Holiday recommendations for mixture of relaxation and culture
October 1, 2013 4:08 AM Subscribe
My girlfriend and I are looking for a holiday that will allow us to have a mixture of chilling out in a nice hotel or resort, but also put us in range of museums and galleries and restaurants and interesting day-trips.
Neither of us have ever just gone to a hotel and stayed by the pool for a week, and our suspicion is that while it sounds nice right now we would be bored after a few days of it. We are both in our early 30s, no kids, and our previous trips have been very active with lots of touring and moving and travelling around. We want something a little more relaxing this time.
We live in Dublin, Ireland, and ideally this magical destination would be <5 hours flight time, though we could live with a bit longer. We have been looking at Morocco as one possible option, and also the side of Ibiza away from the clubs and pills. We want to go this year, in October or November. We could go about €200 per night for a very special hotel, though that's a maximum rather than a target. In my mind this would be a special jaw-dropping place of beauty that I remember fondly in the grey Irish winters to come. Activities like horse riding or diving are a plus.
Suggestions much appreciated!
Neither of us have ever just gone to a hotel and stayed by the pool for a week, and our suspicion is that while it sounds nice right now we would be bored after a few days of it. We are both in our early 30s, no kids, and our previous trips have been very active with lots of touring and moving and travelling around. We want something a little more relaxing this time.
We live in Dublin, Ireland, and ideally this magical destination would be <5 hours flight time, though we could live with a bit longer. We have been looking at Morocco as one possible option, and also the side of Ibiza away from the clubs and pills. We want to go this year, in October or November. We could go about €200 per night for a very special hotel, though that's a maximum rather than a target. In my mind this would be a special jaw-dropping place of beauty that I remember fondly in the grey Irish winters to come. Activities like horse riding or diving are a plus.
Suggestions much appreciated!
And I should clarify that you're really not going to get much in the way of museums around there -- it's not a big city; I'd hesitate to call it a big town, even -- but the area is stunningly beautiful and there are plenty of outdoorsy type things you can do. I did also see various signs for horse riding, too.
posted by olinerd at 4:50 AM on October 1, 2013
posted by olinerd at 4:50 AM on October 1, 2013
Best answer: We had a holiday very much as you're describing last June in Barcelona. While we stayed in an apartment, Barcelona has lots of lovely hotels with both pool and fancy poolside bar to choose from. We did a daytrip to Montserrat, which was stunning, and there are all kinds of little beach towns in either direction from Barcelona to pop over to if you prefer. The city has all kinds of museums and things to do, the food is amazing and not overly expensive, and just hanging out in the clear Mediterranean sun definitely made a nice break from Ireland's grey.
posted by shelleycat at 4:51 AM on October 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by shelleycat at 4:51 AM on October 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: This place is nice. Room rates start at €195. The hotel is beautiful, the site is pretty but not jawdropping - it sits atop a hill and looks down over surrounding fields. It is a great place to relax, indeed its raison d'etre. I hate sitting by the pool as a rule.
This place is really well set up for sitting by the pool so I relented for half the time I stayed there. There are only 7 or so rooms and no kids allowed and its target market is couples in their early 30s with no kids. The owner of the hotel is big into horses so riding is a goer. I don't think the coast round there is particularly great for diving but I'm happy to stand corrected.
From the hotel you can explore Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz, Jerez and Arcos de la Frontera. At a push you can day trip to Gibraltar (I stayed in the hotel and daytripped to Gibraltar so it's totally doable, but not really worth it IMHO).
The climate in October will still be pretty nice - average highs of 25 degrees. By November it's less swimming and eating out weather and somewhere further south like Morocco might be better.
posted by MuffinMan at 5:01 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
This place is really well set up for sitting by the pool so I relented for half the time I stayed there. There are only 7 or so rooms and no kids allowed and its target market is couples in their early 30s with no kids. The owner of the hotel is big into horses so riding is a goer. I don't think the coast round there is particularly great for diving but I'm happy to stand corrected.
From the hotel you can explore Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz, Jerez and Arcos de la Frontera. At a push you can day trip to Gibraltar (I stayed in the hotel and daytripped to Gibraltar so it's totally doable, but not really worth it IMHO).
The climate in October will still be pretty nice - average highs of 25 degrees. By November it's less swimming and eating out weather and somewhere further south like Morocco might be better.
posted by MuffinMan at 5:01 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Mediterranian Cruise.
You only unpack once, and there are plenty of opportunities for nothing but lounging. When you get in port, you can do a guided excursion, or you can explore on your own.
The cruise I took started outside of Rome, went to Naples (and Pompeii), then Sardinia, St. Tropez, Palma Mallorca and Barcelona.
We went in October, the weather was amazing, bright and sunny but not too hot.
At every stop we saw something amazing (except Sardinia, not much to see there, but it's very pretty) and then we had plenty of time to loaf about.
Getting prices last minute means savings, and meals are included so you save money.
I went with my sister and it was an absolutely amazing experience.
You can also do the Côte d'Azur. Nice has some marvelous musuems and all along the coast there are fun things to see and do. Don't feel like it? Just hang out.
Have fun!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:44 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
You only unpack once, and there are plenty of opportunities for nothing but lounging. When you get in port, you can do a guided excursion, or you can explore on your own.
The cruise I took started outside of Rome, went to Naples (and Pompeii), then Sardinia, St. Tropez, Palma Mallorca and Barcelona.
We went in October, the weather was amazing, bright and sunny but not too hot.
At every stop we saw something amazing (except Sardinia, not much to see there, but it's very pretty) and then we had plenty of time to loaf about.
Getting prices last minute means savings, and meals are included so you save money.
I went with my sister and it was an absolutely amazing experience.
You can also do the Côte d'Azur. Nice has some marvelous musuems and all along the coast there are fun things to see and do. Don't feel like it? Just hang out.
Have fun!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:44 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you don't want to party, I would go with Barcelona over Ibiza (or one of the other Balearic Islands).
posted by empath at 6:11 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 6:11 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Oh, and if you just want beauty - Santorini, Greece.
posted by empath at 6:12 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 6:12 AM on October 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Currently in Barcelona (it's beautiful!), but to my knowledge beach/pool weather will start tapering off towards the end of this month.
posted by kylej at 6:40 AM on October 1, 2013
posted by kylej at 6:40 AM on October 1, 2013
Best answer: Ibiza in oct/nov is beautiful and it is very easy to avoid the noisier parts of the island because all the closing parties of the large nightclubs are during the last week of september. I still went swimming in the ocean in February so I might not be the best person to ask about what constitutes normal beach weather, though.
posted by elizardbits at 7:03 AM on October 1, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 7:03 AM on October 1, 2013
Also, late last October we were in Avignon in the south of France. It was balmy, eat dinner outside in a teeshirt weather every evening. I'm not sure if the locals would have agreed but coming from Ireland it was a lovely change. So yeah, Côte d'Azur, Costa Brava, etc, are all good and anywhere with the Mediterranean climate and clear light is going to give you a lift.
posted by shelleycat at 7:12 AM on October 1, 2013
posted by shelleycat at 7:12 AM on October 1, 2013
Best answer: Caveat emptor, I believe Turkey has been oversold through over expectations.
I would suggest:
Seville-Cordoba-Granada trip for museums and sights that are awe-inspiring and like no other in the world. You can do this by leisure drive. For your total relaxation at the end of this trip, go to Mallorca or Menorca for their island laid back life, beauty, and beaches.
posted by Kruger5 at 7:23 AM on October 1, 2013
I would suggest:
Seville-Cordoba-Granada trip for museums and sights that are awe-inspiring and like no other in the world. You can do this by leisure drive. For your total relaxation at the end of this trip, go to Mallorca or Menorca for their island laid back life, beauty, and beaches.
posted by Kruger5 at 7:23 AM on October 1, 2013
Best answer: Madeira was a nice surprise, I think you would love it. We stayed here on a Lastminute.com deal. Direct flight from London. I went with no expectations and was blown away. It's mountainous and stunningly beautiful. The main town is bustling and there are lots of great day trips. If you can get there, this restaurant is something else (The.Views.). Madeira is just touristy enough, if you know what I mean.
posted by superfish at 12:35 AM on October 2, 2013
posted by superfish at 12:35 AM on October 2, 2013
Sorry, that's not the restaurant I meant (though it is very good and attached to a cliff like a limpet). I can't find the one on the REALLY high cliff.
You are so lucky to have so many great options to choose from. This thread will keep you busy for years!
posted by superfish at 12:46 AM on October 2, 2013
You are so lucky to have so many great options to choose from. This thread will keep you busy for years!
posted by superfish at 12:46 AM on October 2, 2013
« Older Why is my MacBook screenlocking on unlocking? | 2D CAD software for Mac. Cheap or free. Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
There are a number of packages they can do with various activities -- maybe one of those might fit the bill?
posted by olinerd at 4:48 AM on October 1, 2013