Now I can’t fly…help me save my summer!

[Longchip]

I’d planned a European city break and a two week group tour to Asia this year but I can’t go now because of blood clots in my lungs after 6 months of chemo. It means I can’t fly.
What can I do for two weeks instead?? I enjoy walking and water sports but my fitness isn’t what it was. I also like trying new things and arty/crafty stuff. I’d be going solo but I don’t want to spend a fortnight on my own in this country. My dates are fixed as 20th July to 4th Aug. I’m 40ish and I’d budgeted for an international trip so have those funds available.
Any ideas for decent group trips or activities?

Could you do a cruise departing from Southampton?

Get the train to and from your city break. Stop at some other cities too. Where is it?

Can you take the Eurostar? Brussels, Amsterdam and few stops on local trains around the Netherlands.

Theres also a Norwegian cruise that leaves from uk and takes about 10 days touring Norway

If you like arty things would you enjoy a weekend or a week learning a new craft as part of your fortnught? From a quick search something like this? www.hfholidays.co.uk/holidays-and-tours#/holidays?FC.Special%20Interests=Art%20%26%20crafts%20holidays&sort=ordering%7CASC&page=1

Standard train to one or more city breaks
Ocean cruise if that’s your thing
River cruise
Luxury train trip (kinda like a land-cruise)

https://www.emeraldcruises.eu/tours/emba-eceu/emba-eceu-2024-ams-zrh River cruise from Amsterdam?
Interrail ticket ? I'd avoid France and Paris due to Olympics but you might be able to still get a reasonable Eurostar booking to Brussels. And onwards to Scandinavia, Austria, Italy etc...?

Sorry to hear about your chemo and blood clots. I did chemo etc in 2022 though now 2 years clear. I would check with oncologist if you havent already their advice and insurance would recommend InsuranceWith.

I know you said not UK but the UK does mean healthcare is covered, my oncologist wanted me to stay within an hour of a UK or French hospital in chemo though it could be anywhere after but didn't have blood clots. Within UK Isles of Scilly are lovely and can reach by boat and if you like watersports there is canoeing round the islands, also swimming with seals on St Martins and wildlife boat trips to see dolphins etc. Beautiful gardens in Tresco with red squirrels.

Otherwise would look at cruises, sailing holidays or trains. You could maybe ask on a cancer forum, like on the big Facebook groups, may well be someone in same situation if you would consider travelling with someone else or for more ideas. I just did Cornwall in chemo year plus Wales and Scotland but next year was able to get to Maldives then Mauritius and now in Borneo but it is good to build up gradually.

I'd book a cruise from Southampton.

www.cruise118.com/2024-cruises

Cruse insurance might be cost prohibitive.

I'd Eurostar it! You could go almost anywhere in Europe by train: www.seat61.com/european-train-travel.htm

How about the French alps? You could get the Eurostar to Paris and then on from there. Could do a mini city break in Annecy which is beautiful, then maybe go onto somewhere like morzine which has a lake so offers water sports and you could get ski lifts up to the ski area and go for nice walks. Or Austria’s beautiful. Could do a city break in Salzburg and then onto maybe zell am see which has a lake. Although trains to Austria maybe a little less strait forward than france.

One of the smaller channel islands by ferry would be lovely. Alderney maybe? Or i second the eurostar. You can change at Lille to avoid the nightmare of Paris and from there go anywhere. Down to Bordeaux and on to Biarritz and Barcelona...or Bilbao...or straight south to Aix.

Cruise was my thought, from Southampton, or around the Scottish isles.

Rail holidays - across Europe, or I saw one trip that went from uk up to Norway.

Hersey, Guernsey

Isle of Man - beautiful (and often forgotten) island to visit

What about Ireland? We've stayed in some beautiful places including West Cork, Kerry, and Clare. Lots of waterworks. Also some painting classes/music classes depending on where you go.

I wouldn’t go to the Alps with blood clots in your lungs, the altitude will not help that situation and could be dangerous.
I’d go for a cruise definitely.

Scottish Lochs Tour?

I was going to suggest that!Gave never been but on my bucket list

Do you have to stay local for health care reasons or could you book a group tour in Europe with Explore/Exodus and get to the joining point by train? I have a friend who hates flying, she goes all over by train.