SSD Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Me and the missus are planning a holiday this summer and trying to decide on a destination. She's banging on about Paris and thinks it'll be a romantic trip. I went to Paris a few years back with a couple of mates, thought it was an utter dump. Sat outside a bar near Notre Dame. The beer was expensive but it's to be expected from a tourist hot spot. To my surprise the waiter told us as we sat down, drinking on the outside tables was an extra 3 euros per pint. Had to pick my jaw off the floor. Wasn't exactly a posh place either. Walking back to the main train station trying was like a scene from the film Children of Men. Put me off going back. Rather go for a drink around Derby. Rome was beautiful, definitely the best major European major city out there. Best restaurants, drinks were good, the touristy stuff was excellent. The Roman Forum was incredible. Cost less than a trip to Dublin. Fingers crossed I can convince her to go. Any other suggestions or places to avoid that look good on paper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyinLiverpool Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 We had a wonderful time in Paris. Thought it was beautiful. But we did go there for our wedding anniversary, not on the lash with mates. Lived in Prague for yonks. It's still my favourite place, though haven't been for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McRamFan Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Budapest, Berlin, Prague, Barcelona and Dubrovnik are all worth a visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealhantsram Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Totally agree Paris is a dump. If you want romantic city break, no better place than Florence. And even better. Pisa is an easy day trip, just 30mins by train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoetheRam Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Paris gets a hard time, indeed France as a whole does I think, but I quite enjoyed it. Depends where you go I guess but wouldn't describe it as a dump at all. Favourite European city I've been to is probably Barcelona - got everything - beach, great food, culture, beautiful buildings, squares to sit in with a beer or two, some great nightclubs, great football team, shopping for the Mrs, loads to do, great weather most of the year. Most overrated/hyped city is L.A. Polluted, busy, no decent city scape to look feels a bit dangerous at night. Really don't see the attraction. Overrated tourist attraction specifically that I've been to is probably the little mermaid in Copenhagen. Statue is fine enough, if a little small, but it's out of the city centre and the backdrop is basically a shipping lane and industrial Copenhagen. At least it's free. I love Italy but Rome is average. Nightlife just ain't all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I've been most impressed with Rome, Barcelona & Amsterdam as city breaks. Rome probably my favourite. The most disappointing for me was the Giza pyramids in Egypt. The city is now about 30 feet away from them & you're just constantly accosted by beggars & worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 5 minutes ago, Wolfie said: The city is now about 30 feet away from them & you're just constantly accosted by beggars & worse. Same down Cleethorpes, we've got donkeys instead of pyramids though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ketteringram Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Hated Paris and just about everything about it. Spent five nights in Vienna last month and loved it. Love Berlin. Florence is good. Prague and Budapest good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stive Pesley Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Paris is much like London - massive with some grim bits, but plenty of world-famous landmarks to make it the sort of place that everyone should visit once. Do the landmarks ang get out of there before you bankrupt yourself! I didn't much like Rome for the same reason. Good shout in Dubrovnik. I got married there ten years ago and going back this summer. If we're talking European capital cities - Copenhagen is amazing. Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Tallin, Helsinki, Lubljana - all worth seeing and you'll spend a lot less than in Paris.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanRam Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 If willing to come all the way to the States, I really recommend Alaska; beautiful and majestic place with plenty of things to do and really have a good time. Another besides the obvious ones of LA or NYC would be The Outer Banks of NC, especially Kitty Hawk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie20 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Best cities visited in Europe : Budapest, Rome, Salzburg, Florence, Verona & Bruges Disappointing : Pisa & Paris Best cities outside Europe : Melbourne, San Francisco, Vancouver, Seattle, Toronto & Boston Disappointing : Los Angeles (horrible place) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McRainy Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I thought Venice was awful, far too crowded to move or see anything. I quite liked Paris, but I just got pissed with some Germans and rode around on the metro. Greece is my favourite place, but Athens is super polluted and the acropolis is basically on a roundabout. I prefer smaller places anyway and have had great holidays in Argostoli on Kefalonia and Annecy in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highgate Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Granada, Cordoba and Seville can all be visited in the same holiday in southern Spain. All beautiful cities ! You could spend a lifetime of holidays in Spain and Portugal to be honest, so many great locations, and that's without ever setting foot on a beach or a golf course. Gets a bit too hot for me in the middle of summer however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sith Happens Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Love Brugge, Barcelona was great. Wasn't fussed with Florence, but enjoyed Sienna. Actually quite like Paris but so expensive. Really like London actually too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewsFromTheMiddle Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 7 minutes ago, Highgate said: Granada, Cordoba and Seville can all be visited in the same holiday in southern Spain. All beautiful cities ! You could spend a lifetime of holidays in Spain and Portugal to be honest, so many great locations, and that's without ever setting foot on a beach or a golf course. Gets a bit too hot for me in the middle of summer however. Did Madrid, Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Lisbon the other summer in the same trip. All top places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highgate Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 2 minutes ago, ViewsFromTheMiddle said: Did Madrid, Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Lisbon the other summer in the same trip. All top places. yeah I really liked Lisbon too, never been to Madrid though. There is a lovely little walled town just north of Lisbon called Obidos. Very picturesque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanish Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 6 minutes ago, ViewsFromTheMiddle said: Did Madrid, Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Lisbon the other summer in the same trip. All top places. yep all good Cadiz is a fantastic little city, the was a tv series where Rick Stein went there which gives quite a good idea of the place. Blessed with many places to visit within a couple of hours for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanish Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 4 minutes ago, Highgate said: yeah I really liked Lisbon too, never been to Madrid though. There is a lovely little walled town just north of Lisbon called Obidos. Very picturesque. Lisboas great and so is Porto. some great little towns just north of there also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gypsy Ram Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Best cities visited in Europe : Budapest, Zaghreb, Berlin, Athens, Bruges, Istanbul Disappointing : Paris and Vienna Best in N America: San Francisco, San Diego, NY and Denver. Aghadir, Cape Town, Johannesburg (surprisingly). Beirut, Amman, Muscat, Limassol, Kerela, Waligama and Overrated: LA, Vegas, Dubai, Cairo and mumbai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyinLiverpool Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Just now, Gypsy Ram said: Best cities visited in Europe : Budapest, Zaghreb, Berlin, Athens, Bruges, Istanbul Disappointing : Paris and Vienna Best in N America: San Francisco, San Diego, NY and Denver. Aghadir, Cape Town, Johannesburg (surprisingly). Beirut, Amman, Muscat, Limassol, Kerela, Waligama and Overrated: LA, Vegas, Dubai, Cairo and mumbai Show off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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