Never Been to Europe. WHERE SHOULD I GO?? (how much, shop)

[Aylalou]

I think the OP has chosen some good places, and I kind of agree about Sweden being less exciting.

I also love Venice but if you go in mid-summer it's impossible. Horribly overcrowded and HOT! Try to get there before Oct 15.

But I also like London. But of the two, I'd pick Venice because there is no other city like it and it maintains the look of previous centuries, even more so because of no automobiles.

[irman]

2 weeks is kind of short for most people who would like to see a lot of things.
First of all, two weeks ... does that mean two weeks there, or two weeks total including travel to and fro ?

All depends on what you as a family are interested in to see.
Depending in which country you spend most of your time, you do need your own transportation. Holland for instance does have excellent public transportation.
Also a big factor is *When you go*.
When the kids there, are on summer vacation, Italy is full of families of the north, and the roads are chock full of caravans !!!!
Keep in mind that the summer vacation for Euro kids starts in the north of Europe, then the last ones in late summer from the south.
If all of Europe would take summer vacations at the same time, you would have a minimum six week gridlock all over Europe ....
So the end of September, beginning of October is still a good time to go.
Just after the high season is over ... also more economical overall.
We lived just north of Switzerland in Bavaria, and during summer vacation of the kids, we never went anywhere on the week ends .... I have never seen so many travel trailers go south ...
I wonder ... do they issue travel trailers on the German border ????
I can not figure out where they would park so many travel trailers in that small Dutch country ?????

Originally Posted by Dark Khan

A.) Italy/Switzerland/Austria (maybe)
Italy - unless you speak some Italian, you'd better have a good idea where you want to go or see.

Switzerland - Younger people speak English, expensive, unless you go to the southern parts, some (the north) of Switzerland is actually flat, with mountains in the far distance.

Austria - nice scenery, not too bad in cost. Younger people speak English.
My opinion of Austria - very good for a ski vacation... summers (?) ... no, not for me.

B.) some combo of Scandinavia/Finland
Expensive overall, very nice scenery. English spoken almost everywhere.

C.) Belgium/Holland/Germany
English spoken almost everywhere.
Lots of cultural stuff like musea and old buildings (castles) with some history if you care to find out.
Belgium and Holland are relatively small countries, unlike Germany which is a lot bigger and I would only suggest the Bavaria area.
In Holland, stay on the west side, Amsterdam, Marken, Volendam, and some surrounding areas.
Then drop down to Belgium, Brussels, Antwerpen and some other cities.
Then south to Bavaria via Luxembourg.
Average cost.

See if you can land in Amsterdam, and go home from Munich ?

[irman]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

Scandinavia is boring (sorry, but it is).

Originally Posted by European17

berlin and scandanavia is boring, real boring.

All depends on what you would like to do.

What many do not know, is that you can take a boat ride
(just a small boat with only the skipper and his wife plus your family),
from the south end of Sweden to Stockholm through all the small rivers and locks, and the big lakes.
My apologies to BigSwede for letting out the secret ....
Talk about *heavenly doing nothing but relax* !!!!!
Take a bicycle along the route while the boat puffs slowly alongside,
explore all those small towns, regular tourists will NEVER see .....

You can do a similar trip from the south of France to the north.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by irman

All depends on what you would like to do.

Yes.
Do you like scenery? Architecture? Dining? A combination of all?

explore all those small towns, regular tourists will NEVER see .....

You can do a similar trip from the south of France to the north.

We did something like this (just got back early Wednesday) and for the first week/10 days of our trip, did not hear one single American voice.
About Santorini, it is an island, not a city, we stayed overnight in Oia, it was quiet and untouristy. The view of the caldera is breathtaking. I never felt shuttled at all, we were doing our own thing and it was relaxing and beautiful there.
I agree with Jacq that Berlin is not boring at all, it actually seemed quite vibrant and beautiful in the summer of '06.

[ako]

Wow 10k in 2 weeks?

That's A LOT!

If it's your first time, you should go with a tour group. I don't really like tours myself, but if it's your first time then I think going with a tour is a good idea.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by ako

Wow 10k in 2 weeks?

That's A LOT!

Enough for a splendid time, indeed.
I don't always agree with Rick Steves' opinions, but I'd take his guidebook over a tour group any time.
I've heard good things about this book: First Time Europe

[Dark Khan]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I ordered 3 guidebooks so hopefully they will help me out as it seems like I have a lot to cover before I go.

[Leovigildo]

Dark

Two weeks is not much.
I'd say Italy.
In that time, you have time to visit all Italy.
Hire a planned excursion with the "Italian Combo".
Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice.

[Dark Khan]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

Dark

Two weeks is not much.
I'd say Italy.
In that time, you have time to visit all Italy.
Hire a planned excursion with the "Italian Combo".
Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice.

If I did that, how big of a deal is it that I don't speak Italian? Kind of worries me, and thats why I'm leaning elsewhere.

[acrylic]

To me, a lot of the more interesting places that would interest me more would be of little interest to others, mainly because of the language barrier, but I'm somewhat biased towards Eastern Europe on the Adriatic shore. (Montenegro specifically )