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

[Frequitude]

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?

[RunDownHouse]

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

[MrMon]

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.

[mason55]

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).

[Frequitude]

[ QUOTE ]
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.



[ QUOTE ]
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.

[wdcbooks]

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.

[MrMon]

[ QUOTE ]

[ 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.


[/ 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.

[mason55]

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[hyde]

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

[Kneel B4 Zod]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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 ]

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