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Original poster

To ask for your best 4 night holiday away?

92 replies

JaxingJump · 20/02/2017 10:41

We are going to take the plunge and escape the kids for 3-4 nights away alone this summer. It's too short to go long haul but where can we go from the UK (Belfast unfortunately so even trickier) for an adventure. We are not interested in 5* hotel somewhere warm as a holiday but want something beautiful, educational, interesting. We've done some amazing trips pre-kids so are desperate for some stimulation. Mainly thinking of St Petersburg (DHs choice). I'd love something like New Orleans, somewhere stunning in Iceland, Venice (never been but this is lower on the list), Zanzibar (been before and maybe too beachy for what we're looking for). I've suggested the outer Hebrides but DH rightly says that is actually somewhere we could take the kids in a few years.

Where with 5ish hrs flight have you travelled that has totally blown your mind?

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 20/02/2017 11:46

I would seriously warn against lake Garda out of season. It's closed basically

BitOutOfPractice · 20/02/2017 11:46

And cold

MiddleClassProblem · 20/02/2017 11:48

Florence, my fav city. Relaxed pace, beautiful architecture, art for culture, lovely people, scenic river, if you want to day trip to Pisa you can for more touristy but most of all amazing foooooood!

BitOutOfPractice · 20/02/2017 11:52

I've been to Florence maybe 10 times and never really liked it Blush too crowded. Very very trafficking and dirty. I prefer sienna and Luca

Magzmarsh · 20/02/2017 11:55

Another vote for Budapest. Got back last night from a 4 day trip. It's a phenomenal place and I've been to most "destination" city breaks. This stands out by a mile.
Enjoy wherever you go op 😁

BitOutOfPractice · 20/02/2017 11:55

Trafficky that was meant to say. It's a real word. Honest.

budgiegirl · 20/02/2017 11:58

Rome. So beautiful that I got a bit over-emotional and cried !

BitOutOfPractice · 20/02/2017 12:03

There's such a thing as a Pom Pom machine? My life is now complete

BitOutOfPractice · 20/02/2017 12:03

God I'm sorry. Wrong thread Blush

Dahlietta · 20/02/2017 12:05

Bologna. It's not really on the tourist trail so you don't come across too many tourists, but it's lovely and you can for day trips on the train to Venice, Ravenna, Ferrara, Modena.

BazookaJoe90 · 20/02/2017 12:25

Berlin is an amazing place, with lots of history, buildings still wearing the battle scars etc, and plenty of museums and other things to see. No pom pom machines that I'm aware of though :-)

irregularegular · 20/02/2017 12:26

We had an amazing 4 nights in St Petersburg in July a few years ago. Absolutely loved the light nights, the old Europe feel mixed with the Soviet era, the lack of familiarity compared to places in Europe that already felt very known to me, relatively un-touristy, not expensive. 4 nights is perfect - some other European cities you could do for a 2-3 night break, but you need the 4 nights for St P I think so it is a good opportunity.

Venice will be hot and packed in the middle of summer.

Iceland also brilliant - depends whether you are looking for an outdoorsy or cultured break.

New York is an obvious choice for 4 night grown-up break and can be more quirky than obvious if you want.

Love Marrakech but would be unbearably hot. Atlas mountains possibly OK????? Not sure.

We are going to Slovenia with kids this summer but suspect it could work for an interesting city+mountains adult break too?

I think St P is a great choice though. Having said that, personally I might be less keen on visiting Russia now than I was then.

FreeNiki · 20/02/2017 12:32

St Petersburg.

Amazing. Same latitude as Helsinki so sun doesnt go down in summer. That photo was taken at 10:30pm and still blue skies.

Hermitage is not to be missed. It is fabulous.

Do long in advance though as you need a visa.

To ask for your best 4 night holiday away?
ShoutOutToMyEx · 20/02/2017 12:56

I'd do Berlin. So much to do, fascinating history, friendly people, good food, easy to get around and most people have a good grasp of English should your German fail you. Very child friendly city too.

fairweathercyclist · 20/02/2017 12:58

For 4 nights in summer you could go to:

Berlin
Jersey
Stockholm
Helsinki
Oslo
Vienna
Hamburg
Orkneys

moreslackthanslick · 20/02/2017 12:59

We went to Berlin last year ! Amazing city and not over priced either. Love Barcelona but wow we went through loads of money there!

Nquartz · 20/02/2017 13:02

Copenhagen is great for families, everyone cycles everywhere (usually with Dad pedalling and the family in a big box on the front),, no litter/dirt and everyone speaks English

Fredmitten · 20/02/2017 13:11

Stockholm is so much fun, we went as two adults in august last year for two nights and would go again in a heartbeat.
Also a vote for Berlin, I've been four or five times and never get tired of it.
Have fun!

jay55 · 20/02/2017 13:14

Stockholm was my fave short break I think. Lots to do but easy to just chill and watch the world go by too.

FuckyNell · 20/02/2017 13:18

Florence!

EnglishGirlApproximately · 20/02/2017 13:23

I had a 4 night trip to Madeira last year and fell in love, so much so I'm going again this October and taking ds. Great weather, good food, stunning scenery, loads to see and do and some great hotels. Other places I've loved are Barcelona, St Petersburg & Copenhagen.

Roystonv · 20/02/2017 13:31

Seconding visa pain/time/money for St Petersburg longing to go but did it for Moscow 2 years ago!

JoeyJoeJoeJuniorShabadu · 20/02/2017 13:47

Lviv.

bettytaghetti · 20/02/2017 13:52

I was going to suggest Venice before I read your full post. I had always put it off as an over-hyped touristy destination, but when we finally went it was magical and I would love to go again. However we went in February and were extremely lucky with the weather, crisp cool days with beautiful blue skies, that were perfect for wandering around and exploring. It was moderately busy during the day but practically empty in the evening when all the day-trippers had to clear out. Not sure how I'd feel about the summertime...
Agree with other PP's that Budapest is wonderful; also love Florence - have just got back from a 4 day trip there ourselves, but think it would be horribly crowded, smelly (drains) & hot in the height of summer. Bruges is beautiful too, but again canals can be a bit pongy in the heat (can you tell I've got a bit of a thing about bad smells?!). Prague is also fascinating. Rome is just wonderful, but again somewhere I prefer to explore when it is a bit cooler.
Would love to see St Petersburg or Iceland as I've heard great things about them.
Wherever you choose, since you are going for only a short period of time, make sure your transfer times to & from the airport are minimised & your hotel is located somewhere you can easily see everything from. You don't want to be wasting precious hours travelling on public transport or expensive taxis if you can help it. Oh, and enjoy! Hope you have a wonderful time!

ShatnersWig · 20/02/2017 14:06

I do think it matters hugely what you mean by "summer". In a lot of places, "summer" can be ridiculously hot and/or ridiculously crowded - I would avoid much of Italy in July and August, for instance. I did Lake Garda, Verona and Venice in late September a few years ago. Much better temperature but still quite busy.

I really liked Brussels. Not overly beautiful (although the Grand Place is a fabulous place to watch the world go by with a glass or two, especially at night when the light show kicks off) and loads to do with some very good top notch hotels at sensible prices. Bruges by train for a day somewhere pretty (although I find it dull).

Venice is still my number one city, probably followed by Copenhagen then Salzburg, for a 4-day break.