Vacation in Europe? - Edit: UK (London, Dublin, Scotland)

[James Bond]

Going on vacation in November with gf.

We initially wanted to go somewhere that we could relax a beach, but after talking some, we have begun looking at Europe.

I have never been to Europe, so I'm sure anywhere will be cool to me. She has been to Rome, Spain, Amsterdam.

We discussed London some. Anyone have any recommendations? We will spend about a week.

 

[foghorn67]

http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/

 

[Blackjack200]

Ibiza.

 

[Homerboy]

Paris. It's an awesome city with incredible amount of things to do.

 

[keird]

Europe seems like an awesome country.

j/k

 

[I Saw OJ]

http://www.ricksteves.com/

 

[dullard]

1 week is very little time. Choose one or two cities and don't try for more. That way you can enjoy the vacation and not just sit in planes/trains for the entire time.

Europe is very far north. Far more north than most people think. Think lower to middle Canada (depending on where in Europe of course). Thus, it is cold in November. The warm ocean helps, but not enough. So I'd focus on southern Europe if I were you.

For a romantic trip, I'd suggest the Amalfi coast on southern Italy. November should be reaching the end of their tourist season and you'll have the beaches mostly to yourself.

Southern Spain is also quite nice and November weather should be good enough. Grenada is a great place for example.

But I'd really look into the Greek islands. Google "Greek island november" to see which ones are still thriving for tourists in November.

 

[ichy]

I visited Madrid this Spring and had a blast. Paris is nice but craaaaazy expensive. Florence and Rome are both great cities. My recommendation would be to hit up Barcelona and Madrid, but this obviously depends on what you're looking to do.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Paris. It's an awesome city with incredible amount of things to do.

This. The wife and I took our delayed honeymoon in Europe last November. We lost a day due to a plane snafu, but we spent 6 days in Paris, 5 days in Rome, and 2 days in Florence. Paris is an awesome city and we could've spent the entire time there and not run out of things to do. I like Rome for the history (the ruins, Vatican City), but my wife wasn't overly fond of it. Florence was also awesome.

Southern France and the northeastern part of Spain (the Barcelona area) are really nice too.

I've been all over the world and I can say that even though I was skeptical about going to Paris, it is probably my favorite international city.

EDIT: As another poster said, 1 week isn't enough time. Keep in mind you're going to lose most of a day getting there and most of a day getting back. Shoot for 10 days minimum and maybe explore Paris. Things like the Louvre, Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Versailles, etc.

 

[moshquerade]

watch this for some good suggestions:

 

[Homerboy]

This. The wife and I took our delayed honeymoon in Europe last November. We lost a day due to a plane snafu, but we spent 6 days in Paris, 5 days in Rome, and 2 days in Florence. Paris is an awesome city and we could've spent the entire time there and not run out of things to do. I like Rome for the history (the ruins, Vatican City), but my wife wasn't overly fond of it. Florence was also awesome.

Southern France and the northeastern part of Spain (the Barcelona area) are really nice too.

LOL Dude I swear we were seperated at birth.
We too did a Rome (5 days) and Paris (6 days) delayed honeymoon (in October of 2000). We loved Rome... loved it. But Paris... man I could go back there over and over. It was just so comfortable and enjoyable. I felt like I was in a postcard the whole time.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

http://www.ricksteves.com/

Rick Steves books are a MUST for international travel. You can save so much money and time with his tips.

 

[threeringbinder]

do ibiza first...then end it in amsterdam.

 

[zinfamous]

Paris. It's an awesome city with incredible amount of things to do.

yeah, but don't go with GF. you will break-up.


OP: South of France should still be warmish in November. Or hit the Greek isles. Sicily would be rad, too. ...this is if you want to do Beach/Europe.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

LOL Dude I swear we were seperated at birth.
We too did a Rome (5 days) and Paris (6 days) delayed honeymoon (in October of 2000). We loved Rome... loved it. But Paris... man I could go back there over and over. It was just so comfortable and enjoyable. I felt like I was in a postcard the whole time.

Great minds think alike, eh?

Yes, you know those movies that depict Paris as some quaint, magical place? It really is like that, isn't it? I admit, I didn't want to go to Paris. I had been through the Paris airport (CDG) a few times on my way to Toulouse in southern France and didn't care to see the city. I am glad my wife convinced me. It was so freaking awesome. The plane snafu cost us a trip to Versailles, but we plan on going back eventually and probably seeing more of France.

I was first in Rome in 2003 and then again last fall, and quite a bit had changed. My wife really didn't like it that much (or so she says) but she appreciates the ruins and all the architecture we saw (such as the Pantheon, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, etc). We'll go back to Italy again as well because we both want to spend more time in Florence and the rest of Tuscany, and I hope we can squeeze a couple more days in Rome because even though it seems dirty and rough compared to Paris, it still has lots of cool things to do.

OP: As another poster said, review the Rick Steves material. He gives many invaluable tips on how to save money and things such as getting around long lines. We were in Paris in November (off season), and the lines at the Louvre were still huge. Fortunately, we learned from Rick Steves about the Paris museum pass, bought them at a tobacco shop close to our hotel, and were able to literally walk right in through a side entrance.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

yeah, but don't go with GF. you will break-up.

I was with my wife and it was hard, that's for sure.

OP: South of France should still be warmish in November. Or hit the Greek isles. Sicily would be rad, too. ...this is if you want to do Beach/Europe.

Paris wasn't that bad last November. We left the day before Thanksgiving and stayed there until 12/1 or 12/2, when we left for Rome. It was cool and we had rain, but it wasn't freezing. You DEFINITELY don't want to try Paris (or much of Europe, for that matter) in late spring or summer, as the crowds will be huge and it can get very hot.

 

[James Bond]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll definitely check out the books. Someone above mentioned the Greek Islands, and I know that's one of her top picks... Gonna have to check it out.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Going on vacation in November with gf.

We initially wanted to go somewhere that we could relax a beach, but after talking some, we have begun looking at Europe.

I have never been to Europe, so I'm sure anywhere will be cool to me. She has been to Rome, Spain, Amsterdam.

We discussed London some. Anyone have any recommendations? We will spend about a week.

The exchange rate will kill you.

 

[zinfamous]

The exchange rate will kill you.

no it won't.

 

[zinfamous]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll definitely check out the books. Someone above mentioned the Greek Islands, and I know that's one of her top picks... Gonna have to check it out.

Check out Mykonos. careful though--when they suggest taking the ferry to the "naked party island," make sure it isn't the "naked GAY party island."

that happened to a guy I know.



as for Spain, Ibiza is overdone, spring breakish party island. fuck that. If I want to party with sub-adult douchebags on a beach, I'll head to Myrtle Beach.

the best thing is usually to head to the less-traveled areas. (...which Mykonos is not, actually)

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

no it won't.

Really, the Euro is at an almost 30% premium over the dollar.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Of course, you can visit a Eurpoean country that's not on the Euro, or a cheaper country that is. I tend to visit the countries on the bottom of the list (the more expensive ones).

1. Armenia, using home stay
2. Ukraine, using home stay
3. Moldova
4. Bulgaria
5. Slovakia
6. Romania
7. Armenia, using a hotel
8. Albania
9. Lithuania
10. Latvia
11. Estonia
12. Serbia
13. Poland (excluding Krakow)
14. Czech Republic (excluding Prague)
15. Hungary
16. Macedonia cheap
17. Montenegro (excluding Podgorica)
18. Croatia
19. Podgorica
20. Slovenia
21. Portugal
22. Southern Spain
23. Krakow
24. Turkey
25. Southern Italy
26. Greece
27. Prague
28. Northern Italy
29. Netherlands
30. Sweden
31. Finland
32. France
33. Austria
34. Ireland
35. Norway
36. Switzerland
37. Denmark
38. Ireland
39. Britain

 

[zinfamous]

Really, the Euro is at an almost 30% premium over the dollar.

closer to 20% right now, but that doesn't matter.

it makes very little difference in the end.

I've traveled on both sides of the exchange rate, and the current favor of the euro is nothing like what the dollar had over the Franc or the Lire, or even the Deutch Mark. don't even start on the Eastern European currencies.

In MOST countries, cost of living is still comparable, so cost remains about the same in the end. advising someone that the exchange rate will kill them is some sort of xenophobic argument that fears other "patriotic Americans" traveling outside of their comfy confines for a spell to see what the rest of the world is like...

This does not apply to Dublin, though, where everything is priced to keep everyone the fuck out. It's crazy.

OP: stay away from Dublin.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Really, the Euro is at an almost 30% premium over the dollar.

$1.20 to $1.30 = 1 Euro has been pretty typical for the past 7 years or so. It has occasionally dipped lower, but has also gone as high as $1.60 = 1 Euro in 2007. So no, it won't kill him.

 

[zinfamous]

Of course, you can visit a Eurpoean country that's not on the Euro, or a cheaper country that is. I tend to visit the countries on the bottom of the list (the more expensive ones).

1. Armenia, using home stay
2. Ukraine, using home stay
3. Moldova
4. Bulgaria
5. Slovakia
6. Romania
7. Armenia, using a hotel
8. Albania
9. Lithuania
10. Latvia
11. Estonia
12. Serbia
13. Poland (excluding Krakow)
14. Czech Republic (excluding Prague)
15. Hungary
16. Macedonia cheap
17. Montenegro (excluding Podgorica)
18. Croatia
19. Podgorica
20. Slovenia
21. Portugal
22. Southern Spain
23. Krakow
24. Turkey
25. Southern Italy
26. Greece
27. Prague
28. Northern Italy
29. Netherlands
30. Sweden
31. Finland
32. France
33. Austria
34. Ireland
35. Norway
36. Switzerland
37. Denmark
38. Ireland
39. Britain

and just b/c it's not on the euro, doesn't mean it's "cheaper." The Lat (Latvia) is worth 2x the Dollar. That's more valuable than the Euro, more valuable than the Pound. By your logic, no human could afford to live there, much less travel.

But they can. Why? Cost of Living.

Your arguments suck balls. (was in Latvia 2 years ago)