Help me choose a place with the following parameters!
 

I have been asked to make some suggestions for a romantic holiday. They have 5 days and would like something in Europe with nice villages, good cafes and people watching and not too many Americans. The last requirement knocks out most of Italy and France. So far, I am considering Barcelona and Prague...any other suggestions?? :)
Cheers,
Jan

not too many americans, that's too funny! Here in states, in some areas...they would say....let's find something in Florida or the Caribe where there aren't too many English snobs.

But in any case, a good area in Spain that you might want to consider is the Island of Formentera (south of Ibiza), beautiful, romantic, great fresh seafood!!

Thee are MANY wonderful places in Italy where there are "nice villages" and not too many Americans. However, there may not be too many "good cafes" in those places, so if that's a requirement, I won't suggest them.

What is the logic of excluding places with Americans? Is this an example of cutting off your nose to spite your face thinking?

cmt...make those suggestions, please! I won't use them for my friend, but I will put them in MY file for the future. :) We are always looking for new places to go.

Degas...my friends are American and they would like to go someplace that is not shoulder to shoulder with their fellow countrymen. What is so hard to understand about that?

Cheers,
Jan

You did not mention when they are travelling. Anyway I would suggest Italy. I would recomend:- Capri island, very romantic and beautiful,but after September I don't know if it's hot enough.
-or, Amalfi Coast, they could stay in Positano, rent a car and drive the Amalfi Coast!! BEAUTIFUL!!!
- or, if they prefer cities, Florence and all the Toscana region!
In my three suggestions they will find marvellous cafes and restaurants, scenic drives, and not so many Americans!
I've just returned from Capri where I spent a week, and was surprised how few Americans there were! I have nothing against you, by the way. I'm from Brazil!
I hope I could help. If you need any tip about Italy, maybe I can help you!

Hi Slo,

Would they be happier being shoulder to shoulder with Aussies, Brits, Germans and Japanese? :)

They might like the Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire or Normandy regions of France.

Oops...they are traveling in April.

Ira...yes, they probably would. Part of the reason that they want few Americans is that they jsut finished watching the RNC and were a bit disgusted. Of course, by April, that feeling may have worn off. b(
Cheers,
Jan

Canary Islands or Madeira?

I rarely run into Americans in April in the Dordogne, and there's no shortage of pretty villages and cafés.
Of course, if they are similarly prejudiced against running into Brits, then the Dordogne should not go on the list.

>...Part of the reason that they want few Americans is that they jsut finished watching the RNC and were a bit disgusted. <

That'll teach them to watch TV.

:D

The places I could suggest want nothing to do with snobs, so there go you/your friends travel plans. Would you guys consider something in the Middle East, Caribean, or South America?

Jan, I am a big fan of of Portugal. With 5 days they could stay near Lisbon in Sintra or Cascais and explore that area. The prices are right and the ambiance is authentic.

This is another one of those posts that shows little clear thinking. Millions and millions of Americans are into travel. They go anywhere that is worth going to. To think that you can find some really wonderful spot that hasn't yet been discovered by Americans is just plain foolishness. If there aren't a bunch of Americans there, then it probably isn't worth going to. Yes, it IS that simple.

Now, that said, I'll focus on the idea of "not TOO MANY" Americans. Just get off the beaten path. Even in Italy you can find such spots -- Sardinia (other than the Emerald Coast resorts), or the southeast of Italy.
Crete meets your definition. As do some of the lesser known smaller islands.
Slovenia -- particularly Ljubljana and Lake Bled.
Much of Scandinavia, other than the capital cities.
Malta.

I'm really confused by your mention of Barcelona and Prague -- where I think the vast majority of the tourists do seem to be Americans.

Let's back up in planning here! Since it is only a 5 day trip, my first question is where is this couple starting from? I would try to find a place that is fairly direct and easy to get to so they don't spend this entire 'romantic holiday' in transport.

As for saying that any place worth seeing is already filled with Americans is simply not true. Maybe so for a famous and heavily-traveled city (i.e., Venice). I just returned from Switzerland, towns outside Geneva along Lac Leman and it is absolutely gorgeous. I noticed some tourists in the train stations and at open air markets but without speaking to them could not tell for sure if they were Swiss German, Canadian or American.

Bob, I love your suggestion of Lisbon...but is it snobby enough? 8-)

Patrick...no, it isn't that simple. I asked for someplace that has 'not too many' Americans. Many travelers have a herd mentality and places are discovered in waves. You named several that are not commonly visited by Americans...indeed, most don't even know where Slovenia is! I agree to a certain extent about Prague but it comes nowhere near the levels of Americans I have seen in many parts of Italy, Switzerland and France.
Cheers,
Jan

Definitely do not send them to Prague. At least half the population seems to be American - not that I have a problem with that - but since they seem to.

I would really recommend a very small, out of the way vilage somewhere - perhaps they would like to stay in one of the privately owned chateaux in France. the last time we did that only a couple of the other guests were American - the rest were Canadian, Brits, Aussies and Argentinians.

I haven't been to Prague in 2-3 years. Wow...it sounds like it really has changed. Would it have a lot of Americans visiting in April? It's funny. I live in Slovenia so I have no problem with hearing lots of other Americans. In fact, I enjoy it. Here...we don't get many American visitors though 2004 definitely had/has more than 2003. I think countries come in waves with Germans and the Dutch being early adopters.

As far as the 'Americans' discovering all of the worthwhile places, well, I think that is just ludicrous.

Many people seemed to take umbrage at the comment that my friends wanted to go somewhere where there were few Americans. Why is that considered 'snobbish'? Why was it offensive?

Cheers,
Jan

OK...so I am enjoying stirring the pot a bit...it is a slow Saturday night after all! :S-

Maybe they could spend the time at M_kingdom's house. I can guarantee they won't find any Americans there!

I guess I over reacted to "not too many" Americans. To some people, including the above mentioned m_kingdom, one American is way too many, so I guess that's what I thought you were talking about. Sure some places have fewer than others. But I would challenge anyone to mention a place in Europe where you won't find some Americans. Tons of American travelers pride themselves on the idea of going where there aren't other Americans, which is kind of funny since as soon as they arrive, oops -- there are Americans there -- and I still say if it is worth going to then a number of Americans have already been there. Whether that is "too many" or not, certainly depends on the viewer.

I have to confess that I don't read many of m_kingdoms's postings because he seems so full of vitriole. Oh well...each to his own. :)
Cheers,
Jan

Jan, you just don't get it do you?

That silly comment about wanting to avoid Americans after watching the Republican Convention is stupid in the extreme. Please advise where these small-minded snobs eventually go - maybe the North Pole?

Good grief, the question's entirely inoffensive. Personally, using the same criteria, I would be seeking to exclude Brits.

I think, without having been there, the Portugal idea's a good one, but in April, I guess most of Provence would be nice.

SloJan--how many Americans would be too many?

Would they settle on visiting places where they are not likely to run into Americans who are Republicans?

If so, I suggest Germany and France (how dare they not go along with W's War!), Amsterdam (it's all about sex and drugs - how vile!), Scandinavia (the damn Socialist-commie pinkos! Who do they think they are!), or any city in the UK that is a bio-tech centre (stem cell research is located on the road to almighty damnation!)

Moravia

I'd go to the white villages of southern Spain near Ronda. Stay in a parador and explore and relax.

Please let me know where they decide to go. Since I'm a Republican, I don't want to spoil their trip!

I can see what you are saying- They don't want to go someplace that is too touristy with the Western World- maybe for the same reasons that people don't like Cancun, Vegas, or Florida. But I think people think that is sounds snobby. While I haven't been to Europe (Plan to go next year). I would think that many of the biggies Paris, London, Rome and Prague have so many tourists of various nationalities and locals how could you feel as though you are being inundated by them. I guess what I find strange is that we travel places within the US all the time with Americans all around and it doesn't bother us until we want to be the only "foreigners" in a foreign country, as if we discovered the place or something!

April is still a bit early for enjoying outdoor cafes in most of Europe, so I would suggest heading south.
How about:
-Mallorca
-Bodrum, Turkey or somewhere on the Dalaman coast
-Malta
-Elba or Sardinia
-Samos, Kos or Rhodes

These may be too far flung for only 5 days.
Another thought is to check out one of the cheap package vacations with LTUR or similar out of London, AMS or one of the airport hubs in Germany. These trips are often short and inexpensive.

I like your idea of Barcelona the best!

To all who responded in an appropriate manner: Thank You!

Rufus, any place that sounds like little America is not going to be chosen. I think you can understand that.

Chatnoir...no, my dear...you just don't get it. Keep your insults to yourself. Nowhere in my post is there an insult and for you to actually take offense says a lot about YOU.

Bettyk...my friends are Republicans! I have read your posts, I am sure that you wouldn't spoil their trip! ;)

Cheers,
Jan

Interesting points are raised here. I have enjoyed traveling to places where I see many other Americans as well as to places where I don't. The experiences are different.

When we stayed at a bed & breakfast in Denmark this summer we encountered no other Americans in the area. All our encounters were with people who lived in very different places than we did, and that made for an enjoyable and interesting experience. I had memorable conversations with people about cultural differences, and the atmosphere made me feel very foreign. I know from the guest book that other Americans had stayed there before, but they were few and far between. Even though physically the area resembled Cape Cod, a place which is extremely familiar to me, the cultural experience of staying there was very unfamiliar, and that is what made it a memorable destination.

On the other hand, I have been to destinations which are physically very different from home, in which I have felt less foreign because of the presence of many Americans. This changes the experience of the place.

Some trips are about the first kind of experience, some are about the second kind, and some mix the two.

If what you meant to say is that you would not choose a place that is too touristy, then why just not say that??? Seeking to exclude being around a particular group is snobbery, whether is Americans, British, Germans, Chinesse; let's call it what it is.....so what?

On a side comment, if your friends are asking you, I would advice them to ask somebody else....Barcelona and Prague are definitely NOT what first comes to mind with those conditions (nice village?, HELLOOO?)

Wanting to have an experience that is completely different than what you can find at home is not snobbery. Period. Hearing recounting of a Dallas Cowboys game from the next table would make it seem less like a foriegn adventure and less like what I set out to find. Hearing cricket stories would not have the same effect. It has nothing to do whith how I feel about the speaker - which is the same. What exactly is snobbish about that? Or are you all just that insistant on being offended?

clifton, I doubt these people would know what a common game like football was all about. The low class terms and expressions would seem very foreign to them.

Hmmm...somewhere in Scandinavia sounds about right...Oslo or Copenhagen. Copenhagen in fall and winter is very romantic, sophisticated, good food, good shopping, good cafes. In Copenhagen, as long as they don't stay at the Marriott, they should find an international crowd.

Oh, dear...Chatnoir...You MUST mean American Football. You do know that the game most of the world call soccer is the real FOOTBALL. Let's face it...American football is a game of little finesse...unless, of course, we are talking about the Gators! ((6))

Is it too late for me to entry the fray? I am one of the "snobs" that my friend, Jan, was posting this inquiry for. Maybe Jan forgot to mention that we ARE Americans, and one of our requests for a European vaction is to avoid too many OTHER Americans. We simply want to get away from the US for a very short while and experience another country, their people and their culture (yes, without someone at the table next to us talking about the Dallas Cowboys game). Sorry if that is snobbish. Contrarily, I think wanting to find a location to vacation where everyone is just like us Americans would be snobby.

Thanks to everyone for their serious suggestions.

Have I just been lucky? I've only been to Europe 5 trips over the past 10 years and all included time in major touristed cities (Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva, etc.). I can't think of a single time I've been seated next to other Americans once I was out of the airport.

Eating at local places without a translated menu, getting even a tiny bit off the main tourist path, to my experience most "typical" American travelers are not that adventursome and it would be pretty easy to avoid them.

I think it would be helpful to know if these people have been to Europe before, and if so, what places they did or didn't like. I can't think of many places more romantic (or with better cafes) than Paris, and there are certainly enough Parisians there that you aren't likely to be tripping over Americans. At least not if, as someone else said, you stay out of the obvious tourist traps.

Also, if you really are serious about avoiding Republicans, I wouldn't think you'd find too many rabid "freedom fry" eaters in Paris!