Our family of four(two adults and two teenagers-15 and 17) just found out that we can get away for our spring break next week(March 24th thru March 29th) and we don't know where we could go on short notice.Any suggestions? We will be leaving out of Chicago and can get last minute flights overseas.Our previous trips have included:England(London and York countryside),Germany(Munich and Black forest),Italy(Florence,Pisa and Venice),France(Paris and Nice).We like history,local culture,etc.Any places that you would recommend going that would be somewhat decent weather and smaller crowds? Thanks for any and all help! Debbie <BR>******My kids would like to go to Rome and do Pompeii but I think that this is not the year to go?

Reading the early part of your message and seeing where you have been my first thought was Rome. Seeing the end of your message ... start learning a little Italian! <BR> <BR>So far this year the "rush to Rome" has been a bust. Headlines in Italian newspapers have cried out about the lack of tourism. There are reports of business being &gt;&gt;below normal&lt;&lt;, as opposed to the expected crowds. <BR> <BR>To be fair, this is still early, and the Vatican has actually raised its estimate (mainly based on expected pilgrims) of expected visitors. <BR> <BR>Net so far ... the hordes haven't materialized. I'd go were I you. <BR> <BR>As to Pompeii, with your visit so short in Rome and so much really important and enjoyable to see in the city I'd advise against taking a day out to see Pompeii. If ancient monuments, history and archaeology really interest the family you'd really find the Roman Forum and Ostia Antica very enjoyable and worth at least a day and a half of your time (if the weather is warm enough, which it normally would be this time of year.) <BR> <BR>Pompeii has relatively more 'preserved', though even then the best treasures are in the museum in Naples rather than Pompeii and Herculaneum. <BR> <BR>Really think you'd get better and more exposure to the past by staying in/near Rome and spending less of your time traveling about. <BR> <BR>Rome.Switzerland.Bavaria <BR>w

Off beat idea - - you can combine Rome with Madrid, Barcelona or Brussels thanks to dirt-cheap fares on www.virgin-express.com - - if you can get your trans-atlantic travel as open jaw. <BR> <BR>

Rome would be wonderful except after checking the flights-they are all overbooked by 40 to 50 people.Any other cities in Italy(other than Florence and Venice) that has a major airport we could fly into and then train over to Rome? <BR>On another note-has anyone gone(lately) to Lisbon,Portugal? Was there lots to see and do or not?Anyone flown into Nice and gone to Marsailles,etc.?Spain would be nice but we speak only a little French and were concerned about the thievery in Barcelona(Previous forum discussions). Opinions? Thanks,Debbie

United flies from Chicago to Milan...a little further from Rome, but still easily doable.

I don't know about connections from Chicago, but try flying into Bologna; it's the third largest airport with convenient connections: KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, BA, and of course Alitalia. You can often find good rates and underbooked flights because it's overbooked. And then it's about a 3- hour train to Rome on EuroStar with only one or two stops, depending on the train. <BR> <BR>Having said that, I wouldn't let crime rates in Portugal or Spain be the deciding factor; they are as likely to be as bad in Rome. I think all of the places you are considering are viable and meet the criteria of your interests. Language--or lack thereof--is no more a problem in Spain than in Italy if you don't know Italian. I would go to the place where you can get flights to. Have fun. What a great way to go. <BR> <BR>

Sorry, I meant to say: You can often find good rates and underbooked flights <BR>because it's overlooked (not overbooked, obviously. <BR> <BR>Another option: what about Berlin and surrounding area? Something for everyone: history, local culture, au courant "scene" and art. <BR>

How about Vienna and Prague?? <BR>

Hi, Debbie, <BR>If decent weather means reliable sun, then the Mediterranean coast or southern parts of Italy or Greece are about the only sure things, and then, not sure things. I'd pick Barcelona or Seville because the Spanish ignore clocks and therefore you could enjoy the city well into the jet-lagged night for such a short trip. <BR>But if your weather tolerance is a little higher, I'd suggest either Amsterdam or London, mainly because both offer fab indoors alternatives, have good potential for great day trips to the country in case the weather is nice (don't know how early/late the tulips are this year but it's a knockout experience,) and finally because both cities are very easy for English speakers - so your kids can go off on their own and still navigate back to the hotel, etc. - if that's in the plans. Also no car needed in either town.

Considering the limited time available to you, I'd recommend Belgium. Fly into Brussels, decamp for Bruges and take day trips, all by train and all of short duration to Ghent, Brussels, Louvain and Antwerp or perhaps Luxembourg. You'll find superb food, Walloon and Flemish cultures, the fascination of two port cities - the former Bruges, the current Antwerp and should encounter little difficulty from a language standpoint. Brussels is one of the cultural capitals of Europe this year and offers much to the traveler including a plaza (Grand 'Place) that rivals any other in Europe including Venice's St. Marks. I'll guarantee, too, that it'll be an enlightening experience for your youngsters who, like most tourists, have probably never thought of Belgium as a place to visit.

I vote for Barcelona; museums, Gaudi buildings, paella, Monserrat, sparkling wines, Figueres, sparkling white wines; olives; Ramblas, paella. The subway system works; shopping is wonderful (Barcelonians (?) are snappy dressers) and prices are reasonable. <BR>Don't go to Milan - it is Pittsburgh without the charm.

We are going to Budapest. Have you considered that city. There is a great deal to do, and the prices are reasonable. Everyone I have talked to loved it. Just a thought!

Thank you all for taking the time to drop some suggestions.We will probably be taking Sabena to Brussels and then can connect anywhere they fly out of Brussels in Europe.Edinburgh,Copenhagen and the Brittany area of France are possibilities but the weather would seem to be wet and chilly at this time of the year.(Does it sound like we are sick of the Chicago winter/spring?)Keep those suggestions coming as I must book hotels,etc. REALLY SOON! Debbie