We are going to Madrid next week, actually, ourselves… When I researched lodging options, I noticed, on trip advisor, and booking.com, that there are a plethora of inexpensive “hostals”, i.e., locally owned inns, in Madrid. (Not a hostel, which is different. )
We stayed in Citadines Bastille-Marais, in Paris, last year. They have studio and 1 bedroom apartments, but it’s a hotel. Breakfast is optional but they have a good buffet breakfast every day. It is inexpensive (for Paris) and clean and convenient to metro stops. Like the name suggests, just in between the Marais and Bastille neighborhoods.
The neighborhood around the hotel has a young, hip vibe to it that students may like. Lots of restaurants around… There is also a street market that sells everything you can think of, just across the street, every Thursday and Saturday. It’s year-round, we were told.
I liked this hotel so much I’d stay there again. Lots of families with young kids and students.
I also recommend the museum pass for Paris, if they will be there more than two days. It’s worth the price alone, just to skip to the front of the lines. And they can re-enter the museums multiple times, if they want to head back to one.
Re: the Eiffel Tower, they need to get tickets NOW, if they still can, to go to the top. Otherwise, they will be waiting in a very long line to go up two levels.
We booked a tour that took us to the front of the line and up to the second level. View was great there. That being said, if I had to do it over, I would’ve skipped going up in the tower, because there are really nice views from - the top floor of the Pompidou Centre, and from Sacre-Couer in Montmartre.
But that’s just me.
I highly recommend the Seine river cruise, and at dusk/sunset.
As for sites, I would suggest they take a detour to Salisbury from London to see Stonehenge. As of Paris, I would recommend the Palace of Versailles in greater Paris. Outside of Madrid, there is a town called Toledo with a famous cathedral they might want to check out. If they go to Belgium they might want to check out Holland and Luxembourg if they have time. People has told me that Rotterdam is suppose to be great (recommended over Amsterdam) as well.
With 3 days in Brussels, there is not enough time to travel to Holland or Luxemburg. Their schedule is already tight. At best, side trips to Antwerp, Ghent, or Bruges will be doable and eminently more interesting and pleasant. There is enough to do in Belgium to fill three days with action and fun.
By the way, we do not know what the interests and appetite of those youngsters are. They might not share the interests of an older crowd in terms of museums and sites. They might be more interested in Tomorrowland, Werchter, and Cantillon than in the Prado or Versailles.
Yeah, I was going to suggest that college kids really don’t need tips from us oldsters on what to do on their trip. My kids are happy with finding cheap beer and street entertainment. When my D did study abroad, the highlight of her trip was cycling in Slovenia - not something I would ever be interested in.
I’ve been to Brussels many times. With limited days in europe & the rest of the continent to choose from, brussels wouldn’t make my short list. Yeah, there’s stuff to see in brussels, but it’s like going sightseeing in Baltimore instead of going to D.C. Luxembourg is meh. You can say you’ve been there, but other than that, it’s really not that exciting.
If it were me, I would skip brussels & go to Amsterdam. A much more unique & colorful city and PLENTY to keep u occupied for 3 days w/o wasting further time spent travelling to sights in other towns. If it’s beer u want, holland has witbier, too. And the Heineken in holland doesn’t taste like the cr*p they export to the US.
The analogy of Baltimore to DC is rather uncalled for. Amsterdam is worthy of a visit but is hardly more interesting than Brussels on many levels. We all know what the attraction of Amsterdam is. There should be plenty of opportunities for a later escapade to Amsterdam on its own.
As far as beer goes, if you were to rely on analogy, it would be comparing DC to Waco. The Dutch are neither epicureans nor beer connoisseurs. Their stuff is hardly memorable, and that includes Heineken everywhere.
Again, we do not know what those kids want, but we should help them with the trip they planned, and not make it a city du jour thread.
@xiggi,
I’ve lived in baltimore, in the eclipse shadow of D.C.
AMSTERDAM
canal houses
bicycles everywhere
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh museum
Anne Frank house
Red light district
Flower market
Coffee houses
Leidseplein nightlife/restaurant district
BRUSSELS
MannekenPis
Rue des Bouchers
Beer & mussels
As I wrote, we know the attractions of Amsterdam. I am, however, afraid that your list of BRUSSELS is hopelessly incomplete. But we are not here to discuss travel guides or Baltimore. BRUSSELS is hardly in the shadows of Amsterdam.
“Re: the Eiffel Tower, they need to get tickets NOW, if they still can, to go to the top. Otherwise, they will be waiting in a very long line to go up two levels.”
I wouldn’t bother waiting in line to go up in the Eiffel Tower. I’d rather enjoy the city views from Sacre Coeur / Montmartre.
So they are planning Madrid (two full days) to Paris (two full days), to Brussels (one day) … they have a good idea of what to do in Paris. What would you recommend in Brussels for one day? Any not miss in Madrid? Thanks.
I know I should start another thread, but I’m feeling lazy! Anyone here familiar with Switzerland? We are looking for a short trip in Aug-Sept, maybe 7 nights. Trying to do athletic, scenic stuff, with minimum of hassle, all trains. No big towns, museums. Initial plan is:
Fly into Zurich, short train ride to Luzern (2 nights to bike on lake, relax, boat trip, recover). Trains to Murren (3 nights to hike, take trams, sight see in the mountains). Golden Pass train from Interlaken to Montreux (2 nights, chocolate train), then short train ride to Geneva to fly out.
