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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Any suggestions please for celebratory short break

45 replies

howwillthispanout · 01/08/2019 19:26

Should be easy but either I’m being fussy or it doesn’t exist. Any suggestions greatly received!
DH and I have a significant anniversary that unfortunately falls around August Bank Holiday. DC all grown so it will just be the two of us. We can fly or drive and it can be in UK or Europe. We have a September beach holiday planned so not fussed about sun, sea and sand. Blowed if I can think of anywhere that will be memorable and not heaving with families wanting to enjoy last few days of summer. City breaks would be fine but don’t fancy looking sweaty and washed out if it’s boiling!
Anyone got any recommendations please? NW and midlands airports are doable
Thanks

OP posts:
UrsulaPandress · 01/08/2019 19:28

Venice. But it will be sweaty.

If you can sleep on a plane, Cape Town is doable for a short break.

isabellerossignol · 01/08/2019 19:33

Dublin. It's not a bank holiday weekend there, loads of it is walkable, and it's easy to get to.

Loveislandaddict · 01/08/2019 19:34

Budapest. - friend went recently and said it was lovely

Amsterdam - love this city

Edinburgh - gorgeous city

Mini cruise?

cruise

WillLokireturn · 01/08/2019 19:35

What about a UK romantic stay in a lodge with hot tub and just you two, in the forest?
A friend just did this with her hubbie and they had a wonderful time.
They went through
www.forestholidays.co.uk/
They have 20% off and some last minute availability

snowgirl1 · 01/08/2019 19:43

Amsterdam - skip the red light district and 'coffee' shops and it's a gorgeous city with lots to do.

Lisbon - it's by the sea, but not a beach break. The Lapa Palace is a lovely place to stay.

Original poster
howwillthispanout · 01/08/2019 19:44

Oh some good suggestions - think I’d like to do South Africa more leisurely though great idea. We’ve done most capitals and DH is French - so want to avoid if possible (family visit scheduled soon). Cruise or lodge sound good. Anywhere in Europe that is less likely to be kids and maybe with a breeze? Portugal or Poland keep popping into mind

OP posts:
Original poster
howwillthispanout · 01/08/2019 19:46

Oh cross posts - Lisbon was on list (know it’s a capital!)

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Mills2976 · 01/08/2019 19:56

Krakow is a lovely city with plenty to do. Not too busy either.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 01/08/2019 20:02

Lisbon is brilliant and very cheap so I'd splash out on a nice hotel and then make the most of cheap food and drink. There's a beach in easy reach too if you fancy a chilled out day. Porto is also supposed to be brilliant, but I've never been.

I love Malaga and Madrid too, in fact I've never been to a Spanish city that I didn't love, but they will be very hot in August.

Avoid Edinburgh in August too because of the Festival but if you wanted to postpone till Sept it's brilliant

Loveislandaddict · 01/08/2019 21:16

Croatia maybe another consideration.

Tabitha005 · 01/08/2019 21:31

Lucca in northern Tuscany - a beautiful little walled city only 28 mins on the train from Pisa (cheap flights from UK and only 1hr 40mins away).

Florence is also easy to get to from Pisa, but Lucca is so pretty - and less frantic than Florence (and cooler in August) - with plenty to do and see. Great restaurants and shopping, lovely old palazzos to visit, or just sit in the amphitheatre and watch the world go by.

Wander around the walls - the whole circuit is only about 1.5kms, sit under a tree and gaze out towards the Apuan Alps, or hire a car and drive out to the Garfagnana valley or up into the Brancoli hills just outside the city.

Lucca is like a little jewel box of history - laid back and fairly genteel in terms of pace. There are loads of lovely Airbnb places to stay.

Original poster
howwillthispanout · 01/08/2019 21:41

Just checking out Lucca - looks lovely - we have soft spot for Italy. Thanks for suggestions all some really good ideas

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Tabitha005 · 01/08/2019 21:47

Drop me a message if you'd like a couple of recommendations for Airbnb places I've used in the past year or so in Lucca.

Also; Carcassonne. I went a couple of weeks ago and had a lovely time - I love a walled city!

Sarahlou63 · 01/08/2019 21:51

Porto - a quick flight, very walkable city and not too touristy. If you want to splash out try the Yeatman, 2 Michelin stars (and come back and tell me what it was like as I'm taking my OH there the following week!!).

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 01/08/2019 22:10

Oh friends are just back from Lucca and it reminded me a lot of Bergamo, which is an easy train from Milan. So pretty.

ThatCurlyGirl · 01/08/2019 22:15

I loved Vienna - every corner you walk around there something visually amazing to look at. It's busily and buzzy too.

Though I went at Christmas season so I may have been won over by the Christmas markets and then huge beautiful advent calendar projected onto the cathedral. And I'm not the biggest fan of religion and don't believe in god!

Reserved just how beautiful it was and lovely seeing everyone together. Anyway it's one a lot of people forget about. Similarly Warsaw.

And Barcelona is a safe but foolproof bet for a reason - it's great. Ooh and Berlin.

I want a holiday!!

StCharlotte · 02/08/2019 22:17

We've got one too and we're doing a theatre break to London (it's only about half an hour on the train!).

Seville is a favourite but will be very hot so I would recommend Ljubljana. Easyjet fly there. It's gorgeous. Small but perfectly formed and it's not usually too stifling. You could get a bus to Bled (about an hour away) and stroll round the Lake or get one of their "pletna" boats (like gondolas) to the fairy tale island in the middle and then eat Bled cake.

Right that's it. I've talked myself into booking another trip there next year.

Oh and happy anniversary!

Original poster
howwillthispanout · 03/08/2019 09:13

You too StCharlotte! Thanks everyone for suggestions - still deciding Smile but loads to choose from

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Ellmau · 03/08/2019 17:38

Somewhere up in the mountains? Switzerland maybe?

Wilma55 · 03/08/2019 17:42

Edinburgh - not bank holiday their either - but would festival still be on = expensive. What about another Scottish city? France and Scotland oldest allies!

Mills2976 · 03/08/2019 18:46

Yes the international festival and the fringe festivals are still on in Edinburgh for the month of August. Lots of free shows. Great atmosphere and loads to do. Stay outside Edinburgh if you're looking for cheaper accommodation.

Anotherdayanothernight · 03/08/2019 21:40

Florence
Venice
Bologna
Palermo
They are all beautiful destinations!

LolaSmiles · 03/08/2019 22:01

Krakow is lovely and so is Amsterdam.

BubblesBuddy · 03/08/2019 23:38

Does it have to be cheap? If not, Stockholm is wonderful. Or try St Petersburg in Russia. Neither will be too hot and sweaty! Both have loads to see and do. Copenhagen is great for a weekend. If you had a bit longer, Iceland.

PenguinsRabbits · 05/08/2019 22:54

Not sure where you can fly to from up north but we are doing Sweden and Norway. Bergen is supposed to be lovely - we are going up more by Alesund but remoter on the beach and that is lovely, by the fjords and with seals etc in the sea. Doing a moose safari but that's further over. Lots of watersports there and canyoning.

Loved Copnehagen for a few days. Stockholm is nice - fly into there and doing a beaver safari by canoe a bit further out. Lots of nice islands.

Went to lovely place in Finland called Arola Bears where you see brown bears in the wild, canoeing, stay in chalet with sauna and lady cooks homemade Finnish food and makes fruit juices from the berries. That's more complicated to get to though - Finnair via Helsinki to Oulu was our route. There's a nearer airport but timing didn't work with flights.