ventdest

I would love to read various Fodorites' opinions on this. My husband and I will be going to Europe in early May 2012, and we will be using FF points that allow us to make a few stops (no matter the destination, as long as it's in Western Europe). We already have decided on 5 days in Paris and a week in Germany (specific destination - we don't intend on seeing all of Germany in a week ! For the remaining week we are looking for a pleasant seaside city that would have a lot of history and things to see, but that is mid-sized, walkable, laid back and has a pleasant waterfront. I was thinking somewhere in Italy, Spain or Portugal. Anything comes to mind?

Thanks!

HappyTrvlr

Here are some seaside towns we've enjoyed.
Not cruise ship ports which is a plus.
Spain: Baiona,Galicia
Basque region: San Sebastian, Hondarribia,
France: north of Barcelona and Costa Brava, Collioure
Italy..Santa Margherita Ligure or Portovenere
Portugal:Viana do Castello

cruiseluv

Portovenere in Italy, next to Cinque Terre and not too far from Pisa and Lucca (could do those as day trips).

JulieVikmanis

We love Cassis in France, also Hondarribia in Spain, Collioure France, Positano, Italy, Camogli Italy--not far from Santa Margherita Ligure. In Spain we also love Ribadesella. Santandar is nice as well. Enjoy.

JeffTWA

Two couples rented Casa de Estavas in Salema for a week and had a lovely time. Easy walking distance to town -- watching the fishing boat come in and auction off their catch from Cafe Boai each morning was great. The home is terrific. Enjoy your trip!

Sher

Two that we have stayed in Portugal: Lourinha (a litle more touristy), Salir do Porto (a little less touristy)

CYESQ

From Paris, why don't you go to the Cote d'Azur for a few days. Lovely beaches and a great walking city with nearby towns that are easy to get to using public transportation.

ventdest

Thank you so much for all the ideas - love the suggestions.

Happy Trvlr, non-cruise ship ports are definitely a bonus - thanks for mentioning it. We are hoping for an uncrowded place, which doesn't exclude touristy places that would be quiet in early May.

CYESQ, been to Côte d'Azur, love it and decided to keep it for a future trip that will include Provence and Cinque Terre. Good recommendation, because as I was describing what I was looking for, I had Nice on my mind.

Anybody knows of a pleasant medium-size seaside city in Southern Spain that would allow for a day-trip to Gibraltar and Granada?

Cheers

kimhe

Nerja is a pleasant medium-sized (pop 20 000) seaside city in Southern Spain. Popular with tourists, but Nerja has retained much of its Andalucian charm. Daytrip distance to both Gibraltar and Granada.

Photo: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/...de6a8146_o.jpg
Info: http://www.nerjatoday.com/

But, nothing beats Belle Epoque San Sebastián (pop 180 000) on the Basque coast, close to the French border. The culinary capital of Spain (17 Michelin stars in town, any small place serving less than excellent food will be out of business in two weeks), beautiful landscapes and some of the finest city beaches in Europe: http://marshlands.blogstream.com/

Kwoo

You could check out Cadaques, Spain, on Costa Brava, near the French border. It is beautiful with great restaurants, walkable, pleasant waterfront & enough sightseeing but not so much that you feel rushed to see everything. We visited Dali's home in Port Lligat, & drove up to Cap de Creus, with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. If you have the time, you could take an easy hike up Cap de Creus. Two nearby sites we didn't have time to visit are the Sant Pere Monastery overlooking the Mediterranean (it's supposed to be breathtaking), and Dali's museum in Figueres. If there isn't enough here for one week, then perhaps you could split the week between Cadaques and Collioure, France.

qwovadis

www.metropole.it Portofino/SML area awesome

www.torrettas.com Manarola Cinqueterre.com

www.hoteldelfino.com most recently booked for

$60/nt on Otel.com this April AWESOME views

over Capri Ischia paid an extra 10 eupp for a seaview suite

Best value of my trip.

sunfrance.com nice coastal towns like Collioure

Costa Brava Lagos Portugal

all nice but Italy is the prettiest culturally interesting.

although have to give best beaches to France Spain Portugal.

Happy Travels!

qwovadis

www.justsardinia.co.uk/pages/sardinia-beaches

Costa Smeralda or Alghero/Blue Grotto area

my fav for beaches still great Italian food vibe.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

No great surprise, perhaps, if I offer my adopted home - the city of Ischia, on the island of the same name...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/allaboutischia

Peter

StCirq

St-Jean-de-Luz, France
La Rochelle and Ile de Ré, France
Gaeta, Italy

Egbert

The Basque coast and Positano/Capri in Italy.