husband and I are planning a trip to europe in late july/early august. We both hate crowds and want to relax. Where do people suggest?

Narvik, Norway

Piedmont section of Italy.

Albania.

That is peak school holiday time!

Dent, Cumbria, England.

give some more perameters - such as mountains, seaside, country, etc. and we can give some better suggestions.

Not nearly all of Europe is crowded then though much of southern Europe seems to be.

Ireland for example attracts tourists but it's easy to escape the 'maddening' crowds

Northern Scotland

>We both hate crowds and want to relax.

Don;t go at the peak of the season.

Personally, I LOVE to travel to the Med in the summer when it's hot, hot, hot. Sure there are crowds but it depends on what you do. There are heaps of places you can visit - you cannot write off an entire continent just because it's peak season. I love Santorini (Oia) in the peak season because I know that once the cruise ships have left, the island returns to normal. When everyone is crowding the place, I'm on my terrace sunning myself and reading all those books I never seem to have time for in London.

To get back to your original question, my suggestion would be laid back, lovely Greece. There are so many islands that even in peak season, you can find one that will suit.

We vote for Wales despite the strength of the British pound v the US $. Beautiful scenery, almost no American tourists, much lower prices than in, say, London. Fine roads, gorgeous seashore, immaculate villages, friendly people.

...lousy weather

Actually, we hit it lucky. Two weeks and hardly a drop of rain. Even in the mountains of Snowdonia. In July. Must have been a rare time.

seriously North Wales is a great great place - i spent several days there one August and like USNR says - and so much to do in between relaxing - Mt Snowdon, Beaumarais a castle of your dreams, Conwy a neato walled town, Carnaferon (sp?) great castle, conwy Valley train - Ffestiniog steam train, Llandudno a still popular seaside resort with next to it the famous goat-clad Great Orme

Another vote for Wales and Scotland.

Another suggestion - the countryside of the Czech Republic.

You may want to delay your trip a month or two, late sept/oct is a good time, things are still open and not as many fellow travelers.

Unless something VERY odd's happened to North Wales, you're not going to find it uncrowded in late July/early August

We don't like crowds either. Albas in Southwest France was our favorate. Read about where we went last spring.

http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=1259

You can see photos here:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...p;conn_speed=1

Northumbria in the UK (not North Umbria near Tuscany!). Never gets busy because for some reason even the UK hasn't discovered it. Huge beaches, beautiful countryside, great pubs, wildlife and oh Harry Potter's castle (along with endless other castles).

Also great shopping in Newcastle - ask the Swedes they visit on mass.

Something odd always happens in North Wales!

Compared with some other destinations, a crowded North Wales isn't THAT crowded.