A European city for 5 days in April

Need recommendations for a European city for 5 days in early April.
This is similar to another thread (which I read with interest) but
there are differences:

1. Time frame is early April.

2. Europe is defined conventionally, from Russia to Iceland, from
Greece and Portugal to Scandinavia.

3. I am looking for a new place that I have not visited previously, so
I'd tend to exclude London, Frankfurt, Rome, Copenhagen. (Istanbul as
well as nearby non-European Muslim cities like Cairo are out because my
family would be worried and fight against it, making it impossible to
enjoy with peace of mind.)

3. My concept of fun- While I could enjoy devoting one day to old
ruins, it is mostly about present and day to day life: good food,
markets, music, natural or man-made beauty. Ruins of castles alone are
not going to do it for me.

4. Social possibilities- Being a single guy, I wouldn't mind a place
where it is easy to hook up with women...cities that only have local
men looking for female tourists are way down in priority!

5. I am looking for a city that is most "fun value". I know many great
places are too expensive; OTOH many cities are cheap and deserve to be.
Please suggest where you think one can have most fun for least money
(US money, as the exchange rate may make a difference).

6. Everything else being equal, I would choose the warmer place, but
this is a lower priority.

In article , (DRPSZ)
wrote:

*From:* DRPSZ
*Date:* Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:28:24 GMT

Need recommendations for a European city for 5 days in early April.
This is similar to another thread (which I read with interest) but
there are differences:

1. Time frame is early April.

2. Europe is defined conventionally, from Russia to Iceland, from
Greece and Portugal to Scandinavia.

3. I am looking for a new place that I have not visited previously, so
I'd tend to exclude London, Frankfurt, Rome, Copenhagen. (Istanbul as
well as nearby non-European Muslim cities like Cairo are out because my
family would be worried and fight against it, making it impossible to
enjoy with peace of mind.)

3. My concept of fun- While I could enjoy devoting one day to old
ruins, it is mostly about present and day to day life: good food,
markets, music, natural or man-made beauty. Ruins of castles alone are
not going to do it for me.

4. Social possibilities- Being a single guy, I wouldn't mind a place
where it is easy to hook up with women...cities that only have local
men looking for female tourists are way down in priority!

5. I am looking for a city that is most "fun value". I know many great
places are too expensive; OTOH many cities are cheap and deserve to be.
Please suggest where you think one can have most fun for least money
(US money, as the exchange rate may make a difference).

6. Everything else being equal, I would choose the warmer place, but
this is a lower priority.

As so often, Barcelona ticks your boxes pretty well. Granada might be good
too, though it might be a bit small for five days if you're into keeping
busy.

wrote:

In article , (DRPSZ)
wrote:

*From:* DRPSZ
*Date:* Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:28:24 GMT

Need recommendations for a European city for 5 days in early April.
This is similar to another thread (which I read with interest) but
there are differences:

....

As so often, Barcelona ticks your boxes pretty well. Granada might be good
too, though it might be a bit small for five days if you're into keeping
busy.

Agreed. At the moment, I am very fond of Budapest, and suggest that
you consider it too.

For my perspective on a number of cities (not that of a single man on
the pull, I admit) you might find some ideas in my website, the url of
which is in my sig,

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
My travel writing: http://www.iol.ie/~draoi/

3. I am looking for a new place that I have not visited previously, so
I'd tend to exclude London, Frankfurt, Rome, Copenhagen. (Istanbul as
well as nearby non-European Muslim cities like Cairo are out because my
family would be worried and fight against it, making it impossible to
enjoy with peace of mind.)

3. My concept of fun- While I could enjoy devoting one day to old
ruins, it is mostly about present and day to day life: good food,
markets, music, natural or man-made beauty. Ruins of castles alone are
not going to do it for me.

Given all of the above, I'd recommend Barcelona or Paris. Beautiful
cities with great food, interesting markets, and plenty of music
options.

4. Social possibilities- Being a single guy, I wouldn't mind a place
where it is easy to hook up with women...cities that only have local
men looking for female tourists are way down in priority!

As an American male tourist in a European city for 5 days, unless you
are unusually attractive, your chance of hooking up with a quality
local woman is extremely low. However often you get laid in the US,
you are much less likely to get laid in a place where you don't know
the language and don't know the best places to meet women.

5. I am looking for a city that is most "fun value". I know many great
places are too expensive; OTOH many cities are cheap and deserve to be.
Please suggest where you think one can have most fun for least money
(US money, as the exchange rate may make a difference).

Since you are only going for five days, the difference in the cost of
flights would probably more than make up in the difference in the cost
of accomodations, food, etc. in your destination. In Western Europe,
if you are staying in hotels rather than hostels and eating in
restaurants, figure at least $75 per day. Above that minimum point,
the quality of hotel and restaurants will make a much larger difference
in your overall costs than which exact city in Western Europe you
visit. Cities like London and Paris have reputations as being
expensive because they are expensive to live in or because five-star
luxury travel in those cities is very expensive, but they have plenty
of inexpensive options for travellers also. In Eastern Europe, you
would be able to halve that $75 per day, but the flight would probably
be an extra few hundred dollars.

Iceman wrote:

: Given all of the above, I'd recommend Barcelona or Paris. Beautiful
: cities with great food, interesting markets, and plenty of music...
: As an American male tourist in a European city for 5 days, unless you
: are unusually attractive, your chance of hooking up with a quality
: local woman is extremely low...

Darn. But you are right. Sometimes I have had good luck with locals,
but more often it is with other travelers.

: Since you are only going for five days, the difference in the cost of
: flights would probably more than make up in the difference in the cost
: of accomodations, food, etc...

I would be returning from a business trip and can add a free stop (for
some bureaucratic reason, it has to be within Europe). The price for
different cities will differ only by local airport taxes.

Single male? Amsterdam! Sex,drugs and rock and roll.

DRPSZ wrote:
Need recommendations for a European city for 5 days in early April.
This is similar to another thread (which I read with interest) but
there are differences:

1. Time frame is early April.

Well, there've been a lot of songs written about one
European city: "April in Paris", "Paris in the Spring",
etc. It may not be QUITE so romantic as the songs implies,
but it certainly has something for everyone, and you can't
beat the food!

DRPSZ wrote:

Iceman wrote:

: Given all of the above, I'd recommend Barcelona or Paris. Beautiful
: cities with great food, interesting markets, and plenty of music...
: As an American male tourist in a European city for 5 days, unless you
: are unusually attractive, your chance of hooking up with a quality
: local woman is extremely low...

Darn. But you are right. Sometimes I have had good luck with locals,
but more often it is with other travelers.

Well, Paris has a certain reputation for romance which might
work in your favour with fellow tourists!

On Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:28:24 GMT, DRPSZ
wrote:

Need recommendations for a European city for 5 days in early April.
This is similar to another thread (which I read with interest) but
there are differences:

1. Time frame is early April.

2. Europe is defined conventionally, from Russia to Iceland, from
Greece and Portugal to Scandinavia.

3. I am looking for a new place that I have not visited previously, so
I'd tend to exclude London, Frankfurt, Rome, Copenhagen. (Istanbul as
well as nearby non-European Muslim cities like Cairo are out because my
family would be worried and fight against it, making it impossible to
enjoy with peace of mind.)

3. My concept of fun- While I could enjoy devoting one day to old
ruins, it is mostly about present and day to day life: good food,
markets, music, natural or man-made beauty. Ruins of castles alone are
not going to do it for me.

4. Social possibilities- Being a single guy, I wouldn't mind a place
where it is easy to hook up with women...cities that only have local
men looking for female tourists are way down in priority!

5. I am looking for a city that is most "fun value". I know many great
places are too expensive; OTOH many cities are cheap and deserve to be.
Please suggest where you think one can have most fun for least money
(US money, as the exchange rate may make a difference).

6. Everything else being equal, I would choose the warmer place, but
this is a lower priority.

Prague

Plenty of old and interesting buildings - but you can view
most of them while sitting in one of a multitude of pleasant
cafes watching the passing parade over a nice wine or a very
cheap beer while eating excellent and inexpensive food.

However, it could be a little chilly in April.

For warmer climes, don't exclude Venice or the Riviera at
that time of year.

Cheers, Alan, Australia

Munich:

--Charming city

--Superb museums (of all types: art, technology, autos, alpine, . . . )

--Beer gardens, superb parks, Englischer Garten, Isar river

--Lots of young people, street life, entertainment, night life

--Alps close by (1 hr by train to Garmisch, Zugspitze)

--Compact, easy to get around

--Excursions to Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, Innsbruck

Weather might be a bit iffy, however.