10yr. Anniversary
#20
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,774
Not tropical but still an exotic island.....
....Gotland in Sweden. It's a long ferry ride or short plane ride from Stockholm.
Stop reading now if you are planning this trip for the winter.
Gotland, and its walled city, Visby, are lovely and charming:
Remnants of the Vikings and of the Hanseatic League trading center that Visby was in the middle ages. Fun to explore on foot but not big enough to be exhausting.
Beaches with swans swimming in the Baltic.
Flowers everywhere.
Countryside scenery with bike paths all over the island.
Medieval churches, some in ruins, scattered around the city and the countryside.
Another place to consider in Europe is Malta. I've not been there myself but it sounds lovely from what I've read. Like Gotland you get a great combination of history and beaches, but in a warmer climate than Gotland.
Easier and less expensive to fly to than the South Pacific: XXX-AMS-ARN. You can spend a couple of days in Stockholm, then on to Visby.
Another European island area to consider is Malta. I've not been there myself but, like Gotland, it has a combination of history and beaches, with a warmer climate.
Stop reading now if you are planning this trip for the winter.
Gotland, and its walled city, Visby, are lovely and charming:
Remnants of the Vikings and of the Hanseatic League trading center that Visby was in the middle ages. Fun to explore on foot but not big enough to be exhausting.
Beaches with swans swimming in the Baltic.
Flowers everywhere.
Countryside scenery with bike paths all over the island.
Medieval churches, some in ruins, scattered around the city and the countryside.
Another place to consider in Europe is Malta. I've not been there myself but it sounds lovely from what I've read. Like Gotland you get a great combination of history and beaches, but in a warmer climate than Gotland.
Easier and less expensive to fly to than the South Pacific: XXX-AMS-ARN. You can spend a couple of days in Stockholm, then on to Visby.
Another European island area to consider is Malta. I've not been there myself but, like Gotland, it has a combination of history and beaches, with a warmer climate.
Last edited by CarmenOM; Apr 13, 2011 at 11:57 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 184
....Gotland in Sweden. It's a long ferry ride or short plane ride from Stockholm.
Stop reading now if you are planning this trip for the winter.
Gotland, and its walled city, Visby, are lovely and charming:
Remnants of the Vikings and of the Hanseatic League trading center that Visby was in the middle ages. Fun to explore on foot but not big enough to be exhausting.
Beaches with swans swimming in the Baltic.
Flowers everywhere.
Countryside scenery with bike paths all over the island.
Medieval churches, some in ruins, scattered around the city and the countryside.
Stop reading now if you are planning this trip for the winter.
Gotland, and its walled city, Visby, are lovely and charming:
Remnants of the Vikings and of the Hanseatic League trading center that Visby was in the middle ages. Fun to explore on foot but not big enough to be exhausting.
Beaches with swans swimming in the Baltic.
Flowers everywhere.
Countryside scenery with bike paths all over the island.
Medieval churches, some in ruins, scattered around the city and the countryside.
#22
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,774
OP, if you forego a tropical beach resort, I have two more suggestions (besides Gotland) for exotic, charming, low-key, slightly off-the-beaten-path destinations:
Luang Prabang, Laos
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Of course, there's always Paris. Beautiful, romantic, and, yes, relaxing because it takes so little effort to be entertained there. Just sit in a cafe or walk down any street and there will be something interesting to see.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Of course, there's always Paris. Beautiful, romantic, and, yes, relaxing because it takes so little effort to be entertained there. Just sit in a cafe or walk down any street and there will be something interesting to see.
#23
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Whenever these questions come up I stress Spain. Barcelona is a gorgeous city and there are some nice beaches in the area. Plus Lisbon is an hour flight away and gives you a chance to check out another country.