September 2015 Trip: France, Spain, Greece, Romania?? Itinerary Help Please.

You are learning French so stay with France. You got only 16 days. You don't want to spend your vacation in the airports. There is so much to see in France. Your options are practically endless. Paris, Normandy, Burgundy, French Alps, Provence, Alsace, etc. I would recommend Rick Steves book France, read it all and choose what you think you would like. Rick Steves books are not like Lonely Planet. He already chose the cream of the country for you. So you don't have to browse through everything.

Stay in France, go for romance, you both will be pleased.
No one night stands, create unfrenzied memories.
Set a pace, allowing grace, and the opportunity to interact with humanity.
Always a planner? That is okay, just remember you are on a holiday.
Finally, allow time to wander about and wonder what life is about
as you inhale France so deeply.

Other places that are tempting me enough to mention: Sibiu, Romania;
Santorini, Greece; Slovenia in general, and Dubrovnik, Croatia

Normally I would encourage anyone to go to Central/Eastern Europe but your list is so narrow it doesn't show much interest beyond possibly some pretty pictures you might have seen or some antidotal story. Sibu for instance is a great town; one of may great towns of Romania. You don't just go to Sibu, if your goal is to travel all the way to Romania and Sibu is the only reason; then no, dont go to Romania. Dubrovnik is a little better as a destination but it is surrounded by so many other great places i would suggest that you wait and see if your interests broaden and them plan a trip to Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia among others. Play it safe.............. go to France.

Given the many tempting options in France, I agree that you should focus on those and save other countries for other trips. If you fly into Paris, then I would sleep there. You could train through Paris to Normandy after your flight arrival, generally without reservations, but that planning seems to cause stress for other people on this forum, and is not the most fun thing to do when jet-lagged. Or you could make Alsace the first stop, flying into Strasbourg and home from Nice.

Thank you for the replies, I agree that I should stick with France for now. It is tempting to get over to Romania, Slovenia, etc., but I'd like to plan another trip in the future that makes more sense time wise. Does anyone think going from Collioure to Barcelona at the end of the trip is worthwhile? Thanks again! Also, Honfleur vs. Rouen vs. Blois for a 3 night stay at the beginning of the trip, any recommendations/input from people who have visited to help me decide which one to base in?

Re: barcelona
Would you touch your toe into the ocean in order to say you have been in the ocean?
Barcelona is a minimum three day experience and we often stay for five.

Why no nights in Paris? Have you both been there? Of your three options, I'd prefer number two, but all look good.

Marbleskies, yes I would. I traveled to the black Sea for just such an event.

Yes, I have been to Paris a few times, sorry for not mentioning that in the post. Thank you again all for the help.

James... I had to make sure and do the same when in Romania... just because:)

I have a photograph of my feet I the water. Yup, makes absolutely no sense. It was freezing cold and the back sea is sort of............well..................black. But it was a memorable moment.