Looking to head off for a week with my partner early May 2007. We've been to Paris which we loved and Villefranche-Sur-Mer last year which we absolutely adored! We're in our 30's and are looking for somewhere preferably coastal (but we're flexible) with some nice walks and great restaurants. Also we don't want to hire a car so somewhere within 45 minutes from an airport. We're not into really wild places or very modern towns. We're looking at Antibes at the moment but if anyine has any ideas they'd be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Nice? It's a very pleasant mid-sized city, with more day-trips than you could even do in a week. Also good restaurants, shops, easy train and bus connections for day trips into Provence or along the coast; an airport there for international connections, a pretty Vieux Nice area, gorgeous promenade along the sea, etc. We spent just three nights there in early May this spring, and loved it. You can find hotel, restaurant, and day trip details in my trip report, if you click on my name above. We went to Antibes for a day, and loved it. Not sure you'd have much to do if you stayed in Antibes itself, though.

Does it have to be in France? How about the Italian Riviera, flying into Genoa? You can stay in Santa Margherita Ligure or Portofino (expensive) or Camogli. Use the trains to visit the Cinque Terre and other Ligurian towns. Good walking between the Cinque Terre towns and on the Portofino peninsula. And Genoa itself is worth a couple days. Don't know how precisely this fits into your time restriction, but it's close.

If you give a budget, I could recommend hotels.

Thanks guys for your help. No Mirmar it actually doesn't have to be France. Italy is definitely an option. Portofino was on the list but I can't get a direct flight to Genoa. Have to go via Rome/Milan. Unfortunately ny partner isn't a great traveller so that's why I have to try make it as hassle-free as possible! Great suggestion though. I'd love to see Portofino.

San Sebastian Spain. Great food, manageable size, highly walkable, 45 min to Biarritz by train, 1 hour to Bilbao by bus. coast, mountains, what else is needed.

re San Sebastian: forgot to add that I spent a relaxing month there this past May.

Hi jake,

I'd head to Lake Geneva -- spend the days ambling around the lake and down flowered lakeside promenades, going to the mountains around Gstaad or Chateau d'Oex, cruising the lake on a ferry, walking the vineyards of the Corniche Lavaux, shopping, dining in cafes and restaurants, and exploring the castles of Chillon & Nyon.

I'll give you more specific information if you'd like --

s

I stayed in Varenna on Lake Como this past May and loved it. We had stunning views of the lake and the Alps from our windows and porch. It will always be a special place for me because I felt so relaxed and peaceful there - I even feel more relaxed just remembering it.

It's a lovely place to walk and you can take ferries to other towns on Lake Como. The only drawback is that it's probably about an hour ride from the Milan Linate airport. (Don't know which airport you'd be using but Linate is the only one I've been to.)

If 45 minutes from an aiport is your max, your choices are pretty much limited to someplace near Nice and possibly Sorrento, Ischia or Capri.

Were you willing to double that, you could consider San Sebastian, which might be ideal for you, or flying into Pisa and then going to Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo or another coastal town on the train line between Genova and Pisa.

Is food very important to you? Italian and Spanish food is very different from French food, so you might want to consider that. San Sebastian has the most interesting food of all three places, but only if you enjoy experimenting and eating tapas.

Relaxing.. Coastal.. BEAUTIFUL..easily accessible without a car.. Great place to walk around. Fun kayaking.. Good food!! CROATIA. Definitely worth checking out. We were in Dubrovnik, Mljet, Trogir in May (perfect weather).

Thank you all so much for your comments. It's great to hear other people's ideas. Really looking into San Sebastian but keeping an open mind to other places. Thanks again.

Fly to Malpensa (Milan) and hire a private driver to get to Lake Como. Stay in Menaggio at the Grand Hotel Menaggio and take lake boats to various other places on the lake. Most relaxing vacation ever and May should be a perfect time.