Please vote on my 2008 Europe trip! [Archive]

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aggie94

02-08-2007, 01:35 PM

It was supposed to be a 2007 Europe trip but we got busy and neglected the planning, plus we couldn't actually decide where we wanted to go, so now it's turned into a 2008 Europe trip, and we still can't decide where to go.

I've come up with a few combinations that interest me, although DH still hasn't offered any opinions. :rolleyes: The caveat is that the trip is on Marriott points (I have been hoarding them for years and can't wait to finally empty my bank!), which is why we're limited to particular locations -- there has to actually be a Marriott there, and one that I want to stay in. :o

Input on any of my proposed destinations would be welcome!

BTW, the Mediterranean cruise has several itineraries to choose from and can include ports in Greece, Italy, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, France, Spain, and/or Portugal.

I should also mention we are thinking late August, early September.

Laura

02-08-2007, 01:46 PM

I would love to go back to Scotland, but I think spending a week in Edinburgh would be too much time there. You could go to other places in the country but if you are forced go back to Edinburgh each night so you can stay in the Marriott Hotel then I think it would start to be pretty tiring as other places you would want to see are at least an hour (driving) away and likely more. Thus, I would probably choose the cruise.

Varaile

02-08-2007, 01:51 PM

Gosh, I would love to go to all those places!

However, I voted for the cruise as it seems like you get to see more places in such a short time rather than limiting yourself to just two Cities. Plus someone else is doing the driving! :D

sneezles

02-08-2007, 01:52 PM

I voted for the cruise because we are going to do a Med cruise in '08 with our friends from Scotland. I agree that a week in Edinburgh might be a bit long but it is a beautiful area and not all that far to places like St Andrews, Inverness or Glasgow and with your trip being in August or Sept the days are much longer that time of year.

aggie94

02-08-2007, 01:56 PM

Hmmm, I am starting to wish I had left the cruise off as an option. :eek: Honestly, it is the one I am least excited about, and in terms of ranking the 5 choices, it would be my last. I get viciously motion sick, so I am deathly afraid of going on a cruise. It would be my worst nightmare to get stuck on a boat and just feel like crap the whole trip -- not a fun vacation. That said, DH has always wanted to go on a cruise, and I thought it would be a great way to see Greece, which is a place we would love to visit. So I included it as an option but I am hoping he votes for one of the other choices first. :o

funnybone

02-08-2007, 01:58 PM

I'd go on the cruise as it's a great way to see may countries on one trip - especailly when you are undecided.

Laura

02-08-2007, 01:59 PM

jjsooner73

02-08-2007, 02:00 PM

I voted Rome/Capri. I've been to Rome and would LOVE to go back. I've heard wonderful things about Capri and not so much about Naples. There is so much to see and do in and around Rome. We saw alot (I think we were there 5 days?) but there is so much more we didn't see--more of the off the beaten path types of places.
Crusies don't really appeal to me; I've never been on one and am OK with not. I think for me personally, 10 days would be too much even with all the port stops!

SugarNSpice

02-08-2007, 02:00 PM

I was just in Capri last summer, it was very nice but I was there one day and that was enough for me. I can't imagine spending a week there, it was soooo busy. Now, I could see myself spending a week in Rome because there are plenty of museums, historical points, gardens and restaurants to visit.

Forgot to add...Capri is mostly a tourist spot and there was not much in the way of museums or points of interest. If you are going more for shopping then Capri is perfect for you.

misskitty100

02-08-2007, 02:01 PM

If you stayed on Capri would you do day trips to Amalfi and Sorrento and Pompeii?

funnybone

02-08-2007, 02:04 PM

Hmmm, I am starting to wish I had left the cruise off as an option. :eek:

Depends on the ports and how much "at sea" time there is. We are going to Tahiti in a couple of weeks and the boat only is sailing at night. There are two islands we spend two days each at too, so in reality, not much sailing time.

sneezles

02-08-2007, 02:04 PM

aggie94

02-08-2007, 02:07 PM

Maybe I am not understanding you trip correctly, but if you are limited to one hotel in a region, then for me, it would be too stressful (and tiring) to always have to travel back to the hotel. Now if you don't mind spending extra money to stay at some other hotel than I would again vote for Ireland/Scotland.

If you stayed on Capri would you do day trips to Amalfi and Sorrento and Pompeii?

To sort of answer both questions in one, day trips are fine, but yes, we would be returning to the same hotel each night in each location. So using my Ireland/Scotland option as an example, we would have one week at a particular hotel in Dublin and one week at a particular hotel in Edinburgh. Day trips would be fine, but I am not willing to shell out extra to stay at another hotel in the same country, as I am using points to "pay" for an entire week already at a Marriott. Hope that makes sense.

So basically, I am looking for locations where there is enough to see/do to keep us occupied for an entire week. And if it helps, we are not hard to please and do not constantly need to be on the go. In other words, we do not need to be out sightseeing and visiting museum after museum from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday. Down time is fine, as I love to just stroll around and pop into shops and other places that look interesting.

I have seen pictures of and heard wonderful things about Capri and I definitely think I could spent an entire week there, even if it's doing nothing but looking at the beautiful scenery (and enjoying the hotel spa). :)

aggie94

02-08-2007, 02:10 PM

Curious as to how your Marriott points work on the cruise.

Marriott points are pretty flexible, in that there are a lot of companies that have partnered with Marriott. So we can use our points to "buy" airline miles, car rentals, certificates that can be used with specific cruise lines, etc. And there are also packages where you can buy combinations of hotel stays and airline miles for fewer points than if you buy them separately. It's one of the reasons that we want to do a full week in each location -- we get a much better return on our points for staying 7 nights at a hotel versus fewer nights, if that makes sense.

We intend to use our points to cover both airfare and the hotels/cruise, whichever we decide.

luvItalian

02-08-2007, 02:11 PM

A couple years ago I went to Italy with my mom and sis. We did hit Rome (2 full days) and I loved it, I am not sure I would take a whole week because it is a city and I wanted more countryside. My mom's family is from Naples and my cousin visted there last year and told such wonderful stories of the scenery and the people. When you are in Rome are you going to travel a bit from there?

Grace

02-08-2007, 02:12 PM

The large ships have great stabilizers and you rarely feel the motion.

Sorry, but that's just not the case if the weather is bad. If you have nice weather, then I'm sure it's true. I went on a cruise and the waves were 15 ft. and the stabilizers did nothing. I mean nothing. And because the waves were so big, they couldn't even stop in the ports. So we were stuck out at sea, rocking for 4 days. Horrific. Sorry Eva. :o

(And I was on a big ship - Royal Carribbean)

Meganator

02-08-2007, 02:16 PM

I think any of those would be great trips! I have been eyeing a Med. cruise myself - there are several great itineraries! I have only been on one cruise, but the motion was barely detectable (FWIW, we looked at the purchase prices of one of those cruises and didn't think it was an efficient use of our points vs. a Eurpean city hotel week, esp. with the airfare points). Of your destinations, I have been to Rome, Barcelona, and Dublin.

Although I loved Dublin, I am not positive that it would have occupied us for a week, though. Well, we could've easily been occupied by hanging out in the pubs :p ...it isn't nearly as big of a city as the others, and a lot of things to see are more out in the country. And that, for the most part, requires driving. DH drove around with 3 of us in the car constantly making sure we were on the correct side of the road and turning into the correct lanes, etc., but not everyone would be comfortable with that...I think Ireland is better seen by moving around from place to place a little more.

As far as other locations not on your list...one of the Amsterdam Marriotts - actually I think it is a Renaissance but you can use Marriott points - is in a great location, and in a historic building (we're staying there for a couple of nights in April). A couple of others that are on our radar (but more based on good location within the city than whether 5 or 6 star, although sometimes it correlates) are Vienna and Budapest, possibly Athens (nice hotel, but I'm not clear where the city center is). I was interested in Edinburgh, but it looked like the Marriott was not really in the city center? In a historic city, we usually prefer to be pretty close to the historic city center, or at least a subway ride away, as opposed to having to drive everywhere.

But, overall, Rome and Barcelona are both great, and would easily occupy a week seeing and eating everything. Have you thought about a week in Rome and a week in Barcelona? We have considered Lisbon, but also thought it might not be worth and entire week, and would be better to spend some time driving around Portugal instead.

I haven't actually been to Europe in August, but from what I've read, some things could be closed that month - probably not the main tourist spots, but maybe some of the more "local flavor" shopping and eating spots. Also, I think a lot more tourists, at least Americans, might still be there in August as opposed to September. Or, some of your choices could be spots where a lot of the Europeans who closed up shop for August have gone to vacation...I don't really know, just something to consider about August.

Isn't vacation planning fun?

sneezles

02-08-2007, 02:16 PM

Sorry, but that's just not the case if the weather is bad. If you have nice weather, then I'm sure it's true. I went on a cruise and the waves were 15 ft. and the stabilizers did nothing. I mean nothing. And because the waves were so big, they couldn't even stop in the ports. So we were stuck out at sea, rocking for 4 days. Horrific. Sorry Eva. :o

(And I was on a big ship - Royal Carribbean)

That is awful!

Eva,
There are plenty of places to do day trips if based in Edinburgh. If you decide to go that way I have a wonderful book that you could borrow (I lent it to RebeccaT when she planned that surprise trip for her DH). The motorways are very good in that part of Scotland.

aggie94

02-08-2007, 02:29 PM

A week in Rome and a week in Barcelona is not something I had considered but it has me very interested. DH also suggested maybe a week in Rome and a week in Athens. I don't think he's super excited about Capri, as he thinks he will be bored.

Grace's experience is exactly what has me terrified of going on a cruise. I'm sure it probably does not happen often, but how sad would I be to spend all those points on a fabulous vacation just to spend it puking my guts out?? :eek:

RebeccaT

02-08-2007, 02:35 PM

That is awful!

If you decide to go that way I have a wonderful book that you could borrow (I lent it to RebeccaT when she planned that surprise trip for her DH). The motorways are very good in that part of Scotland.

i did send that back to you, didn't I??? :o

Eva, while we LOVED Scotland, and you know I have spent extensive time in Ireland, I don't know that I would be able to keep busy for a week in either Edinburgh or Dublin. Both are small cities, and while the countryside is wonderful if you just like driving around, destinations might be an hour or two away each way, so you could end up spending a lot of time in a car. Now, if you could do, say, 3 nights in Edinburgh and 3 in Glasgow, then 3 in Dublin and 3 in, say, Cork... that could be a fun trip! If you don't mind changing hotels.

If you do mind, I would do a combo of Rome/Capri. Then you'd get a city week where you can get culture and history and do a day trip or two, and a beach week where you can veg if you like, hike if you like, shop... etc. Oh, and EAT! :D

ETA: I don't know about a week in Athens. That city has amazing stuff that you can see in, I don't know, 2-3 days, and beyond that a LOT of traffic and smog. We spent 36 hours there, and it was plenty. :)

Meganator

02-08-2007, 02:36 PM

A week in Rome and a week in Barcelona is not something I had considered but it has me very interested. DH also suggested maybe a week in Rome and a week in Athens. I don't think he's super excited about Capri, as he thinks he will be bored.

We just saw a Rudy Maxa episode on Athens and environs. He took a very cool day trip to Delphi.

RebeccaT

02-08-2007, 02:40 PM

I haven't actually been to Europe in August, but from what I've read, some things could be closed that month - probably not the main tourist spots, but maybe some of the more "local flavor" shopping and eating spots.

Ooooh, I'd forgotten about that. DH and I were in Spain in August (10 years ago!), and a LOT of stuff was closed as shop/restaurant owners, along with half the city, was on holiday. If you want to vacation with people from Greece/Spain/Italy, head to a Mediterranean beach spot in August, and you will find ALL of them! :D

Jessica

02-08-2007, 02:42 PM

We spent a week in Rome in 2003 and we never ran out of things to do. I haven't been to the other places, except Edinburgh. Edinburgh is fun and you can daytrip to places like St. Andrews on the train but I am not sure I would want to spend a week there.

The only thing is...Edinburgh would be nice in summer. Rome likely would be very hot in August.

aggie94

02-08-2007, 02:55 PM

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions - please keep them coming!

I had heard that August might not be a great travel month, as it is a traditional holiday month for Europeans. But that led me to then wonder, "If they're vacationing in other parts of Europe, don't things in those parts have to be open??" September is also fine, and we don't mind hot. In fact, DH prefers it.

Rebecca, your comment about Rome/Capri (city week, then a veg week) is exactly why that combo is at the top of my list. I figure we could go, go, go in Rome and take in all the sights there, then relax for a week in Capri with some shopping, eating, lying around, spa-ing, etc. :) But I also don't want to feel like I "wasted" a week in a beautiful country lying about and doing nothing, which I can do at home (but never do, which is why I take vacations!), which is why I am now intrigued by the Rome/Barcelona combo.

Incidentally, I am embarrassed to admit this, but I am totally intimidated by the idea of traveling in a foreign country where English is not the official language. I know people do it ALL the time, and I can learn some phrases ahead of time so that I don't come off sounding like a schmuck, but still. It's probably the main reason we haven't actually planned this trip yet. :eek: And why I suggested to DH that we just go to Australia instead.

LakeMartinGal

02-08-2007, 02:56 PM

I voted Rome/Capri, with the caveat that you'd take side trips back to the mainland from Capri a couple of days! Eat your way up and down the Amalfi Coast! Pizza in Positano, seafood all over! Definitely worth it. There's lots to see in Rome -- we spent a week there, and a week in the Amalfi Coast area, and there were daytrips to Pompeii, and Vesuvius. A great trip! Don't waste any time in Naples -- it's one of the armpits of the world... good food, though..;)

kwormann

02-08-2007, 04:19 PM

sneezles

02-08-2007, 04:32 PM

i did send that back to you, didn't I??? :o

Of course you did! How else could I offer it to Eva?:p

colleency

02-08-2007, 04:35 PM

I was on one of the largest ocean liners last year, the Queen Mary 2, which is supposed to have great stabilization. We were in the Pacific, which is generally rougher seas than the mediteranean. The storms were so bad, the crew was seasick! Half of them wanted to quit.

I was lucky, and I only had seasickness a tiny bit when I let myself get hungry and on the worst storm day when I tried to read my email. :rolleyes: Dramamine took care of it, but I did feel like I was missing out because dramamine puts me to sleep.

At any rate, if you're really prone to motion sickness, you probably don't want to risk something like that with a cruise.

HejazSunKat

02-08-2007, 05:37 PM

I don't think he's super excited about Capri, as he thinks he will be bored.

Capri's a good day trip (well, depending on where you're starting from!). There isn't much there but the Amalfi coast is awesome. National Geographic Traveler magazine had it as one of their 50 Places of a Lifetime and I thoroughly agree. You could do the week in Rome and then head down south of Naples, maybe stay in Sorrento, and do day trips to all the wonderful little towns down there to keep from getting bored. It's a beach area so if you felt like taking a day to laze you could do it. You could hit Pompeii on the way down (or back).

I wouldn't worry about language issues. Neither DH nor I speak anything but English much to my eternal regret and we've never had a problem with that no matter where we've gone. Usually the smile, be nice, polite and friendly routine gets you a long way and most locals are helpful and accomodating. If it really bothered you you could always take a tour. We prefer not to do that because we like to make our own schedule but it does take some of the worry out of traveling because someone else is worrying about the logistics.

As for Europe in August I've done that twice now - in France and Italy and yes, things here and there were closed but at least in those 2 countries it was not a hindrance to our trip at all.

FWIW I'd be leaning towards the cruise if seasickness isn't an issue. I'd love to see some of those unusual destinations you mentioned. DH and I are trying to make a similar decision for this year to use up some of the frequent flier miles he's been racking up on BA with his frequent business trips abroad (he made the gold club he's been traveling so much so I must have a free ticket coming between his miles and what I have in my account!).

avariell

02-08-2007, 05:51 PM

PORTUGAL PORTUGAL PORTUGAL
:) :)
i lived in portugal and i have too much to say about it :D
it is the most forgotten country in western europe imo... it is BEAUTIFUL and full of fun things to do. if you decide to go, please PM me and i will bombard you with information ;) :D

Canice

02-08-2007, 06:08 PM

I voted Rome/Capri. I love Rome, spent a couple of longer spells (5-6 weeks) there, as well as long weekends when I was in Perugia and Siena and I never tired of it. I was in Milan and Rome the last week of August once, and ALL of Milan seemed shut down, and much of Rome (to answer your question about where they go - to the beach) though Linda's experience definitely suggests that's not much of a problem. I always spoke Italian in Rome, and of course some people responded in English (what? I don't look Italian? ;) ) but more in touristy situations such as restaurants. They were very nice and pleasant about it, but my Italian tended to be better than their English. I just don't think it's a huge priority for Italians, but I can't believe it would be a problem for you at all.

I haven't been to Capri, but everyone I knew in Rome went there regularly to soak up the sun and shop. Since I don't engage in either, it probably wouldn't be the place for me, but I'm ALL about the little trips Kay described, and that's a pretty wide range of options/activities.

Never been to Athens either, but I would be more encouraged by the notion if someone would come back and say more about it than "smog" and "traffic". :o

Hammster

02-08-2007, 07:13 PM

I'm voting for o.o. and throwing Munich, Germany into the hat. ;) Go the last couple weeks in September to enjoy Oktoberfest. Lots of other stuff to do there as well. :D Yup, there are Marriots there.

wallycat

02-08-2007, 07:27 PM

I probably want unrealistic combinations...
like a week in Italy and a week in Spain...
or a week in either of those two and a week in Scotland.

I think with all the cruise illnesses, I personally would pass on it.

Of course, I've been to Paris 4 or so times because I just love it, so maybe a week there wouldn't hurt either :p

sorry I'm no help.

Angelina

02-08-2007, 07:29 PM

Another vote for Rome/Capri. Rome is a wonderful city, and there are things you can do outside of town. There is Tivoli, there are the Etruscan sites...in Tivoli there is the Villa d'Este which has stunning gardens. There is really no villa, actually, just gardens..;)

And Capri...well, I have never been there, but I do believe that it's close enough to the mainland to just go back and forth from there. There are lots of things to see and do in that area, even Naples if you are really so inclined.
Or you could go see my grandmother! But she's on the Adriatic coast...

I don't like cruises with one country per day because it's just too much too fast. I'd rather get to know ONE place a little better than 10 places, superficially. And I like to make my own schedule. Not back on the boat at 10pm, whether you like it or not (considering I have never been on a cruise, I might be wrong...:D )

Angela

P.S. Don't worry about the language. Italians are very easy going. :)

erinlovesmarc

02-09-2007, 05:53 AM

LakeMartinGal

02-09-2007, 11:32 AM

I was in Athens a LONG time ago ~35 years! I have always been interested in Green and Roman mythology, so this was the trip of a lifetime! DH and I met there during one of his Navy cruises, and had a wonderful time (well, except for our hotel room catching on fire while we were gone, but that's another story...). We had some wonderful food, great historical sites and loved the markets! We had the best lobster we've ever eaten in a little cafe... even though one of the pigeons mistook my hair for a potty:eek: :rolleyes: It just depends on what you're interested in. I'd go back, but I'd rather go back to the Amalfi Coast!:D