First holiday abroad

badnewsbear

Hey folks, so don't laugh at my sheltered life or perceived lack of culture but Iv never been outside of Ireland and am planning a big holiday for my 30 th next year. I am just looking for suggestions for the destination , I'm not into sitting on a beach all day and don't fancy travelling too far on first flight ie New Zealand ( but its on the list on the future) all help appreciated
Thanks

ScottSF

Popular question to ask but you really have to give us a bit to get a bit of useful advice. It is like asking for what flavour ice cream to order if you have never eaten ice cream before

Do you like big cities, museums, hiking in nature, drinking and nightlife, historical places, shopping, exotic foods, adventure sports, scenic drives, etc...? The world is out there and full of endless possibilities but I'm glad to see you taking the first step. It may become a habit

miamee

How long are you planning to be away for OP? What time of year?

By the way, I did a big trip for my 30th, best way to celebrate it I reckon

badnewsbear

Sorry I'm thinking if maybe 2-3 weeks possibly late August early September, I'd like to do a lot of active things and like great views, sights etc

alastair

An active hree weeks around that time of year, and never having been abroad before? - I'd suggest you fly to Munich, spend some time around Bavaria and the Tyrol (alps, castles, etc), travelling by train, and then make your way down to Italy for the remainder of your time - Lakes, Venice and Florence? Spectacular countryside, some great architecture and art, avoid the worst of sweltering heat, if you leave Florence to last. Certainly I'd suggest continental Europe and trains for this - you'll soak up so much more.

miamee

Great minds think alike alastair, I was also going to suggest doing a bit of interrailing on the continent (do they even call it interrailing any more? )

I would actually love to do that myself, you would see so much in 3 weeks! I've only been to the south of Germany (Alpine and Black Forest area) and it is stunning, definitely worth a visit, as is Italy. Of course you could do France and Spain or something either, it depends on what you are most interested in doing or if you have a particular country/city that you have always wanted to see. If you do, you should put that on the itinerary and build the rest of the trip around it - this is your trip of a lifetime!

munchkin_utd

alastair wrote: »

An active hree weeks around that time of year, and never having been abroad before? - I'd suggest you fly to Munich, spend some time around Bavaria and the Tyrol (alps, castles, etc), travelling by train, and then make your way down to Italy for the remainder of your time - Lakes, Venice and Florence? Spectacular countryside, some great architecture and art, avoid the worst of sweltering heat, if you leave Florence to last. Certainly I'd suggest continental Europe and trains for this - you'll soak up so much more.

You cant go wrong with something like that.
You could even fly to Berlin, then Prague, Munich (possibly via Salzburg/ Vienna) to Italy.
All those cities will keep you busy on your feet walking about the place and theres plenty of sights/ views/ photo opportunities.

In Italy theres loads to see just over the alps.
Vinschgau/ Val Venosta (a little like in Ireland, they have 2 languages so every place has 2 names!) is maybe the ideal place if you want a little bit of activity. Its a valley in the alps, maybe 50+km long, theres rail and bus routes running along the valley, cable cars to the mountains adjoining, trekking routes between the peaks and then you can just walk to the valley and get a bus or train back to where you're staying.
They even have a scheme where you get a bike hire for a day from one station and you can drop it at any other station and just get the train back to where you started.
http://www.venosta.net/en/welcome.html
I was there for a week with the Mrs and didnt find the time going. Access is via the mainline Munich-Verona(/Venice) station of Bozen-Bolzano, which is also worth stopping for a night or 2, and along the way is Meran-Merano which is brill, has a cable car to the Tirol Village which is another place worth a visit.

and an hour south of all that on the train is Lake garda which is also breathtaking. And round the corner from that is Milan-Bergamo which has cheap flights to Ireland, but there's also flights back further south from Pisa and other places.

anyhow, I'll leave it there, but suffice as to say that theres plenty to keep you occupied even if you made the sketch-est of plans.

badnewsbear

Thanks very much for all suggestions guys. The Bavaria or Black Forest region does appeal to me or was thinking southern France / San Sebastián area. Is Italy an expensive country . The rail trip around continental Europe is looking good though

munchkin_utd

italy is cheaper than Ireland in general but tourist traps can be very expensive, but even then its localised on the main squares and if you are a little more wandersome you'll get great food for little enough.
Accomodation at the height of summer though is something to investigate as I noticed the prices for Lake Garda last August being quite a bit higher than say at easter time. Also, if you are traveling alone you have the issue of the fact that many hotels on the continent sell rooms as a per room and not per person basis so it could be much dearer than if travelling with a companion. Then again, theres whatever the local equivalent of a guesthouse b+b is along with hostels which would offer more affordable options.
Or just buy a really lightweight single tent and you can camp as you go which means also you are that bit closer to nature!!