yodobashi From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2007, 214 posts, RR: 4 Posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 713 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, 4629 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 694 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
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
lewis From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3442 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 682 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, 24887 posts, RR: 60 Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 678 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"
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22023 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 670 times:
I'd opt for Spain, especially the South with its Moorish influence.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
Ken777 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7440 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 660 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, 4720 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 636 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, 2029 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 626 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, 214 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 549 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"
Sponsor Message: 
From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2007, 214 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4629 posts, 
). 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. 
From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3442 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24887 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Oct 2005, 2029 posts, 
From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10241 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
