Seeking the wisdom from the RS travelers....I would like to surprise my partner with a 36hour getaway ...
We will already be in Europe -
We would fly out of Barcelona
Dates: 3rd week November 20-24 - (any combo of days )
Open to any place other than France/Spain/Portugal
Thx in advance
Michele
CANADA
Look at any place you can get a short direct flight. Since 36 hours is not a lot of time, it's best to minimize transit time. Do you know your partner's interests in terms of other cities? There are A LOT of different options....
Thank you Agnes- agreed! My thoughts were to go anywhere on short haul flight 1-2 hrs-
He'll enjoy coffees, museums, people watching walking through local neighbourhoods ...any suggestions 😉 Thanks for the link
Michele
Ok, I'd pick Malta because 1) it's interesting, 2) it's unique, and 3) it's way south so it's warmer than other places at the end of November. It feels sort of like Italy but also very distinct. The fortifications of Valletta are really cool and the whole island is small but has lots of interesting sites packed into a compact area. Plus you'll get those empty stares on your return which are priceless (Malta? Where's Malta? Why did you go there?)....although you can just say Game of Thrones and that usually keeps people at bay :-)
Outstanding Agnes! looking into it right now....and seems there are direct flights from BCN too -tx.
A two hour flight means c 6 hours door to door, therefore 12 hours return. Your decision if you want to spend 12 out of your 36 hours in transit.
Nowhere in Europe is likely to have good weather in November, save for the Canary Islands or Cape Verde and they are further away. Daylight hours will be limited. The weather would be better if you headed further south to Morocco, which would offer a different experience to Europe.
I would opt to travel to southern France or Spain by train (I know you said not France or Spain as I am sure there will be places that you haven't previously seen. Palma on Majorca is a great place to people watch and a short flight.
I like google flights better than skyscanner. The map interface is easier for me.
Here is a map showing your possibilities leaving on the 20th and returning on the 22nd of November. You can adjust the dates anyway you want and see which cities are available. https://www.google.com/flights/?hl=en#search;f=BCN,YJB;t=r-Europe-0x46ed8886cfadda85%253A0x72ef99e6b3fcf079;d=2017-11-20;r=2017-11-22;s=0;mc=m
Round Trip to Budapest is $62 for instance (and the Christmas Markets are open!!!!!).
https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/destinations/budapest/
Many destinations from Barcelona, such as Ryanair's service to Budapest only run once a day, so you will need more than 48 hours, not 36 hours for this trip. Budapest is more than 2.5 hours flying time so more than 7 hours door to door.
If using budget airlines, check carefully which airport they use, as the airport can sometimes be 40 miles out and take time to reach.
November can be foggy in parts of Europe, so flights can be delayed. Have you considered taking the train somewhere? Less likely to be delayed and a pleasanter experience.
I've been to many wonderful places in Europe (and to Marrakesh, though not Malta), and there is nowhere I would go willingly by plane if I had to be back within 36 hours. Have you been to Girona? It's easily accessible by train and would be a perfect 36-hour getaway. What about Zaragoza? Tarragona? Valenica's at least 3 hours by train, but that's much less hassle than flying.
Not really sure how the 36 hours works. The Budapest trip i used as an example would be 46 hours door to door. The Malta trip pointed out would be about 44 hours door to door. Reduce the trip to an overnighter and you end up with less than 24 hours. YOu would really have to be creative to come close to 36 hours.
We do short flights on about half our trips. Generally for a 2 night stay someplace. Usually to see something unique or attend a holiday or festival. But sometimes just for the heck of it; Moscow for the Bolshoi, Jerusalem for the first day of Hanukkah, Kyiv for Independence Day (all cheap non-stops out of Budapest).
I guess we have just been efficient as adding 3.5 hours to the flight time as always turned out to be a real prediction of the total travel time on our junkets. With a train i add 1.25 to the travel time for the same door to door comparison. Again, has always worked for us.
But yup, you gotta plan it around the discount carrier schedules. And you have to travel light if you want the cheap fares. But on a two night trip, that works.
Thanks all for your great suggestions and tips - much appreciated! The intent around 36 hrs/ 2 nights etc... is to merely be adventurous, spontaneous (within airlines/train timetable) and have some fun. Flipping between Budapest and Malta.
The worlds a big place...enjoy ;-)
is to merely be adventurous, spontaneous
I understand. We call them !Bonsai! side trips. We swoop in, do something and then leave as quickly.
Fly to Tirana, then go south to Berat and ride the rapids in Osumi Canyon. Or, fly to Podgorica and go to Zabjalk for the zip line over the 2nd deepest canyon in the world. Okay, neither works in November. But that's the concept. I would look for Christmas Markets, skiing, independence days, music festivals and cultural festivals. Maybe bear or rabit hunting. Tank driving?
By 36 hours, I assume you mean an early morning departure from Barcelona, followed by an evening return, the very next day.
So you will need both morning and evening connections to Barcelona, preferably to somewhere with minimal transit times to/from the airport.
I would pump for Venice - Vueling has an early departure from BCN and an evening return.
Or possibly Rome, Luzern (Zurich), Lake Como (Milan)
Malta wouldn't be on my radar for November. The weather could be awful. When I visited, the food was disappointing.
Italian cities are more interesting IMO.
I pointed East, because they do winter better in the East. When i go to Malta i want warm weather so i can bet the most out of it. Same with places like Venice.
