Holiday destinations for grownups

[Backstreets]

I’d like a light hearted thread :) since most holiday advice threads on here naturally revolve around children, what are your favourite travel tips for singles and couples that would be rubbish and boring for a child?

I’ll start-

Bologna has a film festival, Il Cinema Ritrovato, on every year late June. Bologna is home to Europe’s probably most prestigious film restoration institution so they show old films and have very interesting guests, all out in the piazza. I’ve never managed to make it coincide with my annual leave but a real bucket list item for me. Also the culinary capital - yes, Italy has one.

Bath and its magical Jane Austen centre, walks and architecture. What a dream for fans of her books! Similarly for Shakespeare fans Stratford-upon-Avon is an incredible destination. Went when I was 19 and saw the horrible mum off Succession play Beatrice. Made such an impression I recognised her on TV immediately 20 years on!!

Vienna is oddball museum gold. There’s a furniture museum, a globe museum, and so much more. With open minded company you’ll have a great time learning about the most random stuff.

Perugia really delighted me when I went. There’s a famous chocolate factory that produces the romantic Baci (kisses) chocolate, so get it fresh. It’s really small and compact but everything in the city centre is so picturesque and the art gallery was next level good presentation wise. I’d love to go back.

Foodies must visit Budapest at least once. If you’d told me before I went Hungary has one of Europe’s tastiest kitchens I’m not sure I would have believed you, but they really do. And oh, the wine…

Any others?

Following !
fir me it’s off the beaten track sites in Rome like Ostia antica

We love Venice. The architecture, culture and food is 👌 The boat trip from there to Burano is lovely. And all of that water! Definitely not a great holiday for kids!

Florence.

It’s also museum heaven but for breathtaking masterpieces like David and Medusa. The Giardino di Boboli is the most beautiful garden with grottos and a gorgeous fountain with a statue of Neptune.

Make a reservation well in advance at Osteria Cingiale Bianco and order the sformatino di cipolle… the most delicious onion flan I’ve ever had.

We try to have a few city breaks every year but always have a "sitting down week" in an adults only all inclusive. Melia Salinas on Lanzarote has been my favourite so far!

I have grown up DC but have been on about 30 holidays with just my DH or on my own. My favourite childfree holiday was three days in Cambodia and then a river cruise to Vietnam with a company called Scenic. My DH and I made so many friends, ate amazing food and saw stunning sights.

My sister and I go away at least once a year on a backpack and train journey (s). No kids (obv for me, hers are parents themselves now), no husbands or partners, no fancy dressing up, no fuss, just fun and hilarity trying to find our way from A - B - C. Love it! We take turns to select a destination/country. So far so good.

Italy Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Venice, Padua, Bologna. In to Pisa out of Bologna. Exhausting, many trains (easy as pie in Italy), lots of eating on the hoof, and asleep at nine o clock whacked!

Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Antequera, Malaga (city), see above. In to Seville out of Malaga.

Bilbao, Guernica, San Sebastian (Donostia), St. Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Bayonne. Into Bilbao out of Biarritz. That was daunting, a bit too much hopping from one train/bus company in one country to another. Great fun though.

Next up in September is Amsterdam, Leiden, The Hague, Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Paschedaele, Ypres (WW1 memorials), Brussels. In to Ams out of Brussels.

We could hire a car, but neither of us wants to drive. The train is very enjoyable anyway. We usually take 10 days.

Be interested if anyone else has done something like this, and where did you go. Looking for ideas for the next trip after September!

@Backstreets glad you rate the food in Budapest as it's the only city I couldn't find anything decent to eat! - and I'm not a fussy eater.
Thought we'd be different and try a Ukrainian restaurant and it's the only place I've eaten where I literally couldn't eat the food - then the waitress asked if I'd like to take it away with me.

I’ve never tried a river cruise, though wouldn’t be averse, wouldn’t imagine it a particularly child friendly holiday. Ditto scenic train journeys.

OK so I felt the politics spoilt Budapest.

However eating wise it is amazing. We I planned everyday with a stop off at a different traditional cafe and had their speciality cake at each one.

TBH anywhere in the former Austro-Hungarian empire is outstanding for cake and coffee.

Last year, I went to Tblisi in Georgia. Highly recommend getting a shared mini bus to Mount Kazbegi and an overnight train to Baku, Azerbaijan in the same trip.

This year we travelled Turkey, flying into Istanbul for a few days then to Cappadocia for the hot air balloon ride and nature then to see Ephesus and finally to the coast for some beach and pool days with bars and live music.

(I second trips to Cambodia - South East Asia in general is amazing, especially Indonesia!)

I would like to do more trips based on long train journeys!

My OH and I have booked 4 nights in Disneyland Paris, child free and guilt free! He was lucky enough to go there a few times as a kid and always loved it, I've never been but am a big theme park fan, I love roller coasters!

I'm expecting a lot of backlash from parents who see us as "selfish" or "weird", but I always tell myself that other peoples' opinions are none of my business :)

We're doing it now before we have kids so we can enjoy it to the full extent. There will come a time when we hope to bring our future children, but for now we're enjoying our time together (and the disposable income!) to the full extent.

Why would anyone call you going on holiday selfish?

You'd be surprised the amount of parents who have only negative things to say when you tell them you're going to a theme park without children of your own. I think its more begrudgery and jealousy than anything.

Just back from Valencia and it was fantastic, great architecture, food, bars (weather was a bit crap tho!). Definitely felt grown up there.

You have inspired me re Bologna! I was lucky to backpack Europe and Italy when younger but never went there. I had heard good things but that also gives me a good time to go!