Traveling to new places when you love the places you have been?

I hear there's not much outside of France to see in Europe anyways.

Europes is fantastic and every country unique and exciting in its own way. I have made a point not to revisit any cities I have been to until I have seen them all then I can go back. The Swiss Alps,
the Salzgammergut region in Austria, the Lake region of Italy, the architecture of Spain, the history in England and on and on and on. You are missing a great deal if you keep going back to France. One way to get away from that fixation is to read about what other European coutries have to offer and match that with what you are looking for. You will not be disappointed. Good luck.

I hear you, I've been to Paris 7 times since 2001. I love revisiting it and going to favorite places, hanging out more and more like a local, and discovering new out-of-the-way places. But I've also been to several cities in Italy and London which are fabulous also. Breaking out of the habit has its rewards too.

Hi Dianna,

Break away from the places we love... not yet.

We do pretty much the same thing as you. We love Bavaria, Austria and the Dolomites and every time we plan a trip, end up going back to those area's.

paul

Going elsewhere doesnt mean you abandon France, merely that you explore other wonders. Try those scary places. You might find that there are other countries that have much to offer and that have magic within.

That's exactly my problem. I love Paris & have been there 12 x. Last fall, I broke away & went to amsterdam (for the 3rd time). I'm sorta planning another trip to Paris this fall. Maybe this time I'll fly into Brussels & finally see Bruge & then take the train to Paris for a visit. Combining a trip to somewhere new along with a visit to some place I love might be the answer.

We broke away from Italy and went to Peru to hike the Inca Trail this May. Well, all I could think about was my next trip to Italy. No reason that you have to feel "guilty" about trying to break away from France. If you love it and feel comfortable there, you really haven't seen it all. Even if you return to the same place, it will change from the last trip.

I've already booked my trip to Italy for next May. I miss the country too much. I've traveled to England, France, Spain, Austria, Germany in past trips, but now I cannot think of going anywhere else in the world but Italy. Each time we return, we visit a different region. I'm not going to mention where we are going next because I want to keep it undiscovered as long as I can - or at least until I've seen it!

My bottom line....if France is where you want to go...keep going. you will know when you are ready to see someplace else. There is nothing wrong with returning over and over!

I am an Anglophile, and for the longest time the only place I would go was England, specifically London. Then a few years ago I decided to take Rick's Week in Rome tour, and I'm SO glad I did. (Must confess though, I DID combine it with a trip to London!) In 2006, I went on Rick's Week in Florence tour, bookending it with time in Amsterdam. And this year, my BF and I are going on the Paris tour. That'll be two trips to Europe with no time spent in London (with the exception of layovers at Heathrow), which I find hard to believe. But I'm so glad I've broken away from London a bit. I absolutely adore it still, but there's so much more to see, and it's even fun to compare other European cities with London, instead of only being able to compare London to Seattle.

The highlands of Scotland call me back all the time. I decided a few years ago that I did need to break out of my rut and went to France, then back to Scotland for two years and last year did a Rick Steves. I'm now itching to be back in Scotland and can't go this year. I've resorted to revisiting all my pictures and editing them and categorizing them, and setting them up to go across my desk top. Ah, I want to go! My new plan is to try and find someone to go to the Celtic Any takers? ; )

Pam

I seem to keep going back to Italy and I see some favorites and some new places while there. But I also go into some other countries while I am there. This past trip had me in the UK and Italy. Consider seeing some places in France and also venturing out to a new place that is close by, perhaps Germany, Italy or even London - London can be done as a daytrip from Paris if you want. No reason to give up France cold turkey but use that as a springboard to other EU places.

I see nothing wrong with returning to a place that you love. There is always something new to see no matter how many times you go. I've been to Ireland repeated, yet if my vacation budget wasn't already spoken for this year, I could be convinced on very short notice to plan another trip that way.

I am in the camp that says hit the new places, you will be pleasantly suprised by new loves. We do however usually plan at least one spot each trip where we cross paths with an earlier trip, the familiarity and memories are nice, but I couldn't take a whole trip of it by choice.

Diana ~ Europe is incredible,isn't it? our first trip was to France and we really loved it - my husband wants to only go back there and wants to MOVE there! I love it.too, but have talked him into going to Italy this year. I'm sure when we have completed this trip, he will want to move there, too! I think each place is so unique - the history and beauty of each country is overwhelming, you get totally taken in by each place you visit and to me, THAT is the beauty of Europe! I say see some other countries, your life will be enriched by it beyond words. But, you will probably always have a special place in your heart for France and you should acknowledge that gift of warmth & love it gives you and continue to visit between your other adventures. Happy travels!

I've been to a lot of places I loved. I'm pretty committed to using my personal vacations to see everything once before I schedule return trips.

Having said that, if I'm traveling on business and close to a place I really loved, I'll take some days at the end to visit again.

A third trip to France could be seeing new places if you pick a region or towns you haven't visited before.

You could always fly into or out of Paris and give yourself at least a couple of days there -- while you can travel from Paris to other locations. We're not doing France next year, and my husband & I are sort of sad, but we will probably be back in France on the next trip. There's no reason to feel guilty, but there are majorly beautiful places to see outside France.

I hesitate to tell you this but when you start going to new places, then you'll want to revisit them as well! We've tried to alternate, some place new, some place we've been before. If we go somewhere a second time, we try to make at least half the visit different (different part of the country, if same city (ie. Rome), different hotel, different museums, etc.)

The one great thing about wanting to return is that it certainly helps to keep us saving for the next trip!

There is nothing wrong with revisiting places you love, but there are so many new places to love just as much!

What I like to do is what several other posters have done: visit the place I love, while adding one or two new places. Having spent 6 days in Rome, with a sidetrip to Florence last year, I am going to Rome for 4 days, Orvieto for 2 days, and Florence for 6 days this year.

As a terminal Anglophyle I am also in this wonderful rut. I have actually been to Paris three times and though I would go back again and again (same road different rut?) these visits were in conjunction with trips to the UK. I promise, when I'm through with the UK I'll try someplace else. Silly as it sounds what if, once I decide to go to this other place, I don't like it?

I love going back to Paris, as well as anywhere in France, I mean, who can say they have " done" Paris in the one and two week visits most people seem to make??
BUT, I do like to see other places ,, I think combining visits is a great compromise, and in Europe this is so easy what with the amazing train system and cheapo flights making nowhere more then a few hours away!

My girlfriend and I have some places that we absolutely love in Europe, and with an upcoming trip later this summer, we are certainly going to go back to some of those places. But since there is soooo much one could see and do (and I am super, super eager to go to some new places), we are also synthesizing it with new places, so it is new, diverse, plus the added bonus of going to some places that we have been talking about ever since we were there!

When revisiting favorite places, I look for new experiences: a new part of the city, a museum with a show I haven't seen, a shop I haven't visited, a bakery/cafe/restaurant/park I encounter as I walk. In Paris recently, I bought a one-day Metro pass and rode the Metro a lot to places I hadn't been. I also love the old places along the Seine or around the Eiffel tower or the back streets of the Latin quarter. I always combine my trips to Paris with visits to other towns or countries. Paris is the dessert for me.

Dianna - We traveled almost the whole of June through many towns in 5 countries. It was awesome! As we arrived in each new destination, we proclaimed it the most beautiful, charming, etc., - that is until we reached our next destination! Whenever someone asks where was my favorite place, I am at a loss. All were fantastic and completely different one from the other. Branch out - you will love it!
Michelle

Hi Dianna, We love France too. We fly in and out of CDG and usually spend ten days or two weeks in Paris, then rent a car and it is off to new places in France or it's neighboring countries for the remaining three or four weeks; back to Paris for the return to California. Another place that we never tire of and visit often is your beautiful state of Hawaii; have spent three months there over the past five years. Have fun in France, Charlie Robinson, Lodi,California

We understand how you feel! We go to Paris each year but add on a fun new city. This time, we put a bunch of cities in a bag and drew one out. Have fun planning!

I'm in the same camp as Lauren, et al. We spend a week in Spain and a week in Paris....then a third week in a new city. There's nothing like being recognized by the owners of our favourite coffee shops when we return. But there's also nothing like getting off a plane or train in a wonderful new place to explore. Our target for 2010 is St. Petersburg....but I love Lauren's idea of tossing some place names into a hat and pulling one out! With discount airlines all over Europe, you can range far and wide to search out those new destinations from Paris.

You caught me! I can totally understand your dilema?!?. For me its Ireland. lol

My mam is from Ireland and I try to go 'home' every other year to tour and visit my many many relations.
I have travelled elsewhere: England, Wales,France etc... but always return to Ireland.

Even though I re-visit places... because I love those places/areas. I always try something 'new' in those locations. I have found some really amazing 'off the beaten track' finds.. AND that is what keeps me coming back. The last time I was home I found this beach in a tiny town along the Burren; and because I could I spent a whole day there enjoying the local sealife. Later when some friends w/two teenage daughters came I told them about this pristine beach and we adjusted their itinerary and we spent 2 1/2 hrs on this beach; which to this day was their favorite part of Ireland!

The best thing though is getting to know the locals and taking the time to decompress and just enjoy myself w/out the stress of trying get to the next stop. I love taking time to casually enjoy my favorite European city: Galway. I love the cafe's, pedestrian walkways, buskers, bookshops, and getting together w/me relations. I have never gotten bored w/Galway. There are so many behind the scenes thru its medieval streets.

Thank you everyone for your replys...
I have found like many of you even if you return to a location it is a new experience. But after reading your responses I am thinking of adding CT and Rome to my next trip to France. It seemed to be the logical addition since I will be ending the France portion in Nice. My thought is to take the train to CT- and fly home from Rome. If I am reading the train schedule right it is a 6 hour train ride to the CT from Nice. Any ideas on how to shorten this or is 6 hours on a train in a 3 week trip okay? (I will try and take the earliest train so that I can minimize the loss of a day) Has anyone done this route before? Or any other suggestions?....My route would be Paris, Provence, Nice area, CT, Rome.

To your newest question:

6 Hours is about right counting connection time. It should be about 3 hours Nice-Genova, then 1-1/2 hours Genova to La Spezia. La Spezia is your jumping off point for the local train.

I, personally, build in a 6-hour train ride at least once a week on all my trips -- so, no, that isn't too much in my opinion. I love train travel, and I use the time to relax, research my next stop, and write in my journal.

I have taken the route you would need. Plan your rail as Nice-Genova, then Genova-LaSpezia. On the Nice-Genova leg, the train will be running along a coastal track (some of the time). Were it me, I'd book a morning train for that leg, in 1st class, on the right hand side, by the window, in a car next to the dining car. Eat breakfast on the train, relax, and enjoy the views. Consider a nice train ride as 'one of your destinations'.

To your original question(s):

I always include at least a few days in a location I've seen before. I see those as my 'vacation from my vacation'; the familiar 'home away from home'. The balance of the trip is new or new-ish. I seem to always return to the Berner Oberland and/or Bavaria.

And I do agree -- the CT and Rome are a nice 'next destination' for someone who has loved France. Another good option for your next 'expansion trip' would be to add Basel/Interlaken and fly out of Zurich (but I'm biased... I love the Oberland)