Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 14:27:46 GMT -5
u got wayyyyyyy too much going o there
any ideas on what u will use as your base of operations?
aren't u military? don't they have cool low cost military trips u can tap into?
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 6, 2013 14:32:24 GMT -5
Your going to do all of that in 11 days . I am probably not much help as I am one of those people who spends 2 - 3 weeks just in one country. I spent 18 days in Italy a few years ago and I am planning to spend 13 days in Ireland next summer.
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simser
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Post by simser on Aug 6, 2013 14:34:49 GMT -5
I'm currently on a 9 day tour just of Ireland! And even that's too short (I could easily fill in another 2-7 days).
Are you a check the box type of traveler? It sounds like it... Or are you able to go with the flow and will need nap times in the middle of each day (train or car travel doesn't count since that's also stressful). I'd recommend no more than 2 things per day if you're a check the box person (3 if they're close and you're hard core) and 1 to 0.5 if you're not. So that's 27 close and easy items down to about 8 more difficult ones.
With that said I would focus on one country and at max one region (maybe 3 countries with related history and language and scenery). You don't want to spread yourself too thin. Even packing to move cities takes half hour to an hour...
That being said you may be a candidate for a cruise or even a river cruise. You can see a lot there if you want to and you only have to pack once!
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Aug 6, 2013 14:37:12 GMT -5
so you don't want to see stuff you've already seen? or is that list some ideas for this trip even though you've already been?
I'd add the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Venice (depending on when you're going...), the Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland, and the Swiss Alps (no particular city. I can vouch for Sargans and the summer village of St Moritz being stunningly beautiful)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 14:42:00 GMT -5
Personally visiting that many places in 11 days would be my idea of hell ... I'd limit it to two countries, maybe 3 max if they share borders.
Like your wife, I prefer to discover new places. You've listed a lot of places you've already been to. I get that you would like to see more of them but maybe you need to pick and choose those places?
Other thought: it's really cool catching up with family, and getting an "insider's view" of a place!
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Aug 6, 2013 14:42:04 GMT -5
Fly into Heathrow and take the Chunnel to Brussels. Go to Amsterdam and see Anne Frank House. Koln to see cathedral again and hear an organ concert there, Dresden to see the Frauenkirche, Berlin just to look at the small bronze plaques set in the sidewalks naming the Jews that lived there.
Ahhh, Vienna. See an opera, have a Sachet Torte, go to a street market, visit the ruins in front of the palace, get tickets to the Spanish Riding School, be there around 9am when they take the horses to the arena. Go to Gastein Valley and take the ski ride to the top. Visit Hallstat and the salt mine for a day.
Travel by train as much as possible. Interlaken and take the Cog Train to the top of mountain. Spend a day going to Jungfrau. Go to Paris just to see the sights. Return to London and Heathrow.
Have fun, take a lot of pictures.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Aug 6, 2013 14:44:02 GMT -5
You axed your wife? Is she okay?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 14:45:11 GMT -5
If you go with ses's suggestions, I'd add a concert at the Musikverein in Vienna.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Aug 6, 2013 14:47:29 GMT -5
If I had 11 days to spend in Europe, half of them would be relaxing in the Lake District of England, and half would be relaxing in the Lake District of Italy. Or maybe the Black Sea resorts.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Aug 6, 2013 14:54:57 GMT -5
You will sit at home and eat baloney sandwiches until you max your retirement
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 14:57:02 GMT -5
If I had 11 days to spend in Europe, half of them would be relaxing in the Lake District of England
I agree that it's stunning there! But I think Rachets is in the UK, so he could go there for a long weekend (I think). It also means hiking though ... do you guys like to walk / hike? That too would influence people's suggestions.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 15:01:03 GMT -5
A couple of out-of-the-way places: Dubrovnik and Palma di Majorca. Dubrovnik is probably one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited and has tons of history. You rarely find that combination. DH and I flew to Majorca for a day from Valencia- there's a lot more to it than what we saw, but the cathedral was beautiful and it ws a tiny island so you were surrounded by the sea. You'd have to plan carefully and go from someplace that has nonstops or maybe one connection.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Aug 6, 2013 15:02:34 GMT -5
There are so many places is like to see that I don't think I could decide on an itinerary without my head exploding
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Aug 6, 2013 15:02:46 GMT -5
Kayaking through Dubrovnik
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Aug 6, 2013 15:11:43 GMT -5
I'm a beach girl so I would want to see the Spanish Rivera or Porto Portugal and use that as a base of the vacation. From there I would go to Gibraltar, Majorca, and Malta.
If I could do it I would also LOVE to visit Morrocco or Tunisia which I think isn't that far from there.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 15:22:26 GMT -5
You axed your wife? Is she okay? of course she is ok, why would you axe that?
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Aug 6, 2013 15:22:33 GMT -5
Even on my longest trip to europe (25 days) I didn't visit that many countries. My goodness- you aren't leaving yourself much time to ENJOY things!
11 days would be no more than 3 cities for me. more likely 1 or 2.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Aug 6, 2013 15:27:54 GMT -5
Well, it may be a pipe dream now (just found out that #1 braces are going to cost us 6-7K), but I was hoping to take the kids to Europe for 3ish weeks..
The plan was England for 10 days Paris for 4-5 days Germany and then Denmark
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 15:31:31 GMT -5
Kayaking through Dubrovnik Oooh, you did that, too? That was the best part of our trip. I saw the ad when I was booking our flights between Zagreb and Dubrovnik, and even though DH was having back problems and has a bit of a balance problem he was interested. I did most of the paddling. It was spectacular. I had thought to bring a small camera, which I kept in a plastic sandwich container lashed to the kayak, and got some great pictures of the city walls (with DH's head in the foreground!). I agree with sarcasticgirl- getting around can be either a hassle (airports) or take a very long time (trains). You're not going to be able to see everything and you'll be worn out traveling, packing and unpacking. Choose a few base cities, and you can do a few day trips from there. (Still kicking myself for not taking the hydrofoil from Dubrovnik to Albania just for the bragging rights, but Dubrovnik ws just too beautiful to leave.)
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Aug 6, 2013 15:35:29 GMT -5
Kayaking through Dubrovnik Oooh, you did that, too? That was the best part of our trip. I saw the ad when I was booking our flights between Zagreb and Dubrovnik, and even though DH was having back problems and has a bit of a balance problem he was interested. I did most of the paddling. It was spectacular. I had thought to bring a small camera, which I kept in a plastic sandwich container lashed to the kayak, and got some great pictures of the city walls (with DH's head in the foreground!). I agree with sarcasticgirl- getting around can be either a hassle (airports) or take a very long time (trains). You're not going to be able to see everything and you'll be worn out traveling, packing and unpacking. Choose a few base cities, and you can do a few day trips from there. (Still kicking myself for not taking the hydrofoil from Dubrovnik to Albania just for the bragging rights, but Dubrovnik ws just too beautiful to leave.) No, but we WILL do it when we finally go to Croatia!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 15:39:40 GMT -5
my choice Spain Barcelona and Madrid Then relax for a few days on Majorca basking in the sun..... Art, food, music, history, WINE what more could you possibly want?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 15:55:39 GMT -5
Another recommendation since you're planning on Bavaria anyway- the Mike's Bikes Tour through Munich. I did this about 7 years ago so it may have changed, but it was an easy pace with old-fashioned bikes with coaster brakes, knowledgeable and funny English-speaking guides, and it ended up at a beer garden by the Chinese Tower at the English garden where the guides threatened to make you go over to the kids' playground if you ordered Radler (a mix of beer and lemonade).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 16:01:08 GMT -5
I'd pick a bounce city in to do the checkbox tourist thing, a destination to spend the majority of your time exploring more in depth at a relaxed pace, and a bounce out checkbox tourist city.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 16:02:00 GMT -5
I agree with the other posters who say you have too much on your list for 11 days. You have enough on your Germany list to fill all 11 days especially since you've listed both southern and northern Germany sites. And whether you choose to take a train or drive it's still an all day drive to drive from one end or the other. Maybe longer if there's the usual summer roadworks. I'd either cluster a southern Germany trip (Bavaria, Munich) with a trip to Switzerland and/or Vienna. Or a northern Germany with Amsterdam and Normandy. Don't forget that if you're traveling from London you'll need a day of travel on each end.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 16:07:20 GMT -5
A day in Paris was enough for me. I know I'm probably in the minority though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 16:13:15 GMT -5
Normandy is easy from Paris, as you know, since you've been there before. I looked up some WWII tours for my sister's BF. You can do them in a day but it's grueling, much better to stay overnight. The beaches themselves aren't that great, IMO. Another easy overnight trip from Paris would be the Loire Castles. Sorry I can't help you with Berlin or Bavaria, but if you want recommendations or info on Paris, please ask. There are also a couple of easy day trips: Versailles, or Giverny (Monet's house).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 16:32:15 GMT -5
I'm not a fan of the Louvre. There are a ton of other museums I prefer: the Orangerie (which is finally open again), the Musee d'Orsay (impressionist art), the Rodin Museum (lovely garden with Rodin's sculptures), the Quai Branly (anthropology museum) and the Marmottan (lovely small impressionist museum which is probably less interesting now that the Water Lilies have gone back to the Orangerie).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2013 16:35:27 GMT -5
Also, how old are your kids? Can THEY handle a full day in the Louvre? (I'm 53 and I can't LOL.)
Maybe you could spend a day in Versailles (easy train ride from Paris) so they can run around the gardens and you can rent a rowboat, and bump the rest off by one day?
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constanz22
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Post by constanz22 on Aug 6, 2013 16:38:55 GMT -5
Mt. Saint Michele Mont Blanc area I don't know how much time I'd spend in Paris if you've already been there. I lived in France for a year and much preferred all of the smaller villages, vineyards, chateaux, etc. Dijon, Lyon, Avingnon, etc.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Aug 6, 2013 16:39:46 GMT -5
I'm partial to Poland (being Polish and all). Among other things, there are the salt mines there that are really cool.
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