Where to go next after Italian dream trip

I haven't managed to get out of Italy yet, but destinations that are high on our list are France & Spain/Portugal.

Or you could do something entirely different and go to Germany or the UK. I've never been especially interested in visiting Germany but after reading a lot of the helpful advice posted by Jo, Lee, and others, I'm curious and will probably visit Germany after France ...which will be after India, which will be when I can finally tear myself away from Italy! And gotta fit Spain & Portugal & Belize in there somewhere. You're not the only one with trouble choosing! ;-)

I would recommend England and France highly, but then again, those are two places I adore. I loved Spain also. Austria is another country I loved and would visit again.

In 2006, we went to four countries but we were there for a month. In 2008, we visited three countries, and again we were there for a month. In 2009 we did two, and this time we did one...England. We were only there for 11 days and decided we didn't want the hassle of getting anywhere else. It turned out that this was the best choice for us. We loved our time in England, and have decided against trying to see too many countries in one trip.

I can never tire of England the same way Rick never tires of Italy. Been to Italy once, and we want to go back for a longer stay. Loved our time in Rome.

I'd say Spain/Portugal. I love Italy too (and am looking to get back soon), but Spain in particular wowed me. We went a year after our first Italy trip and were floored. Obviously, this is a highly subjective topic, but that's my vote :) To me, even though there are obviously a lot of differences, both cultural and otherwise, there are lots of similarities too -- wonderful food, wonderful people, wonderful cultural sights. I guess you could say that about anywhere, but Spain and Portugal have embedded themselves in my heart.

I loved England and would definetly recomment Bath and Warwick along with London. We are going to Spain in March. I also have a hard time picking each year. Have fun deciding.

We went to Italy in consecutive years, which we thought we'd never top as a destination. Then last September we went to France (Paris, Giverny, Normandy, Loire Valley, Provence, Nice). The bar was raised! (We're going back next year.)

"Where to go next after Italian dream trip"

Why, SECOND Italian dream trip, of course. ;)

I went to the UK once. It was a dream trip. Then I took a second dream trip. Now I'm planning my third UK dream trip and I'm throwing France and Ireland into the mix.

very tough. i too love italy. have been three times, i always want to go back. just got back from two weeks in spain, it is nice. not my favorite though. still, italy and france are my favorites with holland, belgium and germany very close. those three can be done in one vacation. i would reccomend france. i love paris, provence is amazing, also the south of france is incredible, somewhat like italy. i have enjoyed germany a great deal. munich and the surrounding mountains are interesting and beautiful. really elizabeth i am of no help. i love all of europe. in 2009 went to ireland for two weeks. now that i think of it, the green, the beer, the music, the people. go to ireland and enjoy. have fun, be safe.

That is a tough question. I have taken a trip to Europe once every year for the past 5 years. I have trip number 6 coming up in November. In order my trips have been: Spain 17 days, London 7 days, Germany 10 days, Amsterdam/Brugge/Paris for a total of 10 days, and Vienna/Budapest/Prague/Rothenburg for a total of 14 days. How I chose my trips sometimes was based on how cheap the airfare is to get there. I wanted to do Italy in my 3rd trip, but I could not get past the $900 charge for me to travel in November. then I plugged in some German cities on expedia. And wow, I found R/T tickets flying into Berlin and out of Cologne for $400. So that made my mind up quickly on where I was going. Since I am on a quest to see Europe before kids and life bog me down, I did trips that allowed me to see a few countries in 1 trip (Ams/Bru/Par & Vie/Bud/Pra/Rot). But out of all my trips, maybe my first trip was the most special. Maybe because it was indeed my first trip, or maybe because I was fresh from a bad breakup and getting away was the medicine that I needed or maybe Spain was just so phenomenal that to this day I still feel that I could live there. People are beautiful and friendly, food is cheap, wine is good and cheap, and the surroundings are amazing where ever you go. But now that I think of things......everywhere I go in Europe, I feel that I could live there. Every trip is magical and special now. So just soul search, figure out your passions and see what country, city, or region fits into that feeling. I chose Italy this year, obviously because that was a huge empty check box on my Europe list, it was pretty cheap to get there, and due to the time of year, accommodations are cheap too. Plus, it seems like a very romantic place to travel for me and my man.

What time of year will you be traveling and how long will you have? The UK is a wonderful destination almost any time of year. Austria is great in summer, as are Norway, Denmark and Sweden- though they are very expenisve.

If you have 2 weeks- I'd probably focus on 2 or 3 desitnations that are rather close together. With 3 you could add a 4 and maybe a 5th if they are close, or do 3 further apart. Travel time between destinations can really eat into your vacation if you arent' careful.

Hubs and I are laughing because we pretty much got a wholehearted recommendation to.....

SEE IT ALL!

And we intend too.

I think we might just have to figure out when we're going and then maybe just find out where we can fly he cheapest.

I love the idea of dipping into Northern Italy again so I could lounge in Vernazza once more!

I love all of your ideas. Thank you so much.

I was stationed in Europe while in the Army back in the 70's. I loved it and traveled quite a bit actually. It has always been my intention to go back, so about four years ago (2007)I started traveling again. My first trip (tour) was to Eastern Europe. (Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna & Prague). Something to love about each of those cities. In 2008 I took an Italian grand tour (Sorrento [Amalfi Coast], Rome, Florence & Venice) with many stops in between. I will always want to go back to Italy. In 2009 my trip was to Spain & Portugal. My first trip with Rick Steves. (Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville and Lisbon) They have since broken the tour up and Portugal is separate now. I loved Spain but I'm still pining for Italy. So this year I chose to take Rick's Adriatic tour. However, this time I'm going over a week early, flying into Frankfurt staying a day then by train to Munich for three days. I love trains. I have worked for the railroad for 40 years. Then taking the train from Munich to Ljubljana, Slovenia where tour starts. The Alps are gorgeous by train I understand. After the tour ends in Dubrovnik, I'm flying to Rome for two days then taking the train up the spine to Perugia then on to Milan where I will fly home.

I think this is how I will plan my vacations in the future. Your always reluctant to take your whole vacation and go back to site you have been to before when there is so much to see that you have not been too. This way I get my cake and eat it too!! :)

Bit long winded, but there is no right way. Take some extra time and see someplace over again if you will..

Greg

Just to add to your list, don't forget Greece and Turkey. And don't miss Prague & Budapest. Krakow too.

Split your time between London and Paris and do daytrips out of them. I'm going to Italy myself for the first time in October and oddly enough, I'm taking a Trafalgar tour called "Italian Dream"!

Chances are you will have an excellent trip no matter where you go. Austria was never on my list, but I stopped in Vienna for a few days between Prague and Budapest, mainly because it was on the route. Now I want to go back to see more.

I thought that when I traveled, I would be crossing destinations off my list, instead I keep adding more.

And just when you think you can't possibly see as much of Europe as you want, you will find out that there are a few other continents just waiting for you and no less wonderful.