New Destination or Paris (again??
 

We have close friends whose approach to travel is: "Never return to a place you've already been because there are so many new places to go and different things to see in the world. It will expand your horizons." They are exceptionally well traveled people. <BR> <BR>Not a bad idea, we've followed this approach and it's certainly worked well for us in the past. Now...... after reading in another post about peoples' favorite places we've got the urge to head for Europe again this fall. <BR> <BR>The thrill and excitement of going to some new place (for us) is offset by our wonderful trip to Paris a few years ago. Both ou us really loved Paris. It would be our first "repeat" trip. We could return to Paris in a heartbeat but the lure of Prague, Munich, Vienna, et. al. is tantalizing. So Fodorites: What should it be, New Destination or Paris (again)??? We value your comments.... Paul J

I revisit places (Paris and London, for example) but rather than just a 'do-over', I set up an itinerary that explores or has a theme, like "museums nobody visits" or "shopping for the perfect copper bowl" or "what's in the 17th arr?"....or revisit favorite museums, but spend LOTS of time in them, or look at things that normally you'd skip (like 17th century cannonballs). <BR> <BR>

Elvira, <BR> <BR>have you ever considered writing a book, or at a minimum photocopying all your travel journals and selling (or donating :-) them? you always have great ideas, I bet your trips are memorable. <BR> <BR>Beth

PaulJ, <BR>You describe a terrible (?) dilemma that frequently bothers me as well. In the 1980s, I somehow found myself in Paris whenever I went to Germany to visit my sister. This decade, I seem to keep winding up in Montreux even when I start out in a new place. My advice: follow your heart. If a place speaks to you, go back there and let it speak to you some more . . . and listen. Let it salve your soul and stimulate your mind. <BR>Or . . . you can alternate. Go back to Paris this time and next time go someplace new. Or compromise: four days in Paris and four days in your new place. <BR> <BR>s

You are correct there are so many places and so little time (and money). My wife and I find that going back a second time can be very good. You now know your way around and can slow it down some. Our problem now is like yours, we are getting more and more places that we love. So now we are wanting to back to Burgundy or Paris or Switzerland and if we do that do we pass up our annual trip to the coast of Maine. This is a great problem to have, my wife and I are blessed to have enjoyed so many places. Next year we are going back on a short trip to burgundy and take a new trip to Ireland.

Paul, <BR> <BR>Have been fortunate to have been to Europe 17 times for vacation and vacation and business. <BR> <BR>There are just some places you have to go to more than once, and Paris is definitely one of those places. <BR> <BR>So too, Munich, London, Vienna, Prague, Krakow, Brugges, Rome, Salzburg etc and numerous others. As a rule of thumb we go to the same again, but never back to back. <BR> <BR>For example, we went to Florence, Rome and Sienna three years ago. For the next two years we went elsewhere and then went back. In many ways it is like seeing it all over again for the first time.

Same problem. I lived in Germany and so want to go back, but so far I keep going to new places. You mentioned Prague, I went there and Budapest last year (a week in each) and loved them. I find the Budapest setting (on the Danube) to be about the most beautiful city that I've been to. The buildings and archature(sp) in Prague is not to be missed. Where ever you go have a great trip. <BR>

I agree. What a dilemma. There are some places I've only scratched the surface on and so I MUST go back. London is it for me, even after 10 visits. Paris I've seen four times, and it does not overwhelm me as it does many of you. To each his own, I always say. <BR>Anyway, why not go back to Paris if it pulls you, but also go somewhere else you have never been. Prague and Vienna are indeed delightful, and I personally prefer them to Paris. You won't ever know that until you visit the other places. <BR>Now, if I can only just get back to Italy....have only been there once, in farback 1985. I thought I would return in 2001 but it's beginning to look iffy...since Germany pulls me...so much left to see there....and my son keeps going back there to live. Ah, such problems we travels have! :)

I would choose a new destination that has the elements that you so much enjoyed about Paris. May I suggest Prague? <BR> <BR>I don't plan for repeats, unless is a business travel and/or I am seeing different regions/things. There is so much to see and new things to learn. The best is yet to come!

Well, we returned to Paris for our second visit in June, instead of going to Ireland. We really want to go to Ireland, but decided on Paris again anyway. There are more new and interesting places to see than I'll ever get to. It's your time and your money and your decision. On our first trip, Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame and Pont Alexandre III were all covered with scaffolding. This time, all were newly spruced up, along with the glorious Opera Garnier. We love Paris and throughly enjoyed our second trip even more that the first. We've revisited other places as well - Niagara Falls, NYC, Montreal (we go every chance we get). When deciding where to go, I look at my list, think about what's most appealing at each place, and make plans to go wherever makes my heart leap the highest.

I hate that dilema!!! People always make me feel guilty (especially my mom) when I mention that I want to go back to a place that I have been. We just returned from a trip that was nice, but not spectacular because everyone thought that we should go to that country when I really wanted to go back to Wales. And heaven forbid if you say that you are going back to lets say England when you have been there before and I always say that it is a big country, I haven't seen the whole of it!! My suggestion is that if you have enough time, start or end in Paris (which my husband and I would love to get back to as well!) and go off into the country side for new unexplored territory. Mix the old with the new. Or take a train to somewhere in Germany or Luxemborg or drive to Brugge if you haven't been there before. I hope you win the lottery so you can travel as much as you want!!

<BR>Paul: <BR> <BR>My husband and I always (if we enjoyed the first visit)return to the sites. The suggestion of a do-over is an excellent idea. We had some friends that traveled with us last year and they wanted to know why we would want to visit Rome when we had already been there. We laughed and said "we just want to see if it has changed in the last 4 years. There are those of us who appreciate the beauty of travel.

Paul, <BR> <BR>The way my wife and I approach this question is to visit two places each year. We love Provence, St. Remy de Provence, in particular. We visit it each year and also go to one other place. This year we will start in Tuscany and then return to St. Remy. In earlier years, we combined Paris, or Collioure near the Spanish border, or Salzburg, or Brittany, etc., with an ultimate return to St. Remy. There really are no "nevers" "musts". <BR> <BR>One last thing. I find that a vacation can be enjoyed all year round. I break it down in to three parts - planning, going and then recording each journey from a journal I keep as we travel. <BR> <BR>Good luck.

Thanks to everyone who responded for your comments.I'm sure we can incorporate many of your suggestions into our plans for a great trip that will include Paris as well as other places. Thanks again!.... Paul J