donnaannie

Need some suggestions....we (myself, 2 daughters & my mom who is a very young 70)are looking for a place to stay for a week or so in Europe next May. We were thinking of renting an apartment or cottage and would like to be in a village or town where we could walk to restaurants, cafes with lots of charm. The girls would definately like some nightlife that they could walk to - but need to make sure it's a safe area - or I won't sleep a wink! We have all been to London, Rome, Paris and were thinking that a slower pace would be perfect. Some of the places we are throwing around - Sicily (Taormina), South of France, Spain. Can anyone make some suggestions? We will rent a car if needed.....

bobthenavigator

Siena comes to my mind first---good day trip potential as well.

If Spain,look at San Sebastian---an exciting place.

kelbo

Nice is wonderful. You can take day trips to Monaco, Eze, St Paul De Vence, etc and the restaurants and nightlife are very fun. Lots of outdoor dining, etc. I have rented several apartments from www.nicepebbles.com and they have been great. Stay in the Old Town area if you can! You won't need a car either which makes this pretty stress free.

Jean

When I think of young people your daughters' ages, I think of university towns. In addition to Siena, consider Perugia. Lots of day-trip options from Perugia by train and bus to places like Assisi, Spello, Arezzo, Cortona, Todi.

A third university town is Padova with its day-trip options to Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, Bologna (another university town!).

bitsy1

I have to agree with the Nice, France suggestion, as a good option, and the suggestions with it above, along with other locations, Antibes, and other fashionable areas... All located, within easy reach of Nice via train.. Monaco, for instance is a short trip/approx 20-30 minutes away. Beaches... Or, not far away, Provence, with all it's wonderful sites.
Italy... What female doesn't love Venice, strolling about?
No place like it on earth, plus no need to rent a car there. Or how about Florence, with a day trip to Siena via train, another day trip to San Gimignano via bus... and even more locals easily accessible via train... Pisa, Lucca, Verona, Bologna???
Good luck making a choice.

CYESQ

Another vote for Nice. Great public transportation, restaurants, shopping, beaches, nearby towns and nightlife.

Two other apartment rental sites are ownersdirect.com and home away holidays. Have used both with success. In fact if you decide you are interested in Nice, I'll give you the info on the 3 bdrm apt we rented on Victor Hugo Bouldvard. The location was perfect and we couldn't have had a more gracious and welcoming hostess/landlord.

kimhe

Belle Epoque San Sebastián (pop 180 000), the culinary capital of Spain if not all of Europe, some of the finest city beaches on the continent, great cafés, nightlife, shopping and a distinct culture that people take great pride in. San Sebastián is European capital of culture in 2016.

May would be an excellent time of year to go. Spring will be here but you will be a couple of months ahead of the invation of predominantly Spanish and French summer guests.

About San Sebastián in New York Times some weeks ago: http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/08/07...tin-spain.html

Promotional video for the 2016 campaign. The music is by late and beloved Mikel Laboa and the fabulous city choir, Orfeón Donostiarra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lVlE7FscM0

For nightlife, I love both Etxekalte and Be Bop on the outskirts of the Parte vieja/Old town, the latter for jazz, blues and latin: http://www.hostelworld.com/guides/ci.../entertainment

Lots of great atmosphere music bars/cafés in the Reyes Católicos area behind the Cathedral well into the night. Several discos along the beaches.

I've regularly been going out at night in San Sebastián since the late 1980's and never seen or had any bad experiences.

Lots of charming, small villages along the coast towards vibrant Bilbao with the famous Guggenheim museum (70 mins by bus). If you go the other way you're soon in France and places such as St. Jean de Luz and Biarritz.

zeppole

I also recommend San Sebastian, although for a week's stay I would want a car for at least some of the week, and in your case I think you should only go if you if you can find a suitable rental apartment in the prime walkable part of town (rather than the hills or far from the concha) . I don't know much about Nice, but from what I've heard I'm not sure I would sleep a wink with daughters who don't speak French heading out into the city at night.

I'm surprised people are suggesting towns as steep as Siena, Spello and Perugia. I realize you said your mother is youthful, but many of the fit 70 year olds posting on Fodor's avoid these towns because of the steep inclines in the town centre. You can use google to see pictures of how steep the streets are. If you are not used to it, it can be a drag to need to walk up steep hills for a week every time you go out, even if you aren't 70. (Perugia has some elevators, but not enough.)

Also, since bitsy1 asked "What female doesn't love Venice?" Plenty don't, including me, and Jean, and I have a number of female friends of all different interests -- one a lawyer, another a concert musician, and another who worked for a newspaper -- who have negative reactions to Venice and have no plans to return. But your family might enjoy it. People are all different.

Italy doesn't much go for nightlife except in the bigger business/university cities, or in August at the beach. Bologna in May will be uncomfortably warm and many of the students will be cracking the books for finals not pulling all nighters. Taormina is terribly touristy.

In addition to San Sebastian, some destinations in Europe I think your family might enjoy for a whole week in May are Verona, Edinburgh and Antwerp.

kimhe

Here are some apartments in San Sebastián. All beside the Igeldo, Amara and Orio apartments will be close to the beaches and an easy walk to the Parte vieja/Old town and the city center.
Two bedrooms: http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...-bedroom-5.htm
Three bedrooms: http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...-bedroom-5.htm

The Antiguo and Ondarreta areas would be a 20-25 mins walk along the beautiful La Concha promenade to the Parte vieja/Old town and the city center.

The Gros area is just across the city river Urumea, you are virtually in the center itself.

The rest of the apartments are in the center or in the Old town.