Vacation ideas in May
 

Folks - we are a family of 4 including 2 toddlers. Our travel style is traveilng during shoulder season to avoid big crowds. We like open-air natural beauty or if it' a city, find a cute neighborhood cafe and people watch, leisurely stroll in a park, eat at restaurants that locals flock to, check out outdoor farmers/flea markets, open-air music and festivals. We avoid typical tourist places like Cancun or some of the places that look like they fully cater to cruise crowds since you can't get much of an authentic local flavor

We are planning a 2 week vacation and we'd like to split 4 days in 3 locations. I've already been to Amalfi coast, Rome, Paris, Venice, Barcelona, Madrid, Florence and don't wish to repeat. Ideally, we'd like a non-stop flight from the NYC area and then be able to travel to the other 2 locations by rental car or bus and not have to fly so 4-5 hour distances will be ideal. If one of the locations is a coastal city with a beach, that'd be a good way to wind down. Also looked at Argentina and chile but distances are very long

Advice would be appreciated with countries and places within with the above in mind!

Thanks!!

You mentioned “May” and “beach” - are you looking for someplace where you can go swimming in May?

travel to the other 2 locations by rental car or bus and not have to fly so 4-5 hour distances will be ideal>

Few buses but lots of trains - cars are nice for touring countryside but for cities a poor idea. Switzerland and Alps and Munich and say Salzburg could fill your wish list. For lots on trains and where to go check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Britain would also be great - London - rent car meander up to Scotland and fly home from there. Not much for beaches however and in May for that go south- Nice is nice and an area you could spent days at and then go to Avignon area - driving between and around Provence can be great.

Into camping? Camps are everywhere and so great for families - again south of France would be great.

I agree with PalenQ that the Swiss Alps could be fun like Wengen or Mürren.

Or, I also likeVal D’Orcia in Tuscany.

Or, the Dordogne in France

No non-stop flights from NYC to Dordogne or Bordeaux. I do see a non-stop flight into Nice. Are there any smaller towns at the coast where one can enjoy the local scene or will it have way too many tourists in May around Nice, marseilles area

The Swiss area will be a little cold for us in May

Val D’Orcia - seems interesting. Is that the area filled with agriturismo? It's only 2 hours from Rome so could be done


Thanks

Athens, Nafplio, and Naxos (but Naxos would require a ferry or flight) -- or you could choose a different place for your third stop.

Istanbul, Ephesus or near it, Antalya.

Before giving serious consideration to Switzerland's Bernese Oberland, be sure to consider the weather, as May can be precarious there.

Specifying a non-stop flight really limits your options.

Check out tennis holidays in Croatia! Combine tennis and outdoor activity, eat in Restaurants, go hiking, ride a bike or visit other tourist attractions. For more info check www.tennisholidayscroatia.com

Yes, Val d'Orcia has many agriturismo. We stayed in one for a week near Pienza and my now 5 years old still talks about it (she was 2.5 years old at the time).

Nice sounds good. There are numerous towns nearby - on the coast and in the country. Some research will give you a number of options,

Warm enough to swim in Nice too I believe at that time.