City Break Versus Beach Holiday?

[LadyCG]

Budapest or Barbados?

Bratislava or Bora Bora?

Krakow or Koh Samui?

Right now I'm all about soaking up the culture. My mother isn't speaking to me because I don't want to go to Spain for an all-inclusive. It's like a Mexican / Madrid stand-off.

I love architecture, she loves the beach.

Which one would you go for? And is there any city or beach you're dying to see before you shift off your mortal coil?

[Baldric]

Beach every time for us.

[Prudie]

I'm really lazy and usually cold so beach always. I have always wanted to go to the Maldives and we are finally currently booking now.

[jno]

I've been to them all. They're all fine. Do you have to choose?

Though in fairness anyone with a young child should probably wait a while before dragging it to Koh Samui, or even exposing it to the sun much. We did the occasional beach in spring with jno jnr but for main holidays he was dragged round architecture in near Europe.

[LadyCG]

Some interesting answers, thanks.

Prudie, I need to explore the Maldives in greater detail before I make any judgement.

[-SharonA-]

I am a beach bum! Cities are boring.

[queenofmean]

I can spend a day at the beach but I think I prefer a City.

I’d go for Budapest or Krakow.

I really want to see New York and Hawaii before I shuffle off - wonder if I’ll get to go on Honeymoon to either.

[ummmm]

Beach for me even though I don't actually go on the beach. I like the sea air.

[bednobs]

beach for me - getting round cities in the wheelchair is a pain in the arrse

[Zacs-Master]

Go to Barcelona, or Split or Dubrovnik, or Kotor, or Singapore, or Plama, or San Diego, or LA. Cities near beaches. I’m sure there are plenty more......

[Barmaid]

I do like ancient cities because i do love history, art and architecture. However last 2 hols have been beach hols. Altho we never sat on the beach for long. We tend to spend a lot of time wandering round or people watching. And eating!!!!

[LadyCG]

BM ... You get my drift ...


Can anyone recommend a destination I simply should not miss?

[New Judge]

"I have always wanted to go to the Maldives and we are finally currently booking now."

I've been there a dozen times. Absolutely gorgeous but (according to your point of view) I fear you've messed the at their best (IMHO).

The attraction for us was "no news, no shoes"; "take only photographs, leave only footprints". Many islands now have been developed to five star luxurious levels with spas and pools which make them much like many other places. In the process they have lost much of their charm. But that said, I'm sure you'll have a great time there. But, unless you're into snorkelling or scuba, take plenty of books and be prepared for the "aircraft carrier" touchdown at Malé airport!

[New Judge]

^^^ or "missed them at their best" even !!!

[rockyracoon]

I’d take a city break over a beach holiday, every time.

[Prudie]

I am researching well NJ, small is a top priority, no kids would be a major bonus, no spas, no entertainment etc. We both like to lie all day on the sand or in the water, keen snorkellers, don't care that much about 'cuisine'. There is almost rather too much choice though.

[237SJ]

I keep meaning to do something a bit more interesting but always end up at the beach.

[New Judge]

"...small is a top priority"

They're all small, Prudie!

Leaving aside Gan (in the southernmost group of islands which are somewhat unlike all the others and connected by causeways) few are more than a few hundred yards across. The largest I visited was Kuramathi which, unusually contained three individual resorts and was about half a mile long. The smallest had just fifty rooms and took twenty minutes to walk entirely round the circumference on the beach!

[Buenchico]

As has already been suggested above, Barcelona would satisy both you and your mother. Great beaches (backed by lovely restaurants serving fantastic paella) with loads of bars and nightlife. Superb architecture and loads to see and do:
https://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/


>>> is there any city or beach you're dying to see before you shift off your mortal coil?

I really want to visit Trojmiasto, Poland's tri-city consisting of historic Gdańsk and Gdynia, together with the seaside resort of Sopot. (That's another one for you and your mother!)

[LadyCG]

Thanks Chris. My friend at work went to Gdansk. She said it was lovely but there's not enough there to occupy you for several days. She most recently went to Bratislava. She loved it but she said it's huge and you need at least a week there.

[murraymints]

city for me all the time...

compromise..Barcelona ? beach not too far
would like to visit Tibetan monasteries ...