I just returned home from Europe yesterday afternoon. Overall, it was a great trip with very few hiccups! I’ll be blogging more in detail in the next few weeks. But until then, here are my initial thoughts of our trip:
So Glad We Booked the Cruise
Everyone in my family is so glad we had a 7-night cruise in the middle of our trip. It really cut down on the amount of schlepping we had to do to visit multiple areas.
Odyssey of the Seas is a Great Ship
We all enjoyed Odyssey of the Seas. Two of the evening shows, The Book and the Effectors, are the best shows I’ve ever seen on a ship. The ship had plenty of activities to keep us all occupied. But most importantly, the cruise gave us some relaxation time and a bit of a break from the hustle and bustle of train/bus travel.
GREECE!
We loved visiting Greece. Of course Santorini and Mykonos were spectacular. But, my daughter and I really enjoyed Athens much more than I anticipated. Greece is definitely on our return list.
Italy is Overcrowded
Yes, it’s true. Italy is overrun with tourists, and it does affect the overall atmosphere and experience. One day, after a cruise up and down the Amalfi Coast, we stopped in the small town of Amalfi. The streets of Amalfi were so packed. I’m sure Amalfi is a charming town, but with the huge crowds it wasn’t the experience we expected.
I’m So Thankful for Business Class Seats Using Miles and Points
Flying to and from Europe is long and tiring. I’m so glad that we used miles to book business class seats both ways. I know we could have managed in economy class, but it was so nice to have the extra legroom and the ability to turn out seats into lie-flat beds. I’m having second thoughts about flying to Europe next summer in economy.
Don’t Wait until Retirement to Travel!
After climbing about a million stairs and walking up and down hills on this trip, I’m more convinced than ever that it’s a bad idea to wait until your 70s to go to Europe. Go now, while you still have the energy and ability!
Have a great weekend!
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Love your blog Nancy! Can’t wait to read your follow-up trip report! We just booked Virgin Voyage for 62k amex pts, will be looking at delights & hotels next. Btw hubs retiring next month, he’s 56 & looking forward to burning aome points!
Thank you, Jan! How exciting that you just booked a Virgin Voyages cruise. I hope you have a lot of travel in your future.
This has been one of my all time fav posts. You answered some questions I have about going to Europe, one of which was cruising and seeing Europe. Also, I am always trying to tell my hubby that we may not be here tomorrow so you never know! We can’t wait.
@Michele Glad you liked it! Yes, go sooner rather than later!
Glad you had a great trip. Looking forward to hearing more about it soon…..
@Chris Thanks for the recommendation of Acropolis View Hotel. It was great!