Big anniversary coming up...where to go?

[dvcgirl67]

When I see Americans talking about "Europe" I always wonder , as to me theres so much to see and do.
Have you just "done" the main tourist Instagram places, on a whirl wind round trip in peak tourist season? What countries in Europe have you been to? What kind of activates have you done?

Im always amazed at Americans who do places like Rome, Venice, Athens, Paris, and think they have "done" Europe. Ive been to 11 of the 29 Schengan Countries as well as Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ive also travelled extensively in my home country Ireland.

1. Austria
2. Finland
3. France
4. Germany
5. Italy
6. Netherlands
7. Norway
8. Portugal
9. Romania[a]
10. Spain
11. Switzerland[c]

Yes...of course there are a ton of things to do. We've been all over Italy (6 trips), so not just the "Rome/Florence/Venice" loop. We've done a lot there...hiking, touring cities, historical sites, etc. France (3 trips)...same as Italy, a variety of places and activities. And then one trip each to Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and then UK Wales. Never during peak season....always shoulder season.

And I don't think we've "done" Europe...it was just an expression. We're planning on lots of slow travel when we retire...all over Europe, and we're really looking forward to it. We haven been to Ireland yet, but are traveling there this summer because it worked better with our schedule and other vacations this year. Can't wait .

Again, I think it depends on what a "big trip" feels like to the OP. If she's looking to do a bucket list kind of deal, for me anyway, safari in an African country really fits that bill. It's a real adventure, unlike any other trip we've taken....amazing. For our 25th we went to Hawaii....Oahu and the Big Island, and while we enjoyed it....it felt like a long way to fly from the east coast.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

When I see Americans talking about "Europe" I always wonder , as to me theres so much to see and do.
Have you just "done" the main tourist Instagram places, on a whirl wind round trip in peak tourist season? What countries in Europe have you been to? What kind of activates have you done?

Im always amazed at Americans who do places like Rome, Venice, Athens, Paris, and think they have "done" Europe. Ive been to 11 of the 29 Schengan Countries as well as Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ive also travelled extensively in my home country Ireland.

1. Austria
2. Finland
3. France
4. Germany
5. Italy
6. Netherlands
7. Norway
8. Portugal
9. Romania[a]
10. Spain
11. Switzerland[c]

I’ve been to every European country from Poland westward. They’re each beautiful and I love them all. I’m different from most Americans though because I have family in France and whenever we visit them they take their holiday and we all travel together somewhere in Europe. In Europe traveling from country to country is about the same distance as us Americans traveling from state to state. But also America is so huge and traveling from one part of it to another is like traveling to a different country almost, totally different geography, accents, food, culture, so that many Americans travel domestically and don’t feel the need to travel abroad.

 

[neverlandsky]

Alaska has train tour vacation packages.
Italy or Greece.

 

[MIGrandma]

DH and I will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in September. For many years we planned to take an Alaskan cruise/train trip. But. We have decided we would rather spend time with our two adult children and their spouses so we are taking them to one of our favorite places for a few nights, Mackinac Island. They have already said they would love to go, and we will be paying for their rooms. The older we get the more we just want TIME with our family

 

[soccerdad72]

We are about your same age. Our bucket list includes:

Egypt (via a cruise)
Galapagos
Oktoberfest
Ireland
African safari
Australia

My MIL just did a Viking cruise up the Nile through Egypt with her boyfriend. They had a fantastic time, although they both admitted it would have been better to do it when they were a little younger (they're 81 and 79) as there was a lot of difficult walking on the excursions through most of the pyramids, etc.

Australia / New Zealand is another place on our bucket list.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Just an FYI, next year is a Jubilee year for Rome. They are expecting a TON of visitors throughout 2025. We had planned to travel there next June but decided to wait another year or two.

 

[cabanafrau]

Maybe Sweden, Norway and Finland? How about Iceland?

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Venice! The most beautiful and romantic place I've ever visited. You can mix it up a little, visit Rome, Verona, Florence… Italy just rocks.

 

[Frwinkley]

OP here:

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions!

Time to do some research!

 

[NannyBeBe]

If time and money were no object, the first thing I would do is take a grand tour of America. There is so much to see and do.

 

[Frwinkley]

If time and money were no object, the first thing I would do is take a grand tour of America. There is so much to see and do.

What would you do? We are in the U.S are have seen lots on both coasts, but not much in the central.

My DH would love a giant road trip, but I’m a bit less keen about that idea.

 

[georgina]

I really want to go back to Paris and see the new Notre Dame interior.

We have an African safari trip booked for August.

Viking cruises have always intrigued us. I want a cruise that is about the ports and not about all the bells and whistles of the cruise ship.

That would be Viking. We have done the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, a stop in a port every day. They are simple ships.

 

[Frwinkley]

Where in Europe have you been? What about Italy? Lot’s of great tours to take or plan it out on your own and take the train around the country to your destinations.

I do like this idea. I think we’re most interested in train travel to various spots, and renting a car to go exploring on our own

 

[Frwinkley]

Where in Europe have you been?

What mode of transport interests you?

• Escorted tours
• Hire a car
• Public transport, local trains, bus etc
• River cruise

What kind of travel interests you?

1. A whirl wind overview of multiple places, overnight in a different place each night and see as much over a 10 day trip
2. Slow travel, base in one place and explore that location in depth and do short day trips to other places

What kind of thing do you want to do?

• Chill out beach / resort type holiday like in Caribbean / Bahamas but in Europe
• Live like a local, do none touristy things
• Historical sites, museums
• Off the beaten track, hidden gems that tourists miss
• The high profile stereotypical Instagram tourist things

What kind of places do you want to stay at?

• International American chain hotels
• European chain hotels
• Independent local hotels
• AirBnB traditional apartment
• AirBnB unique location, building
• Guesthouse / traditional Bed and Breakfast
• Canal boat / riverboat

How comfortable are you in an country where English is not the first language?

How comfortable are you in a country which has a very different culture and societal norms than America?

How comfortable are you in a country which has very different food than in America?

I think we are most interested in train travel, with renting a car for our own exploration.

Medium to slow travel—maybe move every 2 to 3 days, with a 1 night stay tossed in occasionally. That’s typically how we travel. 12-14 day maximum.

No beach at all—nice to look at, but kinda boring to us. Hawaii and St Lucia have been exceptions to that because the topography is so varied.

Historical sights and touristy things. We like the feeling of busy walkable places.

We like our conveniences, so probably international and American chain hotels. No places without AC, internet, television. We have done many national parks in the US, and will drive some distance in order to have some comforts of home.

 

[Frwinkley]

Maybe Sweden, Norway and Finland? How about Iceland?

Sweden, Norway, Finland are definitely on the list. Just not sure how easy it is to get from each country. I’d rather not fly to each spot.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

If it were me and we could go anywhere, I'd go to Italy. All over Italy. Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast.....I want to see it all!

 

[lilmc]

Taj Majal would be on my list, but I’ve already checked that one off. Trek to Everest base camp and Nepal while I’m still able to us next!

 

[Moliphino]

Venice! The most beautiful and romantic place I've ever visited. You can mix it up a little, visit Rome, Verona, Florence… Italy just rocks.

I just did Milan, Padua, Bologna, and Florence with day trips to Verona, Venice, Modena, and Varenna in October. It was a great 2 weeks.

I'd recommend southern Spain. Granada, Cordoba, and Sevilla are fantastic. It's not too hard to hit Madrid, too, with the high speed trains.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I just did Milan, Padua, Bologna, and Florence with day trips to Verona, Venice, Modena, and Varenna in October. It was a great 2 weeks.

I'd recommend southern Spain. Granada, Cordoba, and Sevilla are fantastic. It's not too hard to hit Madrid, too, with the high speed trains.

There's one spot in Spain that I LOVE - La Manga Club, near Alicante and Murcia. It's a tourist trap, but still feels Spanish. Think of it like a holiday bubble - tonnes of pools, restaurants, shops, tennis courts, cricket pitches, a 5* hotel and free taxi around the resort which is huge. And a private beach and 3 minutes drive to Los Belones, a proper Spanish village o 5 minutes to the Mar de Cristal, a stunning beach on the Mar Manor, an enclose sea if you will.

 

[cabanafrau]

Sweden, Norway, Finland are definitely on the list. Just not sure how easy it is to get from each country. I’d rather not fly to each spot.

Boats and trains are available.