Where next?
Sep 17th, 2018, 03:49 AM
#42
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Hi, I’ve heard from friends about some nice points to visit (both cultural and nature) in Bulgaria and am currently considering getting there for a week. Could you reccomend sightseeings or landmarks I should visit? Till now I know about Rila Monastery and the seaside. Also if you have tips about planning the trip, I want to move through the country, not to stay in the capital 
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Oct 11th, 2018, 07:21 AM
#44
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Hello everyone,
A slight change of plans. We are being joined by friends of ours for next summers vacation and she and her husband have a close friend whose family have a beautiful home in Palermo so we have been invited to stay there for a week then spend just over two weeks travelling by car throughout Sicily. We were already halfway though planning our vacation but this offer seems to good to pass up.
Which brings me to my next few questions:
- Is it possible to see most of Sicily during those two weeks (not including Palermo as we will be spending time there in our first week)?
- If so, which places/towns should we give priority to? Is Trapani and Marsala worth visiting? Is Taormina a must?
Thank you.
A slight change of plans. We are being joined by friends of ours for next summers vacation and she and her husband have a close friend whose family have a beautiful home in Palermo so we have been invited to stay there for a week then spend just over two weeks travelling by car throughout Sicily. We were already halfway though planning our vacation but this offer seems to good to pass up.
Which brings me to my next few questions:
- Is it possible to see most of Sicily during those two weeks (not including Palermo as we will be spending time there in our first week)?
- If so, which places/towns should we give priority to? Is Trapani and Marsala worth visiting? Is Taormina a must?
Thank you.
Oct 11th, 2018, 08:08 AM
#45
There are a number of threads here on Sicily, and several trip reports, including mine. Do a search.
You can see some of western Sicily while based in Palermo - Cefalu, Erice, Trapani, Monreale, Segesta.... So two weeks would not be unreasonable for the rest.
I loved Sicily - you're lucky! (Oh, and Taormina is a tourist trap, but you should stop off to check out the views.)
You can see some of western Sicily while based in Palermo - Cefalu, Erice, Trapani, Monreale, Segesta.... So two weeks would not be unreasonable for the rest.
I loved Sicily - you're lucky! (Oh, and Taormina is a tourist trap, but you should stop off to check out the views.)
Oct 11th, 2018, 05:04 PM
#46
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I agree that 2 weeks, not counting your time in Palermo, would be reasonable for Sicily.
I recommend that you get a good guidebook or two (I thought the one by Rough Guide particularly useful for Sicily), read some trip reports, and read some of the many planning threads here on Fodor's. Once you've done a bit more research, I think you would do well to start a new thread.
Like thursdaysd, I thought the views from Taormina magnificent, but I found the crowds during the day painfully off-putting. Beyond that, what is worth seeing, or what is a "must" or "should" be a priority, are entirely dependent on your interests and preferences. Monreale, the Villa Casala de Romana, Ortigia, the Valley of the Temples, Segesta, Selinunte, Noto, and Palermo itself were among the places that I considered highlights of my trip to that magnificent island.
Sicily can be painfully hot late in the summer; earlier will likely prove better than later.
I recommend that you get a good guidebook or two (I thought the one by Rough Guide particularly useful for Sicily), read some trip reports, and read some of the many planning threads here on Fodor's. Once you've done a bit more research, I think you would do well to start a new thread.
Like thursdaysd, I thought the views from Taormina magnificent, but I found the crowds during the day painfully off-putting. Beyond that, what is worth seeing, or what is a "must" or "should" be a priority, are entirely dependent on your interests and preferences. Monreale, the Villa Casala de Romana, Ortigia, the Valley of the Temples, Segesta, Selinunte, Noto, and Palermo itself were among the places that I considered highlights of my trip to that magnificent island.
Sicily can be painfully hot late in the summer; earlier will likely prove better than later.
Oct 12th, 2018, 02:04 AM
#47
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I hope this question is not too open-ended, but I have no where else to turn 
1. Croatia/Slovenia
2. Estonia/Lithuania/Latvia/Poland/St. Petersburg
3. Southern Italy (including Naples and Sicily)
4. Southern Germany (including Munich)/Czech Republic/Switzerland)
Andrew
1. Croatia/Slovenia
2. Estonia/Lithuania/Latvia/Poland/St. Petersburg
3. Southern Italy (including Naples and Sicily)
4. Southern Germany (including Munich)/Czech Republic/Switzerland)
Andrew
As for the parts of southern Italy I went, I would say this was the most disappointing part. The beaches, grottos and views are nothing special, especially if you are well travelled like me (NZ, Australia, Hawaii, Greece, Cyprus, Pacific islands), then you'd probably be disappointed. I'm glad I did it, but wouldn't return to that part of Italy.
Croatia looks amazing and is on my list of places to go for when I visit Europe again.
Oct 12th, 2018, 02:18 AM
#48
@MaryAlex - the OP has already said that she is going to Sicily. I, too, am "well-travelled" (getting for 80 countries at last count) and I very much enjoyed Capri and the AC. Everyone is, happily, different.
Oct 12th, 2018, 03:36 AM
#49
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I'm glad you enjoyed the cold rocky beaches in Capri and AC.
Oct 12th, 2018, 03:59 AM
#50
I thought most people, especially the "well-traveled", knew better than to go to the AC for the beaches. I went for the scenery and the historic sights. If I want a beach, which mostly I don't, there are many miles of golden sands a couple of hours drive from my house, I don't have to go to Europe.
Oct 12th, 2018, 07:56 PM
#51
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As for the parts of southern Italy I went, I would say this was the most disappointing part. The beaches, grottos and views are nothing special, especially if you are well travelled like me (NZ, Australia, Hawaii, Greece, Cyprus, Pacific islands), then you'd probably be disappointed. I'm glad I did it, but wouldn't return to that part of Italy..
Oct 12th, 2018, 11:44 PM
#52
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I thought most people, especially the "well-traveled", knew better than to go to the AC for the beaches. I went for the scenery and the historic sights. If I want a beach, which mostly I don't, there are many miles of golden sands a couple of hours drive from my house, I don't have to go to Europe.
Oct 12th, 2018, 11:54 PM
#53
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The scenery of the Amalfi Coast?!?
To each his/her own, but I must admit that I find that a surprising comment.
Ravello is, to my mind, among the most scenic places in the world -- and I've considered myself fortunate to have seen as many wonderful destinations as I have.
But tastes differ, and obviously, yours differ from mine, MaryAlex.
To each his/her own, but I must admit that I find that a surprising comment.
Ravello is, to my mind, among the most scenic places in the world -- and I've considered myself fortunate to have seen as many wonderful destinations as I have.
But tastes differ, and obviously, yours differ from mine, MaryAlex.
Oct 13th, 2018, 12:05 AM
#54
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I'm curious -- why did you think the beaches of southern Italy would be "special"? I would have thought that any decent guidebook would have let you know that they are a very far cry from the kinds of beaches you apparently seek -- but it would seem that my assumption was mistaken.
Oct 13th, 2018, 12:32 AM
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@ MaryAlex -- I didn't mean to misrepresent what you said, but perhaps you have also misread what I said? I asked about your expectations about the beaches of the Amalfi Coast because I would like to know more about the difference between what you expected and what you found. And I also, later, asked if you would elaborate on your broader impressions of the area (you said: "the scenery was nothing special'). I'm not questioning your impression -- people differ in their tastes and preferences, and thank goodness for that! IMO, life would be exceedingly dull if we all thought and did the same things. IMO, it would be particularly helpful if you could say what you expected and how what you found differed, or to otherwise help all of us understand a difference that obviously mattered to you and might matter to others if we only knew about it.
Oct 13th, 2018, 12:59 AM
#56
I am also puzzled that MaryAlex would put down the historical sights. Herculaneum? Pompeii? The Villa Oplontis? Paestum? The Villa and Chiesa San Michele on Capri? The Capella Sensevero and Santa Chiara in Naples? (I don't include the Archaeological Museum in Naples, but many would.)
Oct 19th, 2018, 07:15 AM
#57
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Isabel! Your pictures are so stunning they make me heartsick! Thank you for sharing. 💜💜💜
With about four weeks any of those combinations can work. Obviously you can always spend more time just about anywhere, but it would not be rushed. For example, here are some of the time frames I've used in those locations.
I spent about a week in Slovenia (Ljubljana, Lake Bled and Piran) and just over that in Croatia (Dubrovnik - day trips to Mostar and Kotor), Korcula and Split (day trip to Trojir). I'm currently planning a second trip to the northern half of Croatia. So with 4 weeks you could easily cover the highlights and then some of those two countries.
I spent 4 days in Tallinn, 3 each in Riga and Vilnius and thought that was good but didn't get out into the countryside much except one day trip to a castle. On another trip I had about five days in Krakow which felt about right. I think they limit you to 4 days in St Petersburg without getting a visa so many people do just that. A month or even three weeks would allow you to do the highlights that I did plus quite a bit more.
I did Sicily in 11 days and feel I got to see most of what I wanted, included some little know inland villages. I can certainly see how you could be happy with two weeks. Then if you had an additional two weeks that is a decent amount of time for Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Coast. If you wanted to include another whole region (say Puglia) you might be rushing it.
I think that is also a great amount of time for Southern Germany, Czech republic and Switzerland. Would you see ALL of each of those - no. But you'd get a good sample in three to four weeks.
So ALL of your combinations are very doable in your time frame.
I travel to Europe every July. My understanding is that August is significantly different from July (and even more so than June). Many European companies close for vacation for the month of August so it's a little worse than in the US when you are mostly dealing with school vacation times which stretch to almost three months. Especially coastal areas (where Europeans as well as international travelers go) is more crowded in August. I usually start my trips the last week in June and run through all of July and even in that time frame I see things getting more crowed as August approaches. And the past couple of years have been significantly more crowded than even 5 or 10 years ago.
I always decide where to go based on photos. Here are mine (and they include all the places on your list (expect St Petersburg). https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/
I spent about a week in Slovenia (Ljubljana, Lake Bled and Piran) and just over that in Croatia (Dubrovnik - day trips to Mostar and Kotor), Korcula and Split (day trip to Trojir). I'm currently planning a second trip to the northern half of Croatia. So with 4 weeks you could easily cover the highlights and then some of those two countries.
I spent 4 days in Tallinn, 3 each in Riga and Vilnius and thought that was good but didn't get out into the countryside much except one day trip to a castle. On another trip I had about five days in Krakow which felt about right. I think they limit you to 4 days in St Petersburg without getting a visa so many people do just that. A month or even three weeks would allow you to do the highlights that I did plus quite a bit more.
I did Sicily in 11 days and feel I got to see most of what I wanted, included some little know inland villages. I can certainly see how you could be happy with two weeks. Then if you had an additional two weeks that is a decent amount of time for Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Coast. If you wanted to include another whole region (say Puglia) you might be rushing it.
I think that is also a great amount of time for Southern Germany, Czech republic and Switzerland. Would you see ALL of each of those - no. But you'd get a good sample in three to four weeks.
So ALL of your combinations are very doable in your time frame.
I travel to Europe every July. My understanding is that August is significantly different from July (and even more so than June). Many European companies close for vacation for the month of August so it's a little worse than in the US when you are mostly dealing with school vacation times which stretch to almost three months. Especially coastal areas (where Europeans as well as international travelers go) is more crowded in August. I usually start my trips the last week in June and run through all of July and even in that time frame I see things getting more crowed as August approaches. And the past couple of years have been significantly more crowded than even 5 or 10 years ago.
I always decide where to go based on photos. Here are mine (and they include all the places on your list (expect St Petersburg). https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/
