Ideas for family vacation trip to Europe #2 (1 Viewer)

[Judge Smails]

Thanks to a lot of my fellow FBG's we had a phenomenal time 3 years ago with 5 days in Paris, then 12 days centered around Florence/Venice/Rome. Great trip - now looking to visit new cities (the only other European trip I've had is when I did a golfing trip to Scotland with some buddies, and my youngest daughter is in Sweden for 3 weeks now - that's it for Smails European travel so far). We want to visit new cities.

Looking to go next summer. 14-18 days. I'm thinking of making London a base since my easiest United flights using FF miles will be to Heathrow. I would think Netherlands/Ireland may be logical. One daughter really wants to go to Dublin. The other city that I'm hearing about a lot from my friends/kids is Barcelona. Remember Prague getting a lot of props from some on this board.

We are all active. "Kids" in early 20's. Like museums, great food, music and sporting events (want to go to a soccer match), etc. Just want great experiences. I'm going to focus on 2-3 core cities max with some day trips sprinkled in. Trying to whittle down the list and come up with priorities.

Suggestions?

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Are you focused just on cities/big cities? The wife and I spent 2 weeks in Ireland a few years back and Dublin was probably our least favorite part. Loved the west coast.

 

[jamny]

Loved Dublin and it's a good base to see Ireland. Prague is an excellent city and you could do Prague/Vienna/Budapest in one trip. Barcelona is ok but we liked Madrid a lot more. We hope to go back and see more smaller cities in Spain and maybe Portugal

Also, maybe South of France. We went last year, started in Paris, drove to Lyon and then on to the South with a ton of options, Aix en Provence, Arles, Saint Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo. We ended our trip in Milan.

Milan also makes a nice base to explore northern Italy.

 

[Ilov80s]

Prague is probably my favorite city but Barcelona isn't far behind. I also really liked Budapest. Prague and Budapest rival Paris in beauty and history.

 

[jamny]

Prague is probably my favorite city but Barcelona isn't far behind. I also really liked Budapest. Prague and Budapest rival Paris in beauty and history.

Haven't gotten to Budapest yet but Prague really is a beautiful city.

 

[chauncey]

If you can ditch the women you and your son? would enjoy Poznan, Riga, Tallin, Kiev, Bucharest, and Budapest. If not then the usual western Europe cities will provide plenty of museums, culture, and food.

 

[Don Quixote]

Ireland is a lot of fun. Dublin is a great city with lots of museums, nice parks, and drinking opportunities for the kids in the early 20's, but definitely worth getting outside the city and visiting the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, etc. too. Since you mentioned sporting events, lots of that in Ireland. My biggest regret was not getting to a GAA football or hurling match.

 

[Judge Smails]

thanks for the replies guys. Not necessarily hung up on big cities - but thinking as anchors it makes sense. Can take day trips or traverse from there.

Very interesting to see opinions all over the map. In Italy the polarizing city is Venice - it's either a love/meh reaction I was sorta the latter.

Prague seems to be universal thumbs up. Hadn't considered South of France - will look into more..

 

[Scoresman]

Venice to me is polarizing based on the time you go. If you go when it's hot and stinky and there's a million people, it really sucks. But if you go when the weather is better and its not so crowded, it can be great.

 

[njherdfan]

I love visiting Ireland, but if food's a priority, I'd bump it down a few notches. If you go to eastern Europe I can't recommend Budapest enough.

 

[AAABatteries]

We are all active. "Kids" in early 20's. Like museums, great food, music and sporting events (want to go to a soccer match), etc. Just want great experiences. I'm going to focus on 2-3 core cities max with some day trips sprinkled in. Trying to whittle down the list and come up with priorities.

Suggestions?

Euro 2016 will be going on next summer (June 10 - July 10) but it's in Paris. Depending on when during summer you may be out of luck seeing a high-profile match but I'm sure you could find something to go see. The Euro's are probably the 2nd biggest tournament in the world (after the World Cup) so if you did make south France part of your trip it may be worth it to you to take a day to go to a Euro match. If you have any interest you better apply for tickets ASAP. (ETA - here's the website - http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/index.html)

I've only been to Scotland so I can't really help with any other recommendations - have a great trip!

 

[PinkydaPimp]

lisbon, madrid, barcelona, Marseille, nice, monaco.

That would be a great trip!!

 

[Ilov80s]

lisbon, madrid, barcelona, Marseille, nice, monaco.

That would be a great trip!!

There are endless combinations of great trips. Plus there are the cool smaller towns and villages all over Europe that offer great day trips. It's hard to screw it up. I would add San Sebastián to your itinerary if possible. Love that place.

 

[cstu]

We are all active. "Kids" in early 20's. Like museums, great food, music and sporting events (want to go to a soccer match), etc. Just want great experiences. I'm going to focus on 2-3 core cities max with some day trips sprinkled in. Trying to whittle down the list and come up with priorities.

Suggestions?

Euro 2016 will be going on next summer (June 10 - July 10) but it's in Paris. Depending on when during summer you may be out of luck seeing a high-profile match but I'm sure you could find something to go see. The Euro's are probably the 2nd biggest tournament in the world (after the World Cup) so if you did make south France part of your trip it may be worth it to you to take a day to go to a Euro match. If you have any interest you better apply for tickets ASAP. (ETA - here's the website - http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/index.html)

I've only been to Scotland so I can't really help with any other recommendations - have a great trip!

Thanks for the heads up - won't be planning Paris into our trip.

 

[Rick James]

does it have to be western Europe? You've done France and Italy, why not give Eastern Europe a shot? Buddy just got back from istanbul and said it was fantastic. Or you could go with something totally different and do Philippines or Tokyo. Talk about culture shock, but it would be fun.

 

[cstu]

does it have to be western Europe? You've done France and Italy, why not give Eastern Europe a shot? Buddy just got back from istanbul and said it was fantastic. Or you could go with something totally different and do Philippines or Tokyo. Talk about culture shock, but it would be fun.

Easily two weeks worth of stuff to do in Istanbul and rest of Turkey.

 

[cstu]

How about Greece? Should be cheap.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

If you go to Paris, be sure to get matching berets for the whole family.

 

[Todd Andrews]

I did two weeks in Portugal and it was great. Fly in and set up a home base in Lisbon, rent a car and check out the north first: Porto, Sintra. Then drive through the countryside south to the westernmost point in Europe where Henry the Navigator had his school in Sagres. Then head east to the Algarve and spend a week on the southern coast. We set up a base in Albufeira and hit castles, beaches and posadas all over. Spain is close and you can ferry across to Morocco. Gibralter is right there.

Portugal was a really beautiful, slowpaced country and a fun vacation. Lots of history but very laid back. People were very welcoming and cool. And everyone speaks English because so many northern Europeans vacation there.

I also once spent two weeks in Budapest and that was pretty remarkable, too.

 

[nysfl2]

If you like hiking/outdoorsy stuff, the Interlaken area of Switzerland is must-do.

 

[Judge Smails]

I did two weeks in Portugal and it was great. Fly in and set up a home base in Lisbon, rent a car and check out the north first: Porto, Sintra. Then drive through the countryside south to the westernmost point in Europe where Henry the Navigator had his school in Sagres. Then head east to the Algarve and spend a week on the southern coast. We set up a base in Albufeira and hit castles, beaches and posadas all over. Spain is close and you can ferry across to Morocco. Gibralter is right there.

Portugal was a really beautiful, slowpaced country and a fun vacation. Lots of history but very laid back. People were very welcoming and cool. And everyone speaks English because so many northern Europeans vacation there.

I also once spent two weeks in Budapest and that was pretty remarkable, too.

Hmmm. I'm intrigued. Hadn't thought about Portugal. I can likely stay here using my Hilton timeshare points. Don't know anything about the area. Resort and location look awesome though. Thoughts? Maybe Portugual, Barcelona and ?

http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/portugal/hilton-vilamoura/?standalone=true

 

[bierfiend]

Germany, Switzerland, Austria.

Avignon, nice,Arles, Carcassonne, San sabastian, Seville

Cinque Terre, Sorrento, naples

 

[waiver wire]

looking to go back to Europe in sept/oct so these are great ideas

 

[msommer]

We are all active. "Kids" in early 20's. Like museums, great food, music and sporting events (want to go to a soccer match), etc. Just want great experiences. I'm going to focus on 2-3 core cities max with some day trips sprinkled in. Trying to whittle down the list and come up with priorities.

Suggestions?

Euro 2016 will be going on next summer (June 10 - July 10) but it's in Paris. Depending on when during summer you may be out of luck seeing a high-profile match but I'm sure you could find something to go see. The Euro's are probably the 2nd biggest tournament in the world (after the World Cup) so if you did make south France part of your trip it may be worth it to you to take a day to go to a Euro match. If you have any interest you better apply for tickets ASAP. (ETA - here's the website - http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/index.html)

I've only been to Scotland so I can't really help with any other recommendations - have a great trip!

Thanks for the heads up - won't be planning Paris into our trip.

Actually it is all over France:

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/

 

[msommer]

I did two weeks in Portugal and it was great. Fly in and set up a home base in Lisbon, rent a car and check out the north first: Porto, Sintra. Then drive through the countryside south to the westernmost point in Europe where Henry the Navigator had his school in Sagres. Then head east to the Algarve and spend a week on the southern coast. We set up a base in Albufeira and hit castles, beaches and posadas all over. Spain is close and you can ferry across to Morocco. Gibralter is right there.

Portugal was a really beautiful, slowpaced country and a fun vacation. Lots of history but very laid back. People were very welcoming and cool. And everyone speaks English because so many northern Europeans vacation there.

I also once spent two weeks in Budapest and that was pretty remarkable, too.

Hmmm. I'm intrigued. Hadn't thought about Portugal. I can likely stay here using my Hilton timeshare points. Don't know anything about the area. Resort and location look awesome though. Thoughts? Maybe Portugual, Barcelona and ?

http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/portugal/hilton-vilamoura/?standalone=true

Up for a roadtrip?

Start in Porto, move south through Lisbon and the Algarve, Faro or Albufeira are well known beach spots. Cross into Seville, move down to Jerez, stay at old manors turned into bed and breakfast ( called parador) as you move onto Ronda and Granada. Remember to walk through some of the (close 1000 year old) white wall vilages of Andalucia like Gaucin. Take the train to Valencia, Toledo, Barcelona and/or Madrid. Don't for get to consider going to Rioja or Priorat

 

[Todd Andrews]

I did two weeks in Portugal and it was great. Fly in and set up a home base in Lisbon, rent a car and check out the north first: Porto, Sintra. Then drive through the countryside south to the westernmost point in Europe where Henry the Navigator had his school in Sagres. Then head east to the Algarve and spend a week on the southern coast. We set up a base in Albufeira and hit castles, beaches and posadas all over. Spain is close and you can ferry across to Morocco. Gibralter is right there.

Portugal was a really beautiful, slowpaced country and a fun vacation. Lots of history but very laid back. People were very welcoming and cool. And everyone speaks English because so many northern Europeans vacation there.

I also once spent two weeks in Budapest and that was pretty remarkable, too.

Hmmm. I'm intrigued. Hadn't thought about Portugal. I can likely stay here using my Hilton timeshare points. Don't know anything about the area. Resort and location look awesome though. Thoughts? Maybe Portugual, Barcelona and ?

http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/portugal/hilton-vilamoura/?standalone=true

That place looks nice--the Algarve is a huge vacation spot for northern Europeans. Portugal is off the beaten path for vacationers from the US, though, and a more relaxed place than some other parts of Europe. We loved it and had a great time but it isnt the most exciting place to vacation, if you are looking for the Eiffel Tower or something like that.

But if you have time to do both Portugal and parts of Spain, that would be a great vacation.