Where to go
 

After numerous trips to the Caribbean, we are finally going to jump across the pond. Looking for ideas on about a 10 day trip to Europe with our 15 year old son. Like good food, better than average accomadations, not into group tours. Any ideas would be appreciated.

We took our teenage boys to Europe last summer and we did Paris and Rome in two weeks (10 days - 5 each - would be fine). It was simple and cheap) to fly on Ryan Air from Paris to Rome. We rented apartments because there was four of us, and we loved the "living there" feeling.

I think the contrast between Paris and Rome was perfect for a first trip for the kids. My kids also prefer big cities than "scenery" so that I why I choose to do just the two cities.

If you're interested, here are my fairly lame trip reports with photo links:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34644730
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34645892

To be blunt, you haven't given us much to go on. Where do you THINK you might like in Europe.

While many will suggest that you concentrate on one specific area, I'd suggest you do an open jaw flight, into one major city and back from another in another country. Then look at a cheap flight between the two. In other words two stays of 5 nights each in two different cultures/places. I think the guys would appreciate that more than say two different locations in one country.
Now the question is which two? London and Rome? Paris and Vienna? Madrid and Paris?
Hmm. Paris seems to find its way into most of the two city options for me.

Hmm, why not London/Rome if we use a combination of two for a (good) basis ?
London would be easier (english speaking) for a 1st contact and Rome would be a contrat.
Or Swiss Alps/Riviera
Or Norway (fjords)/Granada
Or Scotland/Austria
Or....
Franklly you didn't give us much to work on :
Sea/mountain ? countryside/cities ? Museums/castles/beaches ?
Roots seeking/ hiking ?

Hi B,

>Any ideas would be appreciated. <

My first response is "Albania, Belgium, Czech Republic.....". :)

However, since you are new here, I shall be kind.

We can't help you plan a visit if you don't know where or when you are going.

After you and your family have done some research and put together a draft itinerary, come back and we will help you to improve it.

((I))

This may help you to narrow your focus:
http://www.slowtrav.com/europe/bob_planning.htm

London & Amsterdam
Amsterdam & Paris
Paris & Venice
Rome & Venice

Book 'open jaw' to fly in to one city, and out of the other. Take a train in between the cities.

With all due respect, Suse's response is sort of outdated to me. That's how we'd do it for years. But many of those city pairs mean a 5 to 12 hour train ride which isn't cheap. These days, I suggest you can do two cities without worrying about how close they are to each other and taking a cheap flight between them. It saves money and time and allows you two more varying cities to compare.

ah heck, I won't argue with you on that, Patrick. So what cities do you suggest for them? Seriously, I'm interested to hear because I know you travel much more than I do.

Basically they can go to ANY two cities in Europe in 10 days, I realize that. I was trying to help narrow things down, by listing places I knew worked well together. When I paired Venice and Paris I took an overnight train.

If I were taking a teenager to Europe one of my picks would be Barcelona. Its just such a fun city. You can't go wrong with London, Paris or Rome. Have fun with whatever you choose. I wish when my kids were teens we had taken them to Europe. It was soccer week ends then, but now they'll come wherever we'll pay for!

Has bsharp (a new poster) lost this thread?