Hello Fodorites!

My bro (30 years old) has just broken up with his fiancee and called off his wedding

Better now than later, yes, but of course he is very heart broken.

Hubby and I are going to take the money we put away to go to his wedding to fly him out and take him on a 2 weeks vacation instead in Sept 2010.

We plan to spend a week in London and a week somewhere else. Obviously his choice, but he is rubbish a planning stuff etc. So I need to give him some ideas.

I am thinking maybe a week in Barcelona? It has to be fairly cheap so I am thinking an apartment. He loved Positano, so I am thinking something hot, beachlike...but with some lovely wine. He loves beaches, history, heat, and fun...he is much more into nightlife than we are, but we will do it for him!!!

Other than Barcelona...any other suggestions for a week (we dont want to rent a car, he has been to Paris, Rome, tuscany, Positano, London, Copenhagen).

Thanks!
J

I wish travel had done it for me!

Definitely not Paris, I tried that and failed. Amsterdam? You are such a good sister! What a lovely thing to do for and with him when he needs you most!

San Sebastian and the Basque Coast.

Stop looking. The only major city in Europe that scores on all three -- city beaches, nightlife, and lots to see and do -- IS Barcelona.
September is a great time to go there. You can still swim in the Mediterranean sea, the beachfront chiringuitos are open and great for nightly drinks, and the city will party till dawn every day. A few kms inland, is the major wine-growing region of the Penedes, and you have the famous Cava cellars in that area, too.
Plus, BCN is a very international city and chances are not too slim that he will meet a nice girl from the States

After London why go to another big city?
I see a combo of Lago Como and Luzern as a pleasnt contrast. Fly into Zurich and home from Milan.

Somewhere he's never been with his ex-fiancee...

Switzerland? Yikes! That dude wants to party!

Thank you all so much!! He has only been to Paris with the Fiancee so no problem there.

I was thinking either Barcelona or the Basque coast.

Any hints on decent cheap apartments in either area (hubby and I will be paying so on the cheap would be great)...we will be 3

Fodorites rock!!
J

Thanks Bob..but he loves big cities...so definately has to have some rockin night life hahaha

Hubby and I have Lake Como and and Suisse on our bucket list!!

It's March - what makes you think his heart will still be broken in September. If you really thinks he needs a change I would organize something for him - shorter and in the next couple of weeks - by September we may well have moved on completely - and have a new girl to travel with.

Berlin. It's a great city, seems to be plenty of nightlife and lots of young people. He should meet some lovely young women to take his mind off of things.

The best cure for a broken heart is another place and another person.

Buy him a ticket to Amsterdam for Queen's Day http://tinyurl.com/yln3hrp. I think that big sister and hubby should stay home. You will just get in the way of all the Dutch girls trying to get their hands on him, and I'm not talking RLD.

April will be too early for the summer in Holland but wait until August for an eye-opening visit to Zandvoort aan Zee. Beach, beer, babes, casino, and all-night clubs.

Key West, FL

Key West? She thinking babes, not LBGT, just saying. Try habitat apartments in Barcelona.

I do love Key West, if only I was there now.

Berlin is a great city, but huge and a bit cold
Barcelona has it all .. I am with Cowboy.!

The women are beautiful in Sevilla and both Barcelona and Madrid have great night lives. Switzerland is always good for a funeral directors' convention.

Barcelona would be easier to do without a car than the Basque coast IMO. Barcelona seems to have more apartments per capita than any other city. Go to a couple of apartment sites and find a couple then check back here. Very likely someone will have stayed in same or similar place and can comment. I'd suggest El Born area as the place to stay. Lots of youthful nightlife and plenty of apartments. You'll have to hike to the beach, but places to stay near the beach are not as plentiful. You'll love BCN--or maybe you've already been there and know that already.

How about Greece? Loads of nightlife, Positano-like beauty, an international youth crowd, ancient ruins to put things into perspective... and it's cheap.

I'd do a few nights in the trendy, seductive Kolonaki district of Athens, then head to Crete or another island known for dancing the night away.