need help to decide where to go

janetteaz08, you can find the things you mention in just about any country you choose. You'll get a lot of random input and suggestions here, but it helps to recognize the choices and compromises you have to make. Europe is very easy to get around by train. But you need to do some basic research: videos, guidebooks etc. Rick Steves' Europe through the Back Door is a good overview of travel there. Then get a country specific guide once you've narrowed it down.

Some things to consider: do you have any language skills? Any family history? Favorite food styles? My suggestion is what I tell friends: If they can only go one time, to one country in Europe, I'd go to Italy. But there's nothing wrong with the UK where they speak English relatively well 🙂and is chock-full of quaint and charming villages. I also suggest taking a look at the RS guided tour options (or similar companies). They can take a lot of stress and pressure off your back in an unfamiliar environment.

Brugges has everything you are looking for-small, fun beer and food tasting, quaint. Been there twice and would happily go back. Consider sandwiching between Amsterdam and Paris. Good places to fly in and out and great train connections. Have fun making your travel plans.

thank you both for your suggestions!

We were in Belgium last June and loved it! Found it a very easy country to travel in using only trains. To get ideas for an itinerary, take a look at Rick's Holland Belgium route that he uses for his tour https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/holland-belgium/belgium-holland. We basically mirrored this route last year to connect Belgium to Holland.

Have fun with your planning!

It has been a long time since I went, but Netherlands is easy by bus and train and places like Leiden, Delft, are smaller and have that 'quaintness' that you ask for. When last in Belgium, we had a car. There are some lovely chateaux with gardens that could really add to a trip...if willing to use a car. A GPS would be a must.

Hi-we spent an anniversary in Belgium a couple of years ago and fell in love with Bruges and Ghent. We didn't rent a car, just taking the train everywhere and it was awesome. We hope to go back one day. Our trip was in early May and we had mostly beautiful weather-just one day of intermittent showers and another cloudy day but otherwise great. Our favorite anniversary trip (that we have repeated a few times) is to Switzerland, however it is more expensive if you're on a budget. You have the possibility of rainy days no matter where you go in the Spring, you'll just need to be prepared for them. We always travel with plans in mind for nice weather days and a plan B for poor weather days. If you have a library locally, check to see if they have guidebooks that you can look through for ideas. Our library has lots of different ones, and if you're just researching at this point, you may not want to invest in them just yet. Happy planning!

Belgium should be reasonably warm in May or June - the rain is purely a matter of chance. Belgium is small enough to get around by train easily with one base - compare hotel prices in Gent versus Brugge, Gent might be cheaper and has a lot of interesting sights, and is very close to Brugge by train.

Also, English is very widely spoken in the Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium (not so much the French-speaking parts).

Belgium and the Netherlands do indeed have the kind of villages and small cities that would appeal to you.

However, what they don't have so much is scenery, because they are flat. I'm not saying the countryside there is not pretty, but personally, I think it is far more delightful to visit those kinds of charming villages in more mountainous or hilly regions. Austria, southern Germany, and/or Switzerland would be my recommendation. You can still get around easily enough by train in those countries.

I remember on one of my first trips to Europe I was in a small town in Germany. I woke up early and went for a walk before breakfast, out in the countryside. The area was rolling hills. I got up on the top of one of the hills, and I could see miles around, pasture and farmland dotted with small villages. It was one of those magical moments that Europe can provide on your first trip.

In the Belgian and Dutch countryside, you can't really see very far.

But you can't lose. I think wherever you go will be fantastic!

Belgium, Netherlands or Germany are easy to travel within, and I also recommend Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Italy and Greece. June is perfect time for any of the last mentioned countries.
Also, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova and Lithuania may be romantic in June, although a bit colder than the South European countries.

Thank you all so much for the feedback. It's a easier feeling to hear from people who have been already, and very helpful!

Quaint towns are all over the EU. The best collections are 1] Route de Vin Alsace, France; and 2] The German Romantic Road. The best food, and there is no second place, is France, but Germany is surprisingly good. Depending on what you think of Paris, Alsace is either the #1 or #2 foodie center of France. Wherever, never order steak. Never order beef unless its a stew. Best meat choices: chicken & veal. Then pork and lamb.

Yes, Belgium has good beer. Everybody in EU has good beer. France has good beer, which most tourists never realize because everybody thinks they should only drink wine in France. $$ for quality: drink beer in France, white wine in Germany. In Germany, try dunkle beer (closest America match: double bock. Try to find that.).

For something romantic, try the Romantic Hotel (a semi-chain) in Rothenburg (Ger. Romantic Road) or (my top choice) Hotel de le Remparts in Kaysersburg (Alsace) & food at Au Lion d'Or, still owned and operated by the founding family in its original building. Opened for business 3 years before George Washington was born. Or the fancier ** Michelin restaurant across the street.

Another option: take a one (Danube) or two week (Rhine & Danube) river cruise. Spring for a suite. Its not as expensive as it first looks, because everything is included (except some tips). think of it as a nice hotel room that travels with you-- no packing/unpacking everyday or so. You will see a mix of big famous cities and smaller places with both guided tours and free time. Also look at a Rhine/Mosel river cruise that includes the Route de Vin Alsace. After the Route de Vin and the Romantic Road, the Mosel is #3 for best quaint EU towns unless you want to drive around Austria.

To make your celebration really special, fly business class. You will never again want to fly coach or premium coach. Note that food and booze are unlimited, always available, and no extra cost. You get to wait at fancy lounges at the airports-- more free food and booze.

I love Belgium. But for something special I'd have to pick France (Paris and the surrounding region including Champagne) or Italy (Venice and Veneto) Both regions hit your We love historical places, cafes, shopping, FOOD

I do love Belgium and the Netherlands and I've said I would love to live there but as far as my first trip to Europe they would not be my first picks.

Thank you, I will definality look into France now and Italy was second choice. I did hear not to eat steak there! Lol.

janetteaz08 Not to eat the steak where? I've eaten steak in both places and lived to tell about it :)