Where to take my mum?
 

I want to take my mum on a holiday in mid-June.

Background: She is in her early 60s and active, fine to do easy hikes and walk in cities all day. Has traveled a bit in Europe, Central and S. America, and in China. She is not a "foodie", not interested in wine, not into the beach. She loves walking around cities, especially gardens and parks, and enjoys museums and historic houses.
Caveats: Must be accessible by direct flight from New York, ideally not over 8.5h, although I hope to use miles to upgrade her.

My thoughts:
-Amsterdam with side trip (we both enjoy cycling)
-Lisbon with side trip
-Madrid with side trip
-Prague/Vienna/Budapest (either 2 or all 3)

Paris is out as I go fairly often and she's visited me there before. Scandinavia, excluding Iceland, is out due to cost.

If you were an urbanite in your early 60s and were going on holiday with your daughter, where would you like to go? What would you like to do?

TIA.

I am a cyclist so I would pick Amsterdam. Also I'm thinking that may be the cheapest airfare option, which would be a motivation as well.

Other than that, it's hard to tell. Does she have a definite interest in the cultures of any of the lose places? If I were to ask my 60 something mother, she'd say Germany because she's nostalgic about living there. So I think it entirely depends on her interests.

I would like to to Amsterdam or Lisbon or Madrid with side trips. I have been everywhere you list and have no desire to return to Prague, Vienna or Budapest. I would happily return to the others. Lisbon and Amsterdam are small cities so perhaps easier to navigate. Why the restriction on flight time? NY to Europe is never a really ong flight.

@marvelousmouse, I'm a keen cyclist whereas she likes it for leisure, so she'd be OK in a smaller city but maybe not in Amsterdam. She's open to anything; I know she's fond of Belle Epoque art and architecture. @HappyTrvlr: I've been everywhere on my list, some 2x, and had a great time in each. NY to Vienna, for example, is 8.5h. Not long but not terribly comfortable in a small economy seat (I should be able to use miles to upgrade her, I hope!).

Belle Epoque architecture makes me think of Nice and the Côte d'Azur. Delta has a nonstop flight from JFK to Nice.

Nice is a great center for traveling along the Riviera by public transportation. By train and bus you can go to Monaco, Menton, Antibes, Cannes and points in between. Such as Eze and this villa on Cap Ferrat: http://www.villa-ephrussi.com/ephrussi/home_en.htm. And you can take the cute little Train des Pignes inland to the mountains north of Nice.

What do you think?

>> she'd be OK in a smaller city but maybe not in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the smallest city in your list, with the exception of Lisbon, but Lisbon has some hill and might not be good for cycling (but good for hiking). Moreover, Amsterdam doesn't give an impression of a big city: it feel intimate and small. If your mum enjoys museums and historic houses, then it points to Amsterdam. If she is not a "foodie", not interested in wine, then, with no offense, all the more reasons to choose Amsterdam.

How much time do you have for this trip ? I'd choose Vienna for its fabulous museums. If time permitted, you could also visit nearby Budapest.

You don't say how much time you have for this trip. All your destinations are pleasurable, but I think I would choose Vienna because of its museums with a side trip to Budapest if time permits. It is nearby.

I'd have a restriction on flight time, also, that's the worst part of the trip for me and I can't stand longer than about 7 hrs. 8.5 hrs from NYC should give you all of Western Europe anyway, and I presume Vienna or Prague or you wouldn't have named them. Beware that it is an hour longer coming back (due to winds or something, always is). So if it is 8:20 JFK-PRG, it will be about 9:15 upon return. It is longer to fly to Vienna and will be over 9:30 from there to return to JFK. I don't think there are any nonstop flights from NYC to Budapest at all.

So if you really don't want longer than 8.5, you can throw out all of those, makes it easy.

I can't address your question directly as I don't have an adult daughter but personally would pick Spain, Madrid or Barcelona. Lots of good side trips from Madrid, and it is good for museums and parks. You can get good food there in expensive restaurants, but that is one thing I find a challenge there at modest budgets, so since that isn't a big deal to your mother, that would work (meaning too much salt and meat for my taste).

I haven't been to Lisbon so can't say, but I think Amsterdam or Lisbon would be fine, also, of course.

Amsterdam. Lots of museums, historic houses, nice places to walk and cycle. And it's quick and easy to get to places like Delft, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Harlem from there.

Also the flight would be relatively short.

@Mimar: I *love* Nice, but due to quirks of circumstance, I have been four times in the past year alone. That JFK to Nice flight is great, though.

@furyfluffy: I meant she'd prefer to cycle in a smaller city or town in Holland. I am leaning towards Amsterdam because I always have a nice time there.

@Christina: I have never flown between the States and Austria, so I'd forgotten about the tailwinds; good reminder. Still, if I can use miles to upgrade my mum to business, I think she will find it fine.

Thanks to everyone for your help!

I would also choose Amsterdam, given your conditions. You can rent bikes at most major train stations, and we took many lovely rides in the countryside on rented bikes.

Cheers, @bvlenci. I've been to Amsterdam 2x, cycling both times, always a pleasure.

I was also going to suggest Delft as a marvelous small city with lots to see and do.

If all three of Budapest, Vienna and Prague were on your list for one "destination," can we assume you have two or more weeks for this trip?

I was also thinking about a medium to small city somewhere in the UK. Cambridge and East Anglia come to mind - lots of history, beautiful countryside and villages, plenty of terrific architecture and gardens...

Or Edinburgh. Not the best town for cycling (although some possibilities) but the ultimate walking city with parks, gardens, medieval and renaissance architecture, lots of nooks and crannies, you name it. Easy flights into EDI from JFK or EWR, and if you want to take excursions out into the countryside including the Highlands, there are numerous small-group tours (or cars to rent of course) that make it easy.

@Gardyloo, probably 10-12 days on the ground. Thank you for your suggestions. Edinburgh is great because it's a short flight from New York, but my mum plans to go with her friends this autumn. I need to see how committed she is to keeping her flight under 8 hours.

With 10-12 days I would vote for Vienna and Budapest. (I am somewhat older than your mum and don't cycle.) Both have really interesting architecture. Vienna has an oversupply of excellent museums. Budapest has a beautiful location on the Danube. (Vienna is on the Danube too, but mostly ignores the river.) Good cafes in both.

I was not as fond of Amsterdam as I expected, and have not been back. Some of that was because I walked, and always seemed to be in danger if being run over by silent bikes or cars appearing from apparently pedestrian only side streets...

<If I were to ask my 60 something mother, she'd say Germany because she's nostalgic about living there.>

Then go there?


<If you were an urbanite in your early 60s>

Well I am. And I'd go to either Paris or Barcelona. But I am not your mother ;-)

@thursdaysd, coming from New York we are quite used to silent bikes (I myself always ring my bell!) and cars coming out of nowhere. I haven't been back to Prague in ages but think it may be better with my own friends, and that Budapest and Vienna make a nice pair.

Thanks, all, for your help. Since I want to book my mum on a business class ticket, I am at the "mercy" of what's available on miles, and that looks like Amsterdam.

If you feel cycling in Amsterdam centre should be a challenge, then it's also possible to rent your bikes at Central Station, hop on the ferry across to Noord, and go cycling from there. It's not as hectic, and within 20 minutes along Nieuwendammerdijk or Buiksloterdijk, you're in glorious country site, yet within easy reach of the city.

All along segregated cycleways

That would look like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1fRxiXlj6Q

ending up here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBYx8R-Dkns

Or you could take a train via Haarlem to Overveen, rent cycles there and go cycling towards Zandvoort through the Waterleidingduinen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zirsSHTIV4s

Amsterdam has its attractions, of course, but it's also possible to approach leisure activities the Dutch way and that is to get out of the city. The beauty of it is, that - by design - the entire Randstad is organized as "cities in park-like surroundings" so a 10-20 minute bike ride can get you into beautiful countryside.

This is true for Delft too, where a 15 minute bike ride will get you to Biesland, with the incomparable Du Midi at the Uilenburg estate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHeGcugUL0E

A bike will get you to secret places, only known to other people on bikes :)

If you need destinations, give me a buzz. I cycle all over the western netherlands, almost every day...