Spain or Tuscany?

[cdt1101]

We are trying to decide where to go on our honeymoon. I''ve never been to Europe and we have narrowed it down to Spain or Tuscany, Italy. We would be going for about 10 days maybe up to 14. Would anyone suggest other parts of Italy as opposed to Tuscany? We want to have the opportunity to relax, but also explore and drink wine and eat lots of yummy food!

I''d love to hear your experiences to help make a decision!

Thanks!

 

[aprilcait]

I am partial to Mallorca, Spain. I've been there six times (and will be going again for my honeymoon), as FI's father is from there.

It is a beautiful island off the coast of Spain (it's one of the Baleares Islands... it's near Ibiza, but not nearly as wild). If you like yummy food, beaches, sightseeing, watersports, clubbing, or hiking, I would definitely suggest a trip to Mallorca. Here's a link to a travel guide site for Mallorca: http://www.mallorcaspain.net/

 

[april diamonds]

OMG ITALY!!! I have never been to Tuscany though. But I went a couple years ago and started in Milan, then traveled down to Florence, Venice, Rome, Pompeii with a stop in Pisa somewhere in there. It was freaking amazing. It was so beautiful there, so full of culture, romance, and fun. I am like you, want more than just a relaxing trip, want to go out and see stuff. So I definitly think that Italy has a great mix of culture, shopping, food, and romance. I must prefered it to Spain.

BUT I''ve never been to Mallorca. I have heard it is wonderful. In Spain I started in Madrid, when around to Toledo, Granada, Costa del Sol, quick day trip to Morrocoo and Gilbraltar, and Sevlille. All those places were great and beautiful fun places to see, but the food wasn''t as good to me. Maybe it was just the trip I was on that didn''t bring us to great places. But even places that we went to on our own weren''t spectacular. Def worth going to Spain, but I would choose Italy first.

ok just my 2cents.

 

[firebirdgold]

Well, I'm partial to Tuscany. It's incredibly beautiful and stuffed full of tiny hill towns that time forgot with physical traces of it's amazing history from the Etruscans through to the early renaissance. It's so much fun to explore the countryside discovering tucked away places. The food even in the tiny towns is amazing and it's a major wine growing region so lots of opportunities for wine tasting.
One of my favorite memories from last year's trip is sitting in a wine shop in Montepulciano with a huge view over the countryside sipping our way through a sampling of the regional wines and nibbling on various local edibles. Actually, they are all favorite memories! I've mainly been to southern Tuscany and Umbria (Cortona, Siena, Assisi, Florence, San Gimiganio, Montepucliano, etc..) If you're going to be there for two weeks I suggest renting a villa. It's a pretty awesome experience!

Basically if you want to explore, drink lovely wine and eat yummy food you can't go wrong with Tuscany!

Here's a pic of my sister, my bil, and my mother last June:


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[firebirdgold]

Well, This should work

 

[Jas12]

Well, my husband and I just did both on our honeymoon and you can''t go wrong with either...however, if you have never been to Europe I would say hit Italy first...so much to see in a relatively small area. I would spend a few days in Tuscany but do not miss Florence, Venice and (if you have time, Rome)..just a few hours by train to each.

Here''s my suggestion for a 10+ days...purely just my 2cents--You could fly into Rome spend 2+ days--train to Florence (2 days) then Tuscany (4 days--if that''s the focus of your trip) then Venice for 2 days and fly home from Venice....hehe, that''s what i would do anyway

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I''ve never been to Italy (or Spain), but we plan to go for our honeymoon as well. We tend to want to explore as much as possible, so I''m a little biased. I say that if you''re giong to have 10 - 14 days in Italy, you should spend some time in Tuscany, but also spend some days in other cities as well. Venice, Milan, Rome..? Or if you go to Spain you could always spend some time in Barcelona and explore the Southern Coast of Spain (and take a day trip to Morocco).

I''d say just do what fits your and your fiance''s style. I just think that if you can take advantage of seeing multiple cities, you should

 

[havernell]

Could you go to both? Seven days in Spain, seven in Italy. Best of both worlds! If you can fly a cheap European airline like Ryan air you should be able to get between the two (hopefully) relatively cheaply. (I have no idea if Ryan air flys the spain to Italy route, but that''s just the first example of a low cost euro airline I came up with. You''d have to check around- there are others.)

Good luck deciding!

 

[princesss]

Oh boy! You''re choosing between two of my favourite places in the world. Italy is beautiful, and if you''ve never been I think you should start your European experience there. Florence is an amazing city, and as the capital of Tuscany, it''s a great jumping off point to then travel into the countryside, or other great cities in Tuscany like Pisa. I''d do a day or two in Rome, just because it''s truly incredible, but then I''d go back towards the country or Florence (Florence is my favourite city in the world, so I''m a little biased).

If you''re in Spain, try sticking to Andalucia and the southern part of Spain or the islands. It is a beautiful part of the country. I lived in Spain for a few months and loved everything about it.

If you do choose to fly between the two, Ryan Air is really unreliable, but check and see if Vueling has their Spain-Italy leg running. Dirt cheap (especially the early flights), comfortable, clean, and reliable.

 

[cdt1101]

wow...looks like Italy is winning

i must admit, it''s my first choice, but fiance wanted Spain, eventhough he''s been to neither.

i''m glad to hear some opinion, as we don''t know anyone who''s been to both....

doing both is somehting to think about, but we also aren''t rockafellars....hehe....so we have to see if the budget would alllow that.

Thanks ladies! If anyone has more to share, please do

 

[Pandora II]

I lived in Tuscany for 6 years so I'd vote for that.

What time of year would you be going?

If you choose there, post again and I'll give you a list of some of my favourite off the beaten track places and restaurants.

I would suggest flying into either Rome or Venice and spending a couple of days there. Rome is about 2hrs by train from Florence and Venice is about 3-4 hrs. Or fly into one and then out from the other with 2 days in each and 10 days in Tuscany of seriously good food, wine and relaxation...

Don't try to do too much as it just ends up being a bit knackering!

 

[cdt1101]

Pandora - We would be going in mid-June. Our wedding date is June 14, 2008. How''s the weather during that time?

 

[TravelingGal]

First time to Italy? Tuscany for sure.

Siena is not far from Florence. You could fly into Florence and easily spend a few days detoxing there. Siena is wonderful and romantic. If you want to day trip to Pisa, I would suggest staying in Lucca, from where it is an easy train ride (if you do decide to do this, let me know, as there is a tip I can give you re: train stops).

When are you going? Depending on the time of year, I would also recommend Venice. Hugely touristed, but unlike anything you have ever seen before.

There''s also Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast...too many darn places to name. I''d go easy though...traveling in Europe can be tiring.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Love Tuscany. LOVE Siena. Great choice.

I''d use it as a home base and also look into trips to Cinque Terra and Rome. I also like Capri, but it can be pricey and not terribly quick to get to from Tuscany. Venice is entertaining and unique, but the tourist culture makes it not as charming as Tuscany IMO. For a first-timer, Florence is a must, and if you can take a class or read of book on Renaissance Art before you go, you''ll be blown away all the more. Ahh, the whole area is terribly romantic... ideal honeymoon destination IMO.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/15/2007 4:40:56 PM
Author: cdt1101
Pandora - We would be going in mid-June. Our wedding date is June 14, 2008. How''s the weather during that time?

It will be hot, not as bad as August, but up in the 30''s most days.

You''ll also have missed the May rainy season.

There should be some good ''sagra''s'' on at that time. These are in little villages and towns and are dedicated to particular types of food - like porcini or steak etc. The whole village comes and eats in these big marquees - you just buy a plate full of food and some of the local plonk and everyone sits at long tables.

Then there''s dancing and fireworks.

You''ll need to hire a car to see the best places in Tuscany. For city to city the train is good - and cheap!

 

[CaityJ]

Another vote for Tuscany. I have visted Florence, Siena, Lucca, and Pisa and they are all interesting in their own way. There are many options for activities and it is an interesting introduction to the "European Experience" because you can take the opportunity to see some sights everyone is familiar with (the wonderful works of architecture and art in that area), as well as experience a multitude of lesser-known Tuscan charms. My advice to you, whatever you choose to do, is to check out a number of different travel books about your destination from your local library, do some serious reading to familiarize yourself with what is out there, and purchase the two books that you found most useful. I would recommend the Eyewitness series of travel books for their maps, illustrations, and concise, interesting descriptions of both the famous and hidden highlights of each area.

Most of all: have fun and try new things!

 

[iheartscience]

I haven''t been to Tuscany, but I have been to Spain twice. I love it! It''s one of my favorite countires in Europe. My favorite places in Spain are Sevilla and Barcelona. I''m not crazy about Madrid. I love to visit cities so I''ve mostly just gone to the major cities in Spain. I did go to Cadiz the last time I went to Spain and it was nice-good beaches. I also went to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim and that was amazing!

However, if you''ve never been to Europe before I would definitely go to Italy first. No offense to Spain, of course, but Italy is Italy, you know?!

I don''t know if you want to visit any cities but I really loved Milan. It''s gorgeous and the shopping is killer!

 

[cdt1101]

thank you ladies for all the advice/experiences

I will have to convince my fiance that Italy is a must! hehe....I will keep you updated and I''m sure I will have more questions once we make a decision.

I''m so excited

thanks again!

 

[ChargerGrrl]

tough choice, I''ve been to both and they''re equally beautiful and memorable.
however, Italy has the slight edge for me. It would be a great Honeymoon destination!

check out tripadvisor.com (my favorite travel site) for lots of info on both. they have a great forum.