Two and a Half Week Birthday Vacation

Old Apr 16th, 2012, 10:31 AM
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Two and a Half Week Birthday Vacation

My husband and I are currently planning a large trip to celebrate our 30th birthdays next year (We will be traveling the beginning of June). Our budget is around $5,000, which will include everything, except airfare. We have about two and a half weeks.

We usually spend our vacations at the beach. This time I was thinking of something different since we will have an extended period of time. We are very active and enjoy the outdoors. I am looking to experience different cultures and enjoy new foods.

I was considering France and Italy; Paris, Nice, And Two cities in Italy (Venice, Florence or Rome).

1. Would this be possible with our budget? (We do have Starwood points that we could use for hotels)
2. Does anyone have any other suggestions of other places we could go? We don’t mind large cities but would also like somewhere to relax and take things at a slow pace. Open to all ideas, doesn’t have to be Europe.

I truly appreciate everyone’s time and input!

Thanks,
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Old Apr 16th, 2012, 10:45 AM
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I forgot to mention this will be the first time either of us has visited Europe.
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Old Apr 16th, 2012, 11:47 AM
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It tends to be difficult to combine southern France with northern Italy unless you can begin in Nice, move to Paris and then go to Venice from there (fly, overnight train). It is easy to fly from Nice to Rome and travel from there to either Florence or Venice. Otherwise, the transportation connections are not great. You can take the long train ride into Italy from Nice, -- but it feels very long unless you'd like to pause in the middle and see something of the Italian Riviera. I don't believe you can fly from Nice to Venice or Florence without changing planes.

If you are open to all possible destinations in the world, it is really hard to give advice based on the tiny information you've given about yourselves. I do not think of Rome, Florence and Venice as outdoor destinations except in the sense that one can enjoy walking around the cities if the weather is nice. (Likewise Paris.) I don't think of them as places to relax, partly because of how heavily they are mobbed with tourists frantic to have a good time.

For Italy, the great outdoor destinations in June are hidden corners of the lakes, the hiking paths in the hills above the Amalfi coast or further south, in the Cilento. It can be very nice to be somewhere in Umbria or Tuscany that offers walking and hiking paths, but it is easier if you have a car.

Were it my 30th birthday, I might want to go to San Sebastian, Spain for new food experiences and relaxation. I'd rent a car and see some of the Basque coast and spend some time in the Pyrenees.
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Old Apr 16th, 2012, 11:50 AM
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Welcome amcintosh and happy 30th to you both.

You did mention the beach as your usual vacation choice. But you also said this is your first time in Europe. For the amount of time you have, I'd choose either France or Italy (don't worry, you'll go back!) and split you time between city and beach.

You are saying 2.5 weeks. 17-18 days? Take 3 days away; 1 for going, 1 for coming and 1 for travel between 2 places. My first choice would be to fly to Rome (6 days), take the train to Florence (3 days) and finish up in Venice (6 days). Although the international flights out of Venice leave early, you can go to the Lido to the beach then explore mysterious Venice in the evening. Fly out of Venice. You can tweak the days based upon your interests of course.

Or do Paris and the Riviera. Fly into Paris and out of Nice. Other Fodorites will have to recommend good beach towns. Nice is a wonderful place and a great place to base, but the beach is not sandy. Perhaps that wouldn't matter to you. There is good train and bus service all along the Riviera. A week in Paris and the rest exploring the Riviera?

Please tell us a little about your interests as well.
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Old Apr 16th, 2012, 01:13 PM
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Sorry amcintosh, I think my suggestion wasn't clear.

Consider splitting your 2.5 weeks between Paris and San Sebastian/Basque coast/Pyrenees.

If you add more about your own interests, you might want to add more about your interest in being outdoors and if that means in natural scenery or just walking outdoors in cities, and how much time you want to spend doing cultural sightseeing (churches, ruins, museums).
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Old Apr 16th, 2012, 05:42 PM
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Thanks for the replies! Our definition of outdoors is being able to enjoy and walk around a city. We are good for a couple Of museums and interesting sites. We enjoy sitting outside and people watch. I was trying to incorporate a beach so that we could have a little bit of down time to relax for a few days before heading home. I would love to experience Paris as well other cities that offered street markets and fantastic food and wine!

I do also enjoy photography exhibits, although I could probably only get my husband to a couple of them. Just trying to blend his interest as well as mine. He is very laid back and goes with the flow, while I like arts and ballet.
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Old Apr 16th, 2012, 05:48 PM
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San Sebastian seems beautiful and right up our ally. Will definitely have to give it a look and possibly incorporate that into the trip rather than Italy! Wouldn't of known to look at it otherwise.
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Old Apr 16th, 2012, 09:19 PM
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I think Paris and one other place would be a great trip and within your budget.

The great thing about Paris is the walking. One winter trip I had a back injury so I took my family to Paris and Rome. I couldn't think of any other place where I would be on my feet walking for as many hours as those 2 cities. My back was in much better shape after 1 week in Paris and 1 week in Rome! There's just so much to look at wandering through the neighborhoods and we find it very enjoyable to walk from site to site.

I also think Paris is a really great introduction to Europe. You'll love it.
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Old Apr 17th, 2012, 04:03 AM
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Paris is of course a beautiful city for walking around. Nice is not really a beach town, but if you were to go just a bit further, toward Menton, you could not only have a beach, but the Jean Cocteau museum. From there, you could fly to Rome and then home, or if you are major foodies, head into Italy but swing north and go to Torino, a really enjoyable city with fantastic food and wine and chocolate, fun to walk and gawk around and with a killer museum of movies, the best in the world.

But what might be simpler than trying to combine France with Italy would be Paris and parts of Belgium, easily reached by train, for the tremendous food and the fantastic beer (really a revalation). You can also go to the beach. Antwerp is a great underrated and forward looking small city, with plenty of new art galleries and fashion in its lovely historic center. You can visit Brussels, Ghent and Bruges and spend time on the beach, and eat like royalty.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...eaches-secrets

http://www.antwerp-tourist-guide.com/index.html

Some people like to take one country at a time in Europe. Others like to experience contrasts.
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Old Apr 17th, 2012, 05:54 AM
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Thanks everyone for all of the ideas! Good thing I have a year to plan! I am going to rethink and get all of my ideas together. I know we are going to Paris, and either stay in France or explore one other area. I don't want to spread things too thin and want to take it slow and enjoy our time in Europe!

BTW, thanks for all of the suggestions of lesser known cities. I would like to get to know the countries and not base my decision on one stop in the major tourist areas!
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Old Apr 25th, 2012, 06:10 AM
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Ok, so I have revisited the itinerary and came up with cutting out grouping Italy and France. Italy needs at least two weeks and I don't want to short change Paris. I now have two different itineraries and need to decide between the two.

First One:
Fly into London
London-5 nights
Travel to Paris
Paris-6 nights
Travel to Nice
Nice-4 nights
Fly home from Nice

Nice is not set in stone, I have also thought of substituting Belgium (for Nice) and flying home from Paris.

Other Option:
Fly into Rome
Rome-6 nights
Train to Florence
Florence/Tuscany-6 nights
Train to Venice
Venice-3 nights
Fly home from Venice

Any suggestions on the Italy trip? I could add a night or two so that we could add another city.

Please let me know what you think. I am trying to keep from taking any flights once I land in Europe and would like to incorporate day trips if possible. Thanks Again!
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Old Apr 25th, 2012, 09:21 AM
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This is going to start a huge debate! I would have a difficult time choosing.

Since it is your first time, the London-Paris-Nice might be good as you are starting with an English-speaking country.

However, your enjoyment of the outdoors makes me want to lead you to Italy instead. Plus, the train travel would be shorter.

So I'd choose Italy. FYI, the international flights out of Venice left quite early when we were there-you could consider Venice first and Rome last to maximize your visiting time.

You have to decide what you want to see the most!
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Old Apr 25th, 2012, 11:26 AM
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I suggest eliminating a city from the itineraries and adding in some time in the countryside. You will be traveling during one of the most beautiful times of the year to spend time in the outdoors (which you like) and in the countryside.

Perhaps in Itinerary 1 you could take out London or Nice and add a week in Provence. In #2, remove Florence and add a week in Tuscany or Umbria exploring the countryside. You'd need to rent a car but it would be worth it.
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Old Apr 25th, 2012, 03:43 PM
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I love the idea of London-Paris-Nice.
I am a huge fan of Nice, these is so much to see there and for me, it has always been relaxing.
For my honeymoon a few years ago we did Salzburg, Paris and Nice. It was a lot of rushing around in the beginning but Nice was the perfect way to end it.

The great thing is, you will go back.
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Old Apr 25th, 2012, 03:54 PM
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Amalfi Coast
Rome
Tuscany
Night train to Paris to finish up the trip.
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Old Apr 25th, 2012, 06:29 PM
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I would pick Italia, but I am biased.
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