Traveling in October
 

My husband and I are traveling to Europe the first week in October 2016 for our 10 year anniversary trip. We didn't honeymoon so we would like to take a wonderful 10 day trip together. Any suggestions on where we should go? I was thinking a cruise, but river cruises seem to cater to older clients (we are both 30) and we have never been on an ocean cruise so not sure how we would like that, but we are open to a cruise. I would love to explore different countries if possible, but not have to always be driving our entire vacation. We enjoy museums and historical sites, so some place that has a lot of those type things would be great. Not big on night life, but would enjoy maybe a late night or two during our trip. Thank you all for your help!

For warmer destinations like Italy or Spain, I like to go in October. There are of course northern countries that would also be comfortable in October.

10 days in southern Spain, especially Andalusia, in early October could make for a delightful anniversary! With 10 days, you could see Granada (2-3 nights), Cordoba (1-2 nights, although some people visit it as a day trip), Sevilla (3 or 4 nights), and maybe -- depending on your interests -- Ronda or Malaga or.... Consider stopping at your local library to look at a few good guidebooks for the area to see if it appeals (which I think it will, given your stated interests).

Hope that helps!

In various years, much of Italy sees its heaviest rain in October -- and when I say heavy, I mean really heavy. Red storm alert heavy. That said, sometimes it is just a few days of rain affecting only a small part of the country and for the rest of the country, the October days are gorgeous. It's an unpredictable month, but if you really enjoy museums and historical sights, then visiting places easily reached by train like Rome, Venice, Florence, Verona or Bologna/Ravenna can be fabulous and it won't matter if it rains (and it might not at all) because there is so much to enjoy indoors. After or before Italy, you could take the fast train to include Munich, which is a museumgoer's paradise.

But reading your description of what you would like out of your trip, I suggest you also consider that the Netherlands, Belgium and France have excellent zippy train connections between them (and some into Germany too), and if you would like to experience more than one country, its easy to do that and get a lot of sightseeing rewards. I've only been in Paris in October, and enjoyed lovely autumn weather, but generally the Netherlands and Belgium are only occasionally sunny and dry (any time of year) and what the specific October weather is, I could only guess.

One further thought about night life:

Sometimes the people who are "not big on nightlife" are people who generally like to turn in around 10pm and be up early in the morning. The rhythm of Spanish culture is to have, by other culture's norms, a very late dinner, which starts no earlier than 9pm, and more typically 9.30 or 10. You simply will not find restaurants serving before that. (Similarly, lunch in Spain typically begins around 2pm.) Many of us who can't easily adjust to that late dinner hour for 2 weeks cope by making lunch the main meal of the day and then eating tapas in bars in the early evening, pretty much skipping "dinner." It works, but it is something to know if you are drawn to Spain and have your own preferred eating and sleep patterns!

October is a great time to go, maybe the best.

I would avoid the river cruise or conducted bus tour. You are right. You are too young.

If you have ten days on the ground (not two days of flying and eight on the ground), I would split it between London and Paris, taking Eurostar between the two. Fly into London and back from Paris (preferably not through London) on what is called an open jawed ticket.

A visit to London might focus on the usual sites, a visit to Paris a bit more to hanging out and absorbing the place. In London I would plan to do one thing in the morning, another in the afternoon. One place I would strongly recommend is Sir John Soane's Museum, an eccentric house near the Inns of Court. Go at twilight, when it is lit by candles. Go to a sung church service at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's rather than take a paid tour. Experience the church, even if you are not religious, rather than traipse through it.

In Paris I might do One Big Thing (Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame and Ste Chapelle, Eiffel and Invalides or Trocadero, Picasso or Carnavalet Museums) and spend the rest of the day eating lunch and walking around the neighborhood you are in. Spend time one afternoon in the Luxembourg gardens. Take an evening cruise (after dark) on the Seine from Pont Neuf. The lights are spectacular.

Food in London is expensive. Eat ethnic, especially Indian, and get takeout sandwiches from Pret a Manger and elsewhere for lunch. Avoid Angus Steakhouses. Paris is a lot less expensive. Lunches in cafes are usually a good deal, with 2 or 3 courses at a fixed price. Bakeries sell sandwiches as well as pastries, cafes sell hot sandwiches and simple hot dishes for a light supper. Brasseries are big old-fashioned restaurants that specialize in draft beer, modest wines, and hearty food, at least some of which is going to be Alsatian (German-influenced). They are cheap enough to be an affordable treat.

Next trip, go to Venice, Florence and Rome. Fly into Venice and out of Rome, taking the train between the three cities.

October is a shoulder month, neither one thing or another. I've done a river cruise and you are right the rate of death for our 5 days on the Rhine was 2/5.

If I was coming I'd look at a few obvious cores.

Morocco is lovely in October, look at Marakesh (old city) and perhaps a stay in a lodge up in the Atlas

Spain's southern area focusing on Seville/Cordoba/Malaga/Grenada is a great stay

Turkey along the old Roman south coast is a good visit

Egypt is just cooling down enough to visit, focus on Luxor rather than the more dangerous Cairo

I would consider all of Egypt dangerous and not go. I would also not go to Morocco.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...increases.html

Turkey? I'd ask for advice.

I would never go to Egypt at this time, either, I've been there and found it very interesting but am glad I went when I did as I wouldn't go now. And I would never go just to focus on Luxor. But I think the OP wants to go to Europe, she specifically said so.

I understand but October is a little dull in Europe. Spent last Christmas in Luxor, had more than enough to do for 10 days. Would go back again, locals friendly, large American contingent came through and no one had a problem with them.

Morocco is especially nice and people are very friendly plus they speak French, German and English in lots of places so easy to get about.

My 75+ year old friends have just come back (after the Russian aircraft came down) and had a wonderful time, it is important to be more open to these places.

It's not a question of being "open". The first trip I took abroad as an adult was to Egypt and Lebanon, and I did it to learn more about the Arab world. But I wouldn't urge other people to travel to places with a risk to their safety because I thought THEY needed the education or that the country would liberalize if it was exposed to more foreigners.

Also, the travel risks people take when they are 75+ are often higher than what younger people will take -- not because 75 year olds are wiser, but because many figure they only have a short time to live anyway, and what does it matter which way you go? I can see myself cheerfully heading up Mt Blanc when I am in my late 70s or a walking tour in Beijing. Right now, I still feel like I've too much to live for.

Given the deaths of the Polish tourists many years ago, if it was ok to travel there then it is ok to travel there now. My 75+ friends took their 40 year old "children".

Look, the world is not a nasty place just because Fox and Trump says it is. I now Sandra you know that but maybe the OP doesn't :-)

I honestly don't think it is worth the risks to travel to north Africa at the moment. I haven't seen Fox in years and as for Donald Trump, having been born in NYC, and spending most of my adult life there, rest assured I don't take affluent New Yorkers' ideas about the world beyond their little parochial island seriously.

Sicile.
Perfect for honeymoon
Full of museums and ruins and culture
Beaches. Warm weather.
Stay a few days in Taormina to enjoy a few days of nightlife.
Good food nice people.
What else ?