(Another) holiday suggestion thread: 2 weeks end May/warm/Europe

[LDC]

Alright,

Really got to think about getting a holiday booked soon for end May/start June next year. Need some suggestions really, was thinking nice Airbnb on the coast somewhere, but Airbnb can be a bit hit or miss, and don't want to end up somewhere that looks nice in photos but is like the Europe equivalent of Rhyl.

So, the parameters:

• Train travel (relaxing and enjoyable unlike flying).
• Warm as possible.
• Somewhere pretty and relaxing.
• Seaside would be ideal, but cultural shit is good too.
• Not too expensive.

Happy to not do much apart from read, sleep, eat nice food, and drink wine. Might be good if there's some pretty countryside nearby for a walk or run in though.

Any suggestions?

 

[chilango]

Italian Lakes? Easily doable by train. Good food, wine, scenery.

 

[LDC]

Yeah, keen. Any specific suggestions for an exact area, or even better accommodation?

 

[chilango]

Should be plenty warm by then too.

 

[krtek a houby]

Sicily. Beaches, food, cultural, cheap (apart from Taormina), warm, beautiful.

Trains, there are but not great without a/c. Buses are more reliable.

 

[chilango]

Yeah, keen. Any specific suggestions for an exact area, or even better accommodation?

I spent a lot of time around Lake Como. There was a small (maybe a dozen pitches?), chilled campsite right on the lakeside with a bar and decent pizza I stayed at a lot and can be reached on the bus.

campeggiofornace

It’s been a few years since I was last there though.

 

[chilango]

You probably wouldn’t do the full two weeks there though. But there’s plenty of scope for hopping around the lake by boat/bus/train and combining it with a few days in in other places.

 

[LDC]

New parameter: No camping!

 

[chilango]

Porto and the Atlantic beaches towards (and including) Galicia is lovely and chilled. Probably doable by train too. Though more of a faff I suspect.

 

[LDC]

Yeah, probably couple of days there and back, and maybe a side trip as well, two full weeks would be a bit much. My boredom threshold is low at the best of times!

 

[kebabking]

Interlaken.

not on the coast, but the lakes are big enough and have beaches, easy access to a good train network - Bern for the Day, you could go up to Munich, or Veinna...

and theres enough walking to wear your legs down to stumps.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Slovenia. Bled for the lakes and mountains , Piran for the sea.

 

[not-bono-ever]

actually, maybe not Piran if you want cheap - Koper

 

[chilango]

Slovenia. Bled for the lakes and mountains , Piran for the sea.

Bled is nice. Kobarid (a bit closer to the Italian border) has the bluest river I’ve ever seen. And one of the best campsites I’ve...oh. Yeah. Forget I mentioned it.

 

[chilango]

Mind you, the amazing looking cakes in Bled remain one of the biggest disappointments in my life.

 

[Spymaster]

Any of the above plus southern France; Sete, Perpignan, Montpellier to Marseilles, rather than the more expensive riviera on the other side.

The insistence on taking a train knocks out all of the more interesting island destinations.

 

[chilango]

A quick jaunt on the Trans-Siberian? Or similar.

Seriously.

If chilling on the train and reading appeals.

Plus culture.

Plus interesting people to meet.

It’s be warm too.

No accommodations to worry about either.

 

[LDC]

Any of the above plus southern France; Sete, Perpignan, Montpellier to Marseilles, rather than the more expensive riviera on the other side.

The insistence on taking a train knocks out all of the more interesting island destinations.

Majorca is possible on the train/ferry, but accommodation is expensive. Had enough of flying, love the train!

 

[Spymaster]

Majorca is possible on the train/ferry, but accommodation is expensive.

If you took cheap flights which you'd probably still get in May you could use the money you'd save on train and ferry travel for accommodation. If you want to treat the train travel as part of the holiday that's fair enough but it's comparatively very expensive.

I was thinking more along the lines of Malta, Sardinia or Crete. All quite affordable but you have to fly.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Bled is nice. Kobarid (a bit closer to the Italian border) has the bluest river I’ve ever seen. And one of the best campsites I’ve...oh. Yeah. Forget I mentioned it.

ah yes. following your recc a couple of years ago, we booked into that site as part of a grand tour. exceopt we never got there as my daughter snapped her arm on an Austrian trampline 4 days before we were due to pootle down to Slovenia and we spent 10 days in and out of surgery in Innsbruk ( which in the big scheme of things, is pobabaly one of the better places to have broken bones sorted out). How we laughed

 

[not-bono-ever]

balaton in Hungary is well doable by train.

 

[chilango]

ah yes. following your recc a couple of years ago, we booked into that site as part of a grand tour. exceopt we never got there as my daughter snapped her arm on an Austrian trampline 4 days before we were due to pootle down to Slovenia and we spent 10 days in and out of surgery in Innsbruk ( which in the big scheme of things, is pobabaly one of the better places to have broken bones sorted out). How we laughed

Oh

Innsbruck is nice at least...

 

[bimble]

Galicia

Don't go there, go anywhere apart from there. Even if you're not planning on camping in a miniature tent in torrential rain with someone you suddenly realise you don't even like anymore, I wouldn't recommend Galicia.

 

[planetgeli]

Asturias, or that bit just before it that's got San Sebastian, Bilbao and Santander in it. But I'd not go there and miss out on Los Picos national park and I have no idea how you do that without a car. Trains don't tend to run up mountains.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Asturias, or that bit just before it that's got San Sebastian, Bilbao and Santander in it. But I'd not go there and miss out on Los Picos national park and I have no idea how you do that without a car. Trains don't tend to run up mountains.

Fabulous little chuff chuff train meanders through the valleys from France and through Pais Vasco, Cantabria and Austurias. It even goes up hills in places. Highly recommended.

End of May/beginning of June is not going to be warm at night anywhere in Europe in the lakes and mountains. You have to stick to the coast. Pretty much every mountain range in Europe (mainland) can still expect snow at the end of May. In Northern Spain, I have known people snowed in for days in mountain villages during May.

Train is the issue here.

If you are going to do train, then you really need to spend for it. Easiest option I can think of off the top of my head would be Eurostar to Paris, then overnight, or fast day train directly to Barcelona. Surprisingly affordable if booked well in advance. From Barcelona, a very easy 40 minute train ride will take you to Sitges which has much going for it as far as beaches, countryside and easy connections to Barcelona and Tarragona for a bit of city culture goes. At that time of year AirBnb in Sitges/Vilanova/Castelldefels should be pretty good prices.

I'll come back with a second suggestion later. But, check this suggestion. It is probably your easiest option for sun and sand by train in May.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Second suggestion/s.

Eurostar to Paris. Then high speed to Madrid Paris-Gare-de-Lyon to Madrid by Train from €78 | Times, Tickets & Info

From Madrid, there is a high speed train to Malaga now. From Malaga, you can take easy buses East, or West along the coast. Going East, you will find Nerja on Costa Tropical de Granada. Fabulous beaches and coves which will be very quiet at that time of year. You could easily find your own 'private' cove for the day. Surrounded by stunning countryside, and an easy bus for a day trip to Granada. Or, I would even suggest an overnight stay in Granada for a couple of days to visit all it has to offer (The Alhambra especially).

Next option from Madrid would be high speed to Lisbon. Then a fantastic train ride from Lisbon to Lagos. The Algarve is full of good value options. All will have good prices during May/June. I would suggest going North from Lisbon, but you expressly asked for warm and sun, so go South to be sure. Sagres for pretty and quiet. Lagos, Faro for a bit of town buzz. Tavira for good value and ferry rides to islands. All worth Googling a bit. The countryside of the Algarve is 'other wordly' charmingly beautiful with lots of little valley towns and riverside walks. Loads of German and English expats mind.

You could then do the return from Seville to Madrid, perhaps giving Seville a couple of days, or checking the windy, but exceptionally beautiful beaches around Tarifa.

This and my previous suggestion is your easiest train option for guaranteed sunbathing end of May/beginning of June.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I'll add...

Swimming in the Med'... The Med' is at it's coldest end of March. By the end of May it will be perfectly swimable, but nothing like late August/September temps. Not an issue if you're just lazing on the beaches, but worth considering if you want warm waves.

 

[LDC]

Thanks all. Been to Barcelona loads, but thinking heading across to Madrid and then the Portugal coast for a few days by a nice beach.