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As an American, I find Europe to be a hard place to travel. Don’t believe me, just ask Clark “Sparky” Griswald (National Lampoon’s European Vacation, for those of you born after 1990).
It has nothing to do with the usual suspects—transportation, communication, safety—and everything to do with the fact that there are just too many places to see.
Go ahead, you can laugh. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. For years (K-12th grade), we were schooled on the history, literature and culture of this amazing continent, so much so, that when you finally get here, you want to see it all. Looking at a map from cubicle, it seems perfectly reasonable to be able to travel from Girona, Spain, to Venice, Italy, in one day. But logistically, unless you plan to fly, that train journey is about 19 hours and in reality would be comparable to driving from Pennsylvania to Florida in the United States.
The size of Europe is deceiving, and when you are on a tight budget, you have to learn to make sacrifices, which is tough, because your mind is being rational, while your heart is saying “C’mon man, we are closer than we’ve ever been to (insert place), don’t wuss out on me now. It’s only a two day journey away or a few hundred dollars more.”
We’ve been fortunate enough to be in Europe during the fall for the last three years, but it never fails that we end up butting heads with our hearts when it comes to our travels through Europe. Right now, we are at crossroads of sorts, we’ve got a month for the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, and we’re trying to figure out where to go next after our stay is up at the incomparable Hotel Terraza in Roses, Spain. Luckily, we have a little Roomorama credit, so we’ve narrowed down these three places, each with their own advantages and disadvantages and now it’s time to choose.
The Coloured House | Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Owner Description: The colored apartment comprises a 9 sq.m terrace with view on the castle of Fitou. The total surface is approximately 60 sq.m, which is spread out over two floors and is suitable for 4 people.
Pros: Price, quite village—great for exploration and working—and spacious. Getting to London via Paris will only require one day of travel.
Cons: It’s only a couple of hours from where we are now. And while we love this region, we’ve been here for nearly two weeks and were hoping to see something different.
Luxury Studio Apartment | Kraljevica, Croatia
Owner’s Description: The villa is located directly on the coast, with its own cove and beach, surrounded by a garden and luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation extending over 3,000 m2. Within the garden are an illuminated pool and Jacuzzi.
Pros: Did you read that description? The price is also in our budget and Croatia’s a country we’ve never been.
Cons: It’s about 30 hours of train travel
Studio Mezzanine Montmartre | Paris, France
Owner Description: Newly renovated and well appointed ground floor studio of 23 sqm with mezzanine which accommodates 4 guests with 2 beds.
Pros: Spending a month in Paris would be a dream come true. Plus, it’s got a loft bed. Additionally, it would be a breeze both financially and time wise to get to London.
Cons: It’s pushing our credit to the max and may require out of pocket funds.
So, if you were us, which one would you choose?
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10 comments
We choose Paris. If the only “con” is that it may require out of pocket money, then it probably won’t be that much.
@www.travelwithkevinandruth.com, We got close with Paris, except it wasn’t actually the one featured here. We never heard back from that rental, but ending up finding a boat in the Bastille, but it ended up being too far out of our price range.
If you re-read your post, you answered your own question. Sounds like you’re going to Paris.
@A Cook Not Mad (Nat), Yeah, you are so right! We wanted Paris, but in the end it didn’t work this time. Spending a month in Paris is a dream for both of us, so it will definitely happen, just not this time.
Sounds like you can’t lose, but I must say my heart did flip-flops as I looked at that Croatia Apt. A view of the sea? YES!
@Vera Marie Badertscher, Vera, I agree. We’ve been drawn to Croatia for a while now, and we almost ended up here, except we had a slight change of business plans at the last minute that ended up taking us to Florence. We’ve had our eye on Croatia for a couple of years now, and when we do make it there, we will definitely be spending a few days/weeks at this place.
LOL you don’t think there are just too many places to see in America as well?
I’d go for the one in Croatia. Then rent a car and have a road trip along the coast down to Dubrovnik. This country is breathtaking! One of my favorites in Europe.
@DJ Yabis, So true! I’m sure the same post could easily be written about the United States. I love your idea about Croatia and wish we had more time to do it that way. Next time, we’re back in Europe, I think we’re going to do exactly what you suggested. We’re big fans of road trips and that trip down the coast in Croatia sounds perfect.
I vote for Paris, hands down. It’s something I’d love to do when I go back to that beautiful city, and you guys lucked out with a loft. I bet a little money out of your own pockets will be worth it!
@Antoinette love.antoinette, It definitely would have been. We had found some great places in Paris, but unfortunately the timing/cost was off. So, while we can’t cross off living in Paris for a month or more off our bucket list just yet, we can cross Florence, which is equally nice. 🙂 Hope you get an extended stay in Paris the next time you are there.
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