Hi Everyone! My questions is: Where would you go in Europe? We are deciding/ planning a 7 to 10 day trip to Europe, celebrating my youngest daughter's high school graduation next spring 2010. We went to Paris for our older daughter's HS graduation in 2007. We have to go the end of June first part of July because of work issues. My DH,myself and 2 daughter's. We just can't make up our minds of where to go? We like cities verus the country, we do like museums, castles, history etc. We like to arrive in new cities and take tour buses to get a feel of what we want to do etc. We like good food and chatting to the locals. Our youngest wants Ireland....only because she loves the movie P.S. I Love You......the oldest wants Germany.....she is taking an German language course in university.....my DH and I don't care where we go. We just love Europe. So, what should we do...London, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, is it too hot to think about Italy??? Thanks for your help we need it!!!! Ptm

Since you love cities and your oldest is studying German, consider Berlin. It's a fantastic city with both old and new. The rest of Germany (excepting Munich) is more known for small towns and countryside than large cities.

Another alternative would be Barcelona which certainly has exciting food, a real big city atmosphere, a great hop on hop off bus, fun day trips, but while it has great architecture, it's a little lacking in "castles" like one thinks of castles on the Rhine for instance. You might combine Barcelona with Madrid which has great museums and you could take a day trip to Toledo.

Also consider Lisbon which has an interesting big city feel and is surrounded like Madrid with interesting day trip possibilities including great castles.

If you do Ireland and then the UK, you'll lose too much time in airports with security etc., out of your 7/10 days, so I'd give the UK a miss this time if you then want to travel onto mainland Europe.

Why not fly into Barcelona, stay for a couple of nights for a flavour of the City, then drive North to Figueretes to see the Dali Museum. It's an easy drive. From there, up into France and round the coast to Nice and Monte Carlo or up to Avignon.

From Monte Carlo you can swing towards Milan and the Italian Lakes, or from Avignon take in Provence and then up to Paris to fly home.

I realsie that it's a packed programme, but it should be well worth the effort.

We were just in Munich several weeks ago, and I loved it. Great town with a cool vibe, and plenty of interesting sites to see.

Edinburgh and Glasgow are interesting cities, but frankly I prefer the countryside in Scotland. A favorable thing in that late-June timeframe is the nearly unlimited daylight hours that far north.

Much of Italy might be a tad warm at that time, but Venice should be all right. It's an amazing place that must be seen to be believed... but crawling with tourists.

That said, you might just go back to Paris. It's an awesome city, and a bottomless well of experiences.

Good luck.

Hi - I did much the same thing but went to Italy, we spent three days in London first, then a flight to Rome, train to Florence and then train to Venice - we did 14 days - including the UK but found history, castles, great food and wonderful museums and so much more.

Believe it or not, I'd probably try to make both girls happy.

Fly to Ireland, get over your jet lag 3 nights in Dublin, then take a Ryan air flight to Germany, lots of cities to choose from. I am a big believer in helping a young person bolster their foreign language skills.

In exchange for this parental indulgence, make them promise they will pack within the weight restrictions -- or the deal is off and you are to someplace you prefer.

I really don't know why people are suggesting destinations that on your wish list. And most people, young and old, can't stand Monte Carlo. There is nothing there for young people to do. It's not too hot to think about Italy (although muggy, hot Venice would be my last choice), but why pick someplace that will disappoint both your children?

sorry for the typo. I meant type I don't understand suggestions for cities not on your wish list. Obviously there are many very interesting, enjoyable cities in Europe. But it's better to go to the ones you're already enthusiastic about seeing.

Thank you so much! All replies are great suggestions and really has given me some "food for thought". I never thought about trying both, Ireland and Germany...I would love to go to Italy. I agree, I am all for my girls learning new languages and seeing other cultures. As much as I would love to go back to Paris, we have decided to go somewhere we have never been. We do plan to get back to Paris as much as life allows,(my favorite city)...that is once our youngest is off to college. Again thanks everyone....Ptm

Barcelona is "cool"( for young people) and has beaches.
From Barcelona you can drive up or down the coast for change of scenery.
Berlin is also a great city full of history, museum and contemporary art. Day trip to Dresden is possible from Berlin. Even Prague is only 5 hours away, if you wish to go fro 2-3 days.

<<...celebrating my youngest daughter's high school graduation>>

Then let it be her choice.

Ditto what MademoiselleFifi wrote.

The older daughter got Paris for her graduation, why would she get to choose Germany for her sister's trip when her sister (the graduate) wants Ireland?

Hi Everyone, That's my problem... our "grad" can't decide if Ireland is what she really wants. Which is why we went to our friends on Fodor's; who always give great advice! Also, we didn't let our oldest decide to go to Paris. That was my decision because again she couldn't decide where she wanted to go. I think they are just happy going to Europe! They, both love Europe as much as I do! Thanks again everyone...ptm

some thoughts
Vienna centre is a pretty small city with great coffee shops, Danube water nearby and Roman remains. Good German experience and good wine/food.

Option two, Lake constance nice party water sailing/swiming and german

Option three, The area around Basel, Strasbourg. Again German abounds and lots to enjoy for both kids and adults.

The nice thing with each of these is a pleasant mixture of countryside, city, german and the real Europe with the chance of visiting other areas with other languages around

17-20 year old young women are not kids!
Dublin has a young "vibe", but a few days there is enough.
If your family is interested in touring other towns in Ireland ,then you can be busy 7-10 days.

Thanks so much for the advice. We are getting close to making a decision...somewhat! How about this? Fly to Dublin, Ireland stay for 3 or 4 days. Then is it possible to get to London, England easily? I know about Ryan Air but there is no way we pack that lightly. Each one of us only take one suitcase but never as light as the Ryan Air requires. Do you think taking the train would take too long from Dublin to London? Then we would fly home from London. The "graduate" now thinks London would be great, she is looking into majoring in history at college, she loves 14th century English history and is thinking about archaeology also. Thanks everyone....ptm

I flew Aer Lingus to London from Cork, no problem with luggage limit. But I don't know the how the fare compares to Ryan Air.

If you do decide to go to Ireland, don't spend your three or four days in Dublin, there are other interesting places not far away. Check for previous suggestions here.

I spent a week in Southwest Ireland and loved it, beautiful scenery, historical sites, villages on the ocean.