So, my husband and I are taking off on a great cruise (plus some side trips) next month, and we need your help! For once, we are going places we have never been before, so we are at a bit of a loss.
Here’s where we are going-
Barcelona, Spain
Marseille/Avignon, France
Ajaccio, Corsica
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Livorno/Florence, Italy
Valletta, Malta
Messina, Sicily
Naples, Italy (Pompeii)
Rome, Italy
We are bouncing through London on the way home, but we’ll only be there 36 hours and we’ve both been there before.
Anybody have any experience with these cities? Hits or misses?Thanks for any help you can give us, this is a very special treat for us and I don’t want to miss anything I shouldn’t!
PS- we are going the first two weeks of October if that makes any difference in what I should wear, bring or see! Also, we aren’t taking the children if that makes it easier (it sure does for us!).
I’m going to repeat myself once again, but I think travel-related questions are best adressed on travel message boards. I would recommand the europe board on www.fodors.com and the rec.travel.europe board on the usenet (for this kind of travel…other boards are better for people travelling on the cheap).
Thanks for the tip clairobscur. I have looked at travel-specific websites as well, but I always like to get the Doper perspective.
Yeah, it’s a hectic schedule- 17 days all together. Barcelona, Rome & London get a couple of days each, but the rest are 1 day stops for the cruise ship. It’s liable to be more of a “pick out what we want to see again” kind of thing!
Well, I’ve only been to Barcelona and Florence, but here’s what comes to mind:
– The Parc Guell in Barcelona is an absolute must, and so is Sagrada Familia. If that’s not enough Gaudi for you, I’d also recommend a stroll down the Passeig de Gracia, which has to be one of the most surreal streets in the world. Oh yeah, and you should also make time for a nice meal with LOTS of wine – no sense going to Spain if you’re gonna be rushed all the time. (If you should happen to come across a restaurant in the Barri Gothico advertising “Grilled Lamp Ribs” and “Boys Style Little Chickens,” it is very good, but unfortunately I no longer remember the name of the place, just the peculiarities of the English menu.)
– If you’re planning on going to the Uffizi in Florence (highly recommended), call ahead and reserve your tickets – it will save you a lot of time standing in line. Another place I really liked was San Miniato al Monte – lovely church, amazing view of the city.
Monte Carlo is pretty…shouldn’t even take you a full day to wander around. Nice yachts, some nice little restaurants on side streets that I remember not being all that expensive (and I was there on a limited budget). You have to dress for the Casino, but fun to walk through briefly - just to say you were there; certainly not a “must see”.
Italy should be a lot easier now, with the Euro! It used to be a royal pain to figure out whatthehell 1,367,998 Lira translated into.
Wherever you are in Italy, try to find an Innovazione or any other major department store - you will be amazed at the prices and selection of clothing (souvenirs cheaper there too).
My general trick for first timers, no matter where you go in Europe - go where the tourists are, and then walk about 3 blocks away and that is where you will find the affordable, good restaurants and fun local pubs for the employees who work in those over-priced tourist traps three blocks away.
Have fun! Wish I could stow away with ya!