turnip

I've got a bit of a dilema on my hands and I'm hoping that all you fellow Fodorites can help me out. <BR> <BR>My wife allowed ourselves to be bumped by NWA on our last trip. We now have two $800 travel vouchers that we need to use by the end of May 2000. We've been all over Bavaria. Just got back from Austria and the Czech Republic. As far as France is concerned, Paris is as far as we got, but were there twice. Loved our time in Switzerland and enjoyed London. Right now we're leaning toward Italy but have open minds. <BR> <BR>So, my question is - now where? If you had two weeks to spend between January and May of next year, where and when would you go? <BR> <BR>A little bit of backround on my wife and myself. We're "budget" travelers. Enjoy seeing the sights but then prefer getting out of the big cities and into the small towns and countryside. We're in reasonably good shape but aren' tbig into lots of hiking or extreme sports of any type. We almost always rent a car bacause it allows you so much freedom and lets you find the quaint little out of the way B&B's. My wife enjoys second hand store shopping and I'm an avid photograher. (Hope that helps some) <BR> <BR>All right gang, time to weigh in with your favorite spots or "must see's". Thanks in advance for your always knowledgeable answers and heartfelt opinions. <BR> <BR>

Maggie

Such a problem!!!!!! Given where you have been and where I gather you have not been, I would cast a strong vote for Italy. <BR> <BR>I think it would more than meets the things you say both you and your wife are interested in -----fabulous scenery for photograophy, wonderful shops of all sorts, great food, great wine and wonderful people. Also, in late April or May the climate is perfect. If this is your first trip and given what you like and that you like to drive for the independence it gives you ( as do we) I would suggest flying into Rome and out of Florence (or the reverse) and spending most of your time in Tuscany and Umbria. Lots of info on this forum on all the wonderful towns you could stay in. this would not get you to Venice which is so special---but maybe you can figure something out---or better yet have a return trip. <BR> <BR>Have a wonderful time.

BMG

My sentiments exactly...given your travel history and desires I'd vote for Tuscany in the late spring. Throw in side trips to the lakes north of Milan and Rome if possible. Critical limiting factor will be NWA's partners and whether you can get in/out of Milan or Rome.

April

Here's another vote for Tuscany in April or May. But I couldn't go there without seeing Rome and maybe Venice. Florence. Portofino... <BR>

Diane

Another vote for Italy.

Dayle

Italia!

Sheila

<BR>Now., see, if I were going, I'd probably go to Italy or Spain, or Greece. But, given where you've been, and your interests, you might want to consider coming to sunny Scotland. Lots of great shopping, lots of great scenery, lots of lovely villages and towns, we get the best, but not necessarily the hottest, weather in May. <BR> <BR>Strongly recommended

turnip

Wow. As of now the vote stands at Italy 5, Scottland 1. <BR> <BR>Any other suggestions?

elvira

I weigh in with Italy, too, not only for the wonderfulness of the country, but because the airfare is FREE. Airfares to Italy are usually much higher than other parts of western Europe, so use the vouchers to pay for that trip. <BR> <BR>Save Scotland for another time (airfares to Scotland are in line with those to western Europe, so are a bargain, compared to those to Italy). <BR> <BR>

kristi

Elvira has some good practical advice about the free airfare. However, I'm still going to cast my vote for Spain, although Italy would be a very, very, very close second. Spain is probably the most underrated place that we've been-wonderful food, great places to visit, friendly people and inexpensive in comparison with London, Paris etc. You can easily combine a few days in a larger city such as Madrid or Seville with some time in the smaller towns like Ronda, Nerja or Granada. <BR> <BR>On the other hand, if you haven't been to Italy, perhaps you should follow the wise advice of all of those preceding me in this thread. Italy has some wonderful treasures and perhaps best fits the type of vacation you describe. <BR> <BR>I would use the tickets towards the end of the time frame in May. We were in Italy in March and there were days that were down right cold. May is still out of high tourist season so you shouldn't have trouble with crowds or with finding hotels.

Beth

I'm just going to weigh in with a dissenting opinion because someone has to I loved Italy. But I wouldn't go there in the year 2000 unless you absolutely have your heart set. I'd wait till 2001, or 2002, and let them get over the Jubilee. <BR> <BR>If all you've seen of the UK is London, then I would go there in May, when the gardens are blooming. The Cotswolds, Wales, Scotland, they are all wonderful!

Brian in Atlanta

From my travels in central Spain and from the info I have gathered for my planned trip to southern Spain in 2000, I would think that southern Spain (Andalusia) is exactly what you're looking for (great weather, great scenery, wonderful people, and so inexpensive compared to other parts of Europe) <BR> <BR>Do a search for "Andalusia" on this forum for rave reviews.

cp

Spain is pretty cool, and I see fewer bargain fares for that destination than I do for northern Europe. It is particularly picturesque and you often have a strong dollar to a weaker peseta. <BR> <BR>A word about timing for Spain. Go at the end of April, not the end of May. May is too toasty, temps in Seville often go to 40 C and above. That's 104 F.

Marion

Add a vote for Spain or English countryside although my sister was there in May several years ago and found it to be quite chilly. <BR> <BR>Just returned from Madrid, Seville, Granada, Costa del Sol -- it was great. Very different from northern Europe in scenery, the Moorish influence in their historic buildings. The food is fantastic & even a "very special treat" which I learned about through this forum was inexpensive (Dinner with wine & dessert was $40US less than Italy dinner with wine no dessert). <BR> <BR>Prior warning about Italy 2000 is very much on the mark -- our tour guides in Sept 98 were talking about the anticipated onslaught of tourists and multi-large groups throughout the year. <BR> <BR>

John

Hi, Turnip, <BR>If it was us, we'd probably vote for Catalunya (choose your spelling)- Narbonne to Barcelona, around mid-late April. Not many tourists, beautiful landscapes, great towns, good food, friendly folks. <BR>I would give a close second to an "open-jaw" itinerary starting in East Anglia (especially Suffolk) then jumping the North Sea and ending in the tulip fields, venturing out from a base in Amsterdam. <BR> <BR>

peter

If you a "budget" traveler try Central/Eastern Europe. You mentioned Bavaria and Austria, how about beautifull Saxony (south of the ex EastGermany), which borders with Czech Republic (Dresden being major city in the area), or Poland and its mountains (table mts in south west, tatra mnt in central south or non touristy Bieszczady in south east). Zakopane and Krakow is must see in that area (zakopane is a really nice small town surrounded by Tatra mtn.). You did not mention Budapest, which also is great, St. Petersburg or Moscow or more south in Russia Sochi or Creame, more south Romania and Bulgaria which are poor but also very nice. It depends what you enjoy...

Lori

I'd vote for Spain ... it's a lovely country and fairly inexpensive as well. We enjoyed it when we were there and we did Madrid, the Costa del Sol area, Granada & Seville and took a one day jaunt over to Tangiers. I can understand trying to get the maximum distance out of your free vouchers, but if you are not interested in seeing a place then what's the point? While we have not been there I hear Portugal is great for budget travelers and also not over-crowded like other countries can be. Any trip that is "free" has got to be a good one tho!

Jo

hi. I would like to recommend italy or <BR>spain. i went to spain at the beginning <BR>of may and it was perfect. satrted in <BR>madrid and went south to seville,ronda <BR>and marbella. we were able to swim in <BR>marbella in the ocean and it wasnt <BR>too crowded then. I loved spain, the <BR>art, architecture, food, culture. the <BR>subway in madrid was quite nice as were <BR>the trains. we used all public transport.it was relatively inexpensive.joanne <BR>

lisa

I vote for Italy too. Hmmm, let's see, in 2 weeks you could spend 5 days in Rome, 3 in Venice, 3 in Florence, and 3 somewhere else. Pretty perfect. <BR> <BR>I'm surprised noone has mentioned Greece, however, and that would be my second choice, as it is also fairly pricey to get to normally. Two weeks in the Greek islands (not Athens) in May sounds pretty fab to me, but maybe I've just got Greece on the brain at the moment because of the hosted forum on the islands that's going on now on this site. The Greek isles also fit your "budget travel" description well -- accommodations and food can be ridiculously inexpensive there, and the people are fantastic, and the scenery, and the food, etc. etc. <BR> <BR>My third choice would be to see some of the rest of France, since you've already been to Paris but not the rest of the country, which is very diverse and each region is glorious in its own way (not to mention the food...). <BR> <BR>I'm only voting for places I've actually been to, so I can't vote for Spain although that's on my list too! <BR> <BR>Lucky you!!!

Maira

Spain. Since this is a somewhat unexpected trip (budget considerations), you are independent travellers (car), and your wife loves shopping, your message has written Spain all over.