Hello! I’m hoping to get some suggestions for a trip I want to plan for my daughter and me for next summer. She’ll be graduating high school and I’d love to plan a special get away for the two of us. I’m looking for ideas for one week, but can add a day or two. Ideally I’d love to have one home base with options for day trips but could do two spots if getting from one destination to the next wasn’t too difficult. We’ve been to Europe twice with the whole family. First time we saw Florence, Almalfi Coast (stayed in Praiano), and Rome. Next trip we started in Senigallia, then saw Venice, Lake Como and then up to Switzerland to Wengen and Lucerne. We love Italy and my daughter would love to go back and see more, but I’m open to other countries. Hoping for a city to explore with some historical sights, shopping, great restaurants but also want to incorporate some natural beauty and time relax on the water. Please help give me some ideas of places to look into! Thank you!
Posted by
Boston
1740 posts
Verona - romantic, historic, and well connected. Day trips possible to Venice, Padua, Vicenza, Ferrara, Trento and Rovereto, as well as tours through the wine region of Valpolicella.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8612 posts
Since you've been to Italy twice, I'd consider Paris. Lots or things to interest a young woman there.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11464 posts
Paris or London, each have stellar opportunities for day trips, historical sights, shopping and eating. We’ve spent at least 5 full weeks in London over the years and still enjoy short stays. We’ve spent a full week in Paris twice as well as several 2 to 4 night stays and again, stop back when we can.
If you can stretch your trip to 10 nights, fly into one and out of the other connecting by Eurostar, spending 5 nights in each great city.
Editing to add, I know you said Italy but…Paris and London!
Posted by
Michigan
770 posts
Paris -London is an easy combo with lots to do.
France is nice. Paris, the Chateau country and or farther South. My father and I did a trip to the South of France a few years ago. The French Coast between Monaco and and St Tropes is gorgeous with lots to see. And Avignon with its wall city and the popes palace is nice and Nimes with its Roman viaduct and miniature coliseum (when compared to Romes) and the surrounding area is nice
Germany is also nice. Lots of castle and mountains. A day. Or two on the Rhine. The famous castles of the Mad King in Bavaria. And the ancient cities os the “Romantic road”
I would suggest you and your daughter sit down and watch a few of RIcks “Rick Steves Europe” videos.
The one On Germany/souther Germany Bavaria, and a couple on France/Paris. Have your daughter keep a note pad or her phone in note mod and have her write down places that she sees in the video that interest her.
Watching these videos may give you and her some ideas of places that may interest her. Depends on what she likes. And you may be surprised what the list will show you. I have a friend that did that with his wife and daughter and the trip to Italy turned into a trip to France.
Whatever you do, if you want a “sight seeing trip” vs a vacation on the beach type of experience I would suggest you visit somewhere new. I know that a lot of folks here say to not worry about it and expect that you will be back. But most people unless they are tour guides like Rick Steves or ur er wealthy only will get to Europe a few times in their lifetime so no point in duplicating your sites.
As much as I loved Florence and could spends a few weeks there the reality is if I went back to Italy I would probably skip Florence as I have seen it and visited the “highlights” and my time/money would be better utilized elsewhere seeing things I have not seen before.
So take a look at Ricks videos. They will help you find places of interest as well as extending the enjoyment of the trip as you can start getting into the trip know by spending time with you daughter viewing options and discussing what. Looks fun and what she is not so interested in.
Posted by
Jersey City
5 posts
Puglia. Lecce and the Salento coast — stunning and amazing food. Or Sicily (Palermo, Cefalu, Siracusa, Taormina, etc.) for breathtaking views, food, beaches, etc. You can’t go wrong with either one.
Other options: lively Bologna as a base with day trips to Parma, Modena, Ravenna, etc.
Padua or Vincenza as a base with day trips to Verona, etc.
Posted by
Atlanta
5030 posts
...my daughter would love to go back and see more...ideas of places to look into!...
Since this is her graduation trip, I'd lean toward going to the place(s) that appeal to her. She might surprise you with her ideas. If you only have one week (plus a day or two), I'd opt for one place and do day trips from there. That would eliminate losing most of a day relocating. Someone mentioned Verona as a home base and that sounds like a great idea. Same for Paris. Although one can spend an entire week or more just in the city, you'll still be able to do a day trip or two if you like. I know this sounds very general, but it is her graduation trip, and who knows when you'll be able to do another with her like this.