Forgot to mention, as a couple, if you love the beach and nature, I have always wanted to do a Backroads trip, esp the Santa Barbara biking one?

I went on a cruise of the Greek isles many, many years ago. It was my first European trip. I was on a small Greek ship with only about 100 passengers. I spent some time in Athens, too, and took day trips to Sounion, Delphi and Ephesus. I have no recommendations because I have no idea what the country is like these days, but I thoroughly enjoyed my trip there. Beautiful scenery, friendly people and gorgeous ruins.

I live in a beach community in southern California so a trip here doesn't seem milestone-birthday-special to me. Generally, it's cold and foggy in June, so it's not particularly good beach weather.

I think my favorite place for relaxation is the Amalfi coast. It's beautiful and the water is so warm. I would love to rent a yacht and go from town to town and island to island.

Fun, I was just thinking about a cruise today --- how are the seas there? I get seasick even where you aren't supposed to and patches fix it but make me sleepy

I'm also in So. Cal (grew up in a beach town). It wouldn't be my first choice either. That being said, check out the Spanish Garden Inn in Santa Barbara (not MY in..heeheehee) for a really charming place to stay. If you're outdoorsy, I'd look at Santa Barbara to SF along the coast. But June can be very foggy and chilly.

ETA: Never been to Greece, so I'll be following this closely.

Definitely not So Cal in June......."June Gloom" is not celebratory.

Mtnrdredux...are you asking about the Aegean? If so, I would say it's relatively calm. Any sea can be rough, but the Aegean is small and somewhat protected by land masses. I was on a small ship and the wave motion was noticeable. However, I'm not prone to motion sickness, so I didn't register it as a problem.

Nanny, yes, I forgot about "June Gloom."

if others have favorites for June, I'm open.

Mtn, just the two of us so I will be doing hotels. Both DD's always to the Airbnb, but I have yet to venture into it. I do think it makes sense for a family or groups.

If doing the west coast and you don't mind doing some driving, skip CA, start in SeaTac, and hit the Ho rain forest, Neah Bay, and (especially!!) Cape Flattery.

My favorite place on the West coast for beaches is the Oregon Coast. It's extraordinarily beautiful. June can be iffy in the PNW weatherwise, but it's still gorgeous, even if not hot and sunny. (Although I also love Santa Barbara area, with last year's fires then mudslides, I think it may need some recovery time to restore its glory and June isn't the best month anyway). There were lots of posts last year about the Oregon coast when someone (I think it was Lynn in NM) was planning a trip.

I think west coast is out. We want nice weather and being near water.

I went to Greece when a college student, so I’m no help there but we are looking at a trip to Portugal this June. I’ve been in May, again as a college student, and the weather is beautiful. Not too hot yet. Lots to see and do.

I mean, it’s not Greece...but we love going to the Cloister in Sea Island GA. It’s definately nice & warm (but not as blazing as July/Aug.) It is just so gorgeous...all that Spanish moss & the gorgeous homes on Sea Island. There’s golf, spa, horse back riding, fishing, crabbing...so much! And the restaurants are amazing. So if you decide Greece is out, I’d take a look at the Cloister.

Cumberland Island? Nevis? I have a crush on this place: Malliouhana (sp?)

Have you looked at Western Mediterranean cruises? That is something we are interested ever since we did an Eastern Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona. I think cruising is a good way to get an introduction to a new place and then from there, if you go back you can stay in hotels.

So now, the plot thickens! We were out to dinner last night with both our daughters. I mentioned my birthday trip to Greece and they both want to come along with oldest BF.

I need to rethink my plans. What would be best for a group?

We are going next summer for sure for DD's 16th; she picked Greece like 4 yrs ago. Only trying to figure out where.

I will share some thoughts from my research so far, in random order.

1. I was at first excited by a cruise, but have since nixed it. We were looking at Azamara (sp?). I also looked into SilverSea but their brochure was hard to read on line. The big benefit of a cruise is that you get to see a lot of places fairly easily, and no packing and unpacking. Full disclosure - I am not a cruise person. I don't like big groups and I don't like waiting around and I don't like being told what to do (I know the extent of this can vary based on the cruise line etc but these issues come up in all reviews). I also am not one of those people who says "a room is just where you sleep"; where we stay is very important to our enjoyment of a place and I always try to choose something special and with a unique local flair. The cruise ships' decor are not my taste at all. For example, one of the nicer ones is Azamara iirc ... but it is all gold curlicue and green marble. TBH that would depress me.

Moreover, even the smaller ships have to "tender" in many ports, meaning you dock out in the harbor and then load onto boats to get into the harbor proper. That means that you waste a lot of time standing in lines getting on and off boats and waiting. I also never like that sense of "the cruise ships are in!" and how it changes the feel of a place. Plus you spend one day each place, and with the tendering at all it is not really even a full day. I also think I'd always have "we need to make it back to the boat" in my head ... undermining my enjoyment and immersion in a place.

I have done cruises ... as a kid we did a few Caribbean cruises. And, a few years ago we did a cruise within Antarctica (since there are no hotels there). For me, they are not good value, and I feel like I am at a big work conference.

2. It sounds like ferries between islands can be rough and unreliable, and flights are not bad, we will prob go that route.

3. Trying to decide on what spots to see. Athens of course. I think after that people most often mention Santorini and Mykonos. They both are very heavily touristed but it sounds to me like Santorini is too pretty to miss, Mykonos also very pretty but mainly for partying? Many mention Hydra because it is charming and car free, so that is on my list. Naxos also interests me.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/greek-islands/index.html

Many people combine Greece w nearby Turkey. I love Turkey but I have been several times already, and TBH at this point I do not want to support Erdogan - at all!

I would really like to add in Dubrovnik, Croatia ... that was one thing that drew me to cruises.

4. We try to travel in June so we don't miss the prime months at our beachhouse. I think you def want to go in June or Sept, not July or Aug.

HTH

I have been to Athens, Crete, Santorini and Mykonos. Crete was by far my favorite. We were there in October 2013 and it was still warm enough for shorts most days. Mykonos was so windy that we did not really enjoy it. I was looking forward to some beach time there, but the blowing sand was terrible. I have read that it is a huge party spot in the summer as well.

We hired a driver in Athens and Crete, so we were able to see much more in less time. Note that if you have any mobility impairments that Greece can be difficult. It was beautiful, the food was wonderful, the people were warm and friendly and I would love to go back.

Mtn, I am also not a cruise person, but did consider it thinking it might work for this type of trip. But, I also nixed it. I also feel that my accommodation are important and part of the overall experience of when we travel.

I have a good friend who is Greek although when she goes, it's to family, so different than being a tourist. However, I think she might be able to give me information that I couldn't get otherwise.

Now that my DD's (plus oldest's BF)want to come, it changes how I will do things.

I might even ask them what other places to consider, although I don't want them to think it's a bait and switch!

Portugal was suggested that might be easier to manage with the family.

Portugal is wonderful.

Sas, can you share your favorites in Portugal? Again interested in lots of downtime on a beach.

If you like antiquities, I would choose to visit Delphi over one of the islands. Also, while Santorini is beautiful, Crete is much vaster and more interesting. If you are looking for relaxation, Corfu is another option.

Eld, we were in the Algarve region, which is beautiful. Here's an article on Portugal's best beaches.

Best beaches in Portugal

If you like wine and/or port, I'd recommend a few days in the Douro region. It's inland, but very scenic and laid back. Beautiful countryside.

We also loved Lisbon. Portugal is a small country and with the exception of Lisbon and Porto, driving around is relatively easy.

I liked Greece fine, but am not dying to return. I'd go back to Portugal in a heartbeat.

Thanks, Sas. I am thinking about logistics. Going to Greece would be more moving around which I'm not sure I want to do with my daughters. We will probably have 9 days as they both work and can't take off 2 weeks.

I have been to Lisbon and it is a lovely, sort of overlooked city. My trip was cut short though when my Mom fell and broke her arm. They x-rayed and set it, she got excellent care. For $12. A former employee of mine had family in Portugal and his beach photos from there were just gorgeous.

How exciting that your girls want to go with you, that will make it no matter where you choose! You MUST take a chance on an Air BnB flat! I picked one out for you, LOL

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8976976?location=Lisbon%2C%20Portugal&adults=6&children=0&infants=0&guests=6&check_in=2018-09-02&check_out=2018-09-08&s=BU3eilUt

Can't believe I forgot Crete, that was one place where id just gotten a hotel quote. Will also have to put Delphi on the list.

I came across this re Lisbon ...looks cool, esp pic 4!

https://www.departures.com/city-guides/lisbon

Mtn, thanks! I think I am leaning toward Portugal but will be following your Greece plans as they develop.

Maybe I am wrong but I am thinking a Greece trip will include lots of moving around and coordinating. I would rather do this type of trip with just DH.

Eld, for our hopeful Portugal trip this June, I am planning approx one week in Lisbon and touring and one week at the beach. I am not sure if we will do a hotel or try to find a house/apt. We have two small children (will be 8 and 5 yo) so a house/apt might work better for us. But I do want to stay in central Lisbon for a few days so that will most likely be in a hotel. When I went to Portugal in college, I stayed with a few others in an apt. in Lagos on the Algarve. So so beautiful. I will be searching in earnest the next week or two so will keep you apprised of anything I find!

That sounds great! I am planning a weekend to weekend so not a two-week stay.

DH loves relaxing and being near a beach. My two DD's are active, but also like touring. So, I would like a combination of both.

I will book way in advance, but it looks like three months is okay?

I checked last week and there was plenty available. From what I understand, most European schools do not break for summer until late June/early July. So June shouldn't be too crowded. August, on the other hand, would be insane.

I've been to Greece (and went over to Crete). Very nice, but with a group of people going, I tend to think more of a place where everyone can choose to be together or go off on their own adventure -- meaning, I'd look for great local transportation options that aren't expensive.

To that end, I highly recommend the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur) for a group. And, it's a very special trip for a birthday!

You could base in Nice, France where there are many wonderful dining opportunities, a colorful market, and easy (cheap) train trips along the coast to visit the other lovely, smaller villages. You will find so many apartment rental opportunities that you could rent a large one, or split up into smaller ones, close to each other.

The beach in Nice is pebbles, but there are lovely sandy beaches in my favorite village of Antibes (just a short train ride). The Mediterranean is so blue and beautiful. Given you want to go in June 2019, it's not too early to start planning.

Other villages along the train route --

Cannes -- (take the ferry to the Lerins Island of Marguerite for a wonderful picnic that you pack from the market).

Antibes -- wonderful Provençal Market, sandy beaches, Old Town ambiance, good restaurants, interesting yacht-watching at the Port, Picasso Museum. From there, you can walk or hire a car to take you to Cap d'Antibes and have a splendid lunch on the beach, La Garoupe. If there are day hikers in your group, the hike around the coastal path is spectacular (rocky).

Villefranche sur Mer -- lovely seaside village. From there, you can walk up to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild (you'll recognize the villa from To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant). The gardens are lovely. You can bus back to Nice, or do this trip in reverse, starting with the Villa in the morning, then walk down to Villefranche for lunch. There is also a coastal path around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The famous Vlla Nelle Cote is on the path between the Villa and Villefranche....where the Rolling Stones wrote Exile on Main Street. You can't go inside.

Menton -- last French village before entering Italy (which is also possible by train). Lovely Old Town, but waterfront has casinos and beaches. There are fabulous gardens there.

Monaco -- It's modern, rich and famous. There is an aquarium. I usually skip it, but everyone should go through once, but not worth a lot of time with so many more interesting places.

With a rental car (you don't need one unless you want to go off the train route), you can drive the Grand Corniches in the hills --- again famous for the scary driving scenes in To Catch a Thief and where Grace Kelly crashed.

In those hills --

Eze Village (not Eze sur Mer) is a quaint village that unfortunately sees too much tourism. I love the garden there. Short stop only.

Tourettes-sur-Loop -- violets

Gourdes

Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Vence

Thank you so much for this recommendation.

Greece is wonderful. I do love Santorini (spectacular, but the beaches are not as nice imho) and Mykonos (better beaches), but there are less populated islands, like Corfu. Rhodes was nice as well, although some do not like it. The mainland is often overlooked -- other than Athens -- going to Olympia, Delphi, Kalamabaka, etc.

Sicily is also a favorite of mine with great beaches, and the Amalfi is spectacular but the beaches are less so. The Spanish coast can get touristy, but the sand is wonderful and the water warmer than Portugal in June (love Lisbon). In general, the Med and Aegean will be warmer in June. Don't forget the Balaerics -- (Menorca, Mallorca in particular -- only Ibiza for the under 35s)

If you have any further questions on Nice and the Cote d'Azur (dyhgardens has it covered), or the entire south of France, just ask. We have a place there.

Gooster, oldest went to Mallorca and Ibiza for her 30th, so I want to go someplace different.

Question re: Greece. Would it make sense to go to just one island? Fly into Athens for a few days than to the beach?

We did Athens and one island (Crete). There was much to see, so I didn't feel like I was missing out by not going to other islands. I prefer to spend more time seeing a few things than the other way around.

I'm glad to hear you like Sicily, Gooster. I have a big birthday this year and we are going there. I'm so looking forward to this trip.

Eld - a lot of people do do that. I can't ---- I am a "while I am there" person and it took all my restraint to remove Dubrovnik from my list.

Sicily looks delish. I was thinking of going there for spring break but its really the wrong time of year. Spring break is so limiting for warm destinations!

Love, love Sicily!! That was on our list for this June as well but plane tix are pricier so we opted for Portugal. I went to Sicily in college, then again with my mother and her friend about 15 years ago. It was fab. We stayed about 10 days and visited about 4 different places. Driving was manageable and the weather (late October/early November) was mild. For me though, I want to see it all, so Sicily would be more touring than beaching. Of course you can make it a point to just do a beach vacation there, but then you can do that in Florida!

Sicily is wonderful because not only are there beautiful ruins, great architecture, the volcano and beautiful beaches, the food is fantastic. Some of the best loved Italian dishes are actually Sicilian. There is quite a bit of stunted development due to the long-standing history of poverty, but tourism is a major growth engine for them. I've been five or six times, and Palermo (to Trapani and further south to Agrigento) side is my favorite, I think, although the next trip will bring in Siracusa and Ragusa (or perhaps a trip back to head out to Lampedusa). Driving is super easy, with the exception of Catania. Like Greece, it's so affordable once you are staying there. We may yet buy a place there.

@eld6161 -- I would definitely plan on staying a few days in Athens, at the very least, to see the major sites, at the front end or the back end. We've been 3 or 4 times to Greece, and the rest of the mainland often gets overlooked. The choice of islands really is up to you -- getting between them on ferries can be pretty convenient, and the character does change slightly depending on the mix of tourisms, the historical significance, and geography -- I love Santorini (stay in Oia) but it is pretty touristy and there is lots to see and do, and better remote beaches can be found on other islands.

theclose and gooster. Thanks for your input.

How do I explain this? We are not ones to sit on the beach all day. But, we love being near the water and walking the beach. We like to sightsee but I found being on "a forced march" is not enjoyable for us. I am over trying to "get it all in."

I want to enjoy the experience of being there, surrounded by the views. Does this make sense?

Now that I am considering 3 extra people, airfare is a factor.

I'm meeting up with friends in Sicily in September. If you've not made a decision before then, I'll try to find this thread to report back. Gooster -- so wonderful you have a place in Nice!

Do you think a trip to Spain might fit the bill? I was thinking the beach and Granada might be nice for a small group. Or Morocco? Didn't Mtn go to Spain and Morocco recently?

@eld6161 -- that makes perfect sense. Would you prefer a resort to just relax or something a bit more active? Some of the lesser known greek isles are like the former, but a more touristed place like Santorini also offers sights and activities as well. There are a variety of different beaches there, from somewhat more remote coves to some large stretches of beach (with a lot of people, unfortunately). That's why I suggested that two locations can serve quite fine -- or just one of the less touristed places mentioned above.

Sicily is surprisingly empty, even in June, as there is so much coastline (but the Amalfi can be packed)

@dhygarden -- thanks! we just got it last year, finally. Going again in April, probably will take a side trip into Provence and down to Genoa

Thanks, Gooster. I will consider Santorini. I am okay with touristy. Do you have experience with Portugal?

DDs all time favorite place (and she's quite well traveled) is the Ritz outside of Sintra. Lots of interesting places nearby another favorite (apart from Algrave) is the Alentejo with charming pousadas. There's lots of food, wine, biking.