I am getting married the first day of my spring break (i am a teacher). We were planning to go to Paris and Venice (Air France does a great hotel/flight package), but we have started to have second thoughts. We will only be able to be away for 9 days, and we fear we might be tired and stressed in Europe.
We have started to look at Napa/San Fransico area, and have found some great resorts to stay at.
Europe or California? What would you do>???
springsandra
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
We went to France for our HM. 10 days. We left on Sunday afternoon (which meant getting there early Monday morning) and came back the following Thursday.
We flew into Geneva, spent 2 days in Annecy, 4 days in Avignon, and 4 days in Paris. We were pretty pooped after all that traveling, but had such an amazing time and it felt totally leisurely, which was excellent!
Honestly, by the Wednesday we were ready to go home. It was nice not rushing things, but 10 days is a long time to be in a foreign country. I speak French but DH doesn't. We're so so happy we went, but it was the perfect length trip.
I can't help you with Venice -- I've never been and don't know anything about it, but I hope this helps.
Lady12
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
A weekend was more than enough for me in Venice.... I thought it was a really cool place (with the Gondolas and water taxis), but I thought it was a bit over rated...(maybe bc FH wasan't there... I don't know but I think a weekend in venice and the rest in Paris is a great choice...
FutureMrsCG
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
I agree about Venice..definitely think it was way over rated what about florence, rome, cinque terra? BUT I do think you should do Europe for your honeymoon over california! What about another city in europe after Paris? Ryan Air has really cheap flights btwn european cities- check it out!
Good Luck
LaurenJosh
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
We were going to do Europe also but decided against it for this reason. JMO but I felt like there are so many things I want to see, that I will be exhausted and no time to relax. I know I want to just lay around and not have to run around on my honeymoon. We are planning to go to Aruba and hopefully we will make it to Europe in the next few years.
decemberbride
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
Thats so funny that you are getting married March 27th when I started planning my wedding thats the date I wanted , but for me there was a whole church issues. I say with either Europe or Napa. I love Napa and San Fran. But like you said you can find some really good deals to Europe at that time of year. As of right now we are going to italy for 9 days for our HM and I don't think we will be stressed . Pace yourselves and do what you want don't over do. JMO
Have fun planning
Christine N Ralph
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
I would definatly say Europe...we have been to both places and San Fran/Napa was nice but you could go there anytime. It wasnt that expensive when we went there...Europe on the other hand was a totally different experience...
GinaMike24
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
I would say Europe. FH and I did a week in France (well 5 days) and even though we loved it, it was more than enough time. I think 9 days for those two places is good.
GL!! :)
Christine73
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
Posted by LaurenJosh
We were going to do Europe also but decided against it for this reason. JMO but I felt like there are so many things I want to see, that I will be exhausted and no time to relax. I know I want to just lay around and not have to run around on my honeymoon. We are planning to go to Aruba and hopefully we will make it to Europe in the next few years.
I agree with this... At first I thought that I really wanted to go to Venice and maybe Greece for our HM but I realized that I'd want to do a lot of sight seeing and I'd want to try to do everything. For the HM I'd much rather sit on a beach some where and completely relax rather than beingi n complete tourist mode. We'll most likely go to St. Lucia
Lady12
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
if you want to relax in Italy I highly recommend Positano in the south of Italy.. Aboslutely loved it! and then maybe Capri... Europe has everything!
cavvento
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
I've been to all the places you listed, and I just think that you'll have a more romantic and special time in Europe. It is a short trip and you will be tired , but it's great that you limited it to two cities; I don't know how the time is divided between the two, but you can get a really nice feel for Paris in 3 or 4 days, and you really don't need more than 2-3 days in Venice. A hint about Venice: the St. Mark's area is a little crazy and touristy, and I hated it there, but once we went around to the Rialto area and just started to aimlessly explore the streets, I fell in love.
San Francisco is a nice city, and Napa is very pretty, but I still don't think it beats Paris and Venice, jmo! FM me if you have any specific questions though as I've been to Paris and San Fran multiple times.
HurricaneGirl
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
Venice is everything you expect it to be at night...glowing and romantic...in the daytime it is more crowded and tourisy trappy. Paris is very nice in the spring. You might be a little jet-lagged when you get back, but I personally think Europe is AMAZING and def vote for Europe.
pipermaru
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
we are doing italy - rome, florence and the amalfi coast
pa56
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
We went to paris and greece on our honeymoon in October and it was fabulous. I feel for a honeymoon, you should do something a little more exotic... but that's my personal opinion.
Paris was nice - we were there for one day only. And then we went to Santorini (Greece) and just relaxed for a week. After the stress of wedding planning, I didn't want to do anything else! And Santorini was soooo romantic.
Future Mrs P
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
Absolutely go to Europe. We went there a few years ago (not for our honeymoon) and it was AMAZING!!! I cannot wait to go back some day. I actually wasn't even that tired on the way there, more so on the way back, but no matter what I would still totally recommend it!!
Lisalana
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Re: Honeymoon! Confused! Napa/Europe?
I'd go to Europe.
FH and I just went to France and Italy (Nice, Santa Margherita and Cinque Terre) for 8 days in September and it was totally enough time.
We also did Napa and San Fran this past May - we spent 5 days there, which was perfect. So, in my opinion, I'd save that trip for a time when you have less time.
