Birthday travels

[Immi666]

I want to go away for my birthday next year and, not being able to afford New York, I have no other destination in mind. I've been looking at the easyjet website and the destinations from Nottingham airport are Alicante, Cologne/Bonn, Faro, Geneva, Malaga, Rome Ciampino, Venice Marco Polo, and Prague. (There's also Ibiza, but I don't wanna go there.) Has anyone been to any of these places? Recommend any good sites and attractions? Or anywhere else I could go.

My only limitations are price, and going from Manchester or Nottingham. Could probably get to Birmingham too. I'd be travelling in October next year. Anyone got any ideas?

[mrsann]

Malaga would be best if you want a mix of a vibrant city with awesome but reasonably priced shopping fabulous food and nightlife and plenty of places to visit close by.Rome is awesome at any time of year lots to do see and buy!and not for nothing is it called the eternal city It's just amazing Geneva is lovely it's a bit more pricy but oh those Alps so close and the lake is lovely plenty of places to visit from there too just take the lake steamer or the bus or train and go to Annecy,Montreux ,Evian or lots of other places Alicante would probably be best if you are looking for a sunny spot for your trip.It's a lovely city with good beaches close by great shops, plenty to see Gaudi's cathedral the old town(Casca Vieja) the waterfront etc..If you want to know more about any of those just reply to my reply and I'll try to help but I won't recommend hotels etc as everyboies taste is different just give you one word of advice.If you choose a Spanish city look to stay at a 3*+ hostel.They are generally much better than budget hotels and are better placed in the city as they are well used by business travellers Good luck with your planning

[Dom Tuk]

faro (the algarve) is very nice in October. Great local food (fab sardines and local fish), superb wine at �1.50 a bottle, nice weather.....fab place.

[mushroom25]

if you don't mind ryanair, then fly from EMA to girona, with a bus connection from there to barcelona - loads to see & do in one of europe's better citybreak destinations

[Immi666]

Mrsann, i like the sound of Geneva. I've always wanted to see the Alps. Tell em more! Can I get up into them from Geneva? Is there a tour or something?

Also I'm concerned about the language. Places like Malaga are VERY touristy and I wouldnt have to worry too much cos most people understand English or Rough spanish. Is Geneva like that? Would I have to be fluent with Swiss?

I've never travelled to a non-english-speaking country before. Only disneyland paris where everyone speaks english.

[Buenchico]

I can guarantee that you won't need to speak Swiss in Geneva - there's no such language!

The official languages of Switzerland (in descending order of use) are German, French, Italian and Romansch. Geneva is French-speaking. You can learn more about Geneva from the official tourism website:
http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/index.php?rubriq ue=0000000000&lang=_eng

Looking at a map, I can't work out how you could live somewhere around Nottingham/Manchester without being able to get to Robin Hood Airport. Perhaps you should consider flights from there, as well as from the airports you've mentioned? (Robin Hood airport is served by a fast, frequent bus service from Doncaster. Doncaster, in turn, has good rail links to most places in your area). There's a list of destinations served from Robin Hood Airport here:
http://www.robinhoodairport.com/page_destinati ons_29.html

My own recommendation would be Barcelona. As Mushroom25 states, Ryanair fly to Girona (from both East Midlands & Robin Hood) and there's a connecting bus into Barcelona. (Jet2 fly direct to Barcelona from Manchester and, if it's not too far away from you, Leeds/Bradford). It's a wonderful city, with great beaches, marvellous heritage, funky bars, great restaurants, etc. It's great for people of all ages at any time of the year. You won't have any language problems: Although the local language is Catalan, everyone speaks Spanish and many people speak English:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/?go=jN7uAYLx/o IJaWVQCb4ZU93ygJVYLOpRQdvyIue/wAW6Ddhyhal0Y8Jy bdczumN4RSbo3CRL94sJBt7u1Kc=

Chris

[Immi666]

Buenchico, I live in Stoke-on-Trent. Until today I'd never heard of Nottingham airport, and I have never heard of Robin Hood airport either.

I'm liking the idea of Geneva. Sounds really pretty there.

[Dom Tuk]

there is not much to do in Geneva. they have a lake with a fountain and loads of cake shops/jewellery shops. Drab city like many others.