Trying to narrow down summer holiday options.
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@Ruth_Mottram Because my daughter just returned from a trip to Portugal and the food looked incredible and the sights were amazing and they did a lot of hiking and the sailing looks really good too and also while they were there she asked her boyfriend to marry her and he said yes.
@msbellows @Ruth_Mottram boost for any woman bold enough. Wish I could double boost.
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
I'd pick France as it's a really nice country with a lot of variety, and very reachable by train.
Spain and Portugal: feels longer than needed as you travel through France, which has all you're looking for.
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
@Ruth_Mottram I would look into the Ceze/Ardeche. Lots of lovely places there that fit nicely.
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
@Ruth_Mottram I know it's not on the list but I'd also recommend Slovakia. Plenty of nature, has huge forested areas, both hills and impressive mountains (Carpathians/Tatras), more affordable than the alternatives in CH/AU/IT, and reachable by train through either Austria or Czechia.
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
@Ruth_Mottram what do you mean with Summer?
July and August would be probably too hot for Spain and Portugal. If you go in June/September then it is different -
Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
Already the thought of spending "summer" in a southern country makes me sweat.
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
@Ruth_Mottram Slovenia is just great. And the trains to get there are likely better than to France. Anywhere in the north / north west and you’ll be just fine. If I spoke any Slovenian I’d happily just move there
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
@Ruth_Mottram In 2005 I was VERY impressed by the ancient polyculture practices that made good use of land from the valleys to the forested slopes in many Slovenian villages. Traditional garb still worn by many. Awesome joinery on the buildings. Kids are fleeing to the cities apparently unaware of the regenerative practices traditionally employed.
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@Ruth_Mottram Slovenia is just great. And the trains to get there are likely better than to France. Anywhere in the north / north west and you’ll be just fine. If I spoke any Slovenian I’d happily just move there
@Ruth_Mottram something around Bohinj / Kranjska Gora, perhaps Nova Gorica. Ought to work well. And Ljubljana is great too (if you’ve not been before).
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@msbellows @Ruth_Mottram boost for any woman bold enough. Wish I could double boost.
@Urban_Hermit @Ruth_Mottram Here's the moment he said yes. Their friend took the photo not realizing what was happening.
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
@Ruth_Mottram Bornholm.
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@Ruth_Mottram something around Bohinj / Kranjska Gora, perhaps Nova Gorica. Ought to work well. And Ljubljana is great too (if you’ve not been before).
@jon @Ruth_Mottram
So we have done Slovenia with a car a few times and I don’t know how well bus/train options may serve but here’s an outline…
Ljubljana 3 days no car necessary
Transfer to Piran, tour Postojna caves (Slovenia’s underground railway!) en route
Piran - slat flats and pans, city walls, seafood, cold water sea
Transfer through Gorica/Gorizia to Goriška Brda - wine country and walking - or go across Vršič Pass
Then to Kransjka Gora
Skip Bled. -
@Ruth_Mottram Slovenia is just great. And the trains to get there are likely better than to France. Anywhere in the north / north west and you’ll be just fine. If I spoke any Slovenian I’d happily just move there
@jon @Ruth_Mottram I’d imagine also easier to get around once there too.
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@jon @Ruth_Mottram
So we have done Slovenia with a car a few times and I don’t know how well bus/train options may serve but here’s an outline…
Ljubljana 3 days no car necessary
Transfer to Piran, tour Postojna caves (Slovenia’s underground railway!) en route
Piran - slat flats and pans, city walls, seafood, cold water sea
Transfer through Gorica/Gorizia to Goriška Brda - wine country and walking - or go across Vršič Pass
Then to Kransjka Gora
Skip Bled.@rmartinnielsen @Ruth_Mottram buses between the places without railways are useable. Timetables a bit thin sometimes, but definitely better than French buses!
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Trying to narrow down summer holiday options. Family travel by train to a self catering holiday destination where swimming, cycling hiking and climbing is possible (as is sitting by the water with a pile of books) lots of fresh air and nature a must. Cities less important. What would you choose (feel free to comment why and be more specific on destination!):
@Ruth_Mottram Portugal, around Porto - the food is excellent (custard tarts, mmmm), the people are friendly and helpful, and the scenery is lovely.
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@Urban_Hermit @Ruth_Mottram Here's the moment he said yes. Their friend took the photo not realizing what was happening.
@msbellows @Urban_Hermit @Ruth_Mottram Depending on when in summer, France is nice, but be aware that a lot of the country goes to the south for its holidays for the whole of August, which can restrict lots of normal life, and makes the South prohibitively expensive. But there are nice parts in Normandy, Brittany and down the West Coast. And amazing things to see like the rows of prehistoric standing stones in Carnac. Don't bother with any of the normal tourist areas.
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@jon @Ruth_Mottram
So we have done Slovenia with a car a few times and I don’t know how well bus/train options may serve but here’s an outline…
Ljubljana 3 days no car necessary
Transfer to Piran, tour Postojna caves (Slovenia’s underground railway!) en route
Piran - slat flats and pans, city walls, seafood, cold water sea
Transfer through Gorica/Gorizia to Goriška Brda - wine country and walking - or go across Vršič Pass
Then to Kransjka Gora
Skip Bled.@rmartinnielsen @jon @Ruth_Mottram Well, Lake Bled is beautiful, nice to see. (On the other hand, yes, it looks like the photos, so there is no element of surprise as such.)
No need to stay there overnight or longer, can easily be visited in a day, for instance while transferring from Austria to Ljubljana, if overnighting in Villach. For example as in the screenshot.
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