Best Hotel/City Recs in Europe

[pokerface]

I’m planning a trip to Europe next summer with my H. We will stay just 4-5 nights max. We would love a beautiful view (beach preferably but open to others), something that maybe isn’t a main city (Paris/Rome), good wine and food. I really want to stay at a fancy-feeling hotel but need to be realistic about our budget. Will do some sightseeing but also want to relax at the hotel. Looking for recommendations of places you’ve been, or favorite hotels.

Considering:
Porto, Portugal
Iceland
Sicily

Appreciate any thoughts!

[majesty318]

in Sicily, Siracusa - specifically Ortigia. It is an absolutely charming little town on the water.

[keweenawlove]

We went to Portugal in 2019 and very much preferred Lisbon to Porto. We only did 1 day in Porto but we found it so much more crowded and touristed than Lisbon. In Lisbon, we have a blast wandering and eating/drinking our way through the streets there. Not sure if you could get a beach view but definitely water. We went to Lagos for the beaches but there's some that are day trip distance from Lisbon.

[pokerface]

Thanks all! Will check into these.

Also glad to hear the rec for Lisbon. I feel like most people rave about Porto, but eating and drinking my way through town sounds perfect!

[dutchgirl678]

I have been to Lisbon twice. The first time I stayed in town and the second time I stayed Estoril for a few days and Lisbon after. Estoril was a cute little beach town and there was a train service to Lisbon. The Estoril stay was work-related and one of my colleagues went to Setubal afterwards, which I heard is a great beach area as well. You could maybe combine it with Lisbon or go there on a day trip from Lisbon? Other side trips from Lisbon often go to Cascais.

I haven't been to Sicily yet, but it is on my list as well. That would be a great location too. I have been to the Amalfi coast before and that is also a great spot to be if you are looking for good food and nice beaches. But I did go in September which tends to be less crowded than during the summer.

[wanderingback]

I’ve travelled a lot and there’s so much more of them world I want to see that I typically don’t want to go places twice, but I would love to go back to Lisbon. The food was so so so good…and inexpensive. I’ve never been anywhere else in Portugal to compare, but Lisbon was great.

[mags]

Sorrento
Portofino

[scm1011]

Sept 22, 2021 16:12:14 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

I’ve travelled a lot and there’s so much more of them world I want to see that I typically don’t want to go places twice, but I would love to go back to Lisbon. The food was so so so good…and inexpensive. I’ve never been anywhere else in Portugal to compare, but Lisbon was great.

This, word for word. 

[pokerface]

We have done some more searching and talking. Two of our best trips were Malta and Santorini. Both had a great mix of days lounging by the pool or sea with a drink, and then some venturing into town for dinner and a little sightseeing. With that, I want to narrow my focus to French Riviera, Lisbon/southern Portugal, and Sicily. We’re trying to find a city with a beach and enough to do walking that we wouldn’t need a car (maybe occasional public transport), good food and wine. Also since it’s only 4-4 nights prefer to fly in and not travel too far from the main airport. Will look through the cities recommended here again. I know a ton of places in Italy would check the boxes, but we have a tentative family trip planned for Italy in 2023 so I want to try someplace different.

[mrsukyankee]

I'd also consider Split in Croatia

[erbear]

Another vote for Lisbon. Easily my favorite city in the world. We're planning a March eating and drinking trip there.

Barcelona is also amazing.

[spindle92]

Oct 4, 2021 20:47:30 GMT -5 erbear said:

Another vote for Lisbon. Easily my favorite city in the world. We're planning a March eating and drinking trip there.

Barcelona is also amazing.

I went to Barcelona in 2019 and absolutely loved it!!!

We stayed at The W, which is right on the ocean.

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bcnwh-w-barcelona/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2&y_source=1_Mjc4MjIxOC03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24uZ29vZ2xlX3dlYnNpdGVfb3ZlcnJpZGU%3D

Spent 3 nights here, did a week long meditteranean cruise and then came back here for 2 more nights.
It was a girl's trip that we coined "Trip of a lifetime" and it truly was.