I decided to post this here to begin with (rather than the Travel forum)...hope its ok with the MODs

Seeing that many of fellow members are from Europe...I thought you might have some advice for me

Im going to be in Europe for about 3 weeks, the last 2 weeks are fixed for Germany, but I still have one week at the start of my trip...and am leaning towards the following places:

London and nearby

somewhere in Spain (Madrid or Barcelona? which is more interesting....why/how?)

Paris and nearby

I can get either cheap flights from Frankfurt to one of these destinations, OR get a deal with the airline here for reasonable additional amount for an extra stop within Europe, so getting there is not a problem.

Now in all these 3 countries I dont have friends that I can stay with, so am wondering if people care to share on what basic accomm option are available in these destinations? and roughly at what cost. (by basic I mean clean and cheap, yet somewhat central enough )

(I know I can get these things also on the net...but thought Id check with people that live/travel there too).

Also feel free to give your opinions on what you think of the options...including interesting /must see places in these destinations......

eg. Emirates Stadium in London ... League title celebration in Madrid ... etc etc....

of course there are various other places Id luvvvvvv to see, but given the one week time...I have to settle for only one place

ohh and the timeframe is pretty near....from end of July to mid August! Im hoping you will have real summer and none of the infamous rainy days in Europe!!

Im sure I havent asked all the right /smart questions....and I know this is Bedlam...so the other request would be...be gentle

thank you everyone

MiGgy (in excitement for a chance to stock up on chocolates!)

EDITED: to add links

I can't help with budget accommodation advice but if it were me I'd choose Spain, probably Barcelona but you might be able to do Madrid as well. Weather is more likely to be good but I can't recall the comparative costs with other European cities.

Assuming your trip is imminent, Paris is shut in August. Well not entirely true as the touristy things keep going but that might be an attraction if there's less peeps about.

London is expensive but there's loads to do and quite a few of the natives speak English (only joking). Weather can be <deleted> as the tennis crowd know only too well.

MiG, do go to London. I mean, it might be the chance of a lifetime to party with Kayo, Robski, Mossfinn, the Scouser, Markr, etc.

Think of all the tour guides, companionship, nights out drinking with the crew, etc. - all for free. Why, Kayo would probably be more than happy to give up his flat to you for a week and move in with Moss for the time. It's a no-brainer!!! London can be very cheap!!

and move in with Moss for the time.

Tipp,

I have just handed an official package to a man, long coat, dark glasses, speaks in a very quiet drawl.

Has two bulging pockets and believe me, he will be very pleased to see you.

Tipp, be afraid, be very, very afraid.

Moss

Barcelona hands down. Splendid weather this time of year, marvelous food, and lots of cultural (and not so cultural) events to participate in.

I've been to all of the above many times, and fairly recently. Barcelona is the one...

McG

I have just handed an official package to a man, long coat, dark glasses, big floppy ears, speaks in a very quiet drawl.

Has a bulge in his pants and believe me, he will be very pleased to see you.

Bless your golden heart, Moss, you've sent Kayo to Thailand to deliver a care package just for me! I must ready his room once more and ring the lovelies I had sent home earlier to return at once.

thanks to all the answers so far....

all the named places (and many others!!) are all places Id love to visit...but apart from the tips on saving money by Tip by volunteering the services of others.....but no one has mentioned anything about the costs?

ok Ive been told (repeatedly!) how expensive London can be... so McG ...by comparison...how would you rate Barcelona?

Prague is on the fantasy list too of course...but havent checked flight options for this.....

now cmon my eloquent, well-travelled, full of opinion friends... now is the time to share them with me

thank you again

EDIT: silly spelling errors!

MiGgy love, wouldn't Switzerland or Belgium be better for the chocolate? Are you going during footie season? If so, gotta be London, ain't it? As for any other tips, can't help I'm afraid. I don't know London at all & I know even less about the others.

Oh, just reread - July to August. No Premier League then.

yeah although the weekend I arrive there's the Emirates Cup.... although from experience...even tickets to their training games in no-where Austria gets sold off really quickly!! so my chances on getting tickets once Ive finalised plans/visas etc would be very dim....

but perhaps I can still hang around outside the stadium and absorb in the atmosphere yes would have been great if it were during footie season...but Im not complaining...I was in Germany for the World Cup last year...and although not at any game...the atmosphere at FanFest itself was great!!

Ive been to Brussels NR...although not Swiss...but I figured I can get chocolates almost anywhere in Europe plus going by options that would allow me reasonable travel time and cost between the place and either Frankfurt or Cologne.

more tips more tips thankyou

Well have a wonderful time MiG 16. If it were me, i'd give London and Paris a pass. I'd catch a train to Florence or a plane to Prague.

edit: Or the Lakes region of nrthern Italy/ Switzerland.

and move in with Moss for the time.

Tipp,

I have just handed an official package to a man, long coat, dark glasses, speaks in a very quiet drawl.

Has two bulging pockets and believe me, he will be very pleased to see you.

Tipp, be afraid, be very, very afraid.

Moss

:D

MiGgie!!!!! Come to Engerland!

I can most likely organise for a friend of mine in London to put you up, and I'll definately come to London to buy you a Mars Bar.

We can tour the Mars Factory in Slough.

We can roll around naked in vats of creamy chocolate!!

Engerland!

and move in with Moss for the time.

Tipp,

I have just handed an official package to a man, long coat, dark glasses, speaks in a very quiet drawl.

Has two bulging pockets and believe me, he will be very pleased to see you.

Tipp, be afraid, be very, very afraid.

Moss

:D

MiGgie!!!!! Come to Engerland!

I can most likely organise for a friend of mine in London to put you up, and I'll definately come to London to buy you a Mars Bar.

We can tour the Mars Factory in Slough.

We can roll around naked in vats of creamy chocolate!!

Engerland!

Do it, MiGgy, do it!!!!

If you want sunshine and sangria head for Spain, but if you've never been to Eng-ur-land then you should come here.

You'll be able to see all the famous sights of London that you've only ever seen on TV (the other TV), art galleries, museums, shows, nightclubs or just watch people go by. London is interesting for a couple of days or three, but accomodation can be expensive and the inexpensive type is very low quality. It's easy to get around though and we've got 24hr drinking.

You could spend time outside of London, Oxford or the south coast for example and I'm sure you would love it, but you need longer than a week to appreciate all that natural beauty and history and i think it would be quite tiring just travelling from one destination to another, so you should choose carefully where you want to go.

Soooooo.... after a couple of days in London get yourself over to Amsterdam, it's only 40 minutes by air and it is one of the most beautiful and definately the most eccentric city in Europe, (it is so beautiful that in the second world war both sides agreed not to bomb it or fight over it so all the buildings are very historic) accomodation is plentiful, good quality and inexpensive and there is so much to do and see there, it's the capital of the Netherlands you know, so fantastic nightlife and beautiful canals as well as museums and galleries.

Then... if you have time left perhaps a trip by train down to Brussels in Belgium to indulge your chocholic desire, and from the Netherlands or Belgium it is very easy to continue on to Germany either by train or plane.

I hope that helps and if you need any assistance or info please let me know.

Miggy, this is way exciting for you! Wow.

Well, what do you like to do besides footie? Galleries, museums, nature, gardens, shopping...give us some more clues about what you want to see. If you stay in one place for a week, you should be able to get a package deal at a small hotel or a B&B. Do y'all think Spain may be the cheapest? True, London would be easy because of the English and you can go by tube everywhere.

Tell us what things interest you most. More clues, Miggy, more clues.

awwww thankyou all the lovely ones....

Rob.....thanks for the info....interestingly...I did exactly part of that tour you suggested last year!! Amsterdam, ZaanDam, before heading into Brussels for LOTSSSSSSSSSSS of chocolates!! and then head back into Cologne for the Lindt Musuem.

so Im hoping to do something different this time round.....

and yes...Spain.....anymore info on this people? costs wise?

Kayo -- Ive often had friends of friends stay at my place here...but never had someone offered a friends place to a stranger (me) before you are a sweetie arent you

Great info from Robski. But for one week, maybe London and then one part of the countryside? More clues what you want to do, Migs.

I just have four words for you:

Bar...ce...lo...na.

PS Chocolate exists in Spain too.....

McG

PS Chocolate exists in Spain too.....

I know!! in fact they have the best drinking chocolate Ive tried... Colacao!!! mmmmmm

Jet....hmm what do I like apart from football.....

i like the performing arts....outdoor concerts, operas....music in the park...dance type thing

visual arts in some cases.....I loved the Van Gogh musuem for instance.... (perhaps a visit to Louvre might be in order....see totally sidetracked to France now...)

I enjoy the architecture....more than the countryside...although wouldnt mind a bit of peace and quiet for a few days

(so yes if I do end up in London Id have to go outside for a couple of days)

whats Leeds like? worth a visit? things to do there?

and then I just loveeeeeee food!! and yes the vibrant ways of the spanish draws me......

I also enjoy a bit of nature (but not rough trekking type)...to give an example...being in Zaandam was great! very relaxing....

somebody suggested Florence....I was there on my first trip to Europe....visited David

Jet? did I give clues? or did I just confuse you the way I confuse myself??

and thanks to everyone for all suggestions and tips so far....all been great

EDITED to add links

Hiya MIG16.

I would take an easyjet flight from London to Barcelona. It has cheap hotels and accomodation in central Barcelona, near La Ramblas. If it is a cafe scane and club culture you are looking for a wins hands down on the others you mentioned. There are also lots of sightsseeing things to do, I for one only go for the nights out and to see friends who live there.

Whatever you do, enjoy.

What's Leeds like? Puuuurleeeeeease!!

London has the National Gallery, that's the big building to the top of Trafalgar Sq. It's free, it's bl00dy huge and has many great impressionist paintings amongst it's massive collection.

Barcelona is a great city, but sooooooooo touristic if you want to follow the crowd it's ok and no doubt you will meet some nice people there. But....

The real Spain would require a car. Granada is a beautiful city high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, great views, great outdoors, you can visit the Alhambra

(the first pic)or...

go west of Gibraltar into Andalucia the most beautiful part of Spain where you will rarely hear or see any other nationalities but Spanish, from Tarifa the most southerly point of Europe, where the Atlantic crashes onto a beautiful long cresent beach and you can look across to Morroco and the Atlas mountains rising out of the sea,(2nd pic) all along the unspoilt coast to Cadiz and then inland through beautiful vinyards and countryside to Seville, great culture, great food, great nightlife from bars to flamenco to disco, great, great, great.... I'm getting carried away now, but Andalucia is wonderful and my favorite part of Spain.

Probably a bit off track though eh!?

actually Rob...I was just looking at Andalucia on the net before I came back to check this thread. and have to say just the first sentence about the place already attracted me.

but yes....wont have a car....plus I guess Ill have to fly in either via Barcelona or Madrid.....not sure how well the trains work in Spain....not checked that out......

sighhhhh....anyway....did I say yet ...my first ever visit to Europe started in Italy......and I fell in loveeeeeeeee

sighhhhhhhhhh. what a lovely place...food, weather, language, art, architecture, people......

Ive not been to all that many places....but I can say it will always be my favorite place....sighhhhhh

PS. saw the pics after I posted....looks great! dont care much about the beach though....you should know why maybe I should go to Morocco too talk about offtrack

Mig,

May I suggest London, although the whole world has told you it is expensive, however a coach ride away in about an hour is Oxford, present home of the Finn family.

An open top tourist bus ride around the most historic city in the world, price: Courtesy of Finn Family Management.

Individual Tourist Guide of the said City, including high-lights of the the Rabbit falling asleep with his aged cousin the White Rabbit of Alice fame!

Chocolate Ice cream on the Famous High, known through-out the world,

Museums, wow museums!! Pitt Rivers, the strangest and most diverse natural history museum outside of London, the Ashmoleum, although you would need a week alone for that excitement, Price, absolutely free!!

A punt along the River Cherwell, crossing swords with Gown as they take an awful lot of stick from us, the Town, sipping Pimms and of course Chocolate.

Walk around the ancient stone walls, multitudinous Colleges of the University Campus, round Libraries, Towers and Spires that dream about touching the sky, designed by Pugin, Wren and Gilbert Scott.

Sit and eat ice cream, Pizza, fine food and chocolate inside the old the old prison that is now an award winning refurbished tourist hub, whilst watching the out door drama society performing the Scottish Play or the Melancholy Dane...

Interested? Dam I am, I'm off to the city.

Good Luck and be safe what ever you choose

Moss

Mmmm... could fly into Seville, but yes a car is a defo. oh hum some other time eh. I would like to retire there, kinda torn between Andalucia and Thailand, but hey too young to think too much about that...

Italy, now that interests me and I've never been there, Italian food, Italian cars, Italian women... mama mia!

BTW where are you going in Germany? You're staying two weeks right? Southern Germany is wunderbahr! Konstanz, the Boden Sea, Bavaria, the Swiss Alps (ok not German but near as dammit and theyve got chocolcolate) Ok i guess you're going north but hey, the trains are Uber Super!

Mig,

May I suggest London, although the whole world has told you it is expensive, however a coach ride away in about an hour is Oxford, present home of the Finn family.

An open top tourist bus ride around the most historic city in the world, price: Courtesy of Finn Family Management.

Individual Tourist Guide of the said City, including high-lights of the the Rabbit falling asleep with his aged cousin the White Rabbit of Alice fame!

Chocolate Ice cream on the Famous High, known through-out the world,

Museums, wow museums!! Pitt Rivers, the strangest and most diverse natural history museum outside of London, the Ashmoleum, although you would need a week alone for that excitement, Price, absolutely free!!

A punt along the River Cherwell, crossing swords with Gown as they take an awful lot of stick from us, the Town, sipping Pimms and of course Chocolate.

Walk around the ancient stone walls, multitudinous Colleges of the University Campus, round Libraries, Towers and Spires that dream about touching the sky, designed by Pugin, Wren and Gilbert Scott.

Sit and eat ice cream, Pizza, fine food and chocolate inside the old the old prison that is now an award winning refurbished tourist hub, whilst watching the out door drama society performing the Scottish Play or the Melancholy Dane...

Interested? Dam I am, I'm off to the city.

Good Luck and be safe what ever you choose

Moss

HEY!!!

Now wait a minute.

We didn't get offered all this when we came to Oxford to see 'The Family Finn' Oh no all we got was a tour of all the pubs.

And, Er... hold on. Um.. and my point is...

It was bloody marvellous! Cheers Moss

Mig,

May I suggest London, although the whole world has told you it is expensive, however a coach ride away in about an hour is Oxford, present home of the Finn family.

An open top tourist bus ride around the most historic city in the world, price: Courtesy of Finn Family Management.

Individual Tourist Guide of the said City, including high-lights of the the Rabbit falling asleep with his aged cousin the White Rabbit of Alice fame!

Chocolate Ice cream on the Famous High, known through-out the world,

Museums, wow museums!! Pitt Rivers, the strangest and most diverse natural history museum outside of London, the Ashmoleum, although you would need a week alone for that excitement, Price, absolutely free!!

A punt along the River Cherwell, crossing swords with Gown as they take an awful lot of stick from us, the Town, sipping Pimms and of course Chocolate.

Walk around the ancient stone walls, multitudinous Colleges of the University Campus, round Libraries, Towers and Spires that dream about touching the sky, designed by Pugin, Wren and Gilbert Scott.

Sit and eat ice cream, Pizza, fine food and chocolate inside the old the old prison that is now an award winning refurbished tourist hub, whilst watching the out door drama society performing the Scottish Play or the Melancholy Dane...

Interested? Dam I am, I'm off to the city.

Good Luck and be safe what ever you choose

Moss

Oxford, The Lamb and Flag Pub...got pished in thier when my mate graduated...was good.

ps. Castilla De Mancha is a good area of Spain if you are looking for rustic villages.

HEY!!!

Now wait a minute.

We didn't get offered all this when we came to Oxford to see 'The Family Finn' Oh no all we got was a tour of all the pubs.

And, Er... hold on. Um.. and my point is...

It was bloody marvellous! Cheers Moss

Now listen here Robbo, we couldn't go the River, because me and Kayo thought we were going to get dunked, by YOU!!

Ice Cream or Kebab, NO CONTEST!!

However, glad you enjoyed the Moss 'Speciality dish' and Mrs Scouse's ' Green Curry'. Unfortunately the beer was not so cold as Kayo had got to the fridge an hour before you!!

So how about it Mig, does Oxford sound appealing?

Moss

VERY appealing!!

but I think you are just luring me there to babysit Jude

Spain is also looking very good though......although I dont know anyone in Spain.....and my Spanish goes as far as.....hmmm I cant even tell a boy hes cute should I feel the urge to

thanks for all the tips AND offers so far ....

I think you all have also helped to make it more difficult

but keep them coming pls

Just stay in Germany and drink their lovely beer.

OK, in that case, how about Ireland.

A myriad of things to do, historic Dublin, the Four Courts, Mountjoy Jail, Trinity College where the Book of Kells is kept, the Pubs, Oh the pubs where a great hooley will kick for no reason.

Maybe a trip down to Kerry, cycle round the Ring, catch a boat over to the Skelligs, one is a bird sanctuary and the other has an ancient restored settlement of Monks!

I don't think you will need a trip to Blarney Castle, where the Blarney Stone will bless you with the Gift of the Gab, I am sure you'll do just fine anyhow.

The waters of the Atlantic are Crystal clear on the Island of Achill and the scenery stunning, many many things to see, do and inspire, just depends on what you want to do.

Travel Safe

Moss