HI, Going to Europe for the 1st time last two weeks in July
Jun 6th, 2010, 05:59 PM
#1
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HI, Going to Europe for the 1st time last two weeks in July
HI, Going to Europe for the 1st time with my husband in our eatrly 30th have 10 days including traveling last 2 weeks of July. We dont care where to go since we are new to traveling what is the best destination or destinations to start of with that we can learn explore new places be safe and relax at the same time. Please recomend, the places, and hotels.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:05 PM
#2
Europe is HUGE and has tens of thousands of hotels. No one can possibly help you until you narrow things down a bit (a huge bit)
Where are you flying into/out of?
What country(s) have you considered?
Do you plan on traveling by car or public transport?
Give us something/ANYTHING to work w/ . . . .
Where are you flying into/out of?
What country(s) have you considered?
Do you plan on traveling by car or public transport?
Give us something/ANYTHING to work w/ . . . .
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:08 PM
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Hi, Innak19: Do you have any particular interests or special types of things you would like to see, e.g., art, history, wine/gourmet food, or more active pursuits like hiking?
I think most of Europe is pretty safe as long as you are always aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings, so that shouldn't be a problem.
With 10 days, would you like to focus on just one country, or an area in one country? Do you prefer cities or small towns/villages? Do you plan to rent a car, or travel by train once you get there? If you're not sure, but have an idea about where you want to be, there are several transportation specialists here who can help you figure that out.
If you are able to answer a few of these questions, it will help you to narrow things down to a particular focus and the Fodorite experts will be able to help you a little better. Good luck and I hope you have a great time!
I think most of Europe is pretty safe as long as you are always aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings, so that shouldn't be a problem.
With 10 days, would you like to focus on just one country, or an area in one country? Do you prefer cities or small towns/villages? Do you plan to rent a car, or travel by train once you get there? If you're not sure, but have an idea about where you want to be, there are several transportation specialists here who can help you figure that out.
If you are able to answer a few of these questions, it will help you to narrow things down to a particular focus and the Fodorite experts will be able to help you a little better. Good luck and I hope you have a great time!
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:10 PM
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Oops - janis and Innaki beat me to it. (I waste too much time checking the preview before submitting.)
Innaki, that probably helped a lot. There are people who know a lot about Spain and Italy here who should be responding soon to get you started.
Innaki, that probably helped a lot. There are people who know a lot about Spain and Italy here who should be responding soon to get you started.
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:14 PM
#7
The editors added Spain and Italy tags for you so more folks will see your questions.
But now you'll want to add more details of what you are looking for.
Just post them as a response to this thread.
But now you'll want to add more details of what you are looking for.
Just post them as a response to this thread.
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:18 PM
#8
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SAP- We would definately like to see a little bit of art and history visits the shops and enjoy great food. Definately not interested in hicking more sight seeing,enjoy the culture relaxing and go out to dinners at night. Would preffer to see two places if possible and not overwhelming maybe three. Do not want to take a small plane to relocate from place to place do not mind renting a car or using a train. Let me know if I should narrow it down more. Thank you very much in helping us out plan our first Europe vacation. Also what do you think of an idea of taking a cruise out of Barcelona?
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:24 PM
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I can't help you with any of that, luv, as I'm no expert on Spain/Italy (still learning about those areas myself). I just wanted to help you get started. This last set of details you added should launch that boat. If not, I think off the top of my head that you could do a search on the forums for Fodorites such as zeppole and bobthenavigator to get you started on the Italy portion at least.
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:35 PM
#10
Innak19: I think this thread is back on track a bit -- but just to give you some info if you need to add tags or change things in the future. You can't edit after a post is entered -- but you can contact the editors for help by clicking on the gray triangle w/ the <B>!</B>. That gives you a direct link to the Fodors folks . . . .
good luck (I personally think your questions are still a little too broad but at least we've got it narrowed down to two countries
)
good luck (I personally think your questions are still a little too broad but at least we've got it narrowed down to two countries
)
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:38 PM
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Are you looking for a "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium" type of trip, a different city every day?
I am personally in love with Paris, but have friends who find it too busy and prefer the countryside of Eastern Europe, so that's something to consider in your planning - cities, countryside or a bit of both.
I might just throw out there a driving tour of Ireland if you only speak English, as there won't be a language issue, but there will be a driving on the wrong side of the road issue. That's not too difficult in the countryside, but to be avoided in the big cities.
Budget is also a consideration - hostels or 5*hotels or something in between.
Weather would also figure into my planning - I personally hate, hate, hate the heat, so trekking and sweating through a big city with millions of other people who would all be there just to annoy me during the peak of the summer would be my idea of a nightmare, but the Swiss Alps with beautiful clear lakes and fresh alpine air - wonderful!
Lots to think about when planning, what fun!
I am personally in love with Paris, but have friends who find it too busy and prefer the countryside of Eastern Europe, so that's something to consider in your planning - cities, countryside or a bit of both.
I might just throw out there a driving tour of Ireland if you only speak English, as there won't be a language issue, but there will be a driving on the wrong side of the road issue. That's not too difficult in the countryside, but to be avoided in the big cities.
Budget is also a consideration - hostels or 5*hotels or something in between.
Weather would also figure into my planning - I personally hate, hate, hate the heat, so trekking and sweating through a big city with millions of other people who would all be there just to annoy me during the peak of the summer would be my idea of a nightmare, but the Swiss Alps with beautiful clear lakes and fresh alpine air - wonderful!
Lots to think about when planning, what fun!
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:46 PM
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Also, just my 2 cents on one more thing. If you are traveling this July (next month!) and you choose a place that tends to be more popular with tourists in the summer, it could be a little more tricky finding accommodations. Now, the fact that you and your husband are in your early 30s and just a couple will give you more freedom and flexibility to travel without advance planning. On the other hand, once you narrow down your focus to where you think you plan to spend your first and last nights, you might want to secure lodging ASAP at least for those two "bookends" of the journey (for peace of mind if nothing else.) Of course, you're probably already thinking along those lines, so hopefully you'll get some more help w/that soon.
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:52 PM
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Not looking for a differnt city everyday. If we go to
Spain for 10 days including traveling staring with barcelona how many days do we need there what other city should we visit or should we take a crusise. We preffer 4-5 star hotel was told to look into boutique hotels.
Spain for 10 days including traveling staring with barcelona how many days do we need there what other city should we visit or should we take a crusise. We preffer 4-5 star hotel was told to look into boutique hotels.
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:04 PM
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There are three overnight ferries that travel from Barcelona to Italy: One arrives in Genoa if you would like to visit Northern Italy (the Italian Riviera, the Italian Lakes, the wine country of Piemonte, Milan) , another arrives in Livorno if you would like to visit central Italy (Pisa, Florence, Siena Lucca, or drive around Tuscan wine country, etc) . The other arrives close to Rome if you would like to visit Rome and parts of southern Italy, like Capri and Naples.
So you might find it interesting to fly from NYC to Barcelona, spend 4 or 5 nights in Barcelona, and then take the overnight ferry to Italy.
So you might find it interesting to fly from NYC to Barcelona, spend 4 or 5 nights in Barcelona, and then take the overnight ferry to Italy.
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:09 PM
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Our posts crossed.
If you want to visit Spain for 10 days, you are better off taking fast trains between cities, and perhaps renting a car sometimes, rather than a cruise.
If you would like to enjoy the culture of a country, whether it is Italy or Spain, a cruise doesn't get you very far. You will just be around other tourists all the time, near souvenir shops.
You can use the Fodor's website to read about destinations like Italy and Spain to help you chose which sights, cities and areas you would like to experience. Just click "destianations" above. When you've decided where you want to go, use the Tripadvisor.com website for current recommendations for 4 and 5 star hotels.
If you want to visit Spain for 10 days, you are better off taking fast trains between cities, and perhaps renting a car sometimes, rather than a cruise.
If you would like to enjoy the culture of a country, whether it is Italy or Spain, a cruise doesn't get you very far. You will just be around other tourists all the time, near souvenir shops.
You can use the Fodor's website to read about destinations like Italy and Spain to help you chose which sights, cities and areas you would like to experience. Just click "destianations" above. When you've decided where you want to go, use the Tripadvisor.com website for current recommendations for 4 and 5 star hotels.
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:15 PM
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We want to stick to Spain start with barcelona and move on the question is how many days do we need in barcelona would love to visit madrid or should we visit something else or just stick to this two cities.
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:29 PM
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You are going to spend a lot of money getting to Barcelona, so you really shouldn't take an answer from a message board. Everybody is different. You should read up on Spain yourself. You will really kick yourself if you follow the advice of people you don't even know and find out after you get home that you could have gone to the Alhambra or San Sebastian, but instead you went to Barcelona and didn't like it because to you it was hot and dirty or unsafe.
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/spain/
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/spain/
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:59 PM
#19
Madrid is quite a distance from Barcelona. If you want to visit both you should fly into Madrid, visit a few days, fly to Barcelona for a few days before traveling on to Italy. You can fly home from Italy. It's not quite clear exactly how many days you have though.
Jun 7th, 2010, 04:16 AM
#20
3 or 4 days in Barcelona will be enough if you don't head out of town. Make it 4 if you are going to include the beach.
Choice then many but I'd look at Madrid or Grenada. Madrid and Toledo will kill 6 days but Grenada is a 2 day trip and you could follow with Seville or Cordoba or Malaga for 2 more each.
Trains in Spain are pretty good (cheap and fast) but you are going in high season so book early
Choice then many but I'd look at Madrid or Grenada. Madrid and Toledo will kill 6 days but Grenada is a 2 day trip and you could follow with Seville or Cordoba or Malaga for 2 more each.
Trains in Spain are pretty good (cheap and fast) but you are going in high season so book early
