Seeking Travel Ideas

[Cornell]

My daughter graduates from college (WOOT!) this May. So I'm taking her on a trip to celebrate. Lots of well-traveled people here so would love ideas of where to go. Looking for an International trip. Thinking she may stay on for a couple of weeks and travel alone post-mom/daughter trip. She's pretty independent and doesn't mind being alone.

Things that I'm considering:

• Krakow
• Japan (not Tokyo or Kyoto -- we've been there already). Loved our previous trip so going back might be fantastic.
• Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia - etc. My daughter pretty interested in Soviet era so this is right up her alley).
• Berlin

Malta was an interesting idea but then realized how not easy it is to get there. Most people want to pair with a trip to Sicily and no interest in going to Italy.

No Iceland - looks like a ton of driving which is not my idea of a vacation.

We like museums, history. NOT beach people.

Do not want to go to places like Portugal, Spain, France.

Please TUG weigh in. And -- this is my last trip tied to an academic calendar so super happy about that.

 

[Passepartout]

Looks like Northern Europe ticks most of the boxes. Travel in/out of Berlin then train/ferry either together or DD alone through the Baltics. Could stretch it into Scandanavia if desired. May/June is lovely (and 20+ hours of daylight) there.

Downside is it's an expensive neighborhood.

Jim

 

[bizaro86]

Are you interested in cruises? Holland America on the Rotterdam has one in the Baltics with many interesting ports. There's also a NCL Dawn leaving from Paris going to Stockholm that looks like an interesting itinerary.

 

[Cornell]

Are you interested in cruises? Holland America on the Rotterdam has one in the Baltics with many interesting ports. There's also a NCL Dawn leaving from Paris going to Stockholm that looks like an interesting itinerary.

No- we are lone wolf types but interesting idea.

 

[b2bailey]

No ideas for you, but I still remember your post about a search for the right college.
My how time flies.

 

[jmhpsu93]

Berlin and Krakow together sound great...about a 7-8 hour train ride between.

BTW mine graduated last December - wow that time flies and enjoy your new found calendar freedom.

 

[WinniWoman]

Lord knows I’m no world traveler, but what about places like Prague; Central Europe?

 

[Cornell]

Lord knows I’m no world traveler, but what about places like Prague; Central Europe?

Yes…. That’s kind of up our alley.

 

[heathpack]

We loved Scotland. The UK and Ireland might be a thought.

I also really liked Germany when I went last spring.

I like @Passepartout’s idea of Scandanavia too.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Scotland was great. Edinburgh and castles and great day hiking. Lots of museums and history.

 

[Cornell]

We loved Scotland. The UK and Ireland might be a thought.

I also really liked Germany when I went last spring.

I like @Passepartout’s idea of Scandanavia too.

Yes… absolutely great ideas. Thank you , I would love to go to the Faroe Islands. That’s quite a journey to get there. Also think I’d wind up having an Iceland experience where I have to drive everywhere.

 

[missyrcrews]

Good heavens, that went fast!!! Congratulations!

 

[Passepartout]

Yes… absolutely great ideas. Thank you , I would love to go to the Faroe Islands. That’s quite a journey to get there. Also think I’d wind up having an Iceland experience where I have to drive everywhere.

You know, don't you, that DW and I were taken enough that we were married at a palace in Scotland. Not the Faroes, but honestly, Idaho has everything Iceland has except an ocean. Wild rivers, geysers, hot springs (that don't accommodate thousands). Oh, and we don't have our own airline.

Northern Europe is a wonderful place.

 

[heathpack]

Yes… absolutely great ideas. Thank you , I would love to go to the Faroe Islands. That’s quite a journey to get there. Also think I’d wind up having an Iceland experience where I have to drive everywhere.

My favorite ever Mr H travel quote was in regards to Scotland: “This is the least PIA country we’ve ever been to.”

 

[geist1223]

Tasmania or New Zealand (North and South Island). But you would have to wait for their Summer.

 

[beejaybee]

Eastern Europe! We spent several days in Berlin and from there took a train to Prague for another three nights. You could also add Budapest. Tallinn Estonia, though it may be less viable via land, we visited as a port day on a Baltic cruise, and we loved it (Find "The Singing Revolution" video!).

 

[DRIless]

I took my daughter to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands after college graduation, a trip she missed with the family because she was too young when we went the first time. It's not on your list, but I would highly recommend it.

 

[Cornell]

I took my daughter to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands after college graduation, a trip she missed with the family because she was too young when we went the first time. It's not on your list, but I would highly recommend it.

Tell me why you liked it if you don't mind.

 

[DRIless]

There are two ways to approach it now. When I first went in about 1986, the only real way to get around and see everything was on a cruise. We were on a 25 passenger Motor Vessel. Shift position during lunch and overnight to hit different spots on different islands. Each 15 visitors have to have a licensed guide. Marvel at what Darwin saw. Now there hare hotels at the bigger towns on each island and you can island hop by boat or by small plane to get to many treks and sights for half the cost of the cruises, but the cruises make it easier.

 

[beejaybee]

There are two ways to approach it now. When I first went in about 1986, the only real way to get around and see everything was on a cruise. We were on a 25 passenger Motor Vessel. Shift position during lunch and overnight to hit different spots on different islands. Each 15 visitors have to have a licensed guide. Marvel at what Darwin saw. Now there hare hotels at the bigger towns on each island and you can island hop by boat or by small plane to get to many treks and sights for half the cost of the cruises, but the cruises make it easier.

Not to sidetrack Cornell's thread, but please can you explain how to do this. Galapagos are on my bucket list but the pricing of cruises is beyond my pocketbook.

 

[SusanRN]

no interest in going to Italy.

Really? Florence is my favorite city in the world -- so much history, art, architecture! You can easily spend two weeks there and not repeat what you see. And maybe take a cooking class nearby?
Yes, you'll want to avoid the tourist crush in Rome and Venice, but Florence is off the cruise port tour schedule.

 

[Cornell]

Really? Florence is my favorite city in the world -- so much history, art, architecture! You can easily spend two weeks there and not repeat what you see. And maybe take a cooking class nearby?
Yes, you'll want to avoid the tourist crush in Rome and Venice, but Florence is off the cruise port tour schedule.

Yes really. So many things about this are unappealing to me.

 

[DRIless]

Not to sidetrack Cornell's thread, but please can you explain how to do this. Galapagos are on my bucket list but the pricing of cruises is beyond my pocketbook.

I went with Ecuadorian friends who had friends in the business in Ecuador, so it was easy. But many big travel companies in US do it this way.

Amazon & Island Hopping in Galapagos

Get to know the beauty of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands in this journey that will take you from the country’s capital city to some of the world’s most pristine beaches before unearthing the impressive Amazon Forest.

www.exoticca.com

6 Day Galapagos Express

www.gate1travel.com

 

[chellej]

Two of the young people I work with (a married couple in their late 20s or early 30s) went to Japan and loved it and can't wait to return. Lots of gardens, temples , history.

 

[nerodog]

My daughter graduates from college (WOOT!) this May. So I'm taking her on a trip to celebrate. Lots of well-traveled people here so would love ideas of where to go. Looking for an International trip. Thinking she may stay on for a couple of weeks and travel alone post-mom/daughter trip. She's pretty independent and doesn't mind being alone.

Things that I'm considering:

• Krakow
• Japan (not Tokyo or Kyoto -- we've been there already). Loved our previous trip so going back might be fantastic.
• Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia - etc. My daughter pretty interested in Soviet era so this is right up her alley).
• Berlin

Malta was an interesting idea but then realized how not easy it is to get there. Most people want to pair with a trip to Sicily and no interest in going to Italy.

No Iceland - looks like a ton of driving which is not my idea of a vacation.

We like museums, history. NOT beach people.

Do not want to go to places like Portugal, Spain, France.

Please TUG weigh in. And -- this is my last trip tied to an academic calendar so super happy about that.

I visited Malta which is interesting and Valleta is very historic. Wentvon a loose tour of Baltic countries.. we started in Helsinki, took the ferry to Tallinn and then had a private guide all the way. We ended in Amsterdam. Riga was my favorite and lots of Soviet history and many people willing to talk about it ...was better than a classroom.