2 1/2 weeks - One European Location - What would you do?

[moirinknits]

We've got 2 1/2 weeks in August between when our S. Korean visa ends and when we can enter the UK without messing up visas. We've got a flight from our Korean employer to anywhere as long as it costs less than flying back to DC

Comments

[ebullientjenn]

Well, where HAVEN'T you been?

I think what I'd do is pick a spot which was centrally located in between a few places you're interested in really digging deep into? You could do day trips and rent an apartment somewhere. Or you could get a train pass and go lots of places, starting and ending in the same location. Maybe staying in hostels cause it's cheap?

Or you could split it into 3-5 areas and train it to the different places and then shack up there for a few days? The UK would probably have the best weather that time of year. Southern Europe in August might be brutal, so maybe the UK or. A Denmark/Norway/Sweden/Finland? I also hear Iceland is GORGEOUS. But you'd be completely stuck there.

So lots of options. I'm sure I didn't help NARROW things for you :)

[moirinknits]

Ummm... where haven't I been... well considering that I've never been to Europe (I know, shocking!), everywhere.

We really want to pick one city/town/village/island to be our base and do whatever we feel like doing on any given day.

We've got no interest in going lots of places on a train pass. We want a relaxing break between packing up in Korea and finding a flat, buying a car, registering for classes, finding the grocery store etc.. in the UK. So as little travel as possible is ideal

[ebullientjenn]

Yeah.. I'd try the South of Spain or maybe South of France or Tuscany. If you want to chill out? Cause there's stuff to see but also a nice beach to lay on and hang out. I like my second comment actually best now. Costa del Sol baby... hablas espanol? Will be hot though :)

Hmm.. let me dream and research a vacation for you!

[ebullientjenn]

Or I know you said Europe... but what about Egypt/ North Africa/ Morroco? If you did Spain.. you could take the ferry to Tangiers from Gibraltar. Spain might be a good bet. The south of Spain is awesome with lots to see.

I'm not sure if there's an airport - but you could stay in Malaga and day trip to Cadiz, Grenada, Gibraltar, Tangiers, Seville. There are lots of castles and churches to see. South Spain also has a different flair than the rest of the country as a result of the Moorish presence from 700 something to 1490 something when Ferdinand and Isabella retook the country. Also, there's the beach. Lots of Europeans vacation in that area "Costa del Sol" too.

[entirelysonja]

Malaga has an airport -- I have flown from there. :-)

[orlacarey]

If it were me I'd pick someplace where the lace is big like Belguim...but you guys aren't into lace ;)

So pick some place that where the history is interesting to you...Paris? Berlin?

edited to fix icon

[entirelysonja]

Our suggestion, if you can take the heat in August, would be Rome

[moirinknits]

Cool, thanks... I hadn't thought of Rome. Right now we're thinking Denmark is going to be the winner as long as I can find flights in the right price range. I've got a friend from my exchange student days that we've been wanting to visit, then there's all the Viking stuff and reasonably priced flights to Newcastle.

Amsterdam could be a good plan b, especially since there's a ferry between there and Newcastle. We really like traveling by overnight ferries. I also saw a lot of reasonably priced hotels there as well.

I think Rome will be a bit hot for us. I think we'll enjoy getting away from the heat & humidity of Korea, which is like DC in the summer - except there's torrential rain every day. We have a month-long vacation in April, that might be a good time to visit Italy.

Thanks for the input!