My partner and I are headed to the EU next June (but I can actually fly anywhere in the world) and looking for experience on where to go. We live in Hood River, OR USA, but have vouchers we need to use, figure we will take 2+ weeks. Super active 60 year olds, looking suggestions, probably not looking for wave spots, would consider a supported downwinder.

Crowds -no
Great food -Yes
Wing size 2.5-5.5
Need rental boards -yes
Night life/Apre? -yes or no

Any thoughts are welcome!


coup

Places I have been to that could work well for you:

Corsica - Bonifacio area (South).
Greece - Paros, Lefkada, Naxos, maybe Corfu (tons of options in the islands)

Im also interested in Portugal, but don't have the intel. Probably lots more options for waves there.

We did a trip to Tahiti this summer. The one thing I learned is to bring a bigger wing! Being spoiled from a windy place, means all our gear is not appropriate for other places. Look into getting a North Lightwind or one of the F1 three strut wings.

Trust me it's no fun to lug all the gear there only to be skunked by light winds.

Lake Como is spectacular and there is a centre there where you can organise a complete set of gear and walk/cycle there each day. No parking hassles or risk of having your gear stolen, stunning environment and very consistent wind.
Some interesting reading here about Lake Garda and Lake Como
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2400035

Sardinia.

We have been last year 3weeks to Viana and it is a great place, but also cold water. you really need a 3/2 suit there. The wind is thermal and pretty reliable, but there can also be a 2 weeks days without wind and/or with waves.
Based on what you describe I would think Lake Como and lake Garda, but that might be similar to what you have back home.Corsica is great, awesome island but expensive.
Canaries: warm weather, blue water and pretty consistent wind, but most of the islands are overcrowded, 99% driven on tourism and IMO ugly as it can get. I go there in jan/feb to escape the cold water and catch some waves, but never ever for the culture of beautiful landscapes because you simply won,t find it there or it will be be really really crowded.

Completely different thought: At home you have plenty of TOW at a great spot. most places will be less good as you are used to so why don,t leave the gear at home, skip wingfoil and just enjoy seeing a completely different country.

I live in the netherlands, pretty okay for wingfoil but the waves are crap. I like to prone, sup, windsurf, wingfoil so we did the 20y+ trips based on the where the best waves are. In 2019 my wife wanted to do a 3 week trip to Canada, camping, visiting the parks etc etc and it was a blast! I didnt didnt miss surfing at all and it was actually quite refreshing not to "worry" about searching the right spot, the conditions etc.

Foilalot said..
Lake Como is spectacular and there is a centre there where you can organise a complete set of gear and walk/cycle there each day. No parking hassles or risk of having your gear stolen, stunning environment and very consistent wind.
Some interesting reading here about Lake Garda and Lake Como
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2400035

Always wanted to go to Lake Como this looks fantastic, great info & link you posted in the kite forum. Thanks

Jeronsurf:-
I hear you saying when it's very good where you live ,leave your gear at home and just enjoy the trip .

I actually visited Lake Como in Feb 2016, bitterly cold but plenty of breeze
Watched old mate below, unfortunately he didn't speak English & me no Italian so we couldn't talk
Certainly back before I had seen any foiling in Aust
He had a dry suit, flippers (strapped to his back) for swimming back in if his kite hit the water.
If my memory serves me correct and peeps can confirm from the picture his kite was not inflatable hence the need for flippers if it hit the water
I'm sure things have progressed at the lake since then but I would avoid the winter FWIW

Lake Garda seems to be the premiere spot on the mainland. I went to Leucate in SW France and the wind was over 30 knots. Big spot for wind sports. So is the peninsula south of Hy?res and if there is no wind, Provence is not a bad place to be for biking/e-biking and sipping some wine. Otherwise there are the islands in the Med.

Just booked a week with the family and some Swiss water sports friends at Hotel Lido Blue on Lake Garda next August. Can rent bikes there and there is a Duotone Centre a short cycle away for gear rental/storage. It's at Torbole, northern, windiest end of the Lake. My Swiss mate has been there many times and learnt to windsurf there, he loves it. m.hotellidoblu.it/en/

Hi Coupdevill

Like kiwiupover, Porto is a great option. No crowds! Amazing food, wine and scenary, a few options (flat, waves, no waves, or downwind), nightlife, and very easy to move around. And Portugal is a very small country with a big coast (and lots of wind in the Summer), so there's plenty to explore!

I opened my new shop just in front of a wing spot in Porto (flatwater location, but there's an good ocean spot just around the corner), and we rent gear from Axis Foils and SIC and have classes also.

In EU the one and only spot has to be Tarifa Southern Spain, it's the mecca of all water sports, with several spots for entering the sea.Or France Leucate Mallorca as well, if you like Island life, always thermal winds. Costa Brava, North Spain, Gulfo de Roses.

GWatto said..
I actually visited Lake Como in Feb 2016, bitterly cold but plenty of breeze
Watched old mate below, unfortunately he didn't speak English & me no Italian so we couldn't talk
Certainly back before I had seen any foiling in Aust
He had a dry suit, flippers (strapped to his back) for swimming back in if his kite hit the water.
If my memory serves me correct and peeps can confirm from the picture his kite was not inflatable hence the need for flippers if it hit the water
I'm sure things have progressed at the lake since then but I would avoid the winter FWIW

Totally the wrong time for lake como. February is for Snowkite!