Things have changed some what: I am now flying into London in Mid April with my 19 year old niece. We will visit my daughter in London (between classes, etc) for Tues- Thurs. On Friday morning I would like to travel to some where with the two of them for the weekend, then spend another day or two in London and then fly back to Boston with my niece. Total travel time about 8 days....My niece has never been to Europe. My daughter has been there several times and has many weekend trips planned with her schoolmates while she is studying in London (Paris, Cork, Madrid,a week in Italy).
I had been thinking that Paris would be the easiest trip, as well as an interesting contrast to London for my niece- but not the first choice for my daughter as she will have just been there.
Does anyone have an obvious weekend trip that I am missing? I would like it to be somewhat economical in both travel time and in money, but I really want to make it a memorable trip for my niece!
Thoughts please.

How about Edinburgh? A wonderful/beautiful city w/ oodles of history, pubs, restaurants, views, galleries and the castle looming over the whole thing.

Just over 4 hours by train from central London to central Edinburgh. Or an hour flight but you have to figure travel time to/from the airport and advance check in. So realistically 4 hours by train or plane.

Sounds awesome- I will look further into it.
Is there usually a large price difference between plan and train?

Barcelona

Edinburgh would be great; however for about the same cost in transportation (or even less - the trains in the UK are not terribly cheap) - and about the same elapsed time, consider Amsterdam. Gorgeous in the spring, fascinating, walkable city, great museums, everyone speaks English. It's an ideal place for a weekend, and different enough from either London or Paris that everyone would get a taste of real European diversity.

I stand by my original suggestion of Berlin. Lots of cheap flights available, normally.
Check BA, flybmi.com for flights into convenient Tegel.
Discount carriers serve Schoenefeld, factor in potentially higher ground travel costs in London and Berlin.

with two girls of that age, either Edinburgh [my DD loved it when she went on a field trip with her uni at about that age] and Nice - fab weather, [hopefully] lovely shops, french food - what's not to like!

I have to say that Berlin would NOT be my first choice for girls of that age, nor Prague etc - unless they are really keen on history, but possibly Amsterdam if they like looking at art, though it may not be very warm.

if you want a country where neither girl has been, what about Spain - they would love Barcelona, Madrid [great shops] even Malaga.

good luck!

annhig,

out of interest: what age group does Berlin accommodate best in your opinion and why?

Apart from that I think Barcelona is a good recommendation - as is Edinburgh - and given the unspecific question these are about as good as any other.

hsv - what age-groups does Berlin best accommodate?


school students "doing" 20C history, art buffs, older people keen on museum visiting...

I've been and I loved it, but it's not where I would take two 20 year old girls unless they were very seriously minded or had a specific interest in going there. i know that my 23 year old DD [who is no airhead, BTW] would far prefer Barcelona or Nice to Berlin.

I suggested Paris on your other post, not realizing that you had already rejected it on this post. I would consider Seville or Rome if you want warmer weather and an easy flight from London. That is unless your daughter is going to Rome on her trip to Italy. Nice would likely be pleasant in April as well.

I apologize,I could no longer find this older post and did not realize people were still responding.
What would be the cheapest/ quickest way to get from London to Nice.
Weather in mid April?

annhig,

interesting. I'd always go to Berlin for great nightlife options, good dining and the relaxed vibe of the city - all combined with a ridiculously low cost of living. And it has never occurred to me that history is unavoidable. Different mindset I would think.

"<i>I could no longer find this older post and did not realize people were still responding.</i>"

Hint: To find all of your posts -- click on your screen name

thank you

Easyjet flies from London to Nice. Airport is minutes from old Nice, about 4 miles, and transportation is very cheap. For a few euros you can take a bus to the perched villages or Monaco.

While places like Nice or Edinburgh are nice, I question whether they are the best choice, given that the niece has never been to Europe.

I'd stick with one of the big destinations, like Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, etc, rather than going for a secondary destination.

As for Berlin, and applicability to 20-somethings... I'd still place it a step behind the Big Names, but think it might be the nightlife and options for diversions for 20-somethings is without question. I place it behind the others because I think there there are fewer diversions that would entertain the 20-somethings + the OP.