Europe - Holidays

[Smurf1976]

In short, I've never been anywhere even close to Europe so I'm thinking it's time to go for a holiday.

Have the time and have the $ (and will convert it to Pounds, Euros or whatever). That's the easy bit.

Now for the hard bit - which countries? And what to see when I get there?

Basic plan thus far is fly to London and have a look around there and other parts of the UK (not sure exactly where, still trying to work that out). Then to France and that's about where my planning runs out at this stage.....

Thinking of going maybe at the beginning of Autumn so that would be September and overall trip of 6 weeks or so but I could make that a bit more or less as needed.

Any suggestions? Thus far I've got as far as looking at a map......

 

[prawn_86]

I have never heard a bad thing about Croatia

 

[MrBurns]

In short, I've never been anywhere even close to Europe so I'm thinking it's time to go for a holiday.

Have the time and have the $ (and will convert it to Pounds, Euros or whatever). That's the easy bit.

Now for the hard bit - which countries? And what to see when I get there?

Basic plan thus far is fly to London and have a look around there and other parts of the UK (not sure exactly where, still trying to work that out). Then to France and that's about where my planning runs out at this stage.....

Thinking of going maybe at the beginning of Autumn so that would be September and overall trip of 6 weeks or so but I could make that a bit more or less as needed.

Any suggestions? Thus far I've got as far as looking at a map......

In 08' I went for a 6 week tour of Europe with Insight Tours, they were simply excellent, we saw everything , much more than we would have seen on our own. Started in London and ended up back there.

Highly recommended.

 

[doctorj]

Get a map, throw some darts at it and go where ever they land. I'm sure you'll get dozens of replies listing many of the great places to go in Europe, but the truth is, if you've not been before, you won't have trouble easily filling 6 weeks and having a great time.

The big tickets - London, Paris, Rome, Berlin are all worth seeing if you've not been before. Throw in somewhere in Spain (Barca, Madrid or somewhere in the south like Seville), maybe Amsterdam or Vienna and somewhere else in Italy like Venice or Florence and you've easily filled your time. My only two pieces of advice are to use trains where possible to travel between cities and not to try to see too much. One of the great pleasures of many places in Europe is soaking up the culture.

 

[doctorj]

I have never heard a bad thing about Croatia

Ask a Serb

 

[Joe Blow]

London
Amsterdam
Paris
Barcelona
Rome
Vienna
Prague
Berlin

That's a great overview of Western/Central Europe if you have the time.

Other cities I would throw in as alternates are:

St. Petersburg
Florence or Venice
Budapest
Krakow
Munich
Madrid

If you want to visit smaller towns then the list is almost endless, as is the variety.

 

[MrBurns]

Insight Vacations

http://www.insightvacations.com/au

Everything is taken care of........

 

[chops_a_must]

The big tickets - London, Paris, Rome, Berlin are all worth seeing if you've not been before. Throw in somewhere in Spain (Barca, Madrid or somewhere in the south like Seville), maybe Amsterdam or Vienna and somewhere else in Italy like Venice or Florence and you've easily filled your time. My only two pieces of advice are to use trains where possible to travel between cities and not to try to see too much. One of the great pleasures of many places in Europe is soaking up the culture.

Seville was horrible. Nowhere else has been hit harder.

If you want sun, get to cordoba for the mezquita, Cadiz, Granada for the al hambra and Rhonda.

But get to the Basque Country. The best food and wine combination there is. If you're into cycling, there is some great footage at the moment.

Absolutely loved Belgium as well.

Just depends what you want.

 

[McLovin]

September = Oktoberfest, if beer is your thing.

Otherwise off the top of my head and in no particular order...

Brugge

Dordogne region of France

Lake Como

Lake Garda

Amalfi Coast

Sardinia

Prague

Budapest

Madrid

Lisbon

Santiago de Compostela

Granada

Norway Fjords (go to Tromso to experience the midnight Sun)

There's so many things to do....Maybe you could narrow it down by suggesting what you like.

FWIW, I avoid tours like the plague, especially in Europe.

ETA: Around the UK (and a small selection in Italy and France) you might want to check out The Landmark Trust. They basically preserve old and ancient buildings by renting them out at pretty affordable rates (works better if there's a group of you).

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/

Some of the houses and castles are pretty unique. They actually have houses inside Hampton Court Palace you can hire.

 

[skc]

The trouble with Europe (aside from the debt crisis) is that it is so rich in histroy and culture yet so compact compared to Australia... no holiday is long enough. You always want to see more and do more and stay longer and go to the next place at the same time.

My wife and I spent 6 weeks there a few years ago and visited UK, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Hungary and Finland... depends on what you want, I'd recommend:

South Ireland - for the charm of the Irish esp if you befriend the locals.
Barcelona - for the architecture and sports.
Vienna - for the musical history and the royal palaces.
London - It's London! And it's much cheaper than Sydney these days.

We would have gone to Italy as well if it wasn't for the Iceland volcano incident...

One potential course of action is to speak with someone in a Flight Centre shop and talk through what you wish to do and see with a consultant, grab a few tour brouchures and see if you prefer to join them or mirror / modify the itinery yourself. I am never a tour person and I love fumbling different coins and trying to work out how the train ticket machine works with no English instructions - but that's just me.

And may be you can do a debt crisis tour - the PIIGS + Iceland + Cyprus + a stop over at Dubai just to finish off. It may even be tax deductible (consult your tax advisor!)...

 

[Tink]

Good on you Smurf, you will love it

A friend of ours just did a Cosmo Tour and enjoyed it
http://www.cosmostours.com.au/2013/our-tours/Europe/Panoramas-Multi-Country-Tours

Agree, rich in history and its all beautiful -- never long enough...
UK, Switzerland, Germany, Italy etc etc...

 

[MrBurns]

Good on you Smurf, you will love it

A friend of ours just did a Cosmo Tour and enjoyed it
http://www.cosmostours.com.au/2013/our-tours/Europe/Panoramas-Multi-Country-Tours

Agree, rich in history and its all beautiful -- never long enough...
UK, Switzerland, Germany, Italy etc etc...

I highly recommend a tour first time round otherwise you WILL miss things and you need some one to tell you what's what and where........

 

[So_Cynical]

There are some great train and ferry trips.

http://www.eurail.com/

http://www.raileurope.com.au/destinations/

http://www.viamare.com/mediterranean-ferry-services.php

http://www.ferriesspain.com/1/post/2012/08/sardinia-by-ferry-from-barcelona.html

 

[Tink]

I highly recommend a tour first time round otherwise you WILL miss things and you need some one to tell you what's what and where........

I suppose it depends on the person as most that I know, including myself, have family over there, be it in England, Scotland, Italy and start off there catching up with family, and then heading off.
Some have done tours and some have gone solo after that.
I havent done a tour myself, but the ones I have spoken to were all happy with it, and have encouraged others that they see most of what they should see.

 

[lusk]

Rail system over there is brilliant, get a rail pass that will allow you to go around
Europe for the 6 weeks. You can wing it and book anywhere online couple of days in
advance.

I went for a tour for 3 months some places that were highlights for me.

UK – Lake district
Belgium- Bruges
Slovenia – Lake bled
Czech Republic - Kemski Krumlov
Croatia – Korcula & Dubrovnik
Austria - Innsbruck

Mega highlight was train trip from Switzerland- Geneva across the alps to Austria- Innsbruck
I can’t believe people get to live in some of those places.

 

[Miss Hale]

If you are heading off in September and you want to still get some nice weather include places such as Italy, Greece, southern Spain where it will be a bit warmer than the more northerley destinations. I prefer Italy to France and think Paris is a bit overated. Places like Florence, Venice, Verona and Siena however are amazing!

I have been there several times and agree with others who have said there is always more to see I've never been on a tour but you can't beat them if you have limited time and want to see as much as possible (I have done a tour in Egypt, a country I would not go to if you paid me these days ).

My favourite place is Britain and I love London, however it's six years since I was there though and people tell me it has changed a lot. I'm dreading my next visit

 

[Logique]

Rail system over there is brilliant, get a rail pass that will allow you to go around
Europe for the 6 weeks. You can wing it and book anywhere online couple of days in
advance.

I went for a tour for 3 months some places that were highlights for me.

UK – Lake district
Belgium- Bruges
Slovenia – Lake bled
Czech Republic - Kemski Krumlov
Croatia – Korcula & Dubrovnik
Austria - Innsbruck

Mega highlight was train trip from Switzerland- Geneva across the alps to Austria- Innsbruck
I can’t believe people get to live in some of those places.

Bingo.Terrific list.

 

[tech/a]

You just wont have enough time.
When travelling ----- EVERY
place you go holds its own
uniqueness.

Simply plan places to go then halve them
and spend the time you need to really
soak up the people / culture and life style.

Get out of your comfort zone.
Mingle with the locals.

Start planning No 2
because when you get back you'll be thinking of
"Where next".

 

[sptrawler]

We did 3months last year, 6 weeks to see U.K and Europe is pushing it.
I would suggest a mix, do a coach tour of U.K, it is small and can be covered in a short time. There are heaps of itineraries and U.K to chose from, also with the $1A at 68p it will be relatively cheap.
As a lot have said the trains in Europe are great and deliver you to the centre of the city.
We caught the Eurostar from London to Paris, then the T.G.V Paris to Zurich. After Zurich we caught intercity to Milan then onto Venice. Two week Eastern Mediteranean cruise, then train Venice to Rome. Flew emirates Rome-Dubia, Dubia-Perth. Booked it all online worked out great.

Of the places visited,
U.K great, been there a few times, never dissapoints.
Paris magic.
Zurich, should have spent more than one day there.
Venice, should have spent less than 5 days there.
Med cruise, good overview of places. Next time i'll island hop on ferries.
Rome four days, loved it.
One tip, if using trains keep luggage size to a minimum, you have to lug into the train. Each carriage has a space for luggage at the end, but this space fills quickly.
No matter how you do it you will have a ball.
Another one changing money in Italy was a rip off, they were taking 20% or more in the exchange.

 

[dutchie]

One of the best countries for scenery etc in Europe is Austria. Summer or winter.

And of course the rural area, towns of The Netherlands.