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Holidays

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

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Original poster

Where to go in Europe for a 40th weekend?

19 replies

colie · 29/12/2008 13:52

Any suggestions greatly welcome.

Dh is 40 in October so this is when we will be going. No kids to consider as my mum will be babysitting.

We can go on the Friday and come back on the Sunday?

We have been to Milan, Prague (well dh only), Rome and Barcelona. No objections to going back to Rome or Barcelona. Though if anyone knows of any other european cities that are just as beautiful then we would rather go there.

Please I need ideas. Think Dh would rather go to New York but wouldn't ask my mum to watch kids for the 4 or 5 days it would take to get there and back.

Thanks ladies.

Any other

OP posts:

Original poster

colie · 29/12/2008 13:53

Please ignore the "Any other" not sure where that came from.

OP posts:

belgo · 29/12/2008 14:02

I would chose Paris.

Bruges is lovely as well, but with both Paris and Bruges you can't depend on the weather.

What about Madrid? I've never been there but I'd love to go.

Original poster

colie · 29/12/2008 14:54

Will look Madrid up now. Thanks.

OP posts:

LadySweet · 29/12/2008 20:58

I second Paris, it is so beautiful and such a romantic City. Madrid is nice, but would choose Paris every time over Madrid. Florence is a close second to Paris in my top 3 weekend break destinations, it too is beautiful, great food, fab shops and very friendly locals.

Mutt · 29/12/2008 20:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tattycoram · 29/12/2008 21:01

Venice. Venice is absolutely the most beautiful and amazing city I have ever visited.

mazzystartled · 29/12/2008 21:05

Lisbon
Beautiful, sexy, great food, culture, shopping, sun, sitting about in cafes
tartes de nata

or Granada if you haven't been

Original poster

colie · 29/12/2008 21:33

Well, I have looked Madrid up and priced it etc., I mentioned it to dh who is just about to become h and not dh, he apparently doesn't want to go to Madrid, as it is full of grafiti and I knew this [fhmm.]
He doesn't want to go to Paris as it is romantic and we can do that for my 40th!

I will mention Venice to him, I have always fancied there as well. Though think this will be far too romantic for a caveman like him.

Here's hoping Lisbon meets with his manly ways .

Thanks for suggestions ladies.

All are being greatly received by myself.

OP posts:

WishItWouldSnow · 29/12/2008 21:38

Florence is lovely but quite heavy on art which you can't really bypass if not your thing. Well you can but that's not the point....

WishItWouldSnow · 29/12/2008 21:38

Florence is lovely but quite heavy on art which you can't really bypass if not your thing. Well you can but that's not the point....

Original poster

colie · 29/12/2008 22:50

Florence and Venice would not suit him.

I am thinking of telling him just to go alone, to wherever footballville is.

Will look up Granada but think maybe too far away, although Granada services are just down the road. He can go there

OP posts:

ClementFreudsGreatestAdmirer · 29/12/2008 22:55

when i did this for my dh's 40th, i was limited by what flights we could get and making sure we had time on the friday night to settle in and enjoy the evening. we went to amsterdam, which was interesting and beautiful in parts, and easy to get to. to be honest just relaxing and having no kids and doing the city thing was so lovely we could have been anywhere. paris is lovely lovely as everyone else has said. it's very expensive though. to get to granada (which would be my first choice) you can fly to malaga and drive very easily. i'll also suggest seville and/or cordoba. also easy to get to from malaga. i'd look on tripadvisor.co.uk for hotel recommendations.

lizziebeth · 29/12/2008 22:55

Another vote for Bruges, it's stunning.

What are his objections to Florence and Venice? (just trying to figure out what sort of place he wants and doesn't want)

mazzystartled · 29/12/2008 23:11

granada is v romantic - maybe too romantic

berlin is great for a party

WishItWouldSnow · 29/12/2008 23:13

what about a non city break and just go away and relax break. Lovely spa in Italy to be spoilt with warm water things to do and yummy food?

Aimsmum · 29/12/2008 23:19

Message withdrawn

Original poster

colie · 30/12/2008 15:17

Thanks ladies. I am going with ClementFreudsGreatestAdmirer advice. Spoke to dh and we agree that a couple of days away without kids will be so relaxing that doesn't matter where it is.

we are thinking of doing a show in london and a nice meal, he is more of a shopper than me so he will also love the shops in london. Might be a bit colder than rest of Europe but we will just have to wrap up. He has never been to a show so think this sounds like the ideal solution.

Watch for my thread on "where to stay in london"!

I would love to go to New York, might have to wait another few years, or I might go with my friends for my 40th!!

Thanks again ladies.

I need to do a bit more travelling, Granada sounds beautiful, I had never even heard of it

OP posts:

ClementFreudsGreatestAdmirer · 30/12/2008 18:51

gosh! i feel slightly embarrassed and hope you don't regret your choice. I live in london so i you want any advice i can try to help. As a start, if you want somewhere beautiful to stay with great shops that isn't in central london but a short train ride away, you could do worse than this. it's so beautiful there, and there's a very cute cafe a short walk away which is so tempting - the hollyhock cafe it's called. and there are some very glam restaurants along the river that you can walk to from richmond hill.

ClementFreudsGreatestAdmirer · 30/12/2008 19:46

this is the place... i'm vicariously taking your minibreak for you...

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