Where should a group of mature ladies go?

Another vote for Shrewsbury. Church Stretton is 1/2 way between Shrewsbury and Ludlow. Explore the Shropshire Hills.

Norah

Norway, the fjords?

Another wonderful idea, the scenery is incredible in Norway.

Grannmarie

Hello 👋 Cambsnan!

My sisters and I went to Nice last year. We stayed in the Hotel Splendide just off the promenade and had a super suite for the three of us. We used the open top bus to get around the landmarks and the Old Town. We took the train to Monaco for a great day out. You can also go to Cannes and St Tropez. We had wonderful weather in early October. I'd certainly recommend it.

This year we are going to Copenhagen and we're hoping to take a train, or possibly ferry, to Sweden.

Have a wonderful time whatever you decide.

If you are considering going abroad do Copenhagen, you will just love the food, the culture the history and scenery, Copenhagen has so much to offer. It is not cheap, but well worth the expenditure. The transport is next to none, both trains, metro and busses, they constantly run, so hardly ever any waiting. Enjoy

I took my mother to Andalucia, we went on an organised tour and loved every moment (Jules Verne Travel). There were some organised trips in the cities and to the Alhambra but plenty of free time and most evenings free to do your own thing. The hotels were all good quality and either in the centre or walkable to the centre.

Valencia. Beautiful city, with beach option. Cycle friendly.

The world is your oyster - finances and health permitting. I am 74 and this year will have visited Italy twice, also Greece and the Norwegian fjords. Why not ? Went to China, Egypt and India recently too. Shrouds don't have pockets

I don't think I've been to Cilento - but we have stayed just north of Maratea for a week on a trip south from Paestum so would have travelled through the national park.

Calabria I don't know at all. Have only dipped into the beaches on the N.West coast and some fairly obscure archaeological sites on the N.East

I'm personally drawn to the "Badlands" of SE Basilicata- and feel (suprisingly) very at home there.
We first visited Aliano, staying the other side of the Duro, following the journey of Carlo Levi. The drama of the landscape- and small towns and villages was, and is, intense.

Puglia has got busier over the last 15 years or so. 15 years ago there seemed to be no UK tourists south of Brindisi and almost nobody spoke English.
Puglia is very poor and the land really flat. Lecce is, of course , lovely but it's not a "beautiful " region in the traditional sense. To me, the feeling of generations of others having "walked the land before me" is very strong here.

I will look up Lunigiana. I haven't been north of the line from roughly Pisa to Ravenna.

How nice to have a little chat about Italy!

NotSpaghetti

flappergirl I think it probably is still a bit like that.. Be careful with your wallet if you use public transport! More brazen even than Las Ramblas!

I haven't been since the pandemic but my youngest daughter went last year on her own and loved it too. I had no idea it was trendy! And don't think she had either.
We went - the first time - for the art galleries. Not sure how she selected it.
Give me Naples over Florence though!

I also love rural Basilicata and Puglia - but the last time I went there were other people from the UK in places that once were "off the beaten track".

I know you have to be careful in Naples but it used to have a ridiculously bad reputation. I think tourists thought the Mafia would "get" them. I too would rather go to Naples than Florence. They say that Rome is the beating heart of Italy but Naples is its soul and I find that so true.

I've travelled through Basilicata but never to Puglia. I believe that's the only Italian state I've not visited.

Another favourite of mine is the Cilento. It is wild and rugged and very unspoilt with wonderful beaches. In the north of Italy I love the Lunigiana. Take a look on Google, it is incredibly beautiful with the most stunning hill top towns, even by Italian standards.

I could talk about Italy all night!

flappergirl I think it probably is still a bit like that.. Be careful with your wallet if you use public transport! More brazen even than Las Ramblas!

I haven't been since the pandemic but my youngest daughter went last year on her own and loved it too. I had no idea it was trendy! And don't think she had either.
We went - the first time - for the art galleries. Not sure how she selected it.
Give me Naples over Florence though!

I also love rural Basilicata and Puglia - but the last time I went there were other people from the UK in places that once were "off the beaten track".

How rude!

NotSpaghetti

I love Naples. ❤️

So do I NotSpghetti. I lived nearby for some years but that was a long time ago. It's quite amusing that Naples has become a trendy place to go. It used to be considered almost a no go zone by tourists but that was fine, all the more for me!

Shrewsbury in Shropshire is an interesting place to visit. Historic buildings, the Quarry Park, interesting churches, including St. Chad's, a round church. There's the River Severn for boat trips. Plenty of good eating places. Lovely, independent shops. Close to the historic town of Ludlow and not far from the Welsh borders.

Come back Cambsnan and talk to us!

Wherever you want!!

Perhaps Cambsnan and her friends have already left LucyAnna2 🚂 ✈️ 🚗

Be helpful, OP, if you came back and gave us a bit more info? When might you go? UK or abroad? Any mobility issues? Rough budget? Length of stay? Have you been on breaks together before? Etc

Venice or Seville.

Definitely Durham and Northumberland if you are looking for a break in the UK.

Come to Durham and Northumberland, but pack your sweaters and an umbrella! We are still waiting for a change in this awful weather.

Norway, the fjords?

Base in Florence and explore Tuscany by train. Sienna, Lucca Pisa…. Fantastic on all fronts.

Are you looking at UK breaks? I can recommend Exeter, Ironbridge, Lincoln, York,Chester, Birmingham, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh. All great cities with plenty of history/museums/art plus restaurants and bars to suit all budgets. Have a great time where every you end up.

I love Naples. ❤️

Naples. Great food, great wine, great coffee and mind blowing art, history and culture. Easy to get around by trains, buses and boats. The islands of Capri, Procida and Ischia nearby as well as the Amalfi coast, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Naples is also not expensive compared to other Italian cities. If you choose to go can I come with you?

A European great rail journey wold be my choice if I were younger and fitter