Started planning my 50th birthday present today

[theantiquetiger]

I turn 50 in Aug 2018. I am going to Europe for my present to myself. My wife is not going, she will not fly, so I am taking my oldest daughter, who will be over 14 years old by then.

I watched "Roman Holiday" last week and it sold me, we are going to Rome for 3 days and Paris for 3 days (plus travel days).

I am super surprised how inexpensive AirBnB is in Europe. I am talking $50 a night or less.

I am not completely sold on Paris yet, I may just stay in Italy the entire time or maybe Vienna instead.

This will be a fotog vacation, so lots of walking.

I am planning on going in May 2018

And before you ask, my wife turned 50 this year. Her present was a Lexus RX350 (over 10x the cost of this trip)

Any suggestions?

[Mikey]

Congrats in advance

In today's climate i'd be a little shakey about taking a 14 year old girl to Paris ... Heard it's pretty well over-run with nasty sorts

Being Polish, Poland would be my suggestion ... Heard the tourism is relatively inexpensive and it has some great old cities such as Gdańsk and Krakow.

[toys2cool]

that's pretty cool bro

[theantiquetiger]

Congrats in advance

In today's climate i'd be a little shakey about taking a 14 year old girl to Paris ... Heard it's pretty well over-run with nasty sorts

Being Polish, Poland would be my suggestion ... Heard the tourism is relatively inexpensive and it has some great old cities such as Gdańsk and Krakow.

We live in Louisiana and my daughter has been to the French Quarter several times. It doesn't get much more shakey than that. I live 60 miles from the Quarter and feel like a tourist in a foreign country everytime I go.

[Nostalgiabuff]

awesome. I have gone to Europe many times. I hope I don't offend anyone by saying I hated Paris both times I went there. The culture is amazing but the people are just so obnoxious it ruins it. Italy was awesome and of course my fave is Germany. I would recommend going to Germany and seeing Munich at least. from Munich you can get to a lot of amazing places in a short drive or train ride...such as Neu Scweinstein, the Cinderella castle

[theantiquetiger]

awesome. I have gone to Europe many times. I hope I don't offend anyone by saying I hated Paris both times I went there. The culture is amazing but the people are just so obnoxious it ruins it. Italy was awesome and of course my fave is Germany. I would recommend going to Germany and seeing Munich at least. from Munich you can get to a lot of amazing places in a short drive or train ride...such as Neu Scweinstein, the Cinderella castle

Thats exactly why I am not sold on Paris. Like I said, this is going to be a photography trip, lots of walking. I may just stay in Italy.

[Nostalgiabuff]

well if you stay in Italy, you need several days in Rome, there is just so much amazing stuff to see. You should see Pisa, that is a nice town, not much to see other than the tower but still interesting. But if you can, hit Venice, that is really something to see. Amazing place. a city on the water

[Marvelmania]

Been to both places and Paris, well all of France is greatly over rated! Paris especially! Stay in Italy!!!!

[Mikey]

I remember seeing a news story where they said Paris has a huge problem of people urinating everywhere.

It said some building foundations are starting to crumble because of the acidity of the huge amounts of urine.

Also, they said some street light poles are literally falling over because the bases of them are rotting from urine.

They tried to combat this by having open urinals in the streets but that still isn't helping.

I would not go to Paris even if it was for free.

[Nostalgiabuff]

LOL, I have never heard that before Mike. I remember there being open urinals in the streets of Amsterdam where you basically have a small stall around a tree that you can pee on. but not in Paris.

you could also his Austria, beautiful country. Salzburg or Vienna are just beautiful cities

[Agent4125]

If you like model railways and have enough time, you should consider visiting Hamburg in Germany.
They have the largest model railway in the world.
It's called "Miniatur Wunderland" and is really impressive (see http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com).

[Hector]

I'm sorry, but I find the dislike on Paris here amusing...it's one of the great Alpha+ cities of the world, right up there with other Alpha+ world cities: New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney.

Rome is not even an Alpha city...it's a Beta+ world city. Italy does have an Alpha city, but it's not Rome, it's Milan.

Paris is awesome, so much culture, museums, art, architecture, food, wine, breads, cheese...it's magnificent. Sure, it has its bad seedy spots...what city doesn't? Singapore must be the only spotless one, due to its extreme strict laws.

Tourists say Parisians are rude, well, guess what, so are New Yorkers. Heck, in my own area, San Francisco is full of snotty selfish hipsters as well.

I've been to Paris twice...my late dad loved it...my sister lived just south of Paris...it's one of the most magnificent cities in the world.

I sense that it's perhaps its politics that turn some people off...don't let that be a deciding factor for avoiding this city...if you travel to Europe, you have to go to Paris, it's a must stop, at least once in your lifetime.

I loved Rome too...but be aware, especially to women...as Italians love to whistle at women...even get pinched on the behind like my sister did once, it's the forward Italian way. No such thing will happen with Frenchmen. Also, beware, Rome is notorious for having some of the best pickpockets in the world...my uncle's wallet was snatched just like that, he found out when he tried to pay for a meal at a cafe...the pickpocket snatched $800 from him, he was almost in tears, lol.

Not hating on Rome...a visit to the Sistine Chapel (Vatican City inside Rome) alone is worth a trip there. The Colosseum is awesome too...it really transports you back in time.

Venice is beautiful...my sister stayed there for six months (college semester)...I agree with the rest here about visiting Venice.

Aside from Paris and Rome...I highly recommend London and Barcelona. No language barriers in London, it's a kickarse city. Barcelona is a hip and happening city...the hub of Catalan culture...you are better off speaking Englsh than Spanish there, lol.

Anyway...don't skip Paris...you and your daughter will enjoy it.

[Hector]

I remember seeing a news story where they said Paris has a huge problem of people urinating everywhere.

It said some building foundations are starting to crumble because of the acidity of the huge amounts of urine.

Also, they said some street light poles are literally falling over because the bases of them are rotting from urine.

They tried to combat this by having open urinals in the streets but that still isn't helping.

I would not go to Paris even if it was for free.

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey...

[alex]

Whenever I go traveling, I use this website to find accommodation, I cannot recommend it enough
Hostelz.com. you're always welcome to do some couch surfing round mine in Warsaw :-)

[acrovader]

As an adult, I generally think celebrating birthdays is silly. It may alright for kids. But my birthday is just another day where I'm one year older. I no longer expect anyone to give me a party or take me out to dinner, give presents, etc. If they really want to, fine. But I don't want anyone to go out of their way on my account.