Almost two weeks to blow.. where would you go..

Great problem to have! Since your friend is leaving it to you two, why not go where you say you want to? From Paris to Mallorca, then Dublin. See what you can find with Skyscanner. If you have some days after Dublin, how about the rest of Ireland? Or Wales? If you're comfortable driving, that is. If not, then I'd say put those extra days into Paris earlier in the trip. Or, if you don't want more than five nights in Paris, take a side trip to Normandy or the Loire or even the Dordogne. Wherever you can connect easily to Mallorca.

Too bad you have to backtrack to Amsterdam, open-jaw flights would have given you maybe an extra day in Europe.

EDIT -- Sorry, Pat, I just realized this is from you. You don't need any more Paris time, so disregard that part of my half-baked advice!

The tag-alongs may like Barcelona and Sevilla or Madrid, in combination with Mallorca. Menorca too can be in the mix. The dots connect well, between Vueling flights or the AVE train.
You may like the weather better than in Dublin...

03 May Amsterdam
06 May London
11 May Paris
16 May Barcelona
20 May Mallorca
24 May Madrid (or Dublin perhaps)
27 May Amsterdam

or

03 May Amsterdam
06 May London
11 May Paris
16 May Barcelona
21 May Berlin
25 May Hamburg
27 May Amsterdam

03 May Amsterdam
06 May London
11 May Paris
16 Prague
21 Vienna
25 Budapest
27 May Amsterdam

Belgium would fit easily into your trip, especially if you are coming from Paris and heading to Amsterdam. Small cities, not too rural. Good food and chocolate - not exactly known for wine - but excellent beer selections. Really easy to base yourself and get around by commuter rail service.

If your husband wants to do a repeat of Dublin, did you go to Northern Ireland at all the last time? Derry and Belfast are both great cities (neither overwhelmingly large) and you can also think about staying along the Antrim Coast, see Giant's Causeway, etc. If you did not much of Western Ireland, you could head from Dublin to check out Galway, Connemara, Aran Islands, Skellig Michael, The Burren - maybe splurge and stay at Ashford Castle. You'd want to rent a car (or van) to get around unless you are only doing the cities like Galway, Belfast, etc. Limited rail service in Ireland, but they have good coverage via bus and you could always base in a town and hire a driver/guide to take your group around if nobody is willing to drive.

Thank you ,,, many good idea.. ( and Dick.. your advice was all good too.. but you are right.. much as I love it.. I don't want to add more time to it this trip) ..

I hadn't thought of going east.. so will consider that. I think I might enjoy Vienna.. not sure about others.. I think step daughter might really like Berlin.. and while I understand Prague is a bit of the "it" destination I have heard some things about it that are not very nice.. maybe untrue?_
. I admit to hoping for some beach time , which is why I added Mallorca and am considering Greek islands..

Hubby would love to do more of Ireland.. Galaway.. and north Ireland.. I am not as sure.. but would bow to majority wishes in group.. I liked Dublin.. but I am afraid I don't know if my "like" would extend to spending more then 4-5 days back in Ireland this time.. we will see.

I really apprieciate all the posts and will reread tomorrow ..

Thank you

I

Since "...they seem to want to have no input..." then you can just plan it the way you want. On the other hand, perhaps you can come up with two (or three) possible itineraries (that you and hubby like) and present them for their input. It may simply be a case of them feeling they are not knowledgeable enough to feel able to offer input. Maybe giving them some literature or guide books to scan might spark an interest. If, after presenting alternatives, they are still ambivalent, then just do your thing and let them come along for the ride.

I absolutely loved Crete last May!

You can easily link Crete, Santorini and Mykonos, with (maybe) Naxos or Paros thrown in. Crete alone can merit your entire time! Your tag-alongs may respond with interest at this idea (and you get your beach time) - just tempt hubby with the promise of good food and a potentially lighter hit on his wallet! ;-)

Base for Crete: Chania and/or Agios Nikolaos.
Fly into Heraklion or Chania. Ferry for inter-island travel. Choose the airport with the best connection back to AMS, as the end point for the Cyclades.

"...where would you go if you had only a week to blow." I thought it was longer than that. All in May? Anyway, for the time left over, I would stay in France, ie, spend every day in France, all the better if it's closer to two weeks than one. You can choose from various recommended places...Lille, Nancy, Dijon, Amiens, Compiègne, Strasbourg, Colmar, Cambrai, Toulouse, Bayeux, Cherbourg, Rouen, Troyes, Reims, Perpignan, Arras, Soisssons, etc. Logistically, one would need to plan the train connections carefully in order to get the best routes on the TGV and TER trains.

Thanks Fred.. but I am a bit "Franced" out.. hubby and I have done quite a bit of France.. and I even more then him.. so we really wanted to spread out a bit.. plus since this is a first trip for our stepdaughter.. we want to give her a taste of a few countries ( and then she can branch out and explore more on her own or return to places she especially enjoys later ) .

I do have more then a week.. but figure with the two extra weeks ( actually think its about 13 days) thought I could hit two destinations.. so a week one place and a week another.

Diane, Crete sounds interesting.. wondering.. I had avoided considering it because I figured it was more "big city" but I will look up the towns you suggested , I really did enjoy Greece and think its a nice change from the rest of Europe.

Belgium would fit easily into your trip, especially if you are coming from Paris and heading to Amsterdam. Small cities, not too rural. Good food and chocolate - not exactly known for wine - but excellent beer selections. Really easy to base yourself and get around by commuter rail service.

I'd second this idea too. We spent a little over a week in Belgium this past spring and loved it.

Second half of May would be the perfect time for Greece, in particular Crete! You get your beach time and it will be warmer than Mallorca as you are further south. Spring in Greece is absolutely stunning. Crete offers something for everyone: beaches, history, nature - hike the Samaria gorge! We booked a package tour out of Munich, you can get some great fly/hotel/meal deals for a week with one of the German tour operators. Maybe fly out of Berlin?

BTW Crete is not anymore "big city" than Mallorca - both can be VERY touristy. But not at this time of year.

I have been to Belgium twice.. so thanks for suggestion,, but not really looking at visiting it again.. really thinking of going south to get some warmth ..

How about Croatia? Beautiful weather, cheaper prices, fewer crowds. Split, Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes, Hvar or another island, Rovinj and Pula. All good stops.

Sorry, Pat, I too thought that you had two weeks. With just a little over a week, then just stick to Crete, if you do decide on Greece.

I did well with Aegean Airlines, so do check them out.

"...but I'm a bit 'Franced" out." Quelle horreur ! Pas possible ! If it's off to other lands outside of France, then I suggest Poland. Use the discount airlines for the flying option...still doable within your time frame.