Short city break, where to go?

[simonp]

Rather off topic here, but as this is a European group I thought you could help.

We are planning a short city break, unfortunately the only time we can go is the week beginning 14th March, which is a little early really. Also we are on a thightish budget.

Any advice on where to go? We are looking at 3-4 nights away. The current list is:

Paris
Rome
Vienna
Prague

The trouble is being British our language skills are poor Jess has some French, but I took no languages at school except 2 early years of French and Latin.

All advice appreciated

Simon

[MKSwing]

If you go for Paris, I know a good little hotel where you can stay. It's not in Paris, but not far, near my house (so you'll have good coffee, I hope) and the subway (metro) will drive you anywhere. If your idea is a coffee trip, then you'd better go to Roma or Vienna (I've been told they have a good place called Mocca Club ).

Anyway, if you go for Paris, just let me know and I'll get in touch with the hotel owner for pricing and availability.

[Raf]

If you go to Paris, be sure to have dinner at 'L'Epi Dupin' in the rue Dupin. It's amazingly cheap (30 euros for three course dinner) but the food is absolutely orgasmic (and I'm very picky, I almost never say this). Open on weekdays only, you'll be crammed in a small room with lots of Japanese and Americanish, but it's worth it. Reservations are necessary. Read Jeffrey Steingarten's 'The Man Who Ate Everything' on Paris bistrots to get a feel for the sort of place.

[simonp]

If you go for Paris, I know a good little hotel where you can stay.

Thanks, will get in touch if we go to Paris.

Simon

[stevenzaat]

Simon,

I would suggest Amsterdam! You will have no language problem, it is cheaper than most capitals and the UK and there is enough culture and other thing to do at night. The only problem is maybe the quality of the coffee and off course there is no improvement in the weather conditions compared to the UK. If you go to Amsterdam I can give you a lot of tips where to eat and drink.

Best regards,

Steven

[phil]

Vienna! Surely you didn't need to ask?

Allyson & I are hoping to manage a week in Vienna at the end of March, provided the situation with my work contract permits it. We certainly intend to visit Joey while we're there.

[simonp]

Vienna! Surely you didn't need to ask?

Allyson & I are hoping to manage a week in Vienna at the end of March, provided the situation with my work contract permits it. We certainly intend to visit Joey while we're there.

I've heard Vienna is nice, but don't know much about it myself. The trouble is neither of us speaks any Austrian, or even German, which could be tricky .

[Beanie]

Vienna IS nice You don't have to speak Austrian/German. I don't know if my limited knowledge of Dutch helped me... but really, most places you'll be visiting over a 4-5 day period is probably "touristy", right? If it's touristy, then Anglophones have no fear And besides, everyone who works at the Mocca Club speaks English

The 1st place I stayed in was a fully-furnished apartment and I was damned happy there. But that was only for 1wk cause they were fully booked. Here's the link to it http://central-apartments-vienna.com/en/index.htm?8 The 1st apartment shown overlooks the Naschmarkt (food market) and then across the street & to the right is the Mocca Club... not even a minute's walk away. The Muehlgasse locations are just around the corner too. Very central location, 5 min from the centre, underground, restaurants galore...

If there's no occupancy there, do NOT take the recommendation for the Carlton Suites Hotel. Take my word for it! Let me know if you'd like more accommodation links.

BTW, did you ever consider Budapest? I didn't encounter a single person there who wasn't able to communicate in English... as opposed to some of the cabbies in Vienna. A super-romantic city, excellent food, even better service, very friendly/helpful people and to top it off, cheap as dirt!!

If it's art, museums, music that you like, then definitely go to Vienna Not that they don't have plenty of that in Budapest as well.

Let's add another one for the list... Istanbul. Another amazing city that's perfect for a 4-day trip too.

[Beanie]

Location map for Mocca Club http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi? ... 000&icon=x

[E61]

I travel quite a lot in Europe and I still haven't been to a city that I couldn't enjoy with my wife for 4 days

I think it has a lot to do with what you intend to do in those 3-4 days and if you are looking to get a taste of the spring. Citys like Rome, Barcelona and Athens would be my chose for a touch of spring in mid march. Prague is very nice and very lively, but you could also think about Budapest, one of the trendiest citys in Europe at the moment - and both are in the cheaper end.

And finally; don't worry about language. You can get along with english everywhere as long as you don't expect to discuss philosophy and most importantly don't have an attitude

Poul

[Joey]

Thanks MKSwing, love you Marcy!
Hi Simon!
If you come to Vienna I'll do my best to make you feel comfortable.
You can play on my machines in the shop, too, if you want (and we don't have a rush hour at that moment ;-D)
40 different kinds of single origins should lure you here... and Vienna is very safe. As I am Viennese I can show you nice places where you wouldn't go as a tourist. Unfortunately when Marcy was here I didn't have that much time ('twas the time before X-Mas) but in the meantime I have enough staff to manage some hours off per day.
Anyway, no pressure, but you won't regret it. And as Marcy said, everyone here speaks english and other languages.
Vienna has a total mixture of old and new styles. Wonderful buildings, lots of green places in spring, great restaurants, even english movie theatres if you want... jumpy white horses, sweet Mozart balls, great cakes.....

Hope to see you 2
Joey

[Raf]

You have English movies in Vienna? Damn, every year K and I go on a crazy tour of the city we're vacationing to find a cinema where we can see a good movie (well, usually a popcorn blockbuster). We almost never find one. Once in Barcelona in the Olympic City. The rest of southern Europe is pretty barren.

[Beanie]

The cinema is about 10 minute walk from Joey's... http://www.haydnkino.at/

BTW, all the movies in NL are in English with subtitles, of course

[simonp]

Thanks Joey
Oh, choices, choices In the end I think it will come down to which city we can get a cheap flight to, as budget is tight (still trying to scrape the money fror getting the bathroom done).

[Gouezeri]

Ok, sorry to change the topic, but Simon, isn't it about time you modded your Bodum.... it's the only thing you haven't done in your sig!
Anyway, once you've worked out what cheap flights you can get, head down your local WHSmith or Borders/Ottakars etc. and try either the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide series for the most uptodate info and for getting a feel of the place, then post back here cos you can guarantee someone either lives there or has been there.
D