[BoiBoi]

I want to spend about 2 weeks in August with a chick relaxing on some beach in Europe, eat some seafood and see some nature/culture. I dont want to see too many other tourists.

So far, Greece looks pretty appealing, but also considering Portugal and Spain.

Got some suggestions?

[Icarus]

In August? Any decent beach in Greece / Portugal / Spain will be crowded by then. If you do not want to see too many tourists, try:

- in Portugal: the Western Algarve (e.g., Lagos, Aljezur) or Costa Alentejana; avoid Albufeira, Quarteira, Faro, Vilamoura, Portimão as those will be really crowded.

- in Spain: try the Atlantic side of Andalucia (good for windsurfing), or Galicia (cold water, but really great seafood); any stretch of Mediterranean coastline in Spain will be really, really crowded in August.

Don't know too much about Greece, as I was there for a few days only. The good things about Portugal and Spain are that people are nice and hospitable, the food is amazing and not too expensive, and the chicks are not that pretty, which means you can enjoy the time with your chick and not feel tempted. It would be another story if you took your chick to Odessa or Sochi!

[Greek kamaki]

Greece although the chicks are tempting.They can keep you horny though to fuck foreign girls.

[BoiBoi]

Yeah, I know, its high season and all.

(06-28-2012 07:26 AM)Greek kamaki Wrote:  

Greece although the chicks are tempting.They can keep you horny though to fuck foreign girls.

Yo Kamaki, do you know Pilion and more specifically the villages around Chorefto, Zagora, etc?

[Greek kamaki]

(06-28-2012 07:49 AM)BoiBoi Wrote:  

Yeah, I know, its high season and all.

(06-28-2012 07:26 AM)Greek kamaki Wrote:  

Greece although the chicks are tempting.They can keep you horny though to fuck foreign girls.

Yo Kamaki, do you know Pilion and more specifically the villages around Chorefto, Zagora, etc?

Yes,how do you know that?There is also Nestor palace remnants.I have been there.It is good place and now I have heard rumours it is swarmed by Russian women.But in your case I would prefer an island.Girls are suckers for islands whether cosmopolitan full of people or isolated.

[Downunder]

Definitely do Portugal!
Go to Lisbon, Cascais & Nazare.
Was there a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it.
Still is one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe.

[rdp]

BoiBoi Spain sees more than 50 million tourist each year...this is definitely not the place to go if you dont want to see many other tourists.
What about Albania? Never been myself, but I hear alot of good things about this awaking sleeping beauty.


-rdp

[Deb Auchery]

Cant see his woman being happy with a trip to Albania, no culture there

[BoiBoi]

@rdp: No man, Albania def not. Might be some hidden gems over there, but I dont really like the gypsy vibe I associate with it

Yeah, I know, Spain will be crowded as fuck and the same holds true for popular estinations in Portugal and Greece. Thats why Im looking for some less known destination.
Strongly considering some smaller place along the greek coastline, got some recommendations from a greek friend (@Kamaki: thats how I know).
Greek islands are also on my list, but the popular ones will be also overrun by tourists.
Has anyone besides Kamaki been to the Pilion region?



.

[thegmanifesto]

(06-28-2012 07:21 AM)Icarus Wrote:  

any stretch of Mediterranean coastline in Spain will be really, really crowded in August.

If you want to explore, you can find a little town to relax in that will be somewhat mellow.

Spain has three coastlines and two Island chains.

It is not wall to wall beach towels.

[Icarus]

(06-29-2012 09:00 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Spain has three coastlines and two Island chains.

But how many non-Spanish tourists go vacation in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria or the Basque Country? A few crazy surfers and a few crazy hippies doing El Camino de Santiago, maybe, but that is all.

For almost all non-Spanish people, Spain is Madrid, Barcelona, the Mediterranean coast, the Canary Islands, and Mallorca. Which is why going North rather than South in August can be a good idea.

[BoiBoi]

(06-29-2012 09:26 AM)Icarus Wrote:  

(06-29-2012 09:00 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Spain has three coastlines and two Island chains.

But how many non-Spanish tourists go vacation in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria or the Basque Country? A few crazy surfers and a few crazy hippies doing El Camino de Santiago, maybe, but that is all.

For almost all non-Spanish people, Spain is Madrid, Barcelona, the Mediterranean coast, the Canary Islands, and Mallorca. Which is why going North rather than South in August can be a good idea.

Do you have any recommendations regarding northern Spain? I know that San Sebastian is supposed to be a cool spot if you are into surfing, but other than that, no idea.

[thegmanifesto]

(06-29-2012 09:26 AM)Icarus Wrote:  

(06-29-2012 09:00 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Spain has three coastlines and two Island chains.

But how many non-Spanish tourists go vacation in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria or the Basque Country? A few crazy surfers and a few crazy hippies doing El Camino de Santiago, maybe, but that is all.

For almost all non-Spanish people, Spain is Madrid, Barcelona, the Mediterranean coast, the Canary Islands, and Mallorca. Which is why going North rather than South in August can be a good idea.

Gotcha.

I agree.

I was in the North last summer.

Yeah, you see minimal non-Spanish tourists in the North.

To the original poster:

Check out San Seb, or Santander both are dope.

Or just look at a map and see the towns on the coast that find your size desires.

There is a ton of that coast I haven't seen yet.

It is breathtakingly beautiful.

Easily as beautiful as Northern California on a natural level.

And way more beautiful on an architectural, cultural and historic level.

Make sure you report back.

[Icarus]

(06-29-2012 09:46 AM)BoiBoi Wrote:  

Do you have any recommendations regarding northern Spain? I know that San Sebastian is supposed to be a cool spot if you are into surfing, but other than that, no idea.

If you want to try something different, rent a car in Lisbon, and drive North by the coast. Portugal is very underrated, and it has many beaches that are superior to the famous ones in California (the water is as cold as in California, though). The food is much better in Portugal, obviously. Chicks are much hotter in California, however.

Once you get to the North of Portugal, cross into Galicia (great seafood there!) and then drive East. Take a look at Vigo, Santiago, Pontevedra, La Coruña, Oviedo, Santander, etc. You can go all the way to Bilbau. It would probably be the same distance as driving from San Diego to San Francisco, except that everyone has driven from SD to SF, and almost no one has gone from Lisbon to Bilbau.

[BoiBoi]

(06-29-2012 02:21 PM)Icarus Wrote:  

(06-29-2012 09:46 AM)BoiBoi Wrote:  

Do you have any recommendations regarding northern Spain? I know that San Sebastian is supposed to be a cool spot if you are into surfing, but other than that, no idea.

If you want to try something different, rent a car in Lisbon, and drive North by the coast. Portugal is very underrated, and it has many beaches that are superior to the famous ones in California (the water is as cold as in California, though). The food is much better in Portugal, obviously. Chicks are much hotter in California, however.

Once you get to the North of Portugal, cross into Galicia (great seafood there!) and then drive East. Take a look at Vigo, Santiago, Pontevedra, La Coruña, Oviedo, Santander, etc. You can go all the way to Bilbau. It would probably be the same distance as driving from San Diego to San Francisco, except that everyone has driven from SD to SF, and almost no one has gone from Lisbon to Bilbau.

That sounds like a plan i am going to investigate. Thanks for your recommendations.

[The Fantasist]

(06-29-2012 04:11 AM)Downunder Wrote:  

Definitely do Portugal!
Go to Lisbon, Cascais & Nazare.
Was there a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it.
Still is one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe.

Sounds good. Data sheet?

[muc]

BoiBoi: I did a 2 week trip across Spain with my last GF some time ago. Barcelona is awesome, one of the best cities in Europe imho. Great, vibrant place with a great beach.

Check out Andalucia, too. Sevilla, Cordoba etc. are nice, but the real recommendation is Granada. What an awesome place. Go there, get some weed (just ask) and enjoy the amazing atmosphere in this gorgeous old town at the base of the Alhambra.

The beaches near Malaga, Marbella etc. are nice, but many tourists and you will probably pay double for food etc. in some of the touristy places.

[Deb Auchery]

(06-29-2012 04:11 AM)Downunder Wrote:  

Definitely do Portugal!
Go to Lisbon, Cascais & Nazare.
Was there a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it.
Still is one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe.

Is portugal good for surfing?

[Icarus]

(06-29-2012 03:12 PM)Deb Auchery Wrote:  

Is portugal good for surfing?

This video probably answers you question:

This is Nazaré, an hour or so North of Lisbon. Reminds me of Oahu's North Shore in January. Do not worry, the swells aren't that big (the waves in the video are 90 feet high, a world record) usually. At most beaches, it's more like 3 to 9 feet high waves. Not far from Nazaré is Peniche, a really good place for surfing. You can find lots of non-Portuguese surfers there, including bored, spoiled German chicks who want to learn how to surf, and who should be easy lays.

[BoiBoi]

@Icarus and G: I just came back from my trip and had a blast. Thanks for your recommendation!

We went to Bilbao, rented a car and went all the way to Vigo close to the Spanish-Portuguese border. Man, the scenenary, the mountains, the historic cities, the seafood, the wine, the beaches absolutely beautiful. Just like G said, breathtaking. Especially Asturias and Galicia.

After Spain, we went to Portugal for a bit. Porto also is a cool place and the Figueira da Foz has some nice beaches, but it doesnt come close to Northern Spain in almost any regard.

If you are into nature, mountains, remote places and seafood, go there and you wont be disappointed. Since I had a girl with me, there was no swooping, but you shouldnt go for the girls, but for the natural beauty anyways.

Thanks again, especially Icarus and G!