Okay, youngest child doing a week away in Germany with St John cadets.
So far in our entire married life we have had a single weekend awy together alone!
I would like at least a five day trip whilst the goings good, but where?
It is in JUly and I suppose the world is open......not that I want to go a huge distance because of jet lag, and being able to make it worthwhile.
So please any ideas........or where would you go?

Karen :)

depends if you like hot or cold

hot - the med
not so hot - I would love love to fly to norway and then pick up a cruise of the norwegian fjords

crete was wonderful, lots to see and do and a four hour flight. amsterdam is supposed to be great. city break might be best for a short trip. i went to New York for 5 days, jet lag wasn;t to terrible, i just powered through  when i was tired. if you do go there take a boat trip and go to the natural history museum, awesome!

Thanks...keep going though not opposed to a UK trip either, just not London. Perhaps Ireland....just dont know!

come visit scotland then, we're lovely! lets see, quick run down fo things for you to see or do (basic list)...

starting at the top somewhere in the highlands, Thurso perhaps? stunning! and perhaps a boat trip to orkney? (i'd love to go)
enjoy the lack of your little monsters in loch ness
enjoy the islands on the west coast or Aberdeen on the east
aviemore is always good
you can vist here in lovely (not really) dundee, see the Discovery
Glasgow is full of culture and life (and fried mars bars)
edinburgh is a lovely city with loads to do.

basically if you rented a cottage somewhere central everythings an ok drive away, plus you could get somewhere and take the dogs.

it really depends what your looking for, country quiet or city madness?

We have just had a long weekend in Vienna, beautiful city and only just over 2 hours away.  Bit expensive though.

If you like very hot, then Dubai, you get some really good bargains in July as it is so hot.  6 hour flight. Loads of 3 night breaks available.  We love it there.

How about ITALY,
Me and a mate did Venice in 4 days, which included and afternoon laying on a gorgeus beach beside the Adriatic sea :) And swimming in it :)
Fly in, stay 3 days on the Lido, then get a train to another part of italy for another few days then back home :)
Would love that :)
Am looking forward to 1 1/2 years when Sam joins scouts so I get a week withough either once LOL
At the moment I get the VERY occasional night or weekend when they are both camping together with cubs and scouts LOL
Lea :)

Talking of italy, how about the Lakes there?  Always wanted to go to Lake Como.  Or somewhere like Switzerland/Austria in the mountains?

Italy is lovely, you could fly to Milan and drive to the Lakes, Lake Como is stunning, we stayed in Tremezzo and Bellagio; Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are also beautiful. Or Andalucia, fly to Malaga and drive to Granada and Seville, it's an absolutely stunning region. Or the Algarve, fly to Faro and drive along the coast, Portimao and Praia da Luz are lovely places to stay and there are some beautiful beaches there, we went in March a couple of years ago, the weather was beautiful and most days we were able to find a little hidden cove all to ourselves. I go away a lot and I'm a huge fan of the do it yourself 'easyjet flight, hire car and expedia hotel' option, it gives you so much freedom :-)  Closer to home the west coast of Scotland and the west coast of Ireland are both beautiful, and Northern Ireland is also great and often overlooked, I have to say that though cos that's where I'm from!

Looking like Edinburgh!
Getting stressed looking at all the options, but Scotland is beautiful and we can be cultural and go out in to the bigger country too.
France is really close and I do love french food......but really fancy going Scottish!
Will let you know when we book and confirm.

Karen :-)

Edinburgh's fab, I've lived here for nearly 9 years now and I love it. You'll have a great time, there's so much to do here.

Edinburgh is fab for a short break. You may be able to pick up a cheap flight and be there in under an hour. We stayed in a Hilton hotel. They very often do offers of 2 nights b&b and dinner included on first night. The hotel was fab, right near the centre. We went to the castle and the Royal Yacht and the shopping is great. Lots to do and see and not too much travelling (depends on where you are and how you get there I suppose!). We didn't have a car and to be honest we didn't miss it. Hope you have a wonderful time.
jane