Looking for the ideal week-long add-on after Amsterdam
Jun 25th, 2011, 11:35 AM
#1
Looking for the ideal week-long add-on after Amsterdam
After a river cruise of Holland and Belgium that ends up in Amsterdam at the beginning of April, 2012, my wife and I wish to extend our holiday by a week or so. We are retired, mid-60's/upper 50's. We have previously visited Rome, Venice, Florence, Madrid, Andalusia, London, and Ireland, and recently returned from a trip through the Rhone Valley and Paris. We have wanted to see Barcelona and are considering staying there for much if not all of that time, including a couple of day trips, etc.
We would like your comments on whether this warrants a full week, what additional sights we might include, or suggestions of an alternative destination within about 2 hrs (by air) of Amsterdam to which a visit might be more worthy.
We would like your comments on whether this warrants a full week, what additional sights we might include, or suggestions of an alternative destination within about 2 hrs (by air) of Amsterdam to which a visit might be more worthy.
Jun 25th, 2011, 11:50 AM
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 12,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
seat61.com
personally might train down to Barcelona
via the Atlantic Coast and Basque country
It is a very nice ride lots of nice stops
eurocheapo.com great city guide for Barcelona
I like it a lot usually get great deals Otel.com
betterbidding.com Eurostarat the cruise port
Marriotts super nice there also
Costa Brava Dali Museum Sitges nice day trips.
Baleric islands possible also.
Have fun,
personally might train down to Barcelona
via the Atlantic Coast and Basque country
It is a very nice ride lots of nice stops
eurocheapo.com great city guide for Barcelona
I like it a lot usually get great deals Otel.com
betterbidding.com Eurostarat the cruise port
Marriotts super nice there also
Costa Brava Dali Museum Sitges nice day trips.
Baleric islands possible also.
Have fun,
Jun 25th, 2011, 12:23 PM
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your list of previous countries visited doesn't show anything in Germany - you' re right next door.
Berlin, Dresden, Prague, The Harz mountains are all much closer than Barcelona.
Your 2 hour flight limit will get you all the way to Warsaw, Vienna, or Stockholm, too.
Berlin, Dresden, Prague, The Harz mountains are all much closer than Barcelona.
Your 2 hour flight limit will get you all the way to Warsaw, Vienna, or Stockholm, too.
Jun 25th, 2011, 12:55 PM
#6
It will be at the beginning of April, so I'd probably steer clear of Germany, the Basque country etc. and look for some sunnier location.
Barcelona sounds good, but I'd expand it to include more of Catalunya, including some of the French bits. Or, the Alentejo region of Portugal can be gorgeous around then - a couple of hours of driving
from Lisbon can get you to Evora and surrounds.
Or what about the Riveria? One can have quite a good time around Monaco/Menton for a few days.
Barcelona sounds good, but I'd expand it to include more of Catalunya, including some of the French bits. Or, the Alentejo region of Portugal can be gorgeous around then - a couple of hours of driving
from Lisbon can get you to Evora and surrounds. Or what about the Riveria? One can have quite a good time around Monaco/Menton for a few days.
Jun 26th, 2011, 12:23 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It can be very sunny, and warm in April in the Netherlands - we had better weather in April than in June.
Seriously since you are in the Netherlands why not explore the north and east of the country, and maybe add some of the German coast?
Seriously since you are in the Netherlands why not explore the north and east of the country, and maybe add some of the German coast?
Jun 26th, 2011, 12:57 AM
#10
I actually have been to all the locations mentioned and would enjoy returning to all of them for different reasons and yes, I would CERTAINLY consider Berlin, Prague, Dresden despite their lattitude in April.
What we DON'T know is what sort of place/activities you are PRIMARILY interested in. You mention Barcelona but you do not say why? If we knew THAT then we could possibly help determine which among the other suggested locations might be of greater interest.
BTW, Switzerland can be fabulous in April as well
What we DON'T know is what sort of place/activities you are PRIMARILY interested in. You mention Barcelona but you do not say why? If we knew THAT then we could possibly help determine which among the other suggested locations might be of greater interest.
BTW, Switzerland can be fabulous in April as well
Jun 26th, 2011, 12:24 PM
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe I should clarify - I was kidding with the skip Belgium and the Netherlands part. I thought using weather as a reason to advise you to steer clear of Germany and even the Basque region (??) was a little much.
Jun 27th, 2011, 10:59 AM
#13
@ Duekey1, et al.: We've been intrigued for some time to see the history, art and architecture in and around Barcelona, and also explore the region's food and wines, which are new to us. We will have been through Belgium & Netherlands for ten days, so guess we wouldn't mind a change of climate to boot.
Jun 27th, 2011, 04:00 PM
#15
Now thinking of renting a car for a few days and driving to the Costa Brava, Cadaques, Figueres, Girona, etc. Take a train for a picnic in Montserrat as well. May extend the week by 1-2 days. Thank you, stephh and everyone!
Would appreciate any further comments or advice.
Would appreciate any further comments or advice.
