A sequel of escapes , to be followed every Saturday .....

...Spring has arrived at last and the blogger takes the opportunity to introduce you a series of perfect escapes.

Most of them, are not exceeding a week's stay and all of them presuppose a visit..to a Rent a car company !

Undoubtfully, there are many ways to visit a region in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Greece.

It depends what your priorities are. Historic sites, Cathedrals, museums, nightlife, knowing the people, to see and to be seen, glamour, romance, are just a fiew factors that can meet most peoples criteria. The blogger considers below some key factors and rules you must have in mind, before starting packing..

RULE 1 : Good company !

Age target 45-55..Be sure that 2 couples is the optimum, more can easily turn into a mess..

Age target 30-40....My past experience ( I was in that range sometimes ago ), is that you can enjoy your travel days safely up to 4 "close eachother " couples.

Age target..60 +...I recommend to enjoy all the blessed beauties the Mediterranean has to offer..booking cabins in a cruise ship. You don't need driving and the 4-6 hours they allow to see the region's highlights is quite enough.

Having sorted out the basics of such an escape, we move now into the essence of your travels.

In older postings, I had pointed out my preference to the countrysides instead of the big cities.

I always believe that, if you want to know a country better, you have to start from its countryside, leaving capitals or other big cities for a separate journey.

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I give you now a preview of some fabulous escapes, that the blogger recommends unreservedly and you can FOLLOW, starting SATURDAY 26th of APRIL...and each saturday, till mid-June :

A. ITALY :

 1. The Veneto region ( including Venice and lake Garda ). 

 2. The southern Costiera Amalfitana ( including Capri, Ischia ). 

 3. Sardinia, a destination itself.
 4. Sicily and some Aeolian islands.

 5. Tuscany, 5 terre and Portofino.

 6. Northern majestic Como-Maggiore lakes.

B. SPAIN :

 1. Andalucia ( in 10 days ).

 2. Catalunia and the crossing of the Pyrenees, till Lourdes ( France ) ( including top secrets from Europe's " hottest " city of Barcelona ).

 3. Spain's wine ( La Rioja ) routes, combined with the Basque region.

 4. Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Avila, Salamanca and Burgos.

 5. Majorca-Ibiza.

 6. Canary archipelago.

 7. A great combination of Porto, Braga, ( Portugal ),Vigo, Pontevedra..and Santiago de Compostella.

C. PORTUGAL :

Its South ( Algarve ), en route to mythical Lisbon and its delights, including Sintra, Cascais, Estoril....

D. France's legendary south , including Montecarlo, Cannes, St.Tropez and all its beautiful Provence region...

One by one ALL the regions of France.

E. IRELAND.., Yes I consider this glorious country worth of a huge exploration through its magnificent ..mama nature and castle hotels !

Hope you enjoyed my necessary preview and be ready for the action to come..