I’ll be going to Hastings at the end of May for my sister’s wedding. Figure we’ll take 2-3 weeks and make a nice little vacation of it. Any suggestions where my gf and I ought to go? She’s never been to Europe, and the last time I was there was ten years ago… took in Amsterdam, Paris, northern Spain, Portugal, and loved it all (save Lisbon: what a hole).
Just looking for ideas.
Looking earlier because we’ll have to sort out her visas.
I prefer UK.
A regular Taiwanese tour group could visit all 27 EU member states in 2-3 weeks! 
I’d go to Catalonia, then on to Southern France, Monaco and maybe Northern Italy. Or I might just take a cruise of the Mediterranean (sounds more relaxing).
Alternatively, Southern Germany, Prague, Vienna and Budapest.
No, don’t take her to Monaco, it’s too beautiful and she would want to live there at some stage in her life ;=)
[quote=“miso”]No, don’t take her to Monaco, it’s too beautiful and she would want to live there at some stage in her life ;=)[/quote]That’s THE BEST argument I can think of to take her there. Or anywhere away from this eyesore. 
South of France; Montpellier, Carcassonne, the coast.
What are you into - architecture, history or just relaxing somewhere?
Existing Europe travel threads (in chronological order):
Grand Tour to Europe
Go? See? Do? Europe? (Look here first.)
100 Euros a Day
Europe Travel Tip
Advice on Travel Plans to Europe
No, not just relaxing. Architecture, history, culture… getting a feel for the texture of a place. Two or three weeks doesn’t leave much time for that. I’d prefer to spend a couple of weeks in each city, but it’s not going to happen at the moment. The Pixie will most enjoy places with a distinct character and history. Places where people young and old can live sunk in the history of the place. She’s never been to Europe, only to Canada, where she loved Montreal and Quebec, but didn’t care for Vancouver… if that helps.
[quote=“Jaboney”]I’ll be going to Hastings at the end of May for my sister’s wedding. Figure we’ll take 2-3 weeks and make a nice little vacation of it. Any suggestions where my gf and I ought to go? She’s never been to Europe, and the last time I was there was ten years ago… took in Amsterdam, Paris, northern Spain, Portugal, and loved it all (save Lisbon: what a hole).
Just looking for ideas.
Looking earlier because we’ll have to sort out her visas.[/quote]
She can get a single visa for entry into all the member states of the Schengen agreement.
In 2005 my girlfriend and I skipped Czechia and Switzerland because you can’t go there on a Schengen visa. We just went to Schengen countries Austria, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France, and to the UK with a visa she got in Vienna. Someone told us she might be able to go to Switzerland without a visa, but we decided not to risk it. Czechia is very strict about border controls, we were told.
The most beautiful sceneries around that period of the year could be found in the Alps. There is still snow on the higher peaks to let her feel the sensation of skiing and in the valleys, the clear spring water, the blossoming trees etc. all have a very peacefull and romantic impact. (As Paris stands for romantics only pfffff…)
Choose a center-location FE Grenoble, from which you can go by train either to the South of France, Nice, Monaco etc, or jump to Italy, Toscane, and a flight to Vienna, Austria would also fit in, in terms of time and money. That would be my advice (unless she wants to taste 150 kind of beers, bring her to Belgium hehe). She could experience different cultures, different languages and food without the stress of a 100 places in 10 days.
Ok, so what happend to Scandinavia? Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, all places well worth visiting and it’s dirt cheap to fly with Ryanair these days (www.ryanair.com) to most of Europe, although, be aware that the airports can be a bit far away from the actual places they’re supposed to be.
Scandinavia is great also that time of the season… except, a low fair ticket is nothing compared with overstaying in those countries. 300 TWD for a beer or pack of cigs still sounds a lot…
Never the less, Scandinavia is a + to see.