Why are so many against Europe in August??
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:29 AM
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Why are so many against Europe in August??
Thank you to all of you who have been so helpful in helping us begin to plan our trip to Italy and France for the fall of 2007! We are planning our trip to Florence and Venice for 9 nights total for then off to Paris for 5 nights and we are so excited!
So now for my question...we have been planning for October, but could swing a couple extra days in if we went the last two weeks in August and include the Labor Day weekend in our travel time home, however I keep reading in guidebooks AGAINST going in August, but find that on this board, many people actually recommend August! Why do so many of the "books" encourage people not to go in August? Is it really based in anything factual, or just "rumors"
. Any opinions about it one way or another will be appreciated!
So now for my question...we have been planning for October, but could swing a couple extra days in if we went the last two weeks in August and include the Labor Day weekend in our travel time home, however I keep reading in guidebooks AGAINST going in August, but find that on this board, many people actually recommend August! Why do so many of the "books" encourage people not to go in August? Is it really based in anything factual, or just "rumors"
. Any opinions about it one way or another will be appreciated!
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:45 AM
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I suspect because August is the traditional time when Europeans themselves take vacations.
What you <b>didn't tell us</b> us is what those guidebooks give as <b>the reason(s)</b> for not going in August.
What you <b>didn't tell us</b> us is what those guidebooks give as <b>the reason(s)</b> for not going in August.
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:49 AM
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Go whenever you want to! Some folks have a free calendar and can research the absolute best time to go to a given place, and others of us are bound to things like school calendars and go whenever we have a decent block of time.
My first trip to Europe was in August of 1985, right after I had taken the bar exam. We did minimal planning and had little money. We started in Frankfort, drove the Rhine and Mosel, saw bits of Luxemborg, Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp and Amsterdam, then saw Paris and London. We had a fantastic time and didn't know that we "weren't supposed to be there" that month. Coming from the August heat of Texas, the weather felt delightfully cool. The only "August" problem we had was that my traveling companion worked for a major jewlery company and he had wanted to see a few diamond related things in Antwerp but couldn't.
Florence, Venice and Paris are not going to be closed. Go, and enjoy!
My first trip to Europe was in August of 1985, right after I had taken the bar exam. We did minimal planning and had little money. We started in Frankfort, drove the Rhine and Mosel, saw bits of Luxemborg, Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp and Amsterdam, then saw Paris and London. We had a fantastic time and didn't know that we "weren't supposed to be there" that month. Coming from the August heat of Texas, the weather felt delightfully cool. The only "August" problem we had was that my traveling companion worked for a major jewlery company and he had wanted to see a few diamond related things in Antwerp but couldn't.
Florence, Venice and Paris are not going to be closed. Go, and enjoy!
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:57 AM
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I agree there will probably be bigger crowds and in some cases, establishments such as restaurants may be closed.
Yes, it will be hot and humid and prices may even be higher (definitely check out that aspect of things).
But, if it gives you some extra days and the other "issues" aren't biggies I would go for it...after all, a lot of other people will be there, too.
Yes, it will be hot and humid and prices may even be higher (definitely check out that aspect of things).
But, if it gives you some extra days and the other "issues" aren't biggies I would go for it...after all, a lot of other people will be there, too.
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:58 AM
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More than one reason, namely: huge crowds around beach and resort areas, hot weather, closed businesses, i.e. many restaurants. Since the late 30's when Europeans started getting paid (August) vacation benefits, it is the month when many Europeans families leave town for coastal destinations. It can work to the tourist advantage though. I know people that LOVE Paris and Rome in August; quieter they say. Not sure that's as true as it used to. One thing I know, I would not go to Southern Spain or Greece in August if you pay me.
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:58 AM
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For the places you named, crowds would be the primary issue, along with heat if that bothers you. For other places, there may be the issue of closures of certain sites, stores, restaurants. But, while it may affect some of your choices, I can't imagine running out of alternative things to do in Paris, Florence ans Venice!!!
Jun 29th, 2006, 08:59 AM
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There are 3 issues:
In much of europe it;s very hot in August and most people prefer to do 8 hours per day walking when it's not 95 and humid
Many europeans have pre-set August vacations - no choice - so everything is especially crowded then - it take much longer to do things and prices in resort areas are very high
In some major cities (Paris, Rome) etc some family run places do shut down for the month (they're on vacation) so you have fewer choices
October solves all of these problems - of which IMHO the first is by far the most serious given the lack of AC in much of europe.
In much of europe it;s very hot in August and most people prefer to do 8 hours per day walking when it's not 95 and humid
Many europeans have pre-set August vacations - no choice - so everything is especially crowded then - it take much longer to do things and prices in resort areas are very high
In some major cities (Paris, Rome) etc some family run places do shut down for the month (they're on vacation) so you have fewer choices
October solves all of these problems - of which IMHO the first is by far the most serious given the lack of AC in much of europe.
Jun 29th, 2006, 09:01 AM
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This might not be an issue for you, but for us the 2 biggest reasons we don't go in August (aside from the hordes of tourists) are:
1. Air conditioning. In some restaurants & hotels it's inadequate for our needs or non-existant.
2. Restaurant closings. Dining is a big part of our travel and in Paris at least, the top starred restaurants close during August.
On the Riviera, August is high season and the hotel rates are almost double. For instance, one of our favorites, the Metropole in Beaulieu sur Mer charges 230 euros for a garden view room in October. The same room in August is 430 euros.
1. Air conditioning. In some restaurants & hotels it's inadequate for our needs or non-existant.
2. Restaurant closings. Dining is a big part of our travel and in Paris at least, the top starred restaurants close during August.
On the Riviera, August is high season and the hotel rates are almost double. For instance, one of our favorites, the Metropole in Beaulieu sur Mer charges 230 euros for a garden view room in October. The same room in August is 430 euros.
Jun 29th, 2006, 09:05 AM
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You know, I'm glad the guidebooks DON'T recommend going to Italy and France in August (if in fact that's the case) because they think that the majority of shops and restaurants are shut down, and all the locals have left the city to the tourists. In my experience, that's just not true. What you get is still a great selection of the local restaurants (the more expensive splashy ones do tend to take holidays in August-but in Italy, usually only a couple of weeks), most shops are open, and there's not necessarily hotter weather (weather in Europe is so unpredictable-last year in Rome, in August, the weather was delightful-about 85-90 degrees at the end of the month-so you really can't take it as a given that it will be insufferably hot-Venice, on the other hand, was downright cold for a few days after a hard rain fell during the same time period.
The locals who ARE left, tend to be in a much more relaxed state, there's far less traffic (it's the traffic that can really wear on you in Rome, particularly). In Venice-it's quite crowded with tourists in August, but otherwise it's pretty much the same as it is in low season-some restaurants are closed at the end of the month-but I noticed the ones that were, opened back up before the end of August-just before the start of the Venice Film Festival - around Aug. 30th or so.
I fell back in love with Paris some years ago after going back for a visit in August-everyone I encountered was just so incredibly pleasant-I now think it the best time of year to visit-everything you want to see is still open-you just don't have to fight quite so hard to see it. The Left Bank/Latin Quarter scene in August was just hopping-I remember being quite surprised to see how lively it was. Rome's nightlife areas same-Trastevere was packed at the end of August.
If you are most interested in cultural events, you probably do need to go at a different time of year. The cultural season for many events generally ends in July or sooner, and doesn't start back up until mid-Sept.-October timeframe. (However the Arena in Verona, Italy stages its spectacular opera productions until the end of August).
One big advantage of traveling during this time period: hotel rates go way down on most establishments-making it easier to stay at a 4 star than a 2 star, for example.
The locals who ARE left, tend to be in a much more relaxed state, there's far less traffic (it's the traffic that can really wear on you in Rome, particularly). In Venice-it's quite crowded with tourists in August, but otherwise it's pretty much the same as it is in low season-some restaurants are closed at the end of the month-but I noticed the ones that were, opened back up before the end of August-just before the start of the Venice Film Festival - around Aug. 30th or so.
I fell back in love with Paris some years ago after going back for a visit in August-everyone I encountered was just so incredibly pleasant-I now think it the best time of year to visit-everything you want to see is still open-you just don't have to fight quite so hard to see it. The Left Bank/Latin Quarter scene in August was just hopping-I remember being quite surprised to see how lively it was. Rome's nightlife areas same-Trastevere was packed at the end of August.
If you are most interested in cultural events, you probably do need to go at a different time of year. The cultural season for many events generally ends in July or sooner, and doesn't start back up until mid-Sept.-October timeframe. (However the Arena in Verona, Italy stages its spectacular opera productions until the end of August).
One big advantage of traveling during this time period: hotel rates go way down on most establishments-making it easier to stay at a 4 star than a 2 star, for example.
Jun 29th, 2006, 09:05 AM
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Depending on where you visit, a lot of local businesses are closed as the owners and their families are on vacation. Elche, Spain is a favorite place of mine and I have spent a lot of time there, none more boring than August. We went out one day and there were 2 restaurants (as in nicer places) open in the whole city. Driving was nice because there were no cars because no one was there. A veritable ghost town.
Then we would drive to the beach, which is about 20 minutes away. Nowhere to park, tons of people (except at the nude beaches which, by virtue of practice, tend to keep the population down). . . not my idea of super fun.
That is Spain, which is a main tourist destination, so my view is a bit skewed (other cities I have spent August include Alicante and Málaga, both main destinations). There are lots of people and it is really really hot. That said, I still love my Augusts!
Then we would drive to the beach, which is about 20 minutes away. Nowhere to park, tons of people (except at the nude beaches which, by virtue of practice, tend to keep the population down). . . not my idea of super fun.
That is Spain, which is a main tourist destination, so my view is a bit skewed (other cities I have spent August include Alicante and Málaga, both main destinations). There are lots of people and it is really really hot. That said, I still love my Augusts!
