What's your favorite city in Europe?

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

You are too funny Pat, but I owe you big time - now, if Marriott would only come thru with Tuscany!

Maria
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[tennisWalt Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tennisWalt]

MY Favorite is............All Of Them Large and Small.

Our first trip to Europe was to Bavaria and we stayed at Oberstaufen the first week.

Mondi Ferienclubs

Bavaria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

muenchen.de - Munich Germany Bavaria bavarian german

From Wikipedia

Bavarians are the proudest of all Germans. Locals are loyal to their roots and traditions. Bavaria is also the most autonomous of German states, and many Bavarians see themselves as Bavarians first and foremost, Germans second. Some people have called it the Texas of Germany. Bavarians also have no problem fulfilling the German stereotype of beer drinking, sausage eating and Lederhosen. This however is only found in rural Bavaria and mainly in the south towards Austria and the alps.

Most Bavarians can speak a form of the Bavarian dialect (Bairisch). The dialect, however, is extremely difficult for most other Germans to understand—a person from Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) would have a hard time understanding a Bavarian. Ironically, an Austrian however would not! Despite the dialect difference from the rest of Germany, most Bavarians can lose the dialect at any moment.

About 60% of Bavarians are Catholic and are usually more conservative than the rest of Germany (or Europe for that matter). Munich, however, is a pretty liberal city with a huge number of people from other parts of Germany, Europe, and the world, and it has a large English-speaking community. It can be quite hard to find someone with truly Bavarian origins in the city, as most people come to work there and only stay for some time.


Munich is a very special City to visit during Oktoberfest.


Oktoberfest.de - The Wiesn Website | Homepage


Some of the cities and towns near Oberstaufen and not to be missed for their charm as old world smaller cities.

Oberstaufen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Lindau, Mittenwald, Oberammergau, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Schwanngau, Füssen.


The 2nd week we stayed at Holiday Club Grundlsee.


Mondi Ferienclubs

Again not to be missed is Salzburg. Again don’t miss the smaller cities and towns around Grundlsee.

Salzburg : Hotels in Salzburg : Accommodation in Salzburg : Events in Salzburg :: salzburg.info

Grundlsee is near Bad Sussee.

Bad Aussee Tourist Attractions


We have been to the large cities of:

Paris. Stayed here and took the train into Paris each day.

Chateau du Francport

London. Stayed at a hotel near Piccadilly Circus.

London's Piccadilly Circus - pictures and history.


Munich. Took a day trip by bus from Oberstaufen.

See above.

Prague. Took a day trip by bus from The Holiday Club Luftkurort Mitterfels

Prague Travel Information and Travel Guide - Czech Republic - Lonely Planet

Mondi Ferienclubs

Venice. Took a day trip by bus from the Ferieclub Bellevue, Bad Gastein


Venice Travel Information and Travel Guide - Italy - Lonely Planet

Mondi Ferienclubs

Edinburgh. Took a day trip from Kilconquhar Estate and Country Club

Kilconquhar Castle Estate | 4/5-star self catering holiday & timeshare resort, offering private holiday homes, in Elie, Fife, Scotland, UK

Edinburgh - The official Tourist Board: Festivals, castles, accommodations, maps, The Lothians, events and much more

Edinburgh Travel Information and Travel Guide - Scotland - Lonely Planet

Dublin. Took day trip and also stayed in hotel with CIE travel.

Dublin Tourism - Official Information Dublin Hotels and Car Hire

Dublin Travel Information and Travel Guide - Ireland - Lonely Planet

So after listing all of the larger Cities of Europe we have been to, I asked myself which City I liked best.

The answer:

All of them. Each has their own form of Old World charm in the Centrum (city center). If I had to pick one it would be Paris.

But don’t forget that some of the mid size and small towns also have a very special charm.

Some of the most enjoyable days we had in Europe were just having a 2 hour lunch, eating outside in a small town with views like this.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

So do you think travleing for 2 years straight thru Europe might able me to enjoy all these beautiful places or do I need more time?

I went to Italy for 2 weeks and that sure wasn't even enough time to see Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples & Pompeii properly.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

So do you think travleing for 2 years straight thru Europe might able me to enjoy all these beautiful places or do I need more time?

I went to Italy for 2 weeks and that sure wasn't even enough time to see Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples & Pompeii properly.

I have gone to Europe 2 years in a row and this year it will make it 3 years in a row. First year we did 4 weeks in Italy and that was not enough. We did most of Italy hot spots but missed Bari and Milan and most of lower Scaly.
The next year we did 5 weeks, 1 week in Austria was great but we could have used a few more days. 1 week in Germany was Hood but we were at the south part of Germany, What was nice was we were able to drive into Switzerland which IMO was just breath taking and totally different. Then we did 3 weeks in the Greek Islands, Not enough time to see it all we only saw 3 Islands but I will say we did see all of each island.
This year it is London and Paris and I am thing of going back to Venice for a few days.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

tennisWalt

MY Favorite is............All Of Them Large and Small.

Thanks for all the great info, and beautiful pics.....I totally agree with you on not missing the small towns. Some of the most beautiful locations that we found in Spain were small towns. Also, the people and food were equally great. I like going off the beaten path, as much as possible. You never know what you'll find.

So do you think traveling for 2 years straight thru Europe might able me to enjoy all these beautiful places or do I need more time?

I went to Italy for 2 weeks and that sure wasn't even enough time to see Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples & Pompeii properly.

I missed my chance to back-pack through Europe in my college days, and would just love to be able to spend two years traveling in Europe. How great would that be? No way that's happening, tho. I'm going to try and squeak out a couple of weeks a years, and will have to be happy with that.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

What about Portugal?

II has those two gorgeous Four Season timeshares in Algrave. Anyone been to Portugal, and if so, what was your experience?

My sister goes to Algarve every year. She says that the beaches are beautiful. Portugal is also a beautiful city but I have never been there so don't know. We have beautiful beaches here and you are close to the Caribbean so visiting an old city may be a better choice. JMHO, of course. We don't have too many old cities in the USA.

PS. I meant Lisbon is a beautiful city!

[mav Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Tenniswalt

QUOTE :
Bavarians are the proudest of all Germans. Locals are loyal to their roots and traditions. Bavaria is also the most autonomous of German states, and many Bavarians see themselves as Bavarians first and foremost, Germans second


So true! On our first trip to Bavaria, when talking to the locals, if we said we thought Germany was beautiful, they would very politely tell us we were NOT in Germany, we were in Bavaria. My husband and I would really get a chuckle out of it! After the first few times of being corrected we remembered to be politically correct and say "Bavaria is beautiful" and they REALLY appreciated it! It would really bring big smiles to their faces to hear that. We almost got the distinct impression that they don't consider themselves German.

QUOTE:
Bavarians also have no problem fulfilling the German stereotype of beer drinking, sausage eating and Lederhosen

I am a vegetarian and when I go to a restaurant with no English menu and little or no English spoken , when I say "Kein Fleisch", they bring me a huge plate piled high with potatoes, and all kinds of fresh vegetables and mushrooms. My husband is always amazed at the meals I get in Bavaria. Not so much in other areas in Germany.


QUOTE:

Our first trip to Europe was to Bavaria and we stayed at Oberstaufen the first week.

On one of our trips there we spent a week at Oberstaufen. The timeshare was lovely and so was the town.
Every time we go to Bavaria my trip is not complete without spending a few nights at the Cafe Hotel Mueller in Hohenschwangau. Love the place! Mrs. Mueller is the most gracious hostesses you will ever meet!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I can only go EOY

Seriously, I would love to jump on the Italian Band Wagon with you! I went on my high school junior year trip to Italy and then again a few years later and just remember the warmth of the people and the unbelievable history of the country.

I LOVED Barcelona - will be returning for a 3-4 day visit in Fall 2010 before a cruise.

Cadiz was amazing - thanks for the reminder Emmy.

I spent time on Killarney,Ireland a few years ago - what a fun loving city with ssoooooo much to see in the surrounding area as well.

Also returning to spend a week in Dublin this year....we did a whirlwind day there a few years ago and this is a city that deserves its own trip!
So much history and beauty there.

Lake Como, Italy was beautiful....as was Zug, Switzerland....the Alps are spectacular.

And REALLY looking forward to a return to Paris...again did a two day trip before - just want to go and relax and soak in the atmosphere.....

Lake Como is beautiful and Lugano is so colorful. Lake Geneva is much larger and Geneva is a beautiful and important city but I prefer Lausanne. From all the countries I have visited in Europe or lived in, Switzerland was the most beautiful but Spain was my favorite of all. I love the people, their culture and the living late at night. I remember their long siestas too because the middle of the day was just too warm to be outside or do anything inside. A/C wasn't popular at that time.

Switzerland has many little gems of villages but it is a very expensive country. Europe is expensive today because of the Euro. It used to be the other way around many years ago.

Angela, are you combining your vacation with Paris or are you taking another trip?

PS. Barcelona seems to be one of the most beautiful cities and I wished I had gone there too. Sevilla is well worth seeing and so is Cordova. You already saw the surroundings of Andalusia which is a must see. You have seen a lot in such a short time already, Angela.

[wandering gnome Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wandering gnome]

Tennis Walt,

What exchange company did you use to get your exchanges?

[tennisWalt Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tennisWalt]

Rci

I get most of my exchanges between 1 1/2 to 2 years out. I have an exchange to Ireland for September 2010 which I got 3 or 4 months ago.

Walt

Tennis Walt,

What exchange company did you use to get your exchanges?

[Elli Member Find all posts View Profile Close Elli]

I have been to quite a few cities in Europe and, as someone said earlier, it is really hard to say which one I like best, they are all so different. The countries of Bavaria and Switzerland are outstanding, but I think Switzerland is more spectacular.

Love travelling in Europe.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Emmy,

Angela, are you combining your vacation with Paris or are you taking another trip?

PS. Barcelona seems to be one of the most beautiful cities and I wished I had gone there too. Sevilla is well worth seeing and so is Cordova. You already saw the surroundings of Andalusia which is a must see. You have seen a lot in such a short time already, Angela.

This time, we are just going to Paris. I grabbed a week using Marriott points just before the devaluation. I don't like going to Europe for just one week, but that's all the time that DH could take.

Hopefully, our next trip will be 2 - 3 weeks, and we will be able to see a few more countries.

We really enjoyed Andalusia, and did get to see Cordova, but not Seville. It was far from where we were staying, and we ran out of time, and energy. I hope to see it on one of our future trips. I will definitely be back to that area being as Marriott has timeshares there, and now Delta is flying direct from NY to Malaga.

[mav Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Angie,
Have a wonderful time! Be sure to go to Montmartre and wander around. It's a very unique spot in Paris around Sacre Coeur.
Eat some yummy French pastries for me!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Angie,
Have a wonderful time! Be sure to go to Montmartre and wander around. It's a very unique spot in Paris around Sacre Coeur.
Eat some yummy French pastries for me!

Thanks, and don't worry, I plan on eating lots of pastries. Enough for both of us, for sure.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

This time, we are just going to Paris. I grabbed a week using Marriott points just before the devaluation. I don't like going to Europe for just one week, but that's all the time that DH could take.

You will love Paris, Angela. I am excited for you. Europe has beautiful cities and so much history too. I would learn a few words in French as they will really appreciate that and they will continue in English when you start struggling because almost everyone speaks it.