European mini city tour with two older teenagers

[WaxOnFeckOff]

Thinking ahead to next year for holiday. I suspect that DSs (18 and 17) will still not be going away with friends and will want included in our plans and we are fine with that, however I think we want something different to a beach/villa type holiday.

I was thinking about maybe european mini city tour - stuff to do but still hopefully nice weather :) This is something that DH and I would enjoy even if we did end up going on our own so the planning wouldn't be wasted and I think DSs would like it as long as there were some actual activities (tours etc) included as they don't really do wandering about/shopping without purpose. They'd like sitting in squares with a beer and food though!

DH wouldn't want to do more than one flight so thought we could do a few places that were trainable in between.

DS2 & DH really into history, DH anything, DS2 anything but also very keen on the byzantine empire. DS1 and I are pretty easily pleased. We are not really art gallery people but museums and sciency stuff are fine.

Anyone recommend some cities that would be interesting, enjoyable and easy to go between?

When mine were that age we did a cruise. They had never been much into sightseeing before but they loved the combination of luxury accommodation with a day in lots of different places - Barcelona, Sorrento, Pompeii, Herculaneum.
Plus at that age they are old enough to disappear in the evening and find girls other older teens.
We've done a couple more since covering Split, Dubrovnic, Venice, and many more - loved them all .

Rome then à train down to Naples.

Budapest to Vienna is 2hr30. Vienna to Prague is 4hr30 and the same from Prague to Berlin. There's lots to do in all of these cities that will appeal to everyone.

Krakow? Can visit the Salt Mines and Auschwitz.

Oh, and the food and beer is plentiful and cheap.

Placemarking for inspiration!

Warsaw.

Anywhere east of Vienna is beautiful, littered with history from the Romans onwards.
Excellent beer
Excellent boy food
Cheap.

Wow, thanks people :)

I went off to have dinner and came back to lots of ideas.

I thought about a cruise and looked at it last night but even for the most basic inside, 4 in a berth, cabin it was coming in at £6k for a week - 10 days and then you still had up to £200ish daily for exursions etc. It's expensive when you have 4 adults :(

I do fancy Rome/italy but then I think that that's an area that's quite good for doing a long weekend or something, same for Barcelona etc. I really fancy doing the eastern side more I think, especially as it would be a longer trip.

we are in Scotland so I think maybe the starting point is to see what direct flights there are as DH will not do more than one flight

£6k seems a lot for a week cruise we've done it in early July for four adults, two cabins for nearer £4k.
I presume DC will be free from school before the summer holidays so a bit cheaper. Look at marrella cruises used to be Thomson's, all drinks included so you only need cash for days out and many of those can be done free or cheap.

Thanks Flicker it was a preliminary look I did last night so hadn't shopped about. I just thought that was far too much so didn't think it was a possibility. DS2s last (ever) school exam is mid May and Ds1 starts Uni this September so as long as he doesn't have resits he should be free in May as well. I can't see him needing resits this time as they've already offered him a place in 2nd year which he has chosen not to take. I was thinking the 2nd half of June as we don't want to have the 2nd half of the year with no holiday to be too long a stretch for DH and I.

I once did Paris-Bern-Venice-Florence-Rome then sleeper from Rome back to Paris. It was brilliant.

you can fly direct to Krakow from Scotland and then once there, take a train (very cheap) to perhaps Gdansk or somewhere further on?

We have taken DS to Poland a few times, including this year, and he loves it.
Higher results out on the 7th huh? he hasn't even bothered to sign up for an email so we will have to wait for the postie. He just isn't remotely bothered.....

Have you considered Granada and Seville. I know both have direct flights from Manchester but not sure about from Scotland. This year in early June our return flights were under100.00 each. You get the best of Moorish Spain lots of history food and little squares with bars etc.
There is a direct bus between them takes about 3 hours and costs about 20 euros each.

demented yes DS2 hasn't either - getting emails/texts is too stressful apparently...DS1s results email/text didn't arrive until after lunch last year though and the postie had been and gone by then. DS2 will be bothered this year as he has suddenly decided to take an interest in his future and doesn't want to have to do maths again and wants to stick with the subjects he is doing for 6th year without having to change his timetable because of failures. I think he got motivated too little too late.

Good info about that flight. I'm looking at flights next year and doesn't seem to be much direct but think that's maybe because not all schedules are done?

That sounds a great wee tour jessie :)

We do love Spain star so that's another option worth looking at, thank you and thanks for all the ideas. I'm definitely considering them all. I might come up with a few options and see what the men folk think, or actually I could get those boys looking since they are off school/uni and I'm not!

We flew into Treviso (£40), did Venice (2 nights), train to Verona (opera in the Roman arena)(1 night), train to Florence(2 nights), train to Rome (3 nights) then Pompeii (Hurculaneum, Versuvius, Amalfi Coast etc) (5 nights) then flew back from Naples to UK (£50)

The trains are really cheap. Venice to Verona was about 8 euros, Rome to Naples about 12 euros.

We did this with DD and DS (15 and 13)

We did a mini tour starting from UK on Eurostar to Paris...overnight train from Paris to Venice (you can get of at Verona/Milan if you so wish), flight from Venice to Split (1hr very cheap), Catamaran from Split to Korcula and then a few days later Korcula to Dubrovnik...then we flew from Dubrovnik to Rome...Train from Rome down to Sorrento....Train from Sorrento up to Verona then spent time in the Italian Lakes before catching overnight train back to Paris and then London. You could split this trip up to suit your own needs - we tended to spend about 3/4 days in each place and would mix up the accommodation between nice hotel (pool), self catering apartment because we needed access to a washing machine. The total expense for both of us was around £2500 but we traveled for 5 weeks ( transport was about £500 on this trip for both of us).

I would maybe have a look at some rail holiday sites (Expressions) to give you inspiration BUT book the travel and accommodation yourself....you will also find an abundance of help on tripadvisor www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g1-i12483-Train_Travel.html

1. Trains are really cheap if you book when they first come out and its normally better to travel business class (Italy) on longer journey because you get so much comfort and normally free drinks.
2. Flights within Europe are also normally very cheap - I think we paid about £30 for most of the flights but it can be hassle having to get to the airport/check in etc
3. Plan and book early...

In terms of cruises you should get a cruise in May/June or later August/September but you normally have to just keep looking for offers : Travelzoo are good for alerting special prices and so are Holidaypirates ... we have picked up some bargain cruises (Dubai £300pp exc flights, Greek Isles £570pp including drinks package and have just come back from Fjords 10 day cruise for £500pp).

Another vote for Seville/Granada from me I’d add Córdoba into it as well and probably hire a car if you’re comfortable driving abroad. Gives you more flexibility. I’d start at Granada (definitely book Alhambra tickets before you go - unmissable). Then travel to Córdoba and Sevilla and then sneak a couple of days on the Costa de la Luz - just over an hour’s drive from Sevilla and endless stretches of stunning golden sand. If you go before July or early July you’ll have it pretty much to yourselves!

I’d love to do this when dcs are a bit older theculturetrip.com/europe/articles/how-to-visit-5-european-countries-in-a-week-with-ease/

We just flew from Edinburgh to Copenhagen. It was great with a teen. Compact and interesting city, lots of culture and good food. They enjoyed Tivoli and a trip to the south of Amagar Standpark. Transport was easy too. Maybe a good place to start.

Why are you planning on taking an 18-year-old? They're a grown adult.

@HolyPieter, I also took my 23 year old. Because they are great company and we like to see each other, no plan to cut her off just because she is an adult

Rome!