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XP: Where would you go? re: Europe
There are so many cities/countries that we would love to see and just can't decide from our narrowed down list. We not not 100% on any of these countries/cities, we are open to suggestions.
From the list below....which trip would you pick and why? Also, there are a few questions within the trips.
Travel Time = 2 weeks
Travel Between the Countries = Flying, Train and/or Drive
Trip #1: Paris (3-4 days w/a day trip to Versailles)
more/less time?
Amsterdam (3-4 days)...more/less time?
Belgium (Antwerpen, Brugge, Brussels)
- All of these cities in Belgium or no?
- Not sure how much time to allow for Belgium either
Trip #2: Paris (2-3 days w/a day trip to Versailles)
Amsterdam (2-3 days)
Germany (Frankfurt to Munich, via the "Romantic Road"
which also includes a stop to see the
Neuschwanstein castle, this will take up all the
remaining travel time I'm guessing)
Trip #4: Design One for Me Below? [Poll]
Re: XP: Where would you go? re: Europe
Out of everywhere we visited on our honeymoon (Ireland, Spain, France, Italy) we both long to visit Ireland again. It was so beautiful and the people were the nicest out of all of the countries. We have considered doing a 2 week long castle tour of Ireland. It's just an amazing country. [gross fact - i bought one of those great wool sweaters in Dublin and have yet to dry clean it bc I wear it so infrequently but it smells just like the city and makes me feel happy!]
I'm sure all the rest would be great, though!
Very very tough choice. All are spots I'd love to go. I've not visited any of the places you mention (but will someday!), but I chose # 1.
The Company I used to work for had a plant in Brugge, and people that traveled there raved about the fast train to Paris and spending the weekends there,etc.
I don't think you could go wrong with any of the choices. Good luck!
I can't help you decide, but I can tell you that 3-4 days in Paris would be enough, but you can do Amsterdam in about two days. Depending on the time of year you're going, take 3 days and do a day trip out to see the tulips.
Belgium is AWESOME. In 3 days, you can do Brussels and Brugge pretty well. I've never been to Antwerp, but the other two cities are tons of fun. Belgium was a spur of the moment weekend trip when I was studying abroad, and it's not anywhere I'd ever think to go, but I loved it. Their main exports are beer and chocolate - what's not to love?
I have to say, I wasn't really big on Paris. Granted, I was there as pre-teen with my family, but I feel like I've seen it, and I don't care to go back, unless it would be to visit B's friend who lives there now. My mom says I'd feel differently about Paris if I'd go with B, but when I think of romantic destinations, I think more of Spain. I'd LOVE to go back there...
Anyway, Ireland is fantastic, but I have to throw out a shout out to my Scottish homeland!
If you go to Ireland, get Rick Steve's guidebook (well, get his for anywhere in Europe) but go to Dingle on the west coast and take his bike tour. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever done. There are a billion things to see in England as well, so it's hard to say how long you'd need there, unless you have more of an idea of what you'd like to see.
I've never been to Germany, but Munich for Oktoberfest is on my list of must-dos!
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Any of those choices would be great although I visited Germany in 2008 and loved loved loved it. Also, when my aunt and uncle lived over there, my aunt had her Rick Steve's books for every country they visited. Great for finding little unknown places to visit and cheap places to go. Whichever countries you decide to go to, get his books for those countries.
Have fun whereever you decide to go!
if you love chocolate and frites...you must pick the trip with Belgium. Best chocolate I've ever had.
I voted for Ireland/England because those interest me the most, and I've never been to Ireland.
To comment on some of your questions, Amsterdam, while worth visiting, you could easily do all there is to do in 2-3 days. I was also not that impressed with Paris, but we were there during a busy holiday so maybe it was just bad timing.
I'm sure no matter what you choose it will be a trip of a lifetime.
I picked #3 because I have always wanted to visit England and Ireland and the other trips just sound so exhausting. I am sure you will have a blast no matter what you choose though!
I tried to pick design one but it went to option #2.
I went to Paris in Sept 2009 for 5-6 days and that was more than enough. You can do a few day trips to versailles and champagne, roam around the city because there is a TON to see.
I like the option to see Germany because I've always wanted to see Germany more than Amsterdam.
I feel like you could do just Paris and Germany and still not see much but I understand how you want to see as many places as you can but it might feel like you are rushed out of each place. I would just pick two places because you'll lose days traveling to Europe and back and then lose days traveling from place to place.
Either way...have a great time and I soooo wish I could go with you!
)
I agree with PP - Trips 1 and 2 will be exhausting! In 2007 - we did 10 days in Europe, with 4 in England, 4 in Paris, and then the last 2 in London. I was sp tired of living out of my suitcase- and having wrinkled clothes!
However, that being said, I personally have been to England, Paris and Belgium - so I would wither want the trip to Munich (but only during Oktoberfest) or the trip to Ireland - because Ive never been
In terms of travel time in each city -
You will be fine in Paris for 3 days
London is do-able in 2-3 days (depending on how much you want to see)
Each of the Belgium cities is do-able in a day each - Brugges is the best of the three - and personally, I think Brussels is a $hithole.
I vote for "other" - I would love to see Ireland and would try to go there. For our HM, we spend a week in London and a week in Paris. That was more time than we needed in Paris, but it was amazing to walk around Notre Dame, the Champs Elysses, and the Musee D'Orsay was my favorite museum! There is SO much to see and do in London that you can easily fill two weeks there, depending on your interests.
I'm sure you will have a great time whereever you go, but here is my one piece of advice: If you are going to be combining English-speaking destinations with non-English speaking destinations, I would do the English places last. By the end of your trip you are so tired that the last thing you want to do is be hauling around a phrasebook to ask where the bathroom is!
Just for a twist, I am going to throw some different suggestions out there:
Interlaken, Switzerland: absolutely beautiful setting nestled in a valley surrounded by the Alps and lakes. Absolutely amazing views every where you look. Plus, TONS of fun adventure type things to do:
- Canyoning: awesome! basically they drive you up one of the mountains and you put on a wet suit/helmet/life vest and you "slide" down the mountain in one of the rivers jumping off waterfalls, sliding down rock water slides, etc. SO much fun.
- Bungee jumping
- Skydiving
- Horseback riding up to beautiful waterfalls
- Mountain biking
- Skiing
- Glacier visits
- Visits up into the Alps (ie: Jungfrau)
- Cable/cog-wheel train trips up for breathtaking views...
- Whitewater rafting
- Paragliding
- I could go on and on!
Plus, you can just walk around town, go on mini-hikes or picnics, etc... I've been here more than once and love it! Always stayed at Balmers Herberge, but I know there are other options which I'm sure would also be good.
Prague: very beautiful! I haven't been since the switched to the Euro so don't know if it's any different, but when I went, it was also very cheap! But I just loved walking around town, visiting the squares and cathedrals, listening to classical music, etc... Also:
- Charles Bridge which is really pretty (also been in a few movies!)
- Prague, Karlstehn & Orlik Castles (some beautiful gardens to stroll as well)
- Boat ride down the Vlatva (?) river
- Side trip to Cesky Krumov (shopping, huge castle...)
- Satov wine cellar - didn't go, but heard it's delicious and beautiful painted.
- Eat! ;-)
Vienna: beautiful and clean! Very Renaissance and fun to walk around, go to coffee shops which are big there, etc... obviously also big into Mozart there, or the Opera if you can convince DH lol, go for rides/strolls/cruises on the Danube, wine tasting, take a side trip to Saltzberg and the salt mines (more intersting than it sounds). Go to Prater Park, etc... Oh - and St. Stephen's Cathedral. And eat!
OK - I've rambled enough. My choices are just something a little different that what's above, so I choose Option D. ;-) Have fun with whatever you decide!
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I voted for #2, but now I'm changing my vote to what Marcy wrote. I absolutely LOVED Prague and Switzerland. Oh how I want to go back there soon!
Of your choices about #3 sounds the most relaxing.
I voted for #2 because I adore Amsterdam and loved Germany. The romantic road is beautiful and the people were some of the kindest I met of any country over there.
You can't go wrong with any choice, so have fun!