We’re looking at going to Europe for a week this April, just as an attempt to keep our Delta status going, so we have to fly some miles. We want to go somewhere warm (doesn’t have to be terribly hot, though), my husband doesn’t want a cruise or a tour group, so we’re thinking of just basing in one or two different cities for the week, because I’m looking for minimal hassle. We had been thinking about Barcelona because apparently there’s plenty to do for a week there, and many possibilities of day tours, but I’m a little turned off reading about how crime has gotten pretty bad over there.
Would anyone have some ideas for us? I have already purchased round trip tickets into London, and was going to purchase British Air tickets from there, as they go almost anywhere in Europe. Honestly, I’d choose Tel Aviv in a split second, but my husband had a knee replacement in Jan, and I’m a little freaked out about him flying to Europe anyways (blood clots), so I don’t think we want to add another flight that long.
We really liked Barcelona (once pre/post-cruise at very end of April on north end of Las Ramblas and a return trip for 4 nights with other couples in late Sept a few blocks from there). It was fun and affordable. Like other big cities, you have to be careful with your wallet in crowds. The Hop-on-hop-off bus was great, with the different loops (2012 info; could be different now). Taxi rides were easy too.
I wonder if we just have to do what we do in Rome. Wallets and passports buried deep in our suitcases, only walk around with one credit card and a little cash buried in a zippered pocket. Expect that everyone is trying to rob you.
What week in April are you thinking of? The reason I ask is that if it is around Easter, it is going to be expensive to find some place in Spain, if they aren’t already fairly booked.
Marseille might be another option. You can also take trains to visit Nice, Toulouse, etc.
In big European cities, we had passports and credit cards and big money on our persons. (I use a neck pouch, sometimes secured to the side of my bra and hanging down on my hip under clothes; hubby has a waist pouch.). Or in the room, once checked in. We heard one story about thieves snatching a suitcase outside a hotel. The good things is that there is very little violent crime, just a lot of unemployed youth looking to target tourists.
That waist pouch has been a bit of a problem. My husband has to unzip his pants to get into it, making me fear he’s going to get arrested, so….. We did just get one of those neck pouches for an upcoming Rick Steves trip, though.
TGV to Paris (if weather is nice) or continue on to South of France (for warmer climes)? You will avoid the extra flying, but might take a little more time. London is lovely for a week. You could spend some time in Cambridge or Oxford or a variety of other cities a short train ride away. The weather would be a lot more iffy. I know you said city, but the Greek islands are beautiful in the spring.
I was going to say Lisbon but I see you want a place where you have not been. My own preference would be to spend the entire week in one place, rather than try to cover more ground. Italy?
I would love to go to Amsterdam in April. Also Belgium. But it’s not warm, so probably not for you. That’s just the trip that got away for us. We were going there when younger S was to be a summer intern abroad. But covid cancelled it twice!
If you fly into Barcelona, I suggest a quick 45m flight to Menorca. Menorca is a very sleepy island in the Balearics. Lovely sandy beaches, fabulous food, quaint little towns and villages, and a week is a perfect amount of time to see and experience everything the island has to offer. No hoardes of people; no huge skyscrapers; no drunken beach brawlers - Menorca is a UNESCO world heritage site, and as such, is protected from all manner of things you find elsewhere. I’d suggest Menorca over anywhere else for a week.
Unfortunately, we have spent a fair amount of time in London and Paris, also we’re going on a Rick Steves trip to France in a few months. Greek Islands do seem enticing, however. And @compmom, Italy is my favorite country, we have spent some time there, for sure. If it was just up to me, I’d go to Sorrento for a week and explore the Amalfi coast again. My husband suggested Sicily, but I think you’d really need to rent a car there (do NOT want to do that), plus there is a Rick Steves trip to Sicily that we’re going to do one of these years. Wondering where else in Italy. We’ve gone to Cinque Terra, Rome, Florence, haven’t gone to Venice (but I don’t know how warm that would be in April).
I would also love to go on a river cruise (especially one in Portugal visiting many ports we haven’t gone to) or any of the European river cruises (though they’d be cool in April), or a NCL cruise to interesting places that is cheaper than staying home. Husband nixed the cruise idea.
We were thinking Spain, because all I remember from there is crummy Sangria, from short stints in the military. I wonder if there is somewhere in Spain more desirable to go to than Barcelona, or if we should just go and hang onto our wallets! Wonder if the Basque region or Pyrenees, or somewhere near the water would be better?
That is an interesting thought. I am not familiar with Menorca, though I’d looked into Palma de Mallorca (which I thought were the same place, but nope). Could you get by with no car there? I’m also not much for spending a lot of time on the beach, though I still would like to go somewhere warm. Is there enough to do without going to beaches there?
You can take the Eurostar from London to Amsterdam to see the Keukenhof Tulip Garden. It won’t be warm but it will be very pretty. Season ends May 15 so it’s time sensitive.
. We did just get one of those neck pouches for an upcoming Rick Steves trip, though.