My mom and I try to do a getaway every year. Somehow we always end up in NYC Just because we enjoy it so much . She will be 70 in January, and we would like to do something a little... BIGGER . I'm posting in the Europe thread but open to other suggestions.

My first thought was London, simply because my mom is a total Anglophile. And since we have both been, 3 full days on the ground (plus the two travel days) would be perfect.

But - then again - maybe somewhere new? We are both totally, completely open so I'm looking to see what would be on your short list? We are thinking springtime but aren't set on timing and think a city is best.

We love history, scenery, good food, absorbing local culture. We love walking tours. Don't love most museums (some quirky ones are great, like the tenement museum in NYC but Smithsonian type - not really high on my list). Shopping is not a big thing.

And, it's weird for me to say, my mom is going to be 70. She defies any expectation I ever had of that age! Very active and no health issues, thank God - Mom can HANG. She travels extensively, has been almost everywhere, and is open to any new adventure .

London - Montreal - Madrid ... these are all cities we have discussed. What would be on your list ?

What's your idea of good food and which week in spring would you be traveling? Does weather matter to you at all?

We have no set travel date. Just thinking spring because weather is generally nice almost everywhere. Summer is harder to get away (I have two young kids) and fall is - well, a long time away from the birthday we are celebrating but definitely is OK if that's the best time in a particular location.

Weather really does not matter at all provided we aren't going somewhere at the worst possible time of year. We live in Texas, and I wouldn't suggest traveling here in August

Food. Good one. Let me clarify that because it could come across wrong! Who doesn't like delicious food? That comment doesn't help at all so let's ignore it. We are not foodies .

None of those places would be high on my list in January, that's for sure.

Spring sounds quite good.

Anything would really work, to be honest, since she's an Angophile, London sounds great. But if you want something new, I'd suggest Spain. Because it will be new and Spring is a good time, you don't want to go there in summer, so take advantage of it. Of course you cuold do Italy, also, for that reason.

I vote Spain, such as Andalucia. YOu have it all there, scenery, culture, history, walking tours. YOu could throw in Madrid, also (or Barcelona but that doesn't fit as well due to its geography for a short trip).

The only thing to watch out for is Semana Santa (HOly Week before Easter) as this is a VERY big holiday in a lot of spain, but especially Seville. So hotel rates are very expensive, booked up far in advance, and lots of crowds. So either avoid that or go for that if you want to see it, but be aware of that phenomenon, in any case, to plan around it one way or another. It's not as big a deal in Madrid.

Hi,

Just to clarify some parameters to help narrow down: I wouldn't go to Montreal in early spring, or London. I might go later in spring -- like early June. In early spring I might go to Madrid -- but I'd be prepared for brisk and perhaps downright cold weather. (But I'd be spending all my time inside art museums in Madrid, but that is off your agenda).

I don't find the food of London delicious. Of course there are nice restaurants, but I like the olive oil countries for delicious food. That's what I was asking.

Has your mother seen Greece? It's an incredibly moving experience to go to Greece for many people, and if your mother is quite fit, a trip in May might be wonderful. It's not really a foodie destination, but you do need to be happy with the oiive-oil/Mediterranean cuisine.

Another spring trip I would consider is the tulips of Netherlands. Train connections are so wonderful in that part of Europe that it is easy to combine Amsterdam + tulip gawking + 1 other thing -- maybe even a glam few days in London despite its size.

How long do you have all together - just three days? Paris would be nice to go along with London - just a few hours by high-speed Eurostar trains -I love to walk in Paris and there are many things besides museums.

4sammy, just so you get the msot helpful answers:

Many places in Europe do not have nice weather everywhere until well into late Spring. In particular the Alps, but also many popular scenic destinations along the mediterranean. (In early spring, transportation can be limited in Greece or the Italian beauty spots).

While a lot people in America think of "spring" as late April & May, many Europeans think of Spring as end of March to mid-June, and they expect a lot of storms if the first half of spring. It doesn't matter if you are traveling to cities for mostly indoor sightseeing, but if you are imagining pleasant weather for mostly outdoor walking or dining, you need to know the local weather conditions for "spring".

Thanks so much for your replies!

So clarifying on the timing - what I mean is - we have no dates in mind. More, the question is, where to go... and we will go when it is best to go there. Not, "we will be traveling in May so where is the best place in May." does that make sense? So yes ideally - outdoor, walkable weather.


Ohhhh and massimop I am soooo on board with "olive oil countries." that is my love language...

PalenQ - I think overall about 5 days is as much as I can get away, so the 3 days would be on the ground (non travel) days .

I am now envisioning open air dining, a glass of wine with some bread, olive oil, and cheese... having spent the day exploring the historic buildings around us...

Is this Greece? Spain?

Christina - sorry didn't see your reply... London and Madrid were the first two cities that she suggested. Incidentally, she and my dad are going to Spain with friends next year, and Madrid didn't make that itinerary. I'm checking with her now to find out what IS on that itinerary so I can avoid double-dipping.

Amsterdam would be perfect for three days on the ground.
OK the food maybe isn't the best but it is a lot better than many here would suggest.
Enough to do inside if the weather is not so good, enough to do outside if you hit the jackpot.
Spring flowers, whether they are tulips or not will be blooming in April/May (March you will get daffodils) if you want to troll out to the fields or Keukenhof.
Quirky museums, as well as deadly serious ones.
Good public transport links to the airport and around the city, though it is very walkable.
Every one speaks English but it is still very "foreign".
PalenQ has a whole thread on his (and others) favourite things in Amsterdam if you do a search.

I took my mom to London for 3 nights and she absolutely loved it. We ate some wonderful meals, went to the theater, went to Sunday service at St. Paul's, visited Westminster Abbey, and spent some down time in a lovely hotel on the river with a great view.

She was 80 at the time and had some walking limitations but she did fine.

Enjoy making memories with your Mom.

Rather than London, how about Bath? Great place for Anglophiles. You can get a National Express coach direct from Heathrow, and there are good day trips. Or Oxford?

Is this Greece? Spain?>

Rome would be better for that as Rome has more things historic than Athens (basically a small town before early 1800s) - Rome and or Florence perfect-not too cool -

Yes Amsterdam is perfect too except for alfresco dining that time of year.

I'd go somewhere warm -again Italy perect - even Venice and Rome or just Rome.

You are all wonderfully helpful. I know she has been to Bath but I haven't; I'll make that suggestion. Amsterdam sounds great too, I haven't been (she has, with dad) and I know that's somewhere my husband is less interested in going, so maybe a winner for us!

Italy seems like it would take longer to get there. Am I silly for thinking this? I'll review flight times.

Italy seems like it would take longer to get there. Am I silly for thinking this? I'll review flight times.>

Where are you flying from? If U.S. direct flight to Rome would be about an hour more than London perhaps.

Narrow the choices down to two. Tell Mom, you are going to flip a coin and whatever side it lands on is where you going. Instead when the coin is in the air, ask her which one she wanted and that is where you should go.

The choices are personal and endless, so just decide and go with them.

Almost all those places are best around May 1.

If only three days then I would do Montreal. I would have such a hard time leaving the UK after only three days plus the expense. Late Spring for sure.

Thanks everyone. We have narrowed it down to these:

London
Montreal
Puerto Rico (late horse in the running input appreciated)
Madrid or Sevilla

Now we let it simmer for a few days.

This is getting a bit off track. First, I didn't realize you only had a total of 5 days for this trip. Since you live in Texas, I would NOT consider Europe at all. You will spend 2 of those days just on the plane travel, pretty much. This seems like a big waste of time and money to me (airfares to/from Europe are not cheap). But of course, you can do it if you are both really on board with that idea of so many hours flying, a bit time change affecting your days (ie, jet lag), a big airline bill, for a few days in one city. Then I suppose any city would do, just pick one (London or Madrid or Seville, any would do, I'd check airfares as I'd be willing to bet anything that Seville is going to eat up a lot more time en route with flights and transfers).

It might help if you said where you are flying from. You can fly nonstop to London or Madrid from DFW on AA, however. I don't think there is anywhere in the US where you can fly nonstop to Seville from. From IAH, you can only fly nonstop to London on UAL or BA, not Madrid.

So I think Montreal would be fine, also, although I'm not sure it's exciting enough, why do you want to go there? Just not sure I'd make that my big 70th Bday grand vacation or that I'd want to spend 3 days there. ANd yes, I've been there. You could throw Quebec into the mix as far as that goes, it's a little more exotic than Montreal.

Not a big fan of Puerto Rico myself, and they are bankrupt or going so if not already. I could see if you were really into snorkeling or the outdoors, but I have actually spent that much time there (long 4 days) but did those activities. There are a few sites to see in the Old Town, sure, and a good art museum. And it should be easy to get to from Texas. I presume you understand going south you are going to get heat and humidity. If you did go there, I think March or April would be a lot better than May in terms of rain and heat, just avoid Easter. If your mom really wanted to go there, it would be okay and with only 3 days, helps a lot with cost and travel time. It's not that exotic compared to the mainland, you know, although neither is Montreal for that matter.

Frankly, I'd go to Mexico. You can fly nonstop from DFW on AA to Guanajuato, a beautiful Mexican town with some great museums and historical sites. Perfect for 3 days, as you can do a day bus tour to some nearby towns like San Miguel de Allende or Delores Hidalgo (which I did when I was there), it has great food and culture and is fairly cheap compared to Europe, of course. I just really loved it, a lot more than Puerto Rico (unless you do want the snorkeling, etc stuff). The rainy season sort of starts in May, March or April would be a good time to go, and temps are moderate most of the year, but about 75F afternoon in March (their peak is in May, I believe, for temps but being in the mountains, never that bad).

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/482
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanajuato

Agreed that some of the ideas got off track (my own included). Rethinking it, Spain is less appealing, both with travel time and with my parents' upcoming trip there next year. Italy and Greece would eat up too much travel time.

We are flying from Dallas. Lots of nonstop flights on AA and we will be using AA miles, so I don't think all of Europe is out of the question. London and Paris, for example - we have both been, but never alone together (we have each gone separately, and we went as a family when I was a kid, which is a completely different dynamic than grown women). So there's no pressure to see and do everything. And 10 hours on a plane doesn't bother me too much. Forget any transfers, but a direct flight to London or Paris is doable in that amount of time. I don't LOVE the idea of the long flight, but for a wonderful few days, I'm in.

I am intrigued by Guanajuato and going to research it now. Neither of us has spent much time in Mexico aside from the typical beach trips.

Puerto Rico - OK will skip. Doesn't sound terribly appealing for this trip .

Thanks all!