Post exam city break with my year 11 (next year)

[mummeeee]

im thinking ahead to next year when my dd will have just finished year 11. I want to book a long weekend away just her and me, somewhere we’ll both enjoy.

I work part-time so we could potentially go Fri-Mon 12-15 July 2024. This will be after prom.

dd has a complex medical condition which has meant flying has not really been an option in the past (plus we normally go away as a family of 5 - dh, me, dd, 2 younger ds’s) so we always go by ferry and drive.

however, her medical needs have reduced a bit and if just for a long weekend flying IS possible. Hence why I’d prefer it not to be in the Uk.

where would you go? I’m thinking city break but not Rome or Barcelona (already have a plan for these in next few years due to americas cup etc). She’s studying Spanish at gcse but it’ll be after the exams (obviously) so not sure how relevant that is.

Family holidays we’ve enjoyed have included lots of Uk trips, caravan trips to France and northern Spain, budget skiing (drive and s/c apartment), cycling in Uk.

Anyone have good recommendations for Italy (Is Sorrento/Pompeii possible in a long weekend?) or maybe Lisbon/Algarve? Somewhere else that would be fun for us both?

I would love a recommendation along the lines of fly here, take easy bus/tram to here, stay here, etc. I was thinking some people might be just back from a similar trip.
Thank you

I’d look at your nearest airport, see what destinations they have and go from there. The closer the airport the more you’ll be able to get out of the weekend with reduced travel time.

Would heat affect your DD's health condition?

My recommendations would be either Krakow or Berlin, have had amazing city breaks in both. Also Budapest.

I'd second this.
If you are thinking early July, Italy will be very hot.
I'd suggest Lisbon, although that will also be very hot. Loads to do there and lots of places to visit in the area.
Nice is also lovely. Easy train or bus from airport to town, stay somewhere on the promenade and lots of lovely places to visit on the riviera.

How about Amsterdam? Loads to do that might appeal to a teen, including Nxt museum, This Is Holland, A’dam Lookout, pancake canal cruise and Anne Frank’s house. Trains from the airport to city centre only take 15 minutes.

Not sure if I would go anywhere in southern Europe in July, heatwave or not.

How about Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Krakow, Prague, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Vienna?

There are lots of cities worth exploring. It depends what your DD and you like to do.

My daughter is just back from Budapest and absolutely loved it.

Sorrento/Pompeii are possible in a weekend but you'd be missing so much. I'd save them for a longer holiday.
Berlin, Krakow, Amsterdam, Budapest, Vienna, Venice or Milan would all be options. Budapest would potentially be very hot though.
Amsterdam is amazing. Leiden is great too (and very easy train from Amsterdam) but less to do. However the airport is outside the city and the Eurostar is easier if you are near London.

Oh these are great, thank you.

and thank you @Nextlifestage for suggesting that sorrento/Pompeii is better with more time. I thought it might be a bit hectic to fit in, so it’s good to know.

I also meant to say airports. We’re south coast, so nearest is Southampton (but doesn’t fly to that many destinations), Bournemouth is also possible, but by far the most likely to have well-timed flights is Gatwick or Heathrow, both of which are possible.

I’d sort of dismissed Budapest as I had a sort of dull work trip there years ago, but I’m sure that’s just a reflection in the work etc and not the city.

Also, Amsterdam sounds like fun. I’ve been a couple of times, but not for 20 years or so, so I can imagine we’d have fun.

There are flights from Southampton to Amsterdam with klm

Budapest is fab! I'd avoid France that particular weekend as it's Bastille Day on 14th and will be busy. Lisbon. San Sebastian. Naples.

What about Palma? Plenty to see and do.

Berlin is a great shout for a long weekend. The transport system is excellent.

Florence is really lovely, you fly to Pisa and then get a very picturesque train to Florence so you feel like you’ve seen more of the country. And if you allow a couple of hours to spare you can pop and see the leaning tower of Pisa.

We are just back from Berlin. Went just after DD’s year 13 prom.
We both had a fantastic time. So much to see and do. There’s the obvious stuff - WW2 and Cold War related, but also some other things like a fabulous Sunday market with fabulous stalls and outdoors performers, great restaurants and easy to use public transport.
we flew from London City Airport and stayed 3 nights. Would highly recommend.

https://www.ottantottofirenze.it/en/ this is where I stayed - highly recommend it.