One Month - Where to Go

Jennifer - just spend your entire month in Italy... and you won't want to go home!

You can have "base cities" in Rome - Florence - Venice - Milan - and the Amalfi area; With a month or month and a half you can see islands, museums, Tuscan farmhouses, the Alps, the canals surrounding Venice, etc. The diversity in Italy is incredible, as the country stretches from the mountains to the Med! After many trips here, we just decided to stay - and so we did, now living in Rome!

So put Italy on your list and check out the "To the Boot: Italy" link and you'll see many great suggestions!

Ciao from Sunny Roma!
Ron

Well Jennifer, once you decide where you're going, I would highly recommend booking an open jaw ticket.

My first trip to Italy, I flew in to Rome and flew home from Zurich. I enjoyed exploring northern Italy and southern Switzerland. I took the train from point to point and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Spend at least 3 nights at each city - giving you at least 2 full days each location. Depending on your tastes, spend more nights in cities that offer sites you are interested in.

Best of luck on your journey before the next chapter in your life!

Read Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert then go to Italy! (I've never been there, but Italy deserves at least 3 weeks).
I went to Athens and Turkey (Istanbul, Central Turkey) in the fall and loved it. I think a tour of the Greek Islands would be fantastic. Unfortunately, these suggestions do not fit your base city requirement, but they are worth mentioning.
I also LOVED New Zealand.

Start reading books about Europe. See first what you like to see/do then decide where. A month or more is a really nice vacation, with enough time to see some parts of Europe.
I did Amsterdam, Paris, Loire Valley, Golden Coast, Benelux in 3 weeks by car. I stayed a few days in each of those cities and saw a lot.

Jennifer,

I would vote with Frances. Instead of a base with day trips...go to Greece and stay on at least 4 or 5 islands...taking the ferries and island-hopping around the Agean...you will be well rested, and not break the bank (something to consider with the pending unemployment). Besides, at that time of the year, the rest of Europe is still stuck in the transition between winter and spring...

You do not mention budget so I would say Italy or France or combo.You will have plenty of time to travel by bus or train to reach your highlight destinations. you will be in shoulder season therefore prices will be better for all incl airfare.To meet people go for a hostel to meditate try Italys convents or a combo.I have stayed 5 days ea in Venice, Rome Sorrento, Paris, Arles (Provence) &Tuscany(Siena). Last 4 are espec great base cities.Have fun planning!

I love Italy too, but to not spend a good amount of time in Paris would be a crime.

Jennifer, I completely agree with Frances about "Eat,Pray,Love" .It will make you want to travel to Italy. So will reading "Under the Tuscan Sun". I've been to Italy twice & am going in July for 1 week of our 5 week holiday.We have rented an apartment in Lerici, & will take a few day trips from there. (Lucca, Cinque Terre etc)Check out "Homelidays.com" for rental info. The majority of the vacation will be in France, where we have an apartment in Paris for a few days,& have rented a house in Perigord Noir (South West France,"Gites.com" for accomodation)It's in a Rural Village, but thre are lots of great day trips.(reading? How about "Almost French", it will bring Paris to life like the other books bring Italy to life) No Matter where you go, you just can't Go Wrong in Europe. You may not have the chance for a long trip like this again. After spending 2 years backpacking in the 80's, I have waited 20+ years before being able to go again.
Ciao

So many possibilities. First idea that comes to mind is either a loop or open jaw arc involving France, Switzerland, and Italy.

OR

Given the time of year, head for the Greek Islands.

Scrap Greece idea. I love the Greek islands, but sorry the weather will not be that nice in March or April, in fact , its not beach weather till June, so given that a whole month hopping islands seems wasted.

Italy is a good choice since the summers there can be so hot and crowded, I am sure March and April would be lovely. I was only there once over 20 yrs ago, and I just recall it being so hot and sticky in Sept even.

I think with a whole month I would start south and work north. Fly into Rome and fly out of Paris. Look at cheap airlines to take you from Venice to Paris maybe,, so Rome, Florence, Venice, then Paris with many daytrips or even a few nights in Loire Valley.
You have alot of time to plan so really concentrate on what you think you would enjoy.
Take as long as you can, 6 weeks would be great, you will NEVER regret taking the extra time, trust me, no one ever looks back and says I wish I hadn't stayed so long in Europe ,,,LOL

If the dollar is still performing as poorly in March 2009, I'd really consider a country where the dollar does at least slightly better against the local currency (or at least is equal to ours).

Given that you are in Los Angeles, you may want to consider Australia or New Zealand. You can still base in specific cities or areas and take day trips to avoid having to move constantly. Another option might be South America.

I would personally go to Germany and Czech Republic and a few of the smaller countries around there. I absolutely loved the little bit of Germany I did get to see and Prague was just so unique.

You might want to consider walking the Camino de Santiago trail in Northern Spain. It's possible to begin in, say, St. Jean Pied-de-Port in France and walk the approximately 500 miles to Santiago in a month's time.

I walked it last year, and it was one of the best things I've ever done. Thousands of people walk the trail (the Camino Frances route, at any rate - there are other, less traveled routes) for religious and secular reasons. All along the route are albergues (pilgrim hostels) that are very cheap (5 - 10 Euros a night) - or even free. But they're co-ed (even the bathrooms), and pretty low-frills. Of course, hotels are available, and you can always take public transport if you don't want to walk the entire route (but to get the compostela (certificate) at the end in Santiago, you have to walk a certain percentage of the trail).

If you do the trek, you'll see lovely vistas, meet many interesting people, eat and drink good food/wine, and see/experience the thousand-year history of the Way at your own pace by foot. And each day will bring new discoveries and people to meet (unless you decide to stay an extra day in a hotel to further explore a city, or simply take a break).

Anyway, just an idea. Whatever path you choose, I hope it works out well!

I have to add my vote to all of the other Italy comments. We spent 6 weeks there last year and it was not long enough. I would recommend checking out the Cinque Terra. It is not only beautiful but located on a major rail route, which can put you any where in Europe overnite. But having a glass of wine overlooking the Mediteranean may make you just want to sit all day and not venture out too far.
Larry