[billnchristy]

I'm starting to plan for next year's vacations even before taking our annual trip. I've budgeted around 15k for the big one, obviously would like to come in under that, but with this year's Iceland trip it's about that much so I figured it's a good start point.

We like nature and history, I'm into military history more but anything cool and old is fine.

I'm former Navy so I have travelled quite a bit but my wife and daughter have not, other than the US and Canada. The Iceland trip will be their first stamp in their passports.

My biggest chunk of time off comes at Christmas, we shut down from around the 22nd to the 2nd so that's the time we can make our big trip. It works out because my wife is UV sensitive and cannot be out in the sun during the summer for very long.

We have our "small" trip planned somewhat already, we are going to go to Charleston SC for a week.

I'm looking for some overseas recommendations for the "big" one, we figure we will tour more of the US when retired since it is cheaper and we wouldn't be able to budget so much then.

I've been to:
Cannes, France
Naples, Italy
Rome, Italy
Trieste, Italy
Palma de Majorca
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Antayla, Turkey
Konya, Turkey
Gaziantep, Turkey
Corfu, Greece
Haifa, Israel
Dubai, UAE
Bahrain
Bad Urach, Germany

We all like castles, I definitely prefer more purposeful ones than fairytale ones.

I'm down with multiple locations but I'm weary of going to crazy because I don't want to lug an ass of luggage everywhere so would probably drive and then it needs to be reasonable, don't want to spend the vacation in the car.

Kinda thinking Belgium but I'd love to see Austria, or Romania, or the Czech Republic too.

Daughter is big on Japan but I fear most of the trip would be wasted with flights and jet lag as we only have about 10 days.

We definitely love good food and we're not "club" people so nightlife isn't a huge concern, but I don't want to be in a place that's dead at dusk either. Probably more "country" than "city" people as well but I always like to spend a day or so walking around a city, just don't want to spend the entire trip there.

For example we have 1 day in Reykjavik planned and when we go to Maine we spend a day in Portland, everything else is outside the cities.

I think of all the places I've been, Rome would be the one I'd go back to but I wouldn't want to spend a whole trip there. I loved Croatia as well but not sure about spending an entire trip there either, would rather be somewhere that we could visit a lot of different stuff.

[Topcarbon]

im going to the UK for a month
10 days in England, 10 days in Ireland, and 10 days in Scotland.
About half of the says are in Castles.
I can't wait.
I booked all of this trip so I can have my pick of first class(sells out quickly) and stay where I want without hearing not available.

[Alfisti]

If it's winter i'd consider the alps and the whole german castle thing.

[floridaorange]

Switzerland is my first thought

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Switzerland is my first thought

Yeah I am thinking a driving holiday, Switzerland/Austria/Germany

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah I am thinking a driving holiday, Switzerland/Austria/Germany

Driving holiday would be a dream come true But probably with a group of friends rather than family

[2000cs]

Just note that a lot of Europe actually observes Christmas so it can be hard to find an open restaurant or pub that day, especially in smaller towns.

I really liked Prague in winter, and Ireland is always nice. The Churchill rooms in London (tunnels) are pretty interesting.

You could base in London and take the train to Paris or wherever for a day or two; or base in Amsterdam (which has plenty to see/do) and fly/train to Zurich, Prague, Lisbon or wherever. For warmer weather, obviously look at Portugal, Spain, Barcelona, southern Italy and Greece.

Tokyo in winter is well decorated (very western especially in the shopping areas) and both Tokyo and Kyoto are good cities to visit. Kyoto has more “old” stuff to see (don’t miss Nijo castle with nightingale floor); Tokyo is bigger and has the fish market.

Too many choices!

[Joralemon st.]

London Town

[Tommy-G]

Didnt have time to read your whole post but I highly recommend Monaco and Florence Italy if your travels take you to that path

[Housekeeping]

Madeira, amazing and very reasonably priced, wine, good wine is €3, nicest people, lots to do.

[VGSON]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah I am thinking a driving holiday, Switzerland/Austria/Germany

We did Italy and Switz this yr...After visiting we made a plan to come back and do this trip^ Switz/Austria. Definitely a good plan. I've done Ireland and rolling thru the Alps was just ridiculous.

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

Just note that a lot of Europe actually observes Christmas so it can be hard to find an open restaurant or pub that day, especially in smaller towns.

There's always a Chinese place isn't there?

[fraschusa]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah I am thinking a driving holiday, Switzerland/Austria/Germany

For a road trip, I would suggest Switzerland (starting in Zurich perhaps) and driving over to France, and depending on how much driving you like, also go briefly into northern Italy. You will have to take the major roadways, which is a bit unfortunate as most of the beautiful more minor pass routes through the Alps are closed during winter. As others have suggested, you have to plan carefully. I agree you want to be in a bigger city or close to it during Christmas as almost everything shuts down.

Another option could be France, starting in Paris, making your way down to Nice, and taking a trip to Monaco. I love driving the more minor roads via what's called the Sea Alps (close to the Swiss border). It's a very beautiful and remote area, but I have never done it in the wintertime, so there could be road closures due to snow. You could also travel more in the center of France and stay in actual old castles; in some, you'll stay with the owners in quite an intimate setting, while others rent out 10-20 rooms. It's actually not expensive and pretty neat. Since this road trip is not necessarily ten days, you can always grab a cheap flight (typically <$100pp, depending on how much luggage you have, lol, we travel light) from any of the southern French airports to one of the Mediterranean islands and spend two/three days in the warmer climate and then grab another cheap flight to any major airport in Europe and make you way back. I know this won't help you, but there is actually lots of WW2 and WW1 stuff you can visit or see in the Alps. However, this won't be an option due to your time of travel as all will be snowed in. Have fun, there are tons of options.

[2000cs]

Originally Posted by billnchristy

There's always a Chinese place isn't there?

Not when I was in Ireland (west coast, perhaps there is in Dublin or other bigger cities).

[billnchristy]

Yeah the amount of options are staggering really. I would love for them to see Rome, it was one of my favorite visits but I don't think I'd want to spend the whole time in Italy as, all in all, it was not one of my favorite places.

I've asked the girls for suggestions too, Iceland was my idea but everyone was down with no questions so I'd like to find a similar outcome.

I do like the less touristy destinations. My favorite memory in Germany was the old ruins that stood above Bad Urach, it was a 2mi hike up a mountain to get to it so it was all mine when I got there. I would have liked to explore more as it had some really dark dungeon-y areas but I was alone and decided it was smarter to stay safe.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Driving holiday would be a dream come true But probably with a group of friends rather than family

I think it is just OP and the Mrs no?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I think it is just OP and the Mrs no?

Is it? He mentioned daughter is big on Japan so I assumed at least she would be accompanying them as well.

[billnchristy]

Yeah, possibly son too but they're adults.

[cooolone2]

Don't see a lot of Germany on your list... Interesting!

Lower Bavaria/Black Forest and going from Austria thru Germany Westward via the Alps to Luzern Switzerland is an amazing journey! Give it a look! Danube to the Rhine... Lots to see and do, amazing countryside and absolutely wonderful mountains and lakes as well. Timing to include a brief stop in Munich during Oktoberfest would make it even more worthwhile!

Just a suggestion!

Good Luck in your search!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

Don't see a lot of Germany on your list... Interesting!

In Germany, a number of years ago we had a terrific time in the lakes region south of Furstenwalde. While close to Berlin, it's off the beaten track as far as foreign tourism goes.

If you enjoy local cuisines during your travels, that part of Germany celebrates its white asparagus season during late June. The western part of Germany has its white asparagus season earlier. Mind you, white asparagus is practically a national dish in Germany, and, I think, for very good reason given how well it is prepared and served.

[Donatello.]

Italy