I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

After a trip to Italy with her family, my girlfriend and I have 6 extra days to ourselves. We're open to anywhere within travel reason (flying home to Canada after). Both in our early twenties and looking for hot weather, beaches, good food and good times...or somewhere so cool that we won't miss a beach.

Where do you recommend?

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Southern Germany, especially now that the weather is nice. Sit in a beer garden, relax with the wurst.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Sicily. After watching Bourdain's trip there on No Reservations, it's on my list of places I have to go to. History, beaches, food, even a volcano, seems like a winner.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Nice, Barcelona, Valencia, Marseille, and Monaco will all be nice depending on what you're looking for (some are more relaxed beach towns, some are more party cities).

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Southern Germany, especially now that the weather is nice. Sit in a beer garden, relax with the wurst.

[/ QUOTE ]No Germany, we've both been there a bunch.



[ QUOTE ]
Sicily. After watching Bourdain's trip there on No Reservations, it's on my list of places I have to go to. History, beaches, food, even a volcano, seems like a winner.


[/ QUOTE ]We're staying with her family near Cortona. Will this be too similar? Somewhere very awesome in Italy is definitely not out of the question seeing as we're already there.



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Nice, Barcelona, Valencia, Marseille, and Monaco will all be nice depending on what you're looking for (some are more relaxed beach towns, some are more party cities).

[/ QUOTE ]Looking for a bit more of a party. The first part of the trip will be relaxed.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Go to Dubrovnik to see the incredible walled city and maybe head down the Croatian coast. You could even head up to Sarajevo, just about the coolest city no one ever goes to.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Sicily. After watching Bourdain's trip there on No Reservations, it's on my list of places I have to go to. History, beaches, food, even a volcano, seems like a winner.


[/ QUOTE ]We're staying with her family near Cortona. Will this be too similar? Somewhere very awesome in Italy is definitely not out of the question seeing as we're already there.


[/ QUOTE ]

The Sicilians will tell you that Sicily is not Italy. Very different culture, as at one time everybody has conquered Sicily, and as a consequence, Sicilian culture is a blend like no other. I've never been there, but I've read enough to know that the Sicilians are correct.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Looking for a bit more of a party. The first part of the trip will be relaxed.

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Barcelona is definitely a party city (I'm there right now), the others I listed are more relaxed. Make sure you speak Spanish because people here really don't speak English in general.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Sicily is different than Italy. Taomina is a cool city built on the side of a Mountain with a cable car down to the beach.
Head inland and you feel like you lost a century or so. AND the real bonus is the volcano, Mt Etna is currently erupting. I would love to see that. When I was there last it had erupted a few years before and there were wide black tracks down the side, with snow on the cap...damn scenic.

And I just got back from Rome and Venice. Loved Venice. If you stay on the Lido ( an island a mile off shore) you get the beach and a short boat trip to the city. I posted a trip report in the lounge. Check out the Westin Excelsior for beach front luxury.

hyde

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Looking for a bit more of a party. The first part of the trip will be relaxed.

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Barcelona is definitely a party city (I'm there right now), the others I listed are more relaxed. Make sure you speak Spanish because people here really don't speak English in general.

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go to Barcelona regardless of your Spanish abilities. or dont go. but don't not go b/c you can't speak Spanish

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Nice, Monaco, southern Germany, lol. Enough bad advice.
So far Barcelona is the best advice.
I would suggest you to visit some Greek islands or the south west of France.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Barcelona for sure..

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

2nd Greek islands, it's a great time to go. beautiful, nice beaches, partis to be found but the islands aren't packed yet.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Looking for a bit more of a party. The first part of the trip will be relaxed.

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Barcelona is definitely a party city (I'm there right now), the others I listed are more relaxed. Make sure you speak Spanish because people here really don't speak English in general.

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Curious how much Castilian is spoken there compared to the native language of Catalan? I mean they obviously speak Catalan to each other and I imagine the signs are in Catalan, but do they speak Castilian to foreigners well? To a lesser extent, how prevalent is English, although as long as Castilian is spoken there I'll be fine.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
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Looking for a bit more of a party. The first part of the trip will be relaxed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Barcelona is definitely a party city (I'm there right now), the others I listed are more relaxed. Make sure you speak Spanish because people here really don't speak English in general.

[/ QUOTE ]

Curious how much Castilian is spoken there compared to the native language of Catalan? I mean they obviously speak Catalan to each other and I imagine the signs are in Catalan, but do they speak Castilian to foreigners well? To a lesser extent, how prevalent is English, although as long as Castilian is spoken there I'll be fine.

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I've only been as a tourist (a few times) so I can't tell you the % breakdown of the 2 languages. I can tell you signs are often in both. I speak only broken basic Spanish, but I was able to communicate with everyone - ie not knowing Catalan was never a problem. a fluent Spanish speaker would have no problem there.

like most other places in Europe, if you are reasonably intelligent and polite, not knowing the local language(s) is not a problem.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Slovenia - right next door to Italy and hands down the hidden gem of Europe. Piran is a beautiful coastal town, Ljubljana, the capital, is beautiful as well with great food and nightlife. Lake Bled is a scene out of a storybook.

If you're there in the summer, you could also check out Hungary. Budapest is a beautiful city with great food everywhere, and a nightlife that puts any US city to shame. Lake Balaton, about 2 hours away, has a wild beach party scene. If your girlfriend has jealousy issues, be sure to avoid Hungary at all costs. An American 10 is an 8 in Hungary.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

If you want to party go to Ibiza

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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If you want to party go to Ibiza

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Oh yeah... durrr..

For whoever asked about Castilian vs Catalan, it's a weird mix. Some things are in Castilian and some are in Catalan. For example, at the mall next to my apartment most of the restaurants (McDonalds incl) have their menus in Catalan. Between my Spanish speaking roommate and my French speaking self we can figure things out usually. Our maid only speaks Catalan, our landlord speaks both, friends here who are from other Spanish speaking parts only speak Castilian . Some restaurants have menus in Castilian , Catalan, and English, some only have one of Castilian /Catalan. Almost everyone you meet though, if you come as a tourist, will speak Castilian . It would only be if you went way off the beaten path that you might run into people who speak only Catalan.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

Amsterdam... you wont want to leave.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Amsterdam... you wont want to leave.

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QFT I dunno how this thread made it this far before it got posted

Also Try Praug

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Go to Dubrovnik to see the incredible walled city and maybe head down the Croatian coast. You could even head up to Sarajevo, just about the coolest city no one ever goes to.

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you can hop a ship from akron or fly from certain cities on sky europe. do this.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

if you are trying to party more scratch dubrovnik...i'd go to barcelona.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Go to Dubrovnik to see the incredible walled city and maybe head down the Croatian coast. You could even head up to Sarajevo, just about the coolest city no one ever goes to.

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Barcelona, Dubrovvnik, Copenhagen, Iceland.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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If you want to party go to Ibiza

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This is what we're thinking now. Anyone been? How is it best done?

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Sicily. After watching Bourdain's trip there on No Reservations, it's on my list of places I have to go to. History, beaches, food, even a volcano, seems like a winner.

[/ QUOTE ]No Reservations is an awesome show.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

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Marseille,

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DO NOT GO TO MARSEILLES, EVER. It is a dirty port town.

Nice is awesome, but the beaches aren't warm enough yet. Prague ftw.

Re: I have 6 extra days in Europe - where to go?
 

I agree with the rest: Barcelona. I was there a few years ago and have been dying to get back ever since.

I'll be there in about three weeks. We are going there from Rome; gonna take a boat across the sea past Sardinia.