where to go for five days in March?
Dec 17, 2003, 6:49 pm
#1
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where to go for five days in March?
Taller half is in grad school, so we're sort of stuck with the spring break crowd when planning vacations. We are attending a professional meeting in PHL in mid March and then booked a PHL-LHR-DCA flight
that gives us about 5 full days to goof around in Europe. Given the fine state of the dollar against the euro, we're trying to decide what to do. Everything is about 25%-35% more expensive than it used to be.
I have booked 3 nights of FFN with Hyatt at the Park Hyatt Milan, but maybe even with the hotel being relatively free, its still going to be pricey and Milan that time of year is sort of well, cold.
I was thinking going somewhere else -- we'll have just spent a week in Rome, so that is sort of out of the running. I have a GLON to redeem also and more hilton points to add to an award if need be.
Any ideas? Taller half likes big cities, puttering on water features (man made is good), doesn't mind driving in Europe, but isn't a big fan of Germany.
Just trying to get out of our usual London rut.
lala
that gives us about 5 full days to goof around in Europe. Given the fine state of the dollar against the euro, we're trying to decide what to do. Everything is about 25%-35% more expensive than it used to be.
I have booked 3 nights of FFN with Hyatt at the Park Hyatt Milan, but maybe even with the hotel being relatively free, its still going to be pricey and Milan that time of year is sort of well, cold.
I was thinking going somewhere else -- we'll have just spent a week in Rome, so that is sort of out of the running. I have a GLON to redeem also and more hilton points to add to an award if need be.
Any ideas? Taller half likes big cities, puttering on water features (man made is good), doesn't mind driving in Europe, but isn't a big fan of Germany.
Just trying to get out of our usual London rut.
lala
Dec 17, 2003, 7:41 pm
#2
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How about Bologna? It's only a short ride away on the Eurostar train if you're not driving. The ambiance is quite a bit different from Milan, and IMHO it has the best food in all of Italy 
Two nights would be just fine.
Two nights would be just fine.
Dec 17, 2003, 7:59 pm
#3
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Any of the food towns over by Bologna would be a good choice, or a day here, then a day there, etc. Florence, and the rest of Tuscany is great that time of year, no lines to see anything, no crowds in the restaurants, some of the best food anywhere for not much money, etc.
Enjoy, get some food, some wine, see some sights.
Enjoy, get some food, some wine, see some sights.
Dec 17, 2003, 9:14 pm
#4
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Check out czzech airlines website. If you look for the special offers they have a 1 GBP fare RT from LHR to PRG. If those dates work, that could be a possibility. Also look at the low cost carriers. I am flying into LON on a semi mileage run over winter break. Decided to take ryan air for free plus tax to salzburg, through the alps into munich. This is in 6 days total time.
Dec 17, 2003, 10:25 pm
#5
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lalala:
Taller half is in grad school, so we're sort of stuck with the spring break crowd when planning vacations. We are attending a professional meeting in PHL in mid March and then booked a PHL-LHR-DCA flight
that gives us about 5 full days to goof around in Europe. Given the fine state of the dollar against the euro, we're trying to decide what to do. Everything is about 25%-35% more expensive than it used to be.
I have booked 3 nights of FFN with Hyatt at the Park Hyatt Milan, but maybe even with the hotel being relatively free, its still going to be pricey and Milan that time of year is sort of well, cold.
I was thinking going somewhere else -- we'll have just spent a week in Rome, so that is sort of out of the running. I have a GLON to redeem also and more hilton points to add to an award if need be.
Any ideas? Taller half likes big cities, puttering on water features (man made is good), doesn't mind driving in Europe, but isn't a big fan of Germany.
Just trying to get out of our usual London rut.
lala</font>
Taller half is in grad school, so we're sort of stuck with the spring break crowd when planning vacations. We are attending a professional meeting in PHL in mid March and then booked a PHL-LHR-DCA flight
that gives us about 5 full days to goof around in Europe. Given the fine state of the dollar against the euro, we're trying to decide what to do. Everything is about 25%-35% more expensive than it used to be.
I have booked 3 nights of FFN with Hyatt at the Park Hyatt Milan, but maybe even with the hotel being relatively free, its still going to be pricey and Milan that time of year is sort of well, cold.
I was thinking going somewhere else -- we'll have just spent a week in Rome, so that is sort of out of the running. I have a GLON to redeem also and more hilton points to add to an award if need be.
Any ideas? Taller half likes big cities, puttering on water features (man made is good), doesn't mind driving in Europe, but isn't a big fan of Germany.
Just trying to get out of our usual London rut.
lala</font>
I get into Milan on the 20th of March if you will be there. Interested in knowing what you two decide on, as any good deal or interesting side trip can pull me away from Venice.
As a side note if you haven't been through Italy it is a country full of amazing places, maybe the most complete country in terms of tourist sites. I have never been to Venice but I have been through the Italian Riviera and through Pisa, Florence, Rome and points between and can recommend any of those places to you. Two days makes it quick, and certainly not long enough for any combination of cities but if you endure the ride to Rome it is sure not to dissapoint. Florence is my second recommendation, and is a couple hours closer, but lacks the famous sites (although it has plenty) that Rome offers.
Dec 19, 2003, 7:27 am
#6
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How about Barcelona? It meets the water and city criteria and it's still a relative bargain. If you go, be sure and do a day trip to Monsserrat.
I just returned and, as I mentioned on that thread on LON being so expensive these days, I found I could buy things from the same stores you find in central London for two-thirds the price in Barcelona (identical items that were $150 in London were $100 in Barcelona). Our most expensive, very elegant, four-course meals with wine were about $60 for two. And the Gaudi buildings are such fun. Temps should be in the low- to mid-60s.
BA has inexpensive, frequent flights from LHR to BCN.
If you decide on that, let me know and I'll give you a hotel you might consider.
[This message has been edited by letiole (edited Dec 19, 2003).]
I just returned and, as I mentioned on that thread on LON being so expensive these days, I found I could buy things from the same stores you find in central London for two-thirds the price in Barcelona (identical items that were $150 in London were $100 in Barcelona). Our most expensive, very elegant, four-course meals with wine were about $60 for two. And the Gaudi buildings are such fun. Temps should be in the low- to mid-60s.
BA has inexpensive, frequent flights from LHR to BCN.
If you decide on that, let me know and I'll give you a hotel you might consider.
[This message has been edited by letiole (edited Dec 19, 2003).]
Dec 19, 2003, 7:34 am
#7
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Milan, by the way, was the SAS city of advent yesterday, from the east coast round trip for $279 plus taxes. If it's like last year, on the last day of advent all the cities will be on sale again, and that's a great deal to Milan.
Dec 19, 2003, 12:17 pm
#9
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Ah, you guys are great.
Here were the places we are/were considering--
1. Prague/Warsaw (have friends in Warsaw that have a pied a terre we can stay in)
2. Milan/Mantova -- using FFN and other
means
3. Sorrento -- Taller half has never been to the beginnings of Southern Italy -- should be able to use my GLON at the Hilton saving my cash for gelato
4. Istanbul -- she refuses to stay in a US hotel in Turkey, we have friends there, so we will be well taken care of and its still a good inexpensive place
5. Scotland --- brr
Barcelona would be fun too, she loved Madrid.
we're thinking and watching the euro too.
lala
Here were the places we are/were considering--
1. Prague/Warsaw (have friends in Warsaw that have a pied a terre we can stay in)
2. Milan/Mantova -- using FFN and other
means
3. Sorrento -- Taller half has never been to the beginnings of Southern Italy -- should be able to use my GLON at the Hilton saving my cash for gelato
4. Istanbul -- she refuses to stay in a US hotel in Turkey, we have friends there, so we will be well taken care of and its still a good inexpensive place
5. Scotland --- brr
Barcelona would be fun too, she loved Madrid.
we're thinking and watching the euro too.
lala
Dec 19, 2003, 2:13 pm
#10
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lalala:
Here were the places we are/were considering--1. Prague/Warsaw (have friends in Warsaw that have a pied a terre we can stay in)
</font>
Here were the places we are/were considering--1. Prague/Warsaw (have friends in Warsaw that have a pied a terre we can stay in)
</font>
Not sure what Prague is like in March (was going to say "Prague spring," but that has other significance...), but I say go before they switch to the Euro!
With the US$ making a strong sucking sound, I'm thinking East for almost all of my future Europe travel- Estonia, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Croatia and i(n the "Eurozone") Vienna and Berlin.
Speaking of Vienna, have you considered Vienna? It's a great long weekend city, IMHO. Too bad your points are HH rather than SPG, bucause the Hotel Imperial is one of my favorite hotels, ever (although I believe there are nice HH properties, too).
I know some people say Vienna's boring/subdued, but you like Brussels, right?
Dec 19, 2003, 7:03 pm
#12
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Prague will be very cold in March, but it is a terrific place to visit. Prices are reasonable to cheap and much to see and do. I would highly recommend Prague, since it's on your list.
Dec 20, 2003, 7:02 am
#13
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If you park in Milan for awhile, take the train to Lugano, Switzerland (about an hour). My husband and I did that and spent the night at the Hotel International- right on the lake. It was absolutely beautiful. Lots of great mountain scenery from the train, too.
We have a Web site at http://www.craftpeople.com (non-commercial, no pop-ups) with pictures from the trips to Milan and Lugano (and other places).
[This message has been edited by Athena53 (edited Dec 20, 2003).]
We have a Web site at http://www.craftpeople.com (non-commercial, no pop-ups) with pictures from the trips to Milan and Lugano (and other places).
[This message has been edited by Athena53 (edited Dec 20, 2003).]
Dec 21, 2003, 12:43 pm
#15
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lalala:
1. Prague/Warsaw (have friends in Warsaw that have a pied a terre we can stay in)
</font>
1. Prague/Warsaw (have friends in Warsaw that have a pied a terre we can stay in)
</font>
