Michelle

Hi all <BR>We will be in Europe next year from January to September. We have been working on our itinerary - but we'd like your help! After spending Christmas/New Year in London with friends we plan to buy a car and drive everywhere, as we have plenty of time. Our preference is to pick a few areas as a base, and explore surrounding area from there (so we can also get in lots of rest & relaxation). First we thought we'd head over to Italy. We know it will be cold (we don't mind that) and we thought that it may be a good time to check out the main cities/sights without long queues. We thought of staying around Toscana and renting an apartment/small villa for a couple of months, and doing day trips from there. We then drive up to meet friends in Austria or Switzerland for a week of skiing in mid-March, and will probably stay on in this area for a month. Then we plan to head back and explore the UK/Ireland from mid-April to mid-June (before peak season). We plan to spend the peak season in Portugal (it looks beautiful and seems cheaper than elsewhere in Europe). We like to avoid droves of fellow tourists, and enjoy driving through scenic countryside, so we are thinking we'll stay on/near the coast in Estremadura (say in Obidos, Nazare, Leiria or somewhere near Coimbra). We will be in Portugal until end August. We then plan to take a month to drive slowly back through France to London. Sell the car, and leave in October. How does this sound? Any extra ideas or do's/dont's? Should we drop Italy in winter and just spend the whole of winter in Austria/Switzerland? Anyone stayed in Estremadura in Portugal? Does it work out much cheaper renting places for two months rather than by the week? <BR>We would LOVE to hear your advice! <BR>Thanks <BR>Michelle

Rita Zoppellari

Hi, <BR>in Italy, I suggest you to spend a week at palazzo Montefano, a 17th century villa near Bologna, seat of the cultural <BR>association READING RETREATS IN RURAL ITALY, isolated from the <BR>artificiality and commercialism of mass tourism, a place where people may meet and spend relaxing, contemplative holidays, far from the tourist trail most foreigners follow. <BR>Every week there is a concert held in Palazzo Montefano. Music ranges from Baroque to jazz, musicians come from near and far, and the public is a mix of Italians, foreigners living in Italy, and guests staying in the villa. <BR>Contact Clark Lawrence, for details, <BR>01-39-51-692-9587 or [email protected] <BR>We also have a website: http://www.comune.bologna.it/iperbole/rrritaly/ <BR>I hope to meet you there! <BR> <BR>Rita <BR>

Cynthia

Hi Michelle, <BR>Wow, I wish I could travel for that long of a holiday. Boy do I envy you! <BR>Well when you arrive in Ireland I have a few suggestions for B & B's. I went there last year for 10 days and had a marvelous time! The Irish are the nicest people! <BR>Nearby Shannon Airport there is a Bed & Breakfast called Tobins, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare. Telephone (061)364191 <BR>Oh and if you stay in Cashel, this B&B was GORGEOUS! Knock-St.-Lour, Cashel Co. Tipperary Phone (062)61172. This is right by the Rock of Cashel and The Abbey. <BR>Oh and definitely go to Blarney! Gorgeous, gorgeous area! I stayed at the Killarney House on Station Road, Co., Cork Phone (021)381841. <BR>Waterford is okay, but it's much to citylike. Congested. Take time to take the tour, but find someplace else to stay. <BR>In Dublin, I actually stayed north of the city in Malahide. Right off the coast. Wow what a sight! B&B was the Heather View, Malahide Rd., Kinsealy, Co. Dublin, Phone (01)8453818. <BR>In Dublin, definitely see Christchurch. It is stunning, the architecture and the sculptures! And if you have time stop by Trinity College and grab a piece of history by seeing The Book of Kells. Gorgeous scriptures! <BR>Hope this helps out. <BR>I'm leaving for France next month, solo, for a week. When I get back I'll give you my review on Paris. <BR>Enjoy! <BR>Cynthia M. in Chicago, Illinois U.S.A.

Marcia

I don't know whether this helps or not. But: be sure to include Wales when you do the UK. You'll be off season enough that you shouldn't need reservations. And an apartment in London for a week or so would save you some money with food. We stayed in one in the Morgan Hotel by the British Museum, but there are others. Check the web for agencies and guidebooks for other ideas. Also British Tourism has a rating system which is quite good. <BR> <BR>Can't comment on Portugal, but if I had my druthers, I would consider Spain as a long term stay - for awhile In Barcelona, and then in the South (Granada maybe). Except, since I don't like hot weather, I would do spain in April/May, and then go to England. We were just there at the height of the tourist season (late July-Mid August), and it was really quite fine. Once you are out of London/Stratford/Bath, it is just fine - and even there it was OK. The only two places that felt over run were the British Museum and the Tower of London, and you just kind of expect that. <BR> The only snafu I see in your plan is selling the car. I don't know a thing about it, but I think you should try to figure out from the dealer or broker ahead of time what kind of rules and regualtions you might run into, registration, buying in one country, selling in another, etc. <BR> have a great year .

Michelle

To Rita, Cynthia and Marcia <BR>Thanks for your replies - great info. We will certainly try and visit the villa in Bologna - sounds right up our alley! You obviously really enjoyed Ireland Cynthia - we are definitely looking forward to going there too, thanks for all the contact details. Would love to hear from you when you get back from Paris as we intend to go there too. We are leaving Australia on 21 October and will be in the US (LA and Washington mostly, with friends) until just before Christmas. Marcia - we are definitely going to Wales (my grandparents were born there). I was very interested to hear that you thought the UK was alright in peak season, as we had heard it gets incredibly crowded. I too don't like the heat, but we picked Spain/Portugal as being cheapest for peak season. Also, we were told the UK got a lot more expensive in summer? How did you find it? If we could afford it I'd much rather swap the two, but we have a fairly strict budget to stick to, to make sure our money lasts the distance. What do you think? <BR>Thanks again <BR>Michelle <BR>PS We are planning on buying (and selling) a car in London, and we have friends there, so it should be OK - but I'll check it out with them.

marcie

Hi Michelle - your holiday sounds wonderful! I just had to comment seeing as I have just returned this week from the UK. All the talk about the UK being crowded was nonsense - well, I guess London seemed crowded but it always does no matter what the season. But touring through the country areas we were pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was. In the Cotswolds where we hired bikes, we were the only customers the company had all day and we had the country lanes, village greens and thatched cottages all to ourselves! France (we had 2 weeks just prior to UK) also was surprisingly quiet.Maybe that was just in contrast to Italy where there were bus-loads of tourists crammed into every available square inch - and this while they were having their hottest July in 600 years! <BR> <BR>Anyway, my point is that the weather in summer in the UK is odds on to be better than other seasons and more likely to make for pleasant touring. <BR> <BR>For my next trip, I plan skiing (Switz, Austria etc) until April; May-June in Italy (before it gets too hot); June-July in France & August-September in UK. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your holiday!

marcie

Hi Michelle - your holiday sounds wonderful! I just had to comment seeing as I have just returned this week from the UK. All the talk about the UK being crowded was nonsense - well, I guess London seemed crowded but it always does no matter what the season. But touring through the country areas we were pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was. In the Cotswolds where we hired bikes, we were the only customers the company had all day and we had the country lanes, village greens and thatched cottages all to ourselves! France (we had 2 weeks just prior to UK) also was surprisingly quiet.Maybe that was just in contrast to Italy where there were bus-loads of tourists crammed into every available square inch - and this while they were having their hottest July in 600 years! <BR> <BR>Anyway, my point is that the weather in summer in the UK is odds on to be better than other seasons and more likely to make for pleasant touring. <BR> <BR>For my next trip, I plan to see the cooler countries until April; May-June in Italy (before it gets too hot); June-July in France & August-September in UK. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your holiday!

marcie

Hi Michelle - your holiday sounds wonderful! I just had to comment seeing as I have just returned this week from the UK. All the talk about the UK being crowded was nonsense - well, I guess London seemed crowded but it always does no matter what the season. But touring through the country areas we were pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was. In the Cotswolds where we hired bikes, we were the only customers the company had all day and we had the country lanes, village greens and thatched cottages all to ourselves! France (we had 2 weeks just prior to UK) also was surprisingly quiet.Maybe that was just in contrast to Italy where there were bus-loads of tourists crammed into every available square inch - and this while they were having their hottest July in 600 years! <BR> <BR>Anyway, my point is that the weather in summer in the UK is odds on to be better than other seasons and more likely to make for pleasant touring. <BR> <BR>For my next trip, I plan to see Austria, Norway, Germany, Switzerland until April; May-June in Italy (before it gets too hot); June-July in France & August-September in UK. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your holiday!

Vincent

Hi Michelle. <BR>Congratulations on your planning, especially the winter part in Italy : you are right, because it's wonderful to go there to avoid big crowds. But be careful : off-season means off-season opening hours, which might be odd. Anyway, it's worth it. If I were you, I would spend early spring in Andalucia, which is a magical area of Spain, but hindered by stifling heat come May. <BR>Then comes the high-season problem. In Europe, it's relatively simple : in summer, the higher North, the quieter, but also the more expensive. So take your pick : spending summer in Portugal is cheap, but relatively crowded and very hot. But still it's a good choice since, outside Algarve and Lisbon, it is not that touristy. And the Portuguese are such friendly people. For the French part, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly, I'll be happy to give you some advice. <BR>Good trip-planing !

debra

Great stuff. We're going on the 1st Oct for three months. with two kids. Any reasonable accomodation ideas for English/ Scottish countryside for two adults and two kids? Thanks

Michelle

<BR>Reply to Debra <BR>Hi Debra <BR>I'm afraid I don't have any specific recommendations on accommodation - however I'd definitely wait until you get to London before you book anything. There are loads and loads of companies offering small cottages and B&Bs. We have friends in London who say that you'll have no trouble finding heaps of places at that time of year. We did a bit of research and found that the prices we were being quoted in Australia were up to 50 pounds a week dearer (on a one bedroom cottage) for the same place! We are going to wait until we get to London and see our friends before we decide on anything. You'll be there before us so I'd be interested to hear from you when you get back on where you stayed. <BR> <BR>Have fun on your holiday. Nearly time for you to depart - lucky things! <BR>Michelle

Stefan

If you have any specific questions about Switzerland, I'd be glad to help. I'm a 19-year-old student and live near Basel. So feel free to email!

Ismael Libanio

Michelle, <BR>I saw your message about a place to stay in Tuscany. <BR>Le Meridiane ís a villa in Siena. It could suit you. <BR>My wife and I have been at Le Meridiane, for a week, in November, 97. <BR>We liked it very much. The accomodations are very clean, large (you can <BR>see the bedroom where we slept at the website), comfortable and has all <BR>amenities. It has all cooking facilities and we had many meals at <BR>home. There is a good view to the gardens with many olive trees and to <BR>a valley with a avenue. It is located at the outskirts of Siena, <BR>fifteen minutes by car to the Centro Storico and very near to the <BR>auto-route to Florence. There is a small grocery store nearby and a <BR>supermarket (COOP) a ten minutes ride near the railstation. <BR>The street, with many houses, ends at a cul-de-sac at Le Meridiane in a <BR>small plaza where you can park your car. We had a car (leased from <BR>Renault in Paris) and we've made many trips to the Chianti Region and <BR>south of Siena (Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Sinalunga, etc.). <BR>Twice we went to Florence (50 minutes by a no-toll auto-route). <BR>La signora Ana, who is in charge of the villa, is very helpful and <BR>lives in another house nearby. <BR>I looked for the website and I found it: <BR>http:www.rpilo.it/meridian/meridian.htm <BR>I'm a travel consultant in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais State) in Brazil <BR> <BR>and I'll be glad to give more informations. <BR>Ismael