Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: OIO on April 17, 2005, 08:39:47 AM
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When my parents got married, 30 years ago, they never had the chance to go on a honeymoon since dad had to work (and they were a young couple). And 3 years after they married I was born so there went any ideas of them having it any time soon.
So now their 30th anniversary is coming up, the only place my parents have traveled to in their lives has been the USA (and that being when we moved here).
And i'm gonna send them on their honeymoon as a surprise gift.
Problem is, I can only send them to one place for 2 weeks. I've considered France and Italy since its the places my mom has always wanted to see.
And I've never been to Europe so I don't really know where would be best to send them.
Venice? Paris? Rome? Maybe Switzerland (they hate the cold but heck, they've never seen snow anyways)? Holland?
Any suggestions for a 50+ year olds on a honeymoon to go?
Also, ive been told that I MAY be able to send them to Paris AND to Rome or Venice by using the EURAIL system...
problem with that is I can get them visa for France and Italy but I dont know if they can hop on the train and pass through the countries between france and italy in the train.. do I need to get them visa for those countries too?
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When you get within the EU you are free to go anywere. You only need to show yhour passport at the first EU country you land in i belive.
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Why not start in london, travel to paris by train or ferry, then down to south of france and italy?
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Nilsen, only Euro citizens can travel freely.. well and perhaps some US citizens.
But we have Colombian passports... we need visa for every country in Europe ;)
Besides, its just 12 days they'll be there and I dont think a honeymoon would be enjoyable if you're rushing from one place to another just to see the sights. One or 2 nice places where they can stay a week each in and explore and enjoy it would be better imo.
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Fly to London, take Eurostar to Paris, hop on train plane automobile and see Berlin, drive over the Alps and go to Lugano in Switzerland (frigging awesome), head down to Italya nd take in Harry's Bar in Venice, see Rome, cheap flight back to London, go home, bore everyone to tears about your trip.
Some Links
http://aplacelikehomelondon.com/prop09.html
London Apartments by the week
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/time_table/journey_requirements.asp?&T2ID=8202_2003926113030
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/
http://www.eurostar.com/dctm/jsp/index.jsp
Rail travel
http://www.easyjet.com/
http://www.expedia.co.uk/daily/home/Default.asp?CCheck=1&
Bring a laptop.
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France and Italy are great choices. I'd highly recommend renting a car though...
Start 'em Paris. Then Dijon, Lyon, Provence, CoteD'azure (Monaco, Nice, Cannes) then into Italy... Milan (I'd skip it, personally)... stop for an hour in Pisa and wind up in Florence. If they have enough time, go down to Rome. If not, head back up to Venice. Instead of flying out of Paris, they could fly out of Zurich instead, and that way they can see Switzerland. So, north to Lugano, the Alps, then Interlaken then Zurich.
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Don't let them stay in Paris too long...it could seriously affect their trip and there opinions of French people in general.
Milan is a very cool place too btw if they go to Italy.
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whats in milan? in Lugano?
And again, I dont think a rushing along trip is a good idea.. I need to pick one or 2 good places to go and stick them there for a week so they can walk around and enjoy the place.
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Paris is the only place I could see staying for a week. Maybe Rome. It's too long for everywhere else... 'cuz most of the smaller in-between places are just to small. You've basically seen it all in 2 days.
Unless they go for the lounging around type of vacation. In that case, it'd probably be hangin' out on the beaches of Cote D'azure. If they like casinos and stuff like that then it's good for that to. But it's not really France, or even Europe... I couldn't see going all the way over there just to do that.
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Paris is a good idea. It has many beautiful old buildings.
They also could go see monaco or st. Tropez just for that south france feeling.
South france Cote d'Azur is very beautiful.
and its sunny and warm.
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Thnx. So far it seems that flying them into Venice for a week then putting them on a train to paris for the 2nd week of their stay is the best thing to do.
My parents aint the casino or lounging types.. they like to explore and walk around places. Beaches may be sort of appealing, but then again we live just 30 minutes from the Atlantic ocean :P
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You can't go wrong with those two, OIO. They'll have a blast.
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In 2002 my wife and myself went to Rome, we spent 5 or 6 nights in Rome and took in as much as we could see (Vatican, St. Peters, Coliseum, Catacombs and so on). The we took the Train to Veince and spent 3 nights there (could have spent more) then we went back to Rome for 3 more nights. We also took some day trips from Rome, went to Pompeii and such. There is so much to see and do there...even if it's just sitting in a local cafe drinking coffee and people watching...
BTW it's about a 5 hour train ride from Rome to Vience, pay for 1st class (about 20 euros more) so that they can access the dining car. It was pretty cool sitting there eating good food, drinking good wine and just taking in the country side.
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I've heard nothing but negative things about Venice. Over crowded by tourists, over priced, bad service, dirty and smelly.
I'd recommend going somewhere else in Italy and making a day trip there.
There's plenty of travel related forums on the net. I'd suggest looking at them for advice.
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What about Capri?
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Send them to Italy. Base them in Tuscany. Rome, Florence and Pisa are all nearby. Weather is nice and people are great, chow is outstanding.
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only capri I know has her own website and she's very cute ;)
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Send them to balmy Albania. That way, you know they'll never dare to ask you for anything!
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Well, my favourite city is Paris, it truly is incredibly beautiful! So I'd say send them to Paris for a week which should be enough time to see all the major attractions and the main galleries/museums.
I haven't been to Rome but I've been told many times that it's even more beautiful than Paris. Therefore send them there for the second week! (I'm going to Italy next month but sadly not to Rome! :()
If you do use the Eurorail then I'm not sure what the routes would be from Paris to Italy. I do know that where I live in Münich there are international train services to Paris, Salzburg, Vienna, Venice and Rome as well as the other major international cities.
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I am not fond of Paris, so I won't speak for it. If your parents are into "culture tourism", it's a must see... as is Rome. If you wait another couple of months, the weather should be bareable(sp?) up north (Amsterdam, Bruges, Antwerp...) ... those are also "must see culture spots". Keep in mind that there is a lot of walking involved (I don't know the age of your parents).
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I always preferred Utrecht to Amsterdam! :)
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Holland is your best bet.
Amsterdam is amazingly beautifull; and has more than enough theatres, cinemas and museums for any 12 day stay; plus the whole country is small enough (and public transport good enough) that they'll be able to get some meningfull site seeing in in so short a day. (Northern Holland is a kalidiascope of colour in the spring due to the tulips; southern Holland is well forested and just waking up to spring).
Another bonus is that the Dutch are probably the best linguists of Europe (together with Scandanavia); so English will be no problem; and there'll be a surprising amount of Spanish speakers too.
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Spend the entire two week period in the area between Mannheim, Germany and Rome, with the major portion of your time in the Alps.
Lucerne...SIGH!!
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There is so much variety in Europe, it's hard to give an answer without knowing a little more about them?
What languages do they speak other than English?
What sort of things do they like doing - outdoor / countryside stuff, museums, theature, restraunts, historical sites, cycling?
Are they active - i.e can walk about with ease - or do they need to get taxis from A to B? This will also influence the route - trains / ferries are more 'fun' but I wouldn't recomend this for someone who may have trouble walking up some stairs.
Is weather important? Even in the height of summer, the climate in the north of Europe - UK, Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia etc - is 'changable' to say the least :)
Give us a little more to chew on and I'm sure us Euroweanies can come up with some good ideas ;)
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the south of france is cool but i would shy away from paris. imho the best place to start is in madrid and work your way south to barcelona then follow the coast through france into italy. naples is a must see. especially sorrento and the blue grotto. you will be fleeced in classic italian style but it is worth the experience. in the north the best place to go in france is brussels which if i'm not mistaken is the capital of france. i would stay away from england it's pretty much terra incognita to us romance language speakers and lovers of the culinary arts. the food bites back, the beer comes straight from the toilets into taps and i hear tell there be monsters especially if manchester loses. beware of people in red jerseys with white numbers especially if they are wearing #7. :D
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Well they speak spanish since its native language and english is not up to conversational level but they can make themselves be understood.
I was trying to send them to the old 'glamour' places you know? They've never travelled and I think they'd enjoy more being able to go to the places they hear so much about... and in my country it was a sort of 'dream' for people to go to paris or some romantic italian city in the 1950's-1980's way of thinking. So I guess my mom will probably enjoy it the most. And my dad is the 'we're not lost i'm exploring' kinda guy and he loves to walk and find new places by himself.. so I think Venice sounds ideal for both and Paris would be the 'grand finale' before coming back.
I thought of sending them to Spain but... spain is like Colombia in many ways so there wouldnt be the 'wow' factor in every day of their stay.
So I guess ive decided venice/paris .. and if they want to train to Rome and see the sights they can do it :) .
Now the big question: WHAT time of year would be best to travel? Aka no bad weather, no heat waves (lol)?
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Last question - how long have they got over here? A week? 2 weeks? A month?
Weather wise, it's a bit of a two edged sword. The time of bad heatwaves in southern europe is July and August, but that's also the best time to visit northern Europe.
Also, do they have to fly in/out of the same place, or could they, say, fly into London and fly home from, say, Rome (just an example, not sugesting they do that)
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2 weeks is what im planning.. its their vacation from work.
They would be flying in to venice, spend a week there, then train to paris, spend the last week there and fly out of paris to florida (home).
So i think this is all 'southern' europe.
What time of the year in paris/venice has no rainy days or heatwaves and the place is blooming (no snow)?
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Send them to Swiss ... its lovely country. :)
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Venise/Florence/Paris are great choices, you can't go wrong with them.
To Storch :
in the north the best place to go in france is brussels which if i'm not mistaken is the capital of france.
It will please Saintaw :rofl
Brussel is the belgium capital, Paris the french capital.
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Originally posted by Ouaibe
Venise/Florence/Paris are great choices, you can't go wrong with them.
To Storch :
It will please Saintaw :rofl
Brussel is the belgium capital, Paris the french capital.
quoi? j'suis incorrect? say it ain't so :D
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Originally posted by OIO
Now the big question: WHAT time of year would be best to travel? Aka no bad weather, no heat waves (lol)?
September.....still nice and warm and most of the "large" crowds have gone back to work or school.
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OIO,
Venice absolutely stinks during the summertime (stinks in the sense it smells very bad => algae fermentation). I'd wait before the weather cools a bit before going there.
Italian alternatives are Firenze, Pisa, Roma, anywhere in Toscanna... be aware that the last time I took a train in Italy, I saw chicken running in the compartment ;)
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Storch, I'm eagerly awayting your visit in Belgium...tap tap tap tap tap tap... ;)
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Regarding weather: I can only comment on Münich, just north of the Alps, the weather has been very good. All the snow went about 6 weeks ago and we've had hardly any rain and plenty of sun (there is still snow in the Alps). All the leaves are growing on the trees now so the weather can only get better.
I think you'll find they speak English in the centre of all major European cities. I speak very little German and I haven't had any problems here. My French isn't much better but I managed in Paris (I found I had to try to speak French in Paris otherwise they'd ignore you). Netherlands they all spoke English too.
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Hey Saw'sage, I'm eagerly awaiting your visit to Münich!! :)
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Aye Nexx, I don't know the date yet, as I've had changes at work... but I'm looking towards it as well :)
Luxembourg is a nice place to visit as well (medieval city) the only downside is that you've seen it all in less than an afternoon :p
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Well, if you come down, apart from the usual Münich sights, we could hire a car and go to Neuschwanstein (what Disney castle was based on) and Hitler's Eagles Nest in the Alps if you want? (I'll let you drive though 'cos I'm not used to driving on the wrong side of the road (plus I can drink beeeeer)). :)
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Originally posted by Nash
Paris is the only place I could see staying for a week. Maybe Rome. It's too long for everywhere else... 'cuz most of the smaller in-between places are just to small. You've basically seen it all in 2 days.
Unless they go for the lounging around type of vacation. In that case, it'd probably be hangin' out on the beaches of Cote D'azure. If they like casinos and stuff like that then it's good for that to. But it's not really France, or even Europe... I couldn't see going all the way over there just to do that.
AHHHH!!!!
I totally agree with Nash!
Help meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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I vote for Aberdeen!
Well, seriously, railing over europe is no big problem.
Do like London-Paris-Venice-Munchen or something, all great places.
Well, London is getting kind of expensive, and Venice is full of tourists except mid-winter, Munchen is nice, Paris is great, Bruxelles looks good, - emmm,,,,full of good places.
Or do the south, Rome to Athens, consider a ferry from Brindisi to Greece perhaps.
Then there are the Mediterranian cruises also, like an 8 days circle of the inner med, Italy-Greece-Istanbul-Malta or something in that direction.
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Should have added - since I'm only working four days a month at the moment if they're in London and need to be taken to lunch for some of that food poisoning Storch keeps going on about drop me a line at schadenah@hotmail.com
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All these people recommending Paris must have had VERY different experinces to mine.
Sure the city is beautiful....get rid of the Parisians living there and it might be nice. ;)
Actuallly, I had one fabulous experience in Paris with an ex-girlfriend but basically all we saw was the inside of the hotel room...and a few restaurants in the very immediate vicinity.
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i vote for Spain, on the Med coast, they speak the language.
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Originally posted by Schaden
Should have added - since I'm only working four days a month at the moment if they're in London and need to be taken to lunch for some of that food poisoning Storch keeps going on about drop me a line at schadenah@hotmail.com
never said it was food poisoning mate just not my favorite. I'm of the opinion that england ended up with an empire because a few guys with ships wanted something palatable occasionally. :D
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My current fave restaurant...
http://travel.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2004/10/30/etpaddy301004.xml
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As an american who's lived in Europe for many, many years, and who has toured much of the rest, I'll say that it all depends really on what they like to do, when they want to go, and who they are.
So let's do the match stuff:
A) how much do they like seeing old/beautiful stuff?
B) How much are they into technology?
C) How polite are they? How tolerant of other cultures?
D) What time do they eat dinner? How late are they willing to start eating? (this is a _big_ question)
E) Do they like big, noisy cities, or are they more at home in the countryside?
let's start with those questions, and work our way out.