yodobashi From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2007, 210 posts, RR: 4 Posted (3 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 524 times:
Hi folks,
We have a week off in September and we are torn between one of three potential destinations from the UK:
1: Fly to Rome, driving tour of Tuscany/Umbria (taking in Florence/Pisa) for a week .... or
2: Fly to Gibraltar, driving tour Andalucia for a week, i.e. Jerez, Seville, Cordoba, Grenada .... or
3: Fly to Athens and visit the islands of Hydra and Spetses for a week
We are really, REALLY struggling to decide which option to go for so if anyone can shed any light or add their personal experiences of any of these trips, any sway would be greatly appreciated, as indeed would any other suitable alternatives.
Thanks people in advance!
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page"
tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 3557 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (3 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 505 times:
Quoting yodobashi (Thread starter): 3: Fly to Athens and visit the islands of Hydra and Spetses for a week
I spent my honeymoon in Greece and spent our last three days on Hydra (which I learned is pronounced "ee-dra" ). It was very fun as a place to wind down after the rest of the honeymoon. It a small island and a small town with not a huge amount to do but walk, eat, enjoy the beach and sunsets etc. (but then we weren't looking to do anything else). If you enjoy hiking/walking and such you should enjoy it.
But we loved it and have very fond memories of "Ee-dra".
Tugg
everything I have learned I have learned by mistake
lewis From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3096 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (3 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 493 times:
Quoting yodobashi (Thread starter):
3: Fly to Athens and visit the islands of Hydra and Spetses for a week
Not a big fan of Spetses myself just because I prefer islands with beaches. I would probably drop Spetses and add Aegina to the mix. It is a 1hr boat ride from Pireus (less with hydrofoils) with good connections to the other islands. Not anything too special but at least it has a few nice beaches around the island and the food is great. Hydra and Spetses, not so much, their coastlines are rocky with very few nice places to swim. Spetses has some nice bars though and the Armata festival is sometime in September. But in general you can't go wrong. Both Spetses and Hydra are beautiful and the lack of car traffic in both of them creates a more relaxing environment.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 23091 posts, RR: 60 Reply 3, posted (3 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 489 times:
Quoting yodobashi (Thread starter): 3: Fly to Athens and visit the islands of Hydra and Spetses for a week
Hydra is one of my favourite Islands. I used to take trips from Piraeus and they had mini cruises that did Aegina ,Hydra and Poros . September is also a nice time to be in Greece.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Ken777 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 6127 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (3 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 471 times:
Of the three I would take my better half to the Italian option. We really enjoyed the too few days in Rome last year and want to spend more time there. (Second on out list would be Barcelona & surrounds.)
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3808 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (3 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 447 times:
I've never been to Europe but you have three great choices. From what little I know, I'd lean toward Italy or Greece. Both have rich history and fantastic food. Also both have beaches and hot women. However Gibraltar us no slouch. Visit all the travel sights especially http://tripadivsor.com for information on lodging and dining. Check out other sights like Fodor's, Frommer's etc. It will probably boil down to price and time since you have one week. You may want to consider cruising. Sometimes in September you can score a great deal on a nice cruise ship and with that accident off the Italian coast demand may be down and it could be a buyer's market. Happy travels!
kiwiinoz From New Zealand, joined Oct 2005, 1888 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (3 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 437 times:
Quoting yodobashi (Thread starter): 1: Fly to Rome, driving tour of Tuscany/Umbria (taking in Florence/Pisa) for a week .... or
I would take this option, skip Pisa and go to the Cinque Terre. Florence fantastic also
Having said that, I haven't done the Gibralter/Spain option so can't compare. Have done the Greece destinations. Nice, but your Italy plan is better IMO
yodobashi From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2007, 210 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 360 times:
OK folks, many thanks for all your input.
Took the plunge this afternoon, on the back of a couple of posts here, we're actually flying to Pisa as it's nearer Cinque Terre (an area I'd never even heard of!) and we'll rent a car for the week and cram in as much as possible without overdoing it!
Thank you so much for all your help - we will defo go to Greece and hopefully visit Hydra next year ....
Cheers folks!
"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page"
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From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2007, 210 posts, 
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). It was very fun as a place to wind down after the rest of the honeymoon. It a small island and a small town with not a huge amount to do but walk, eat, enjoy the beach and sunsets etc. (but then we weren't looking to do anything else). If you enjoy hiking/walking and such you should enjoy it. 
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From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 23091 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Oct 2005, 1888 posts, 
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