Mini break for me and my 75 year old mum
Mini break for me and my 75 year old mum
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rix

Original Poster:

2,963 posts

221 months

Thursday 21st December 2023
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Apologies, this is the second thread inspired by the fact that my dad passed away last month, but anyway...

They used to travel a fair bit, so although I couldn't name every location, they've probably done most of the most popular European cities. So thought it might be nice to book a couple of nights away somewhere in the spring, ideally no more than a 90ish min flight from Stansted but could push that a bit, somewhere that the walking won't be too strenuous (she is fairly active but of her age), and with some interesting history to mooch about to. Probably a city break but open to a nice little pretty coastal place too. I'm probably looking at a slightly less obvious locations than the country's capital, ideally with the arrival airport an easy/close/cheap transit to the location, but otherwise very open to ideas. Recommended places to stay (separate rooms at a 4/5 star hotel(!) or apartment) a bonus!

Ta muchly...

Fast and Spurious

1,802 posts

119 months

Thursday 21st December 2023
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Liverpool. European city of culture.

cliffords

4,639 posts

54 months

Thursday 21st December 2023
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Verona , Italy

The Leaper

5,731 posts

237 months

Thursday 21st December 2023
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cliffords said:
Verona , Italy
Agree. Wife and I have been there 5 times in the past 12 years,

Regarding your Mum and criteria:

  • 1 1/2 hours flight time.
  • 20 minutes cab ride to central area
  • can recommend Hotel San Luca; has a lift; 200m walk to the main Piazza Bra for plenty of restaurants, nice large garden area to sit, etc
  • Verona is flat and pedestrianised in the centre so easy walking.
  • Compact city centre
  • Good for shopping although maybe a tad pricey in the centre.
  • loads of restaurants at standards
  • all doable in 2-3 days, although we usually go for at least a week.
  • easy to do a day by train to Vicenza, Padua, Venice, Mantua and Florence.
Oh, and FWIW, my wife and I are both aged 80.

R.

RichFN2

4,387 posts

210 months

Friday 22nd December 2023
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Brno is the 2nd largest city in the Czech Republic with plenty of history.

Nuremberg in Germany was a surprise for us, we booked it due to grabbing some bargain flights and accomodation before heading to Munich. Lovely medieval centre and not that touristy unless you go for the famous Christmas market.

Vilnius in Lithuania still have a low number of tourists and it's just as nice as Krakow. Will be rather cold though and slightly longer than your ideal flight time

durbster

12,135 posts

253 months

Friday 22nd December 2023
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I took my similarly aged mother for a week in the Scottish Highlands earlier recently, staying a cottage in the middle of nowhere. We had an uninterrupted view of Ben Nevis across the Loch, endless walks around the area, stags wandering around the garden all the time, and even cracking weather (honestly!).

She must have enjoyed the area because she booked herself onto a coach trip back up there a few months later. smile

MarkJS

2,186 posts

178 months

Friday 22nd December 2023
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Malaga and/or Granada.

bennno

15,305 posts

300 months

Friday 22nd December 2023
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Cefalu in Sicily is stunning, as is San Sebastian.

Slow.Patrol

5,722 posts

45 months

Friday 22nd December 2023
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I did Berlin a few years back. We flew from Stansted and it is easy to get into and around the city using public transport. We stayed in a cheap hotel. I think it was an Ibis. Breakfast was included.

I must admit I did a fair bit of walking, but there are plenty of coffee shops.

belleair302

7,015 posts

238 months

Friday 22nd December 2023
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Malmo in southern Sweden over Easter is fantastic. Fly into Copenhagen and Ross the bridge into Sweden for a twin city break with lovely rural surroundings to boot.

matrignano

4,702 posts

241 months

Friday 22nd December 2023
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Venice is great to walk around in, atmospheric, historic and food is generally very good.