Western Europe

Hi everyone! I’m looking for any info that could help us with the excursions on the MSC Fantasia—Barcelona, Ibiza, Sardinia, Rome, Florence, and Cannes. Places to visit, tips to save us time… The cruise is from July 29 to August 5, 2026. Thanks!

Hi there, 🙂

I’m about to book 4 nights in the Italian capital and I’m wondering where the best place to stay would be.

- A neighborhood that’s not too noisy - A neighborhood well served by public transport (airport and the city’s main sights) - A neighborhood with restaurants and supermarkets - A neighborhood with relatively reasonable prices

Public transport is essential. We gave this trip as a gift to someone who won’t be able to walk long distances like we usually do.

I also don’t want to be too far from the historic center.

Termini and Monti seem to fit these criteria? Is Termini a bit sketchy? But sketchy like dangerous or sketchy like homeless people just looking for a place to sleep?

We’ll be traveling off-season.

Thanks for your ideas !

Hi,

We’d like to book a shuttle for a transfer from Lille to Brussels Zaventem. I’ve found several shuttle companies online. Which one should we go with for reliability? We want to be sure someone will pick us up for both the outbound and return trips. We came across Holidays Airport, which offers a round trip for 2 adults and 2 kids at 205 €, and A3 at 180 €. I’m a bit surprised because the price difference is pretty big.

What do you recommend? I’ll also check the rates with Aero-Trans and STNavette (though I’ve heard people had issues with STNavette).

Thanks for your advice and experiences!

Hi, I’m planning a long weekend in Porto soon with 4 other adults, and I’d love some info about the rechargeable Andante card for public transport. Since we’ll be traveling across different zones, I’m thinking of getting the single-trip rechargeable option. When we buy it, do we *have* to purchase just one trip for a specific zone, or can we buy multiple trips for the same zone—or even one for one zone and another for a different zone? Also, how do we go about recharging it?

Otherwise, is the Andante Tour 72-hour card a better deal? The catch is we’ll need to get to the airport on the 4th day, and it won’t be valid anymore by then.

Thanks for your tips!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a trip from Porto to Cascais to Lisbon. Is there a direct bus from Porto to Cascais where we’ll be stopping for 2 days? I know I can take a train from Porto to Lisbon and then switch to another train for Cascais, but I was wondering if there’s a direct bus to avoid a connection and the detour via Lisbon... I haven’t found any train options, anyway. On Red Expressos, the bus company, they don’t list Cascais as a destination from Porto. But maybe there’s another company? Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hi, we're heading to Porto in June for 8 days. I'm thinking we'll look for accommodation once we're there—either a room or an apartment. Is that possible? Thanks. Sylvie

Hello,

This spring, my husband and I would like to visit Porto. Does anyone know of a nice hotel in Porto's port area or very close to it, please? Thanks in advance for your tips or info. Best regards, Mamigigi

Hi there,

I’m just waiting for my time off to be confirmed, and I’ll be heading out either from April 21st to the 24th, or possibly until the 25th.

I’ll be staying in Porto. What is there to do in Porto in 3-4 days? Thanks

Hi there,

I’m heading to Rome soon and wanted to book my tickets for the Colosseum.

I found the official site, but I don’t understand when it’s possible to make a reservation.

Apparently, it’s 30 days in advance for the underground tour since everything is already booked up for the next 30 days...

But what about the Colosseum + Arena visit? The site shows tickets for the next 7 days, but nothing after that. Are tickets released just a week in advance for this combo, not 30 days?

Thanks for any clarification! !

Hi there, I’m heading to Rome on February 20, 2020, and as the title says, I’d love some tips and places to visit, etc... I’ll take anything that can help me prepare for my trip! Thanks to anyone who takes the time to reply! 😊

I’ll be in Rome on May 31st and June 1st, and before then, I’d love to find an affordable place to stay for the night before my cruise on the Koningsdam on June 1st.

Hi there, I’m visiting Rome from May 20th to 30th. For sightseeing, if you’ve got any great tips or unusual spots, I’d love to hear them. For the classics, should I book online in advance? For meals, I’m also looking for good little places (little = not too expensive). Thanks in advance for your replies.

Best regards,

Christian

We’re a group of 10 sixty-somethings heading to Rome for three days at the end of May.

Can anyone recommend a reliable local agency for a complete package: tours, hotel, restaurants, etc.?

We're heading to Rome from May 21st to 24th. Does anyone know some good spots (restaurants) for affordable meals in the city center while we're sightseeing? Thanks

Hi, Do you have any recommendations for well-located accommodation with good value for money to visit Rome? Thanks!

I’m visiting Rome in early September and looking for a guide for a day trip to Vatican City—museums and St. Peter’s Basilica—and another day exploring ancient Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. There are so many guides listed across Rome’s sites—it’s hard to choose! Would anyone have a recommendation for a pleasant guide who helps skip the lines, is knowledgeable, and offers small-group or private tours? Thanks

I’d like to spend a trip with 3 days in Porto, then drive down to Lisbon for 3 or 4 days. How many days should I plan for the route between the two, and what’s worth visiting along the way? Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m Aurélie and I’m new to the forum. I’m planning a little trip with a friend to Spain (Seville) and Portugal (Porto) soon... unless Covid decides to ruin the fun! My friend and I are big fans of cool rooftop bars with a great view. By any chance, do you have any recommendations? I’ve done some searching and heard about Portobello, but if you’ve got any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks, and happy travels!

Hello fellow travelers!!😉 My flight tickets are booked—off to Porto for a 4-day weekend! I was thinking of spending 2 days in the Douro (from my early Saturday morning arrival (!!) until Sunday evening) and 2 days in Porto (from Sunday evening to Tuesday evening). Does that sound reasonable to you? I plan to rent a car for the first two days so I can be free to move around without being tied to train or bus schedules. What are your favorite spots? Any village recommendations to visit and spend the night (Saturday night)? Has anyone done this kind of weekend before? Thanks in advance for all your great tips, and have a wonderful day! Manou

Hello,

We’re heading to Porto for 4 days in mid-March. Over this short trip, could anyone help us plan our visits, please? We’ll be staying at a hotel. Thanks

Hi there, we’re heading to Porto next week for a few days. Our itinerary is already set, but as wine lovers, we’re looking for great wine bar recommendations in Porto. Thanks so much if you can help us out with our search! Joannie

Hi there, I’m starting a little European road trip where I want to explore the capitals of our continent. I’m currently in Rome, and my next destination is Lisbon!

If you’ve got any restaurant, bar, or place recommendations, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks in advance! 😊

Hi everyone!

I’m currently on a road trip in southern Spain, stopping for a few days in Mérida and Badajoz, then heading toward Lisbon, which I’ve been strongly recommended to visit 🙂

Any ideas for sights, restaurants, bars, or must-do activities in my upcoming destinations? I’m all ears!

Thanks in advance! 😎

hi there,

I'm looking for recommendations for my next European destination. What museums in Scotland would you suggest? Thanks in advance!

hi, After a stay in Portugal, I'm off to visit Scotland. I'm looking for recommendations for beautiful viewpoints to sketch in my travel journal. If you have any tips, I'd love to hear them! Thanks in advance! :)

Hi there, We’re planning a 10-day trip to Scotland around late December. Is it worth it weather-wise? Has anyone already done this trip during this season? How should we go about renting a car in Edinburgh? And how can we find a bed and breakfast in a castle? Thanks for any tips that could help us out! Daniel

Hi! I’m planning a weekend trip in January but I’m torn between Brussels and Bruges. What do you recommend?

Hi, I’m planning a 7-day family road trip in Andalusia (2 adults and 3 kids) at the end of October. Arrival and departure: Malaga airport. Which direction should we take for our trip? Malaga -> Ronda + white villages -> Cadiz -> Jerez -> Seville -> Cordoba -> Granada -> Malaga Or the other way around?

Thanks

Hi there, We’re planning a family stay of 4 days in Santa Susanna on the Costa Dorada in mid-April. We’ve found accommodation within our budget and close to the sea. We’ll definitely visit Barcelona for at least one day. Could you recommend other interesting towns or villages to visit near Santa Susanna? If there are any, that is? Because I might be wrong, but after doing some research, it seems like this town and its immediate surroundings are just beach resorts—maybe a bit too concrete-heavy? It’s fine in the summer, but in April, we might get bored quickly. We’ve even considered changing locations if necessary to get closer to Barcelona since we booked with free cancellation. What do you think? Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Barcelona with my girlfriend for 3 days—arriving Saturday midday and leaving Tuesday early afternoon. Here’s what I’ve listed to visit: - Sagrada Familia - Park Güell - Gothic Quarter - La Rambla - Boqueria Market - Picasso Museum

Do you think all of this is doable? I’ve grabbed the metro map and I’m trying to figure out the simplest way to fit everything in. And most importantly, are those famous Barcelona City passes with skip-the-line tickets really worth it?

Thanks, friends! :)