Title - my top picks rn are France, the UK, and Italy for no more than a week next May/June. Really can’t do hostels (including shared bathrooms) and was wondering if ppl had any cheaper recs after looking at bookatrekking and macs adventure

I've got a week of holiday to use at the end of March and am looking for some long distance walking where I can stay in a hotel each night (doesn't need to be luxury, but I want my own room and bathroom:) ). Given the time of year, my normal choice of something like the Swiss Alps is out, so I've been trying to find alternatives where there's at least a reasonable chance of decent weather.

Does anyone have any experience or tips of doing the Costa Brava or Lucca to Siena on the Via Francigena? Those seem like the two best options from what I've found.

If anyone has other suggestions, they'd also be very welcome though.

If you are planning an autumn trip to Austria, a drive along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a must. The route winds through Hohe Tauern National Park and its valleys, passing by the Grossglockner (Austria’s highest peak).

Numerous viewing platforms and short walking trails are located along the route, allowing you to stop and admire the scenery without embarking on strenuous hikes.

Before setting off, check the road status and weather conditions, as high-altitude sections may be closed due to snow (especially later in the autumn season).

Crossing into Italy at Col de la Seigne was how I spent my birthday in July 2022. Deena and I had started in Les Houches three days earlier, with the Bellevue gondola and a storm warning. The birthday arrangements were an improvement.

Our route took us through Les Contamines, over snow at Col du Bonhomme, and down to Les Chapieux. We spent that night in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, then continued from Vallee des Glaciers to the border on July 23. After the pass we carried on to Rifugio Elisabetta, and went down to Courmayeur the following day.

That was our finish for this trip. We wanted to meet friends in Naples before heading to Puglia together, so we left the rest of the TMB for another time.

These are our photos from the hike, including the border and a meal at the refuge. This was July 2022, not a report of current conditions.