Last year my wife and I took our "vacation of a lifetime" spending 30 days in Italy during May and June. We basically did Rick's "Best 17 days in Italy" tour but stayed longer some places and added a few stops. We mostly stayed in small family hotels and private rooms - absolutely loved it.
We're hoping we can take another trip in 2008 - about the same time of year. We're wondering if you experienced European travelers can tell us what are your favoite destination(s) besides Italy? In other words, how would you spend your 30 days?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
At least 12-15 days in the UK. I love Scotland, Wales and England. We've been more than 40 times and I still have things I want to do and see. Then 5+ days in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Then another 5+ days in Austria and the Bravarian part of Germany.
Posted by
Arlington, WA
993 posts
I love the UK and have been here many time but nothing approaching 40! I'd start out in London and drive southish to Rye then make my way West. Not to Lands End but possibly St.Ives and from there in a northerly direction taking in Glastonbury and Bath. I'll stop in the Lakes District and go to Iron Bridge Gorge and hope I can make it to The Black Isle before it's time to start back. On the way back I'll come thru Whitby, Straiths,York and into Lincolnshire and Norfolk, to see what I can see, before heading back to London.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
If you want to spend 30 days in just one country, as you did last year in Italy, you could sure see a lot of France in 30 days. You could decide on your itinerary the same way you did with Italy, looking at Rick's suggestions in his France 2008 book. Lots of other books out there as well. Of course Paris would be a destination; you could include the Loire Valley; Burgundy region; Champagne region; Normandy region; Dordogne-Bordeaux; Provence region; and much more.
Posted by
cochranville, pa, usa
322 posts
We've been to France 9 times and have never run out of new things to see. As the other poster stated Paris , Loire, Dordogne, Provence, Burgundy, Cote D'Azur, Alsace etc.. You could easily plan out a 30 day trip but don't try to see the whole country in one trip. Savor the different regions. There are many great B&Bs throughout France.
We've found that flying Air France it's simple to fly into one airport and out another.
Also if you plan to rent a car look into leasing through the Peugot or Renault programs. Brand new car and includes all insurances.
www.autofrance.net
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
712 posts
If you do England, be sure to drive up to and spend some time in the Cotswolds. Pick a place like Stow-on-the-Wold or Upper or Lower Slaughter as your place to tour from for that area. We have explored many different areas England on 4 seperate trips. We made it up to Hadrian's wall, Robin Hood's bay area and part of Scotland. We also also rented a narrow boat for a few days and went into Wales with it on another trip. Check out Karenbrown.com - she sell 2 books we used. One is all bed and breakfast and the other is Charming Inns and hotel. We planned some wonderful bed and breakfasts to stay at ahead of time choosing the ones in our price range. May and June are a good time to visit because the children are still in school and not on holiday. We did the southwest area on another trip. My sister took the Queen Mary 2 from New York to London to start her trip last May. I hope to do that some day.
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
We did 9 weeks in Spain and Portugal and loved it. Out of the way places, like Merida (in Extremadura= Roman capital of Lusitania) La Coruna (in northwest corner, like Seattle in US)and Cadiz ( in southwest, founded over 3000 yrs ago by Phoenicians and thus older than Rome) were highlights. Lisbon is so hilly that it makes San Fran loook like the children's version!! We also spent a few days in northern Portugal (Viana do Castelo- a town we heartily recommend) and came across the friendliest people everywhere.
The following year , during a much loonger trip we spent 5+ weeks in Poland. This is a country that is lightly visited but great. Krakow is fantastic and places like Zakopane (the Cyrhlla section) are mountain towns not too be missed. Food wonderful and so much is very cheap