Best European holiday for someone who doesn't like to fly?
Discussion
Could anyone recommend a summer holiday for a retired couple who don't like to fly? There are looking at a 7-10 day break this June.
The mrs' parents are planning their first summer holiday after retirement but have never travelled on the plane bless them and are afraid (although they haven't come out and admitted it yet). They are not keen on cruises either.
I'm trying to work out alternatives for them and was suggesting either the Orient Express from London to Venice but I've never met anyone who's taken this trip. Is it any good?
The other option was the ferry or Eurostar to Brussels and then from there a Eurostar train journey to Italy. I've heard good things about Tuscany but again, I've never been so can't recommend anywhere, would love to hear some advice off the forum if possible.
They are fairly well-off and have a good pension so can afford to splash out a bit for this their first holiday abroad. They are also quite active people and keen on a mix of relaxing vacation coupled with a few sightseeing tours would be welcomed
I've been suggesting Italy to them as it's quite easy to get to from the UK but any other advice would be gratefully received
The mrs' parents are planning their first summer holiday after retirement but have never travelled on the plane bless them and are afraid (although they haven't come out and admitted it yet). They are not keen on cruises either.
I'm trying to work out alternatives for them and was suggesting either the Orient Express from London to Venice but I've never met anyone who's taken this trip. Is it any good?
The other option was the ferry or Eurostar to Brussels and then from there a Eurostar train journey to Italy. I've heard good things about Tuscany but again, I've never been so can't recommend anywhere, would love to hear some advice off the forum if possible.
They are fairly well-off and have a good pension so can afford to splash out a bit for this their first holiday abroad. They are also quite active people and keen on a mix of relaxing vacation coupled with a few sightseeing tours would be welcomed
I've been suggesting Italy to them as it's quite easy to get to from the UK but any other advice would be gratefully received
Well that cuts the options down....What about a coach tour..but of course a lot of this depends on where they want to go or fancy going. Coach tours can be hectic if you don't get on with the other in the bus your in trouble. The Orient Express to Venice is really good but do you want to go both ways on it. Why see if you can get a travel permit on some of the Euro Train but then again do you want to cart your luggage around with you all the time. You say they are scared of flying...are they really...i took my mother when she was 85 on a long haul....loved it.
For information about trains on the continent, and indeed all over the world for that matter, have a look at www.seat61.com it has a wealth of information about all the trains that you could possibly need.
It's extremely easy to travel by train on the continent. Just pick a city...
Also have a look on www.secretescapes.com to see if there are any good hotel deals going. They often have hotels on the continent room only deals. Train travel on the continent is generally much quicker and more comfortable than in the uk as well.
It depends how independent they want to be, do they just want to rock up on a train get to a place and get a hotel, all off their own back, bear in mind that all of this can be done in advance, or would they prefer to be looked after by a tour company and have organised excursions? You can do it both ways.
It's extremely easy to travel by train on the continent. Just pick a city...
Also have a look on www.secretescapes.com to see if there are any good hotel deals going. They often have hotels on the continent room only deals. Train travel on the continent is generally much quicker and more comfortable than in the uk as well.
It depends how independent they want to be, do they just want to rock up on a train get to a place and get a hotel, all off their own back, bear in mind that all of this can be done in advance, or would they prefer to be looked after by a tour company and have organised excursions? You can do it both ways.
As has been said Orient express is very expensive. You can get a train hotel to Italy/rome etc but it's not easy to sleep quite old rolling stock.
I can recommend Aix en Provence or Nice both trips can be done during the day from Ashford or London. If they don't want to rent a car Nice is very easy to get about via train and bus plenty to see and do with a decent guide book.
The other suggestion would be a River Cruise.
I can recommend Aix en Provence or Nice both trips can be done during the day from Ashford or London. If they don't want to rent a car Nice is very easy to get about via train and bus plenty to see and do with a decent guide book.
The other suggestion would be a River Cruise.
If they won't fly, and it's their first holiday abroad, then you don't want to take the blame for them having a crap time if the (perfectly acceptable) itinerary you work out for them turns out to be unsuitable because the chosen destination is too busy/too quiet, too warm/too cold or everyone speaks foreign. Trust me, there is no bigger PITA than the nervous traveller.
Also, if they will only allocate 7-10 days to it, they won't want to spend too much time travelling. TBH, a cruise would be ideal for them, but, as son-in-law, you don't want to push that one - let your missus do that if she wants to.
I suggest that you either take them with you or, better still, put them in touch with this company who organise excellent City tours and other breaks. I reckon a trip to Paris with a couple of sde-trips to Reims or Bordeaux for some wine tours, or Lyon for the food, will suit them just fine. But let them phone up and organise it.
http://www.kirkerholidays.com/
Also, if they will only allocate 7-10 days to it, they won't want to spend too much time travelling. TBH, a cruise would be ideal for them, but, as son-in-law, you don't want to push that one - let your missus do that if she wants to.
I suggest that you either take them with you or, better still, put them in touch with this company who organise excellent City tours and other breaks. I reckon a trip to Paris with a couple of sde-trips to Reims or Bordeaux for some wine tours, or Lyon for the food, will suit them just fine. But let them phone up and organise it.
http://www.kirkerholidays.com/
My brother does the train thing to Europe a lot and has a great time. He's done the Orient to Venice and loved it and various overnights down into Spain. He is about to go to Germany via the Eurostar where him and his girlfriend will get a sleeper that gets them to Prague for breakfast.
OK not as old as your in-laws I suspect but they are in their 40s.
I have taken the family (3 very young kids) direct from Waterloo to Avignon (6 hours) then hire car down to the Cote d'Azur and I have to say it beats the pants off flying and probably quicker too without all the faffing to get to the airport hours before your plane takes off, usually delayed.
These days I check out the rail options before considering flying to Europe.
OK not as old as your in-laws I suspect but they are in their 40s.
I have taken the family (3 very young kids) direct from Waterloo to Avignon (6 hours) then hire car down to the Cote d'Azur and I have to say it beats the pants off flying and probably quicker too without all the faffing to get to the airport hours before your plane takes off, usually delayed.
These days I check out the rail options before considering flying to Europe.
Cheib said:
Eurostar to Paris then take a train to somewhere else in France....personally I really like the Atlantic coast. You really don't want to get involved in a two day journey if you are only going away for a week or ten days if it can be helped.
I would've suggested this too. So much in France. Try and keep travel to a minimum though. Maybe a few days in Paris and then train over to Bruges for a few more days? Back via Paris, job done. You could easily spend a week in Paris. 2 or 3 days in Bruges.ATV said:
Could anyone recommend a summer holiday for a retired couple who don't like to fly? There are looking at a 7-10 day break this June.
The mrs' parents are planning their first summer holiday after retirement but have never travelled on the plane bless them and are afraid (although they haven't come out and admitted it yet). They are not keen on cruises either.
I'm trying to work out alternatives for them and was suggesting either the Orient Express from London to Venice but I've never met anyone who's taken this trip. Is it any good?
The other option was the ferry or Eurostar to Brussels and then from there a Eurostar train journey to Italy. I've heard good things about Tuscany but again, I've never been so can't recommend anywhere, would love to hear some advice off the forum if possible.
They are fairly well-off and have a good pension so can afford to splash out a bit for this their first holiday abroad. They are also quite active people and keen on a mix of relaxing vacation coupled with a few sightseeing tours would be welcomed
I've been suggesting Italy to them as it's quite easy to get to from the UK but any other advice would be gratefully received
Coach trips around Europe are torturous, avoid if possible. You can be in Nice on a plane in under two hours. On a coach that would barely get them out of the bus station and it would be 24 hours before they saw the Med. OE as mentioned is very expensive for what it is. Eurostar is a good option and train travel within most of Europe is of a high standard and quick. The mrs' parents are planning their first summer holiday after retirement but have never travelled on the plane bless them and are afraid (although they haven't come out and admitted it yet). They are not keen on cruises either.
I'm trying to work out alternatives for them and was suggesting either the Orient Express from London to Venice but I've never met anyone who's taken this trip. Is it any good?
The other option was the ferry or Eurostar to Brussels and then from there a Eurostar train journey to Italy. I've heard good things about Tuscany but again, I've never been so can't recommend anywhere, would love to hear some advice off the forum if possible.
They are fairly well-off and have a good pension so can afford to splash out a bit for this their first holiday abroad. They are also quite active people and keen on a mix of relaxing vacation coupled with a few sightseeing tours would be welcomed
I've been suggesting Italy to them as it's quite easy to get to from the UK but any other advice would be gratefully received
The other option is help them conquer their plane fear. Maybe try a domestic route, but something operated by a jet like a 737 or an A320. Once they've done it once they'll probably be fine. Then the whole world is their oyster....
I still say that if you can train it to somewhere like Avignon in 6 hours, why fly? Nice seats, nice food, nice views once south of Paris, no luggage worries, no getting to the airport bastid early just to hang around in queues and overpriced shopping malls, no airports miles away from where you really want to go etc 
croyde said:
I still say that if you can train it to somewhere like Avignon in 6 hours, why fly? Nice seats, nice food, nice views once south of Paris, no luggage worries, no getting to the airport bastid early just to hang around in queues and overpriced shopping malls, no airports miles away from where you really want to go etc
This.Brittany.
Like Cornwall, but bigger and French
Can get a ferry to St Malo, if they don't much like long car journeys too.
Lots to see and do, nice scenery, castles, cities, etc.
I don't know the people involved, but not everyone wants to spend lots of their holiday travelling by any form of transport, which lots of these suggestions involve.
M.
Like Cornwall, but bigger and French
Can get a ferry to St Malo, if they don't much like long car journeys too.
Lots to see and do, nice scenery, castles, cities, etc.
I don't know the people involved, but not everyone wants to spend lots of their holiday travelling by any form of transport, which lots of these suggestions involve.
M.
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