Nice area again?

Shari, That's a difficult choice! While it might be "comfortable" to return to familiar surroundings and travel experience, given this might be your "last trip" to Europe you might like to try an area that you haven't yet visited. Barcelona would be a good choice!

Thanks Ken. I have yet to search condos in Barcelona. We would want to be able to be close to a promenade and beach area and we like being in the action. What I hate now is the flights from Canada and how long it takes. When we came home from Nice last time even tho we were flying business our plane broke down in Frankfurt and there was a weather delay in Canada. We were about two days with no sleep and it was a very tiring trip home even with the nice lounges to use. Being from Vernon do you know of a direct way to get to Spain? I don't think there is. Have you been to Barcelona recently? We have been to Europe (a lot of Switzerland) about ten times and I must admit it is my favorite. I hate the humid weather now so that eliminates a lot of places. What we want to do is no fuss, no muss and just enjoy three weeks of European living. I will keep browsing this forum and maybe something else will click as an option.

"no fuss no muss, enjoy European living". Sounds like you want to do what i have dreamed of doing- a small village in Provence. (I havent done that yet- but its on my wish list). that will also give you a new area

Shari, Regarding flights to Europe, unfortunately, I don't think there's any way to avoid the long flight times. I'm usually uncomfortable on long flights, but I look at them as "a means to an end", so I tolerate the cramped conditions and discomfort. My practice lately has been to connect with direct European flights in Calgary, rather than Vancouver (which avoids a bit of "backtracking"). My flight to Europe this year was about 9-hours precisely, from "wheels up" in Calgary to landing in Frankfurt (despite the Volcano with the name I can't pronounce). I'm sure of the flight time, as I timed it on a Stopwatch! The same was true in the reverse direction. My inbound destination this time was actually Rome, so I had to connect in Frankfurt, which added an hour or two of flight time which was actually quite pleasant. I've been using Air Canada for the last few years, as they always seem to have the flights that fit my travel schedule. As they're a Star Alliance carrier, I only have to check my Pack once and it follows me to the destination. I've used Air Transat in the past and always check their flights when planning my trips every year. However, they often only have departures once a week in either direction, so they don't fit my travel plans as well. They discontinue flights to some European destinations in the winter months, and switch those to "sun destinations" such as Cuba or the Dominican Republic. For YVR - BCN flights, Air Canada & Air Transat are probably your two best options. You could also consider Canadian Affair if you don't mind changing to a budget carrier such as EasyJet in the U.K. Cheers!

Shari, One point to add regarding flights to Europe...... There have been rumours circulating for awhile concerning direct flights from Kelowna to destinations in Europe. The runway was lengthened a few years ago to accommodate larger aircraft, but so far no carriers have agreed to operate on that route. Now that the new European-style Sparkling Hills Wellness Resort is open, there's been a lot of speculation that flights will be announced soon (especially as WestJet has been working on some new "partnerships" with different airlines.

Thank you Ken. I just got back from the library with books on France and Spain. If we do Nice again we plan to take the train to Aix area and spend a couple of nights. We get a reasonable price on the condo so we feel we can just leave it as our home base. I have found business class on our points through Aeroplan via Chicago and am thinking we have to make up our mind fast in order to retain those flights. Ken, I have to say we like the action and I think three weeks in Provence may be too quiet. The condo in Nice is half a block from the beach with a view of the ocean from the terrace. We can be shopping, at the outdoor flower market or strolling the promenade within minutes.
Now I plan to check out Barcelona but from reading my own words I think we may have made up our minds. Thanks again.

It sounds like you have many happy memories of your stay in Nice, and enjoyed yourselves in your own style. I'm all for returning to places that I love and ejoying them all over again. I like to relax on vacation, too. Barcelona sounds interesting - never been there - maybe you could do a little of both? Visit Barcelona, and then go relax on the Riviera....sounds great - can I come?

Shari, one of the Dahli Lama's phliosophies for a peaceful and happy life is that each year you should visit somewhere you have never been before. I totally agree with that philosophy. There are so many wonderful places in the world let's try and see as many as we can.

Shari --
We are also active seniors and have travelled a lot. We are finding that we enjoy smaller, quieter places more than the big cities. We visited Barcelona in 2009 and found it a bit overwhelming ... very big, very busy. If you want to try something new, you could spend a few days in Barcelona and then fly to Nice. But it sounds to me like you have found a lovely spot in Nice, and three weeks there would be easy and relaxing. We have found a spot we love in Greece, and when we went there for the second time, it was even better than the first. In 2011 we'll visit again and can hardly wait.

We are seniors too. If this is possibly the last trip, then I would try someplace completely new, but also very manageable and easy for getting around. Fly to Barcelona--take the AVE to Seville(if you need a rest after flight, stay one night in Barcelona). Rent an apartment in beautiful, small, sunny, warm (no humidity) Seville for 2 weeks. The whole city is walkable, wonderful, reasonably priced food, excellent shopping and "mooching around" with lovely places to sit and rest. The architecture is unique and the people most friendly. Wonderful side trips are easy by train or bus and reasonably priced--Cordoba, Jerez de la Frontera and beaches. Then train (AVE) back to Barcelona to stay in an apartment for a week. Wonderful city, people, "mooching" and beach towns very near for a day out. We go to Europe every year and have done this trip and much of Europe. This would be my choice for a "swan song." We have stayed in lovely, modern, centrally located apartments in both cities--cheaper than hotels-saved money by providing our own breakfasts and picnics and occasionally eating out--tapas and a drink at cafes whenever we wish. Spanish trains and stations are ultra modern and accessible-lifts and clean surroundings in the smallest towns.

No - I do not think you're crazy to do the same trip again. I love the Riviera (although I have to admit Nice isn't my favorite down there, it is convenient to lots of places). Some people love exploring new places and a vacation isn't a vacation without some adventure. But some people love doing the same thing over and over again because they find comfort in knowing what to expect. You just have to decide what you want most out of this vacation. And it's okay to still like adventure, but once in a while go for something a little less "adventurous."

Thank you again everyone. I really do take your comments to heart. I have checked out Seville and it is not close enough to the beach for what we like. We can open jaw and do Barcelona and Nice but we keep coming back to the comfort of Nice. The renovated modern condo half a block off the Promenade with a view of the ocean was perfect both to walk to train and around corner for buses. I loved walking to the market each morning to get our fruit and fresh flowers. We really enjoyed treating ourselves and renting lounges on the beach for hours of reading. We think we will leave the condo for a few days and do the Cinque Terre as we missed that last time due to time restriction. Do you think I have talked myself into staying in a smaller city rather than the stresses of finding our way around another big city??

Shari, I don't know if my comments are coming too late and that you have booked your flights yet... But here goes: I love both Nice and Barcelona, but differently. I would combine both in a heartbeat! I love Nice for all the points that you make: it's PLEASANT - easy to "feel at home" and get comfortable. I can never get enough of BEING there. Just "staying there" is a misnomer, since it's so easy to radiate all around from there! Barcelona is vibrant: a fascinating, busy, big city. The beach is not nearly as pleasant as in Nice, although Barcelonetta is an interesting neighbourhood. You go to Barcelona to sightsee and eat out, just as you would in Paris. Go gaga for Gaudi! If your budget allows, I would spend at least another 14 days in Nice at the beginning and finish with a few days (3-7) in Barcelona at the end. I would open-jaw the ticket to Europe with an arrival in Nice and a return from Barcelona. In any case, you will have to consider scenarios with a connecting flight each way. There are a lot of opportunities to fly direct between Nice and Barcelona (or nearby Girona) for a one-way.