing walks and hikes, easy train trips to the cities.<BR><BR>Portugal is relatively uncrowded, too; try staying in a place like Sintra rather than in Lisbon itself for more of that serenity that teachers need by June. (okay, by March, but who's counting?) <BR><BR>Iceland has more folks than it used to, but still not nearly as many as some other places. It's my favorite country of all I've been to.<BR><BR>On the other hand, as Patrick says, sometimes the crowds aren't such a problem. London is always marvelous, and Shakespeare in Regent's Park is a summertime treat. Italy, it's true, is crowded, but June may be a better bet than later summer.<BR><BR>Check out Untours for a great way to travel semi-independently while benefitting businesses in developing areas. I've fallen in love with their philosophy, which stresses &quot;living&quot; in a spot for a while, and with their prices. (Um, this isn't an ad. They're just really really good.)<BR><BR>Happy travels!

Where ever you decide to go - June through early July is definitely not high season in most parts of Europe. Most European schools do not let out until mid to late July, so June is not very crowded.<BR><BR>Of course there are special places with festivals that attract crowds - but for the most part June is still considered &quot;spring&quot; and shoulder season. You can find a lot of hotel bargains in June.

Debbie,<BR>Call it gut reaction, but when I read your post I thought...Turkey!

You shouldn't have too much trouble with crowds in Portugal if,as another poster mentioned, you stay off the beaten track.<BR><BR> Many folks are dismissive of the Algarve, for example,because to them it means Albufeira in April and jammed with noisy sunseekers but we find that just getting out of there by mere emiles there is another and fascinating world. See Monchique for the ancient springs and one of the oldest communal bakeovens in the world, Goa for superb and authentic piri-piri restaurants and Estoi for the Roman bath ruins and bishop's palace. The whole area offers Moorish architectural influence if you know where to look. Get a good guide book and any crowded place yields to the &quot;path less travelled&quot;.

My husband also is a teacher and we've been to Europe the past two summers -- both times in early June (he gets out in late May). We didn't have problems with crowds anywhere, even Venice. I think the huge crowds of tourists tend to congregrate at key places -- like the Eiffel Tower, for example. In the neighborhoods of Paris, it didn't seem crowded at all. In Venice, St. Mark's was crowded, but in the side streets you could walk miles and not see another tourist. I would recommend (as I think someone else did) getting to &quot;big&quot; sites like the Tower of London or Versailles early -- we got to Versailles last summer just as it was opening and literally were the only people in the Hall of Mirrors. Several hours later, it was packed.

Definitely Hungary, Croatia, Poland is beautiful then (are you interested in the Holocaust history) consider Krakow or Warsaw also towns in France such as Toulouse (the pink city), Bordeux and places in Italy like the Amalfi coast and general travel around the ocean (away from major towns). Tunisia and Marrakesh are also very cheap to fly from Europe and have lots of camel tours ect that will take you away from big cities. I live in Paris and know that July/ August is the very very busy season for beach side destinations in Europe. Good luck!

oops, a 2003 thread. I kept wondering about the unfamiliar poster names! OWJ, where did you go?

Lol, I was thinking this was new and how nice for all the wandering Jews to get away for 3 weeks, then when I got to the I am single... I only then looked at the date! Haha