City break suggestions?

[dino74]

I am planning a break away for four or five nights for my wife's 40th, but we cannot decide on where to go and am looking for inspiration.

We first thought New York as neither of us have been. Mrs dino74 fancies Paris, I thought maybe Amsterdam for a few days. Any other ideas or views on the above cities would be appreciated, along with hotel suggestions.

[Rick101]

Love Barcelona.

2hrs away.
Beautiful city, great architecture, beach and its reasonably priced.

[K12beano]

That's such a wide brief - we could all just list cities!!!!



I think you should decide:


a) What you want to do when you get there (eat, art, people-gaze, sport, photograph)

b) if you fly, how long you want to spend travelling. (personally, anything less than a ten day trip, i wouldn't want an 8 hour flight)



Venice, Milan, Bologna, Rome et al would all be at the "romantic" end I would have thought.
What about a train journey? South of France: Antibes, Nice etc?
Or a Drive - as this is PH - to somewhere?

[Gareth1974]

Have a look at Bruges, especially if getting Eurostar is an option

[E-B]

Reykjavik, Iceland.

£85 pp each way from LGW.

Stay first night at the Blue Lagoon Clinic (so far stayed there 3 times) have a morning in the Blue Lagoon (www.bluelagoon.is) which about half way between the airport and the city. Then explore!!!

I have friends who have a B&B in one of the suburbs (Scots/Yorks couple)head out to Thingvallir where the continents meet, go whale watching, visit the viking museum, go to the Perlan for a meal (where Reagan & Gorbachev signed the peace Go Geysir for the Geysirs (impressive bit of nature at work).

[garos]

Seville is very very nice.

Loads of hotels, the pick of which is apparently Hotel Alfonso X111, we ran in quickly to have a look when we were there, would certainly impress and be something special if you were to book a night or 2 there.

[dino74]

Thanks for the advice. I know it is a wide brief. We just want somewhere that is good to explore, lots of places for decent food and drink. I love Barcelona and Bruges, but we have done those lots of times. Iceland was another place I fancied and will do a bit of research in. Has anyone been to St Petersburg?

Although we initally fancied New York, I think we are now put off by the flight for only a five day break. Somewhere within 4 hours of the UK.

Thanks again, and keep the ideas coming!

Edited by dino74 on Friday 25th January 16:57

Edited by dino74 on Friday 25th January 17:01

[jogon]

Bordeaux with a day trip to St Emilion.

[dino74]

jogon said:

Bordeaux with a day trip to St Emilion.

Alovely spot, and we are going again this summer. We are planning the holiday for later in the year, perhaps November.

[Gareth1974]

I've been on a couple of excellent breaks to Munich. I've also heard good things about Dubrovnik - hope it's as good as I've heard as I've booked a trip there later this year.

[ducgas]

Dubrovnik is lovely, loads to see and do, not as expensive as many places and less than 4 hours flight. One of the nicest places I've been for a short break. When are you thinking of going?

[jardinec]

Munich. Beer, cars, culture, good atmosphere.

[Gareth1974]

ducgas said:

Dubrovnik is lovely, loads to see and do, not as expensive as many places and less than 4 hours flight. One of the nicest places I've been for a short break. When are you thinking of going?

Going at the end of August - tips and recommendations welcomed...

[shirt]

i'd go to new york. if a 40th birthday isn't good enough reason to go, when will you?

my parents went last year [64yrs old], loved it and want to go back.

[Joyrider1]

New York is my favourite place I've ever been to, so much to see and do, I love the place as does my wife. Think it's made better by the fact that everything seems so familiar as you've seen it on tv/films so often. Depends on what you like doing I suppose.

Paris is a sthole IMHO, full of people wanting to rip you off, full of Parisiens, and just filthy. My last trip ended with a tramp deciding to have a st on the floor of the train carriage on the way back to the airport (yes, really). I'm sure it has its nice parts but for me they were overshadowed by the bad (and the smell of that tramps st)

New York would be me choice out of those, but you need to be going for at least 5 days to get the most out of it (and that probably won't even scratch the surface)...

How about somewhere like Monaco? Went there for my 40th last year, has a bit of wow factor albeit ridiculously expensive and not a huge amount of things to do after a couple of days but was a nice experience...fly in by helicopter for that extra bit of wow

Or go over to Florence or Rome then into Tuscany for a few days?

[toxgobbler]

Madrid, took my wife as a surprise and she loved it, excellent food, amazing art (Prado & Others) lots of history to explore and nicer feel than Barcelona.

[marcosgt]

If you've not been to Venice go there.

The only place I've been that met or even exceeded the hype around it.

NYC looks ok too, but to a degree it really depends what you want. You might spend a lot of time shopping I suspect.

Munich is great if you like sauerkraut and beer and bmws and museums, bit dull and expensive if not.

Not been, but I expect Istanbul is great and Moscow has a lot to offer too.

You could probably stick a pin in a map and find a city worth exploring for a few days...

Others will disagree, but I'd not bother with Amsterdam, personally.

Btw, when are you looking to go? Soon or in warmer weather?

M

[MiniMan64]

Rome.

[chilistrucker]

St Petersburg is very nice, been twice with work, but would go for a long weekend to explore properly.

Riga aswell, very nice.

Obviously you hv to be a little bit guarded as there is an underworld element, but sure your fine if on a trip as a couple!

[ronaldo342]

Rome just went before xmas, wifes birthday we loved it.