Honeymoon from Amsterdam to Nice a good idea?
 

Hello everyone! My fiance and I are thinking of doing something out of the ordinary for our honeymoon (likely around June 2014), and are playing with the idea of Europe.

I've been soaking up the information readily offered in these forums to compile a potential itinerary for our honeymoon, and right now here's what I've got:

Fly from DC into Amsterdam.
Spend Days 1-4 in Amsterdam (stay in the Jordaan area).
Explore the neighborhoods, possibly some museums, definitely the nightlife.

Travel to Nice, France. (Not sure if by flight or train).
Spend Days 5-13 based in Nice (probably in an apartment).
Take various day-trips as desired to explore the French Riviera... possibly to St. Tropez/Cannes/Antibes or something of that nature.

My question is -- does this possible itinerary make sense/sound good?
Are we spending enough time in Amsterdam?

& should we even go there, or does Nice sound more our pace?

A bit about us:
In the past we have vacationed to beaches along the East Coast (U.S.), and we tend to enjoy trips that aren't very "planned" so we can enjoy doing whatever we are in the mood for that day.
We are in our mid-late 20s, but on vacation we are only moderately-active (not into hiking or adventure, but we do like walking).

...so I'm not really sure if Amsterdam is the ideal spot or if we should spend all our time in Nice instead.

Thank you in advance for your input!!

Also, I forgot to add -- this entire itinerary was crafted around the idea that about a week in Nice would suit us since we enjoy vacationing in a "laid back" way. We might be opening to staying somewhere in Italy as well, but I don't want us to stay places that are known for sightseeing, as I'd then feel guilty for NOT sightseeing (and we don't really want to sight-see on our honeymoon).

Also, I forgot to add -- this entire itinerary was crafted around the idea that about a week in Nice would suit us since we enjoy vacationing in a "laid back" way. We might be opening to staying somewhere in Italy as well, but I don't want us to stay places that are known for sightseeing, as I'd then feel guilty for NOT sightseeing (and we don't really want to sight-see on our honeymoon).

Amsterdam to Nice is a pretty long trip, and Nice is not exactly a place NOT known for sightseeing. Instead, consider Burgundy or Normandy, both reachable from Amsterdam by the fast trains.

That said, I absolutely love Nice, sights and all.

You might consider staying somewhat inland along the lines of Vence, Tourettes-sur-Loup, Châteauneuf-du-Grasse, or Valbonne. The latter two are not much on the tourist map and so would be safe from the sights you want to avoid.

St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat would be a wonderful place for a honeymoon.

Amsterdam is super for a walking city (boats are nice too). I would definitely keep AMS in your itinerary. The trip to Nice is a long one, perhaps best done by flying. You've chosen two very different (IMO) locations. Both are lovely for a honeymoon.

I think it's a good plan perhaps adding a day to Amsterdam. Both have wonderful sites to visit but are not overwhelming. We combined Amsterdam ansd Venice one time, our canal trip.
You'll be tired after your wedding plus jet lagged. Perhaps Nice first, then Amsterdam?
We flew from Paris to Nice on Air France, cheap and easy. Available from Amsterdam too.
I love both cities and think you have made a very good plan.

<i>Honeymoon from Amsterdam to Nice a good idea?
Posted by: iamspinach on Jun 25, 13 at 5:27pm
Are we spending enough time in Amsterdam?
& should we even go there, or does Nice sound more our pace?
In the past we have vacationed to beaches along the East Coast (U.S.), and we tend to enjoy trips that aren't very "planned" so we can enjoy doing whatever we are in the mood for that day.
We are in our mid-late 20s, but on vacation we are only moderately-active (not into hiking or adventure, but we do like walking).
...so I'm not really sure if Amsterdam is the ideal spot or if we should spend all our time in Nice instead.</i>

I suggest that you consider staying at a B&B in Haarlem. You can rent bikes and pedal easily to the beach at Zandvoort, or take the train to the cafes and museums of Amsterdam.

I think you'll find Amsterdam more interesting than Nice. You know I hope, that there is no sand at Nice. It is a stony beach controlled by the high priced hotels and cafes. Every day at the beach will be expensive.

For a southern beach you might consider a few days at Biarritz and then a few days at Donostia San Sebastian. The weather will be pleasant and the tourist crowds will not have arrived yet in June. San Sebastian is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Ah, the Haarlem option again, Spaarne ;)

San Sebastian? That's a long way away.

Anyway: I would fly from Amsterdam to Nice: there's easyjet that goes there.

Also I wouldn't stay in Nice proper but in a place like Cagnes, or a bit further up in the hills. Exploring the coastline can be excellently done by train that gets you anywhere along the coast. You can also go up into the Alpes Maritimes foot hills, and this is easy both from Nice and from Cagnes. so you could visit St Paul and Vence, but also many of the wonderful hill top villages there are (St Jeannet for instance) The bus trip there is a day out in its own right. Cool thing is, with an hour you can travel from the beach to the hills and back. The scenery is gorgeous.

The coast is heavily developed, with not many public beaches. But the hinterland is gorgeous!

Hi iam,

> we enjoy vacationing in a "laid back" way <

In Nice, in June?

Why not Amsterdam and Paris?

((I))

amsterdam not bad for riding a bike (rather than foot and tram)

Thank you to all for replies.

menachem - thank you for the Easyjet recommendation, will look into booking through this.

I am feeling more confident in this rough itinerary.

ira - my fiance has very little interest in going to Paris, but I felt strongly about France... hence the Riviera-proximal option.

PS -- I've asked for input on the Airlines subforum, but if anyone has any advice on Flights, I would appreciate it.

Specifically, on:
- a good airline from AMS to NCE
- a reasonable flight home from NCE to Washington, DC (IAD, BWI, or DCA)

Thank you if anyone has any ideas ont his.

AMS-NiceLook at Transavia, a Dutch low coat airline, part of KLM/Air France group.
Nice-Wash. DC..I think you'll find ot much cheaper to fly to a larger international,airport in Europe to connectmtomthe US. That is what we've always done. Connect to a dlight in tne allaince as your Us-Europe flight. Such as, if Star Alliance, Swiss Air to,Zurich to US on United, etc. or through Frankfurt.

HappyTrvlr, thank you. That's a good idea -- to fly to a bigger airport first. I'll start looking. I presume CDG would be the biggest in France; maybe flights from there.

If there's a better (large) airport to fly out of to get a decent fare home, please do share.

I would avoid CDG if there is any other way.

<i>menachem on Jun 29, 13 at 5:50am
Ah, the Haarlem option again, Spaarne ;)
San Sebastian? That's a long way away.</i>

Amsterdam to San Sebastian is about the same distance as Amsterdam to Nice. San Sebastian is a far more pleasant place and more beautiful sandy beach with crisp clean ocean water.

There are actually Dutch people living in Haarlem. The Dutch influence in Amsterdam is being drowned out by the zillions of immigrants.

I find Nice a beautiful and relaxing city. With lots of options for sightseeing by public transportation. (Speak up if you want suggestions.) But it is a city as is Amsterdam. If you'd like a smaller place, Cagnes is one option, Antibes and Villefranche are others. All of these are on the train line. Buses are a good option also.

Beaches on the Mediterranean tend not to be that great. I would focus on other kinds of activities there.