Anyone rethinking future winter European Vacations?

Many travelers going to Europe in the winter are veterans, or have done their weather homework, and know what they're getting into with realistic expectations about the likely weather conditions. They go for winter sports, or plan to spend their time in urban areas that offer indoor things they want to do. Some veteran travelers here love to go in the winter for the lower prices and no lines, but again, these travelers are veterans who know what they're doing. Just an opinion: I've noticed a tendency for some Americans (not so much Canadians), those who live in the better weather locations of the US to sometimes be blind-sided by the winter weather in Europe. Over the years on this Board, we've had a number of obstinate travelers, sometimes from California or the Sunbelt, posting questions like: "We're sure excited about hiking the Cinque Terre in January, good idea, don't ya think?" These people have been asked to get back to us with a trip report, afterwards, but we never seem to hear from them again

Hi Arnold!

We usually travel in the winter because it's off season and less expensive, less crowded, etc.--we were just fortunate that we didn't have a trip planned this winter. I think (hope) that this winter season is just a fluke--we're having snow in Atlanta today and in the Midwest where some of my relatives live, it supposed to be minus 35 windchill tonight.

We will most likely still travel continue to travel to Europe in the winter in spite of some of the inconveniences but, you make a good case for visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, and India--all destinations that are on our list! Thanks!

I have been to Paris twice in January/February in recent years and while the weather was cold, it didn't snow, and I was out and about all the time - just dressed warmly. I like going there in January, it's less crowded with tourists and there are many indoor activities. Even though I live in a mild climate though, I monitor the weather wherever I'm traveling to and never assume it will be just like at home.

We just came back from a trip to Germany over Christmas. And vowed to never travel to Europe in winter again precisely because we are Canadians and have more than enough cold winter weather. We'd rather get some warmer temperatures for a change.

And we got to see how winter weather can wreak havoc an ANY of your transportation plans. Flights cancelled, trains late/cancelled, connections missed. And the one time there was no choice but to take the car it took us 2 hours to do 90 km (public transportation on that particular route would have taken us at least 3 hours).

That said, we did it because Christmas in Germany is something very different and special. I really wanted to experience this at least once in my life together with my kids. And I don't regret that cold and snowy New Year's Eve night in Berlin at all.

But I only need to do this once. No repeats desired.

For more than 20 years we went to Europe (mostly the UK, but also Austria) the last of Nov-first part of Dec. Mostly we had coolish to slightly cold (never below 20s for highs) some rain and occassionally light snow. We enjoyed it greatly. Unfortunately we haven't been able to do that for the past 2 years due to family health issues. I miss it!

Hmmm... from the sunbelt? Check.
Blindsided by cold weather in Europe in winter? Nope.

However, I WAS a little blindsided by cold weather in Europe in July once. 50 degrees is pretty darn cold when you are coming from 100 plus temps. I bought a sweater first thing and was fine after that. Since that trip, all but one of my trips to Europe have been in winter and I just planned my wardrobe accordingly. It occasionally was even warmer than I expected, but I was never uncomfortable.

I have to agree that it makes a difference where you are coming from. From Iowa, just about all of Europe is a pleasant break. We were in Rome in February in 2008, found it great, just made arrangements for Rome again this February (Business for a week) and while it will be cool, I do not expect snow and freezing weather (I hope). When we do go in the Winter, we focus on urban activities, and to be honest, probably have a better experience than say Rome in August. So yes, we will continue to plan winter trips, though due to our love of Beach, they will continue to be a small share compared to May or September (No interest in July or August)

A couple of additional points

It seems like the tendency of the majority of folks that travel to Europe in winter is to continue going and this tends to be the advice given to folks asking about Europe in winter. Further, since most of the experiences worked out fine, that is what we tend to recommend.

However, what about the rare times when Europe is truly miserable and travel plans get thrown out of whack as Beatrix experienced? I assume that for the experienced traveler who has been to Europe numerous times they take such disruptions in stride. But I feel for those who have spend thousands of $ for a rare trip abroad and have to endure the frigid weather that Europe is currently experiencing. After all even Iowa, Colorado and Canada can be pretty bad when it is 0 F.

We spent two weeks last winter in Europe. We arrived in Amsterdam the day after Christmas, spent a night there, 2 in Bruges and 10 in Paris. I thought I had done my homework. I researched weather averages, asked questions about cold weather dressing (it usually doesn't get THAT cold where I live), and I was sure we were prepared. Well, last winter during that time it was extra cold, just like this year. I will say that we only had one day with a little rain and one day of snow. The snow day felt warmer than the others!

We had taken layers so our upper bodies were warm enough most of the time, but my feet froze. You can only put on just so many socks before your shoes don't fit! I thought my gloves would be fine. They were not as good as I needed, so I bought some new ones with thinsulate in Paris.

Would I go again in the winter? Hmmm...it was beautiful while we were there and we enjoyed ourselves, but I'm not so sure we would do that again. If we did I would have a better idea what to bring. And the daylight hours are shorter so that is a factor too for sightseeing purposes. I knew that going into it, but "knowing" something and "experiencing" something are sometimes two different things.

I'm one of those ice-blooded people who rarely travels to Europe in the summer. It was a bit complicated driving to the airport in a blizzard this year, but still, for me winter is the best time of year to visit. Fantastic winter sports, Christmas markets, low crowds at the popular tourist destinations, the classical music season, being with my family for Christmas... I even like the way the low-horizon sun illuminates the land. If it came down to putting on more clothes to stay warm, or having to walk around drenched in sweat, guess which one I'll pick? So no, I won't think twice again about going again in the winter... but then again, I'm moving there soon anyway...

We did do So. California this Christmas (09) after Europe last Christmas (08), and it was nice having 70 on Christmas vs. freezing. However, we are considering going back to Europe again next Christmas (10). The cold really doesn't make me that happy, but Christmas break is a great time for me to travel. The kids have a break, I have a break (less vacation to burn), and the airfare is less than in summer. The cold does make me pause, though.

I do consider myself an experienced traveller. And I don't mind the cold per se during the winter months in Europe. But if I add all the delays and change of plans due to weather related complications it would easily fill an entire day or more. An entire day that is not available to experience what you came for to do.

Some examples: we had to cut the visit to the Christmas markets short because after 3 days with wet feet it was more important to get weather-proof shoes (our own arrived with missing luggage 10 days after our arrival). An extra 2 hours driving to see relatives means 2 hours less to visit. Snow on the street in a region that hardly ever sees snow meant my best friend couldn't come to see me because his car has no winter tires.

I thought I was well prepared for the cold. We had long underwear and toe warmers from Mountain Equipment Coop that took us well through the night to celebrate New Year's Eve in Berlin despite a cold that kept many people away. But I didn't expect to sit for 2 hours in a train with no heat and ice inside the windows. THAT was the time I got really cold and couldn't recover for the rest of the day. Didn't help that the entire time we sat in that icy train on the way to the airport we were also fearing we wouldn't make our flight since the train had already a 45 minute delay at that time ...

I've done trips in late fall and that is different. The cold may still be there but the risk of running into weather-related transportation problems is lower than during the winter (well, we had a November trip when fog closed down Frankfurt airport and we lost our connection flight and luggage ...).

Sure, we can take all this in stride and laugh at the experience years later when talking to our grandkids about it. There were many more great moments to cherish as well. But it's not an experience I want to repeat anytime soon.

Well, to balance out my previous report here is a picture that also shows why it can be worthwhile to travel in winter. The atmosphere is quite different, can be very serene and quiet. I really enjoyed our walk through Park Sanssouci. Don't think you'd be able to take this picture of one of the palaces in Potsdam in the summer without dozens of tourists running through it.

This is one reason I prefer to travel in the "shoulder seasons". While I agree that travel in the winter can certainly provide a different travel experience and atmosphere, this is one of the uncertainties.

The current winter cold spell seems to be stuck over Britain, and there were reports today of more problems with the EuroStar (one train was stuck in the tunnel for 2 hours and had to be towed out be a service engine) and also some of the other trains in the U.K.

Beautiful photo Beatrix. I think Potsdam is gorgeous anyway, but this gave it a totally different look.

It has been really cold in Frankfurt too and keeps flurrying, though snow is still all around a bit. Going in the winter means visiting more museums perhaps, finding different things to do then you would in the summer, spring or fall. Cozy restaurants with fireplaces instead of outdoor cafes, adventure swimming pools, thermal baths, cross-country skiing, ice skating, concerts, and so on.

Sorry to hear about your train and luggage problems. That can really put a damper on a vacation.

All interesting reading...thanks. My wife and I are planning a trip to Amsterdam, Bruges, and Paris the first weeks in March. Any ideas on whether the weather would have changed by then? We are expecting it to be rainy but not overtly cold.
I have traveled through Brussels, Bruges and London, in mid Feb back in 1998, and just found it to be very similar to Pacific NW weather. However, that trip also took me to Moscow where I needed my heavy, down, full-length coat and one of those furry hats!!! That was cold.

Beatrix, that photo is gorgeous!

I have to agree with the others--I don't particular enjoy severe winter weather, but summer has its own issues with crowds, prices, heat, humidity, etc. And it's a lot easier to run around sight-seeing if you layer up than to cool off when it's 100 degrees outside.

As others have observed, a lot of it is being prepared and having realistic expectations. I was miserable the first time I visited Florence because I didn't dress warmly enough. It was a beautiful sunny day, and not unusually cold, but it was the first week of December and I got fooled. My second trip, I dressed appropriately and hardly noticed the cold/rain.

Some people feel it isn't a vacation if the weather is bad, and that's perfectly fine. My next Italy trip is very likely to be in May or September, because I will be traveling in the northern half. But I will still always prefer to travel in winter for the other benefits, and hope the weather takes pity on me. :-)

As an amusing side note, the first year I went to Italy, it snowed the morning I left Seattle, and then the snow turned to rain and flooded out parts of the freeway in western Washington. The weather had calmed by the time I returned--missed the whole thing!

Almost all of our European trips are in winter. The most recent was Dec. 2009 (we fortunately missed the major cold snap).

Like many people, we travel this time of year because we are on strict budget, and hotels and airfares are much lower. Our main objective in traveling is to see works of art and music in situ--so much of what we want to do is indoors. However, it is very important to note that for people like us who are crazy about church architecture (and the frescos and mosaics inside the churches) that most of these places are UNHEATED. So you may be indoors, but you are still freezing.

As others mentioned, the advantages are many beside budget: low crowds, classical music season, etc. It can be easier to meet local people too and you get better sense of what the place is like when it's not catering to tourists. Our hotel rooms have been upgraded several times because of vacancies.

Traveling in winter is difficult for light packers because of all the extra clothes you need to carry. We took our first non-winter trip this past May and we were amazed at how much lighter our backpacks were.

I haven't changed my mind about traveling in winter per se, though I was thinking of writing my own guide book called Shivering Through Europe.....

Nah, winter's fine. Last year another really old guy and I were poking around Wales looking at iron-age hill forts. Came down off the mountains in Snowdonia completely encrusted in ice a couple of times. That's why cars have heaters, I guess. The drive to the Dover ferry took twice as long as we'd planed and we never got out of snow, ice, and slush until maybe as far as Limoge in France the next day. It don't get no better.

I am taking my first winter European trip next month to England. I usually go to Europe in May/June. But I am from Winnipeg where the weather right now has -35 celcius wind chill. London will seem like a tropical destination to me! I am actually looking forward to seeing them museums with (hopefully) minimal crowds. Plus I am amazed at the cheap airfare/hotel deals I was able to get.

Ive been to Rome 4 times once in January.It was very nice not having crowds but one of the things my wife and I enjoy very much is outdoor cafes peoplewatching.In January most days you could only sit outside if they had heaters.

I was planning my first winter trip in a few weeks. I changed my mind. I think your specific plans make a big difference. If you're staying with relatives in a cozy home and have access to a car, that's one thing. If you're staying in drafty hotels and spending your time at wet bus stops and icy train platforms, that's something else.

The ridiculously cold weather here this month reminds me that I don't really have the right wardrobe to be walking around in 20 degree weather. Best wishes to those of you who are going.

December 2008 was our first "winter" trip to Europe. I went relatively well prepared and the weather in Oxfordshire and London turned out to be really mild compared to the Midwest here. No travel delays, but Brittany was especially cold some days, and both daughter and hubby did not have tri-weather coats. Still, the weather was good for most of our stay until we got into Paris on the 4th January and found that they were expecting snow. Flights were delayed and cancelled the following day, and by the 6th when were were leaving, there was snow and ice to contend with and the airport was chaotic. We made it out on the scheduled flight.

This winter's travel I made sure that hubby had a tri-weather jacket, smart wool socks and hat, and everyone had gloves and scarves. We figured we would plan for really cold (I remember someone saying here it was more of a rainy winter before we left), but I wasn't taking any chances. Good thing we did! Talk about artic weather all around. Snow and rain in London, plus we got to be part of the Eurostar's mess because we were due to leave London on the 22nd. Had to add another night to our hotel stay and move to a different room because ours was rented out, and the uncertainty of whether we would be spending Christmas in London or stranded in Paris was almost too much at times. On the 23rd after 6 hours of standing in line with more people than I've ever been around in one station, we finally got to the Eurostar counter, and another couple of hours after, we left for Paris! Got in to find all trains were booked and our only option was to leave Paris on the 27th for Brest. I looked so despondent and close to tears that the gentleman at the ticket window told me to go and ask the conductor if there was any standing room on the next train which was leaving in 5 minutes. Talk about panic and trying to figure out which platform to go to, knowing that was probably our only option that night.

Continuted....

We explained what happened with Eurostar and were told to try the last two carriages (not sure of train terminology). My daughter and I raced the first one we saw and decided we were getting on. My husband was hesitant but we were blessed to find some amazing French people who helped us with our luggage, and we all ended up on that train!

Would I travel in winter again? If I have the opportunity and it's the only time to do so, why not? I am making notes and trying to learn from the experience. We would prepare a little better as well, and just go for it! Only one life to live.

The past 4 end of Novembers/beginning of Decembers have been spent in Europe. I love the cheaper airfare, the cheaper accommodations, the less hoards of people. Plus, since I live in Florida, going where the weather is cold is really taking me out of my element and adding to the fact that I really am on vacation, far far away from home base. It is all part of the package. Plus I am a sucker for a good Christmas market. I don't think I would have it any other way, as I am a budget traveler. I know I may be missing out on green scenery and beautiful flower gardens but I think winter travel is a great thing.
I am used to the fact that it will rain, almost everyday and that none of my pictures will have blue sky. I am ok with that. On my 2009 winter trip, we had more blue sky weather and mild temperatures than ever before and was walking around in our sweaters (50-60 degrees) while in Vienna and Budapest. However by time we made it to Prague, the winter coats came back on.
I never encountered a snow storm on my winter travels but would not mind if that meant my flight was canceled and I had to spend an extra day or two in Europe.

Kelly, our cancelled Eurostar travel gave us one more day in London, which we made the best of, but if we had a cancelled flight and ended up stuck in the airport for a day or two, that wouldn't be as nice.

Not quite sure how cheaper airfare and accommodation factor in. Definitely not if you're travelling over Christmas and want to see Christmas markets and such.

The only reason it took us 15 years before we booked a flight to Europe over Christmas were the expensive air fares. This time it was the first time ever we saw fares that were comparable with those we've booked for summer travels in the past and so we booked.

Same for accommodations, the prices go up over the holidays! Our hotel in Berlin was the same price than one we had in New York over spring break. Only difference was that the one in New York gave us double the space!

And if you try to get deals on train rides you'll have to compete with millions of Europeans who want to travel as well during that time. Those "Dauerspezials" or "Sparpreis" tickets are gone within hours of going on the market. I had much cheaper train tickets travelling in July than in December. And as Eli said those trains are not only at full price once you get a ticket, they are also full. We were lucky that we had reservations but many travellers are standing. For hours. When we missed connections they were for regional trains for which you can't make reservations. On those passangers change frequently so you don't have to stand for longer periods of time.

But to me the big appeal of winter travel is the special atmosphere over the holidays that is so much different from what you'd experience in Northamerica. For that, you not only have to risk some inconveniences but you also pay a price.

As to Arnold who mentioned Thanksgiving as "winter" travel and that those trips had bearable temperatures but not his trip over Christmas. Thanksgiving is not in winter. That's fall. At least on my Canadian and German calenders. And yes, that does make a difference. We had several trips in November but with the exception of one fog-related plane cancellation no bad weather.

Beatrix, you are right about the "special" feeling of winter travel during the Christmas season. It's so much more like Christmas than we experience here in the US.

And I agree, November's weather can hardly compare to what's going on now.

When we got into Paris, so did thousands who were stranded by Eurostar, so that didn't make it easier in Gare du Nord. It was a madhouse. Everyone seemed to be running and shoving. At one point, my daughter was almost pushed down the escalator.

So based on our winter travels of 2008 and 2009, the first was a breeze, and the second was definitely filled with obstacles, but we're alive and in one piece with tales to tell for years to come :-)

We knew what we were doing, but not what we were getting into.

We just returned from a Christmas trip to Europe and managed to avoid any of the issues we constantly heard about on BBC. This was our 5th trip to Europe and our first winter trip, we are Californians born and raised so dfinitely not used to cold winters!

We flew into Paris Dec. 17 then made our way to Strasbourg, Colmar, Brussels, Bruges, and ended in Amsterdam a few days after the attempted terrorist attack. The TGV from Paris to Strasbourg took 4 hours instead of 2 hr 20 mins and we had heavy snow for a couple of hours one afternoon. We also had a few hours of rain in Amsterdam and that was it! Loved the Christmas markets, Strasbourg and Colmar were the best, loved the tarte flambee in the Alsace. Loved Bruges, were there over Christmas eve and day and there were lots of people out, lots of restaurants open, had a great time wandering the town. Amsterdam on Boxing Day was not great for food choice but managed to see the Rijiksmuseum and the Anne Frank House. A delayed flight from Amsterdam mainly due to heightened passenger searches. All in all a great trip. Probably would not rush into doing it again just because it gets dark by 5pm and doesn't really get light until almost 9am and the cities really stay quite dead until about 10 or 11am, it is a big loss of time compared to summer.

Caroline, if it is the only time you can travel, would you do it in spite of the lack of daylight hours?

That is really the downside besides the weather, but I really enjoyed that "Christmassy" feeling that we don't seem to have in NA.

I know that throughout the trials and tribulations we encountered, I kept focusing on this board and on Rick's advice to make the most of the trip. Everytime my husband said he regretted taking the trip, I found something positive to tell him and that turned things around.

In 2006, we spent a month in Europe, and had to be in London and Paris on what they claimed were their "hottest" days! The hotel did not have A/C so we suffered.

We spent the week after Christmas in Florence in 2008, it was great. Cold but fun. We did have one beautiful day, the last day was raining and very cold. Yes, I would do it again, I would probably do Spain or somewhere warmer.

As someone who has enjoyed a few trips to Europe in the Winter, I would definitely do it again. Yes, the current news re: European travel (as of today, much of the UK is covered in snow; may go down as the coldest Dec. in England in 100 years!) is daunting, but this in an exceptional situation. Several years ago, I flew to Vienna in mid December. It WAS very cold (although as a New Yorker, I am used to cold winters), but there was so much to enjoy during the xmas season. That vacation included side-trips to Budapest (ok, frigid in Dec., but did not deter my sight-seeing and made me appreciate the warm mineral baths even more!) and Prague (ditto to Budapest-- freezing, but I still got ALL of my sight-seeing in!).
Bottom line, if you are someone who likes (or at least, does not mind) the cold, I would say do not hesitate to visit Europe in the Winter. But for those who hate the cold (many friends thought I was crazy to go when I did!), they SHOULD avoid travel to Europe at that time. I think it comes down to balancing the disadvantanges (may encounter transportation delays, shorter days, some smaller sights/attractions may be closed, cold weather, must pack more to ensure proper layers), with the many advantages (short lines!; fewer crowds, more mingling & interaction with locals; warm spirit during xmas season, lower local prices, lower airfare, etc.). For me, personally, these +s outweigh the -s every time!

Revisiting this discussion from last year - This looks like the 2nd year in a row for major winter disruptions in Europe given all that I am reading about travel problems in N. Europe. I'm curious if anyone has been impacted yet. I know Frank is in Germany at the moment and I am waiting to hear about his experiences. I am following the weather fairly closely as I will travel through Frankfurt next week on the way to Egypt. Reading about the cold weather reinforces my decision of going to warmer destinations and avoiding the cold. Anyone else second guessing winter vacations in Europe?

It's not just Europe where this happens; doesn't anyone remember Christmas in the US last year? How long people were stranded for? And for those of us that take winter vacations such as ski trips; well, you just know that heavy know very possibly can interrupt your plans. Ski trips are a particular hassle because you usually need a car to get to resorts, and rental cars (even 4WD) are notorious for their poor tires, which makes it quite possible that you'll end up in a ditch. So my rule for traveling anywhere in winter: avoid xmas at all costs. Besides the expense, if your travel plans are interrupted due to weather, you may have a very hard time rebooking due to the sheer volume of people. And I prefer to travel to Europe or to places like NYC at the end of winter, when snowstorms are less likely.

We've gone twice in winter England in December 2000 and Paris in February 2010. In England the only times we felt the cold were at the football match (four rows from the very top of Anfied), and on the beach at Dover. Paris last February we were very cold the whole time. And as someone noted, you don't really warm up when you spend time in a cathedral or church. Another consideration for us is the weather at home and what I mean is that my parents generally look after the house and pets but are getting to the age that they can't clear the snow off our driveway anymore. I would consider returning in winter but prefer the shoulder season.

We've had our share of cold weather holidays in Europe--heading for Thailand this winter--it's 91 degrees in Bangkok today! There is the issue of changing planes in Seoul however...hopefully not a problem but we continue to watch the situation in N/S Korea. We'll travel to Europe in warmer weather for a future trip!

Arnold, I'm glad you revived this discussion from earlier in the year, as the content is still pertinent. According to news reports this afternoon, conditions at Heathrow and other European airports are still chaotic and another storm is on the way! A TV reporter who's presently vacationing in London mentioned that because of the "backlog" she won't be able to get a flight out of Heathrow until Dec. 28th! She's found a flight from Paris in Dec. 24th, however the EuroStar has also been disrupted too so she'll be taking a Bus. The weather and related uncertainties are the main reason I don't go to Europe in the winter. There's also the issue of having to pack extra clothing and footwear, etc. If I'm going to pay a huge sum to vacation in Europe, I want to enjoy it and the present conditions wouldn't be enjoyable for me, regardless of shorter lines or a few other benefits. I really don't like winter conditions at any time, although I have to tolerate them at home. Over the past few years, I've booked a "sun break" in the winter to escape from the misery for a week or two, although I didn't do that this year and I'm now regretting it. I may yet start looking at packages to Vegas or Hawaii, as both are relatively easy flights from here. The current situation is exacerbated by the fact that's it's Christmas, so there are huge numbers of people travelling. Hopefully it improves over the next few days. Cheers!

I have been traveling to Europe every year or two since 1951, only once in the summer. Never again. Since then we have always gone in Winter. Never have had a serious problem. Only rarely have we gone as far North as London or even Paris. Most of the time to Rome. December is only a little colder in Italy from Firenze to the toe than Houston.

Ken: I agree with you after experiencing the bitter cold in Italy about 4-5 years ago during the Christmas break. It was no fun being in the cold weather and having to find shops to step into in order to warm up. As I've said before, the main thing that concerns me is lots of folks only posting positive experiences in winter time and I'm afraid for the novice traveler who reads the positive notes and does not plan for the potential downside of winter travel. I can't wait to hear from Frank at the next Denver get together as to how his Germany trip went. Reading the online news journals it looks like even train travel in Germany is impacted and almost all the trains full.

Before I moved here, I had always enjoyed winter travel more than summer. Part of that was personal- I can't stand the heat, love the cold. Partly for the world-class winter sports in the Alps. But it's important to go with different expectations. Plans have to be more flexible, less ambitious, and concentrate more on cities. Winter is not the time for a do-it-yourself first time trip, particularly for someone from a warm weather climate.

What?! Europe is cold in the winter? Cinque Terre in January isn't going to be a back door I enjoy? Oh dang.

I would go during Christmas, but other than that winter would not be my first choice. If I had never been to Europe before, I'd rather go during the spring or shoulder season.

I have been traveling annually to Europe for the past 6 years and 5 of those trips have been in Early winter/Nov-Dec (4) and one in Feb. I love the cheaper airfares, cheaper hotels, and the lack of a crowd. I also love the Christmas Markets and in general classy christmas ambiance that I do not seem to see in the US; homer simpson with chrismtas hat blown up on your hard is not classy by any means. I come from Florida, so the weather change up even expands on the fact that I am really out of my element. But what is weird is that this past trip a few weeks ago, it was colder in Florida than it was in Italy. It seems that we just miss the bad weather. I feel that we are safe with leaving on or around Thanksgiving for a 10 day to 2 week trip. It has been safe so far. Maybe next year when I do London-Bruges, I may not be so lucky but I guess I will take my chances. What I do like is my 400-700 dollar airfare when I travel during this time of year. I watch it for months and then usually buy late spring/early summer. As for going for the warmer climate places in the world, I am not ready to give up EUrope yet for South America, Asia. I am a bit intimidated by those countries. Plus I am not a fun in the sun, beach going type of gal so really I will just stick to Europe until I am sick of it, then I will move on.

We haven't gone over the holidays before since we fly standby. There's no way we'd get on a flight at that time of year, and we have kids in school, so going in January or February isn't an option. But now we've got enough seniority to fly confirmed, and I do want to take the kids to Europe for Christmas one year. Yes, I'll watch the weather like a hawk, and, fortunately, we can change our tickets or refund them if we need to. Plus, we have family we can stay with if we get stuck over there. If I didn't have those options, though, it might be a different story. I'm also keeping in mind that this weather is really unseasonal for Europe at this time of year. Britain's putting this December down as the coldest in 100 years. Frankfurt airport can't get enough salt for the salt trucks because they usually don't need it until February, so the supply just isn't there. After reading the articles about stranded travelers, I'm really feeling for those people. Heathrow and Frankfurt are just packed.

The first time we experienced winter in Europe was when we lived in northern Germany for 7 months (June-December). A very wise person gave me some good advice about touring/sightseeing. He said there was an old German saying that translates "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing". I really took it to heart, looked around to see what the locals were wearing and how they coped. From that time on it didn't deter us at all. We enjoyed a month's worth of Christmas markets during one of Germany's snowiest and coldest winters. We have since been to Europe (Northern and Southern destinations) in the winter 3 times in recent years traveling around for 4 months at a time (August-December) with only one 24" suitcase. I never pack sneakers, only 2 pair of good walking shoes (one waterproof). I take a pair of cashmere knee socks, long silk underwear, a 3/4 length water repellent coat with a liner that can be zipped out (bought it in London), a wool hat, scarf, and gloves. I also carry an umbrella that fits into my purse. This is all of the extra clothing that I take to extend a layered fall wardrobe into winter.

Cold is one thing, but cancelled flights and being stranded at airports is quite another. My daughter was stranded at the airport in Philadelphia last Christmas for four dayssleeping on the floor in the pre-security area is no fun at all, especially when the PA system plays non-stop generic Christmas music like "I'll Be Home for Christmas'! Which, in case they hadn't noticed, is a song about NOT being home for Christmas, but having to imagine it in your dreams. Irony or cluelessness, you pick. Anyway, I find Heathrow and Charles DeGaulle annoying at the best of times, and being stuck there with thousands of unhappy people for days would not qualify as the best of times. I personally will think twice about a winter trip unless I had a lot of flexibility, and I would definitely have an alternate plan Bsomething like renting a car and staying at a hotel a ways away from the airport. (Or if it was England, staying with in-laws. Or come to think of it, maybe staying at a hotel after all...)

JER, "Bsomething like renting a car and staying at a hotel a ways away from the airport." Renting a car in the U.K. would not be the best idea with the current conditions, as road travel is in a bad state also. My friends from the U.K. tell me that snow tires are just about non-existent there, so driving is not something I'd consider at this time of year. Cheers!

I certainly wouldn't think twice about a winter trip just because of winter weather. Winter trips are different on a variety of levels, but the benefits are enormous. Fares can be half price, and heavily-visited sites are nearly tourist free. The Prado in Madrid last winter, for example, had almost no wait and tons of room to navigate once inside the museum. You could linger at a painting for as long as you like...try that in summer. Summers are great, but I have found winter to offer at least as an enjoyable experience...just a little bit different. As for the weather, anything is usually an upgrade compared to Iowa or anywhere in the upper Midwest in winter, so cold, snow, and even blizzards wouldn't keep me away. Right now, I'm eyeing Berlin and Prague later this winter...we'll see.

Well I don't like winter much,, here or there, so in winter I head for the sun,, Caribbean cruises, Mexico or Hawaii. I like Europe in summer,, I like long days of light to wander around in the evening, I like sitting outside at cafes and not being freezing, I like wandering the maturing gardens of Chateaus or parks, and I like hiking and biking and other various outdoor activities in Europe. That said, I do like snow, but only on the ski hills,love to ski, so spend my winters here visiting local ski hills if not lucky enough to be having a sun holiday . I did visit London once in March, cold and damp( it even sleeted/snowed) .. not fun,, but in my three subsequent visits to London,, all in summer months, it has rained for all of them,, so for some places you just can't win( or I am just so unlucky!) LOL Ps I do love visiting indoor sites like Museums etc,, thats where I go to cool down in summer months! LOL

Well I don't like winter much,, here or there, so in winter I head for the sun,, Caribbean cruises, Mexico or Hawaii. I like Europe in summer,, I like long days of light to wander around in the evening, I like sitting outside at cafes and not being freezing, I like wandering the maturing gardens of Chateaus or parks, and I like hiking and biking and other various outdoor activities in Europe. That said, I do like snow, but only on the ski hills,love to ski, so spend my winters here visiting local ski hills if not lucky enough to be having a sun holiday . I did visit London once in March, cold and damp( it even sleeted/snowed) .. not fun,, but in my three subsequent visits to London,, all in summer months, it has rained for all of them,, so for some places you just can't win( or I am just so unlucky!) LOL Ps I do love visiting indoor sites like Museums etc,, thats where I go to cool down in summer months! LOL

I am a winter traveler. There are no crowds. People are happy to see us rather than sick of tourists as in the summer. It is less expensive, which means more trips. The dark evenings do not stop me in the least, in fact, I love cities and villages at night. Of course, I'm a New Englander since birth so I'm used to the cold in winter. And I have to say, I'm probably a rare bird who does not like summer... :)

I think when it comes to Europe there is also a big difference between Winter travel and Christmas travel. When travelling between mid Dec and early Jan none of the advantages mentioned so far apply - except for the special Christmas atmosphere and the Christmas markets. Airfare is NOT cheaper, accommodtion is NOT cheaper, it is NOT less crowded, getting places by any means of transportation can be disrupted, there will be lines, you will get the shortest days of the year. Winter travel outside the Christmas period can be done on a lower budget than any other time of the year if you plan for it. It might be freezing cold but as long as you dress for it you'll be fine. Transportation might be disrupted but as there are fewer crowds travelling the impact will most likely be minimal. The big attractions will be open and less crowded. But you will be less likely to go off the beaten track - because those will be closed or difficult to access. And you will miss out on the special Christmassy feel that is so much different from what you'd experience in Northamerica.

I really hate cold weather. It makes me miserable. I have found the best time to travel to Europe and the UK have been March/April and September/October. Air fares too are lower at this time. Have found crowd numbers for attractions not too bad at eg a 15 minute wait last September to get into the Reichstag, I believe, is pretty darn good. Have been to Europe and the UK in summer - never again.
Couldn't believe how many accommodation places weren't air conditioned. Might mention it just happened to be the hottest summer in the UK for 400 years when I was there in 1995. It was 42 degrees in Paris. Obviously not the normal summer temperatures.

Hi, We recently returned from Bavaria and Austria. We prefer to travel in October but always thought the Advent Markets would be nice to experience. We had some snow 4 days out of 10. It was pretty cold most of the time and then it was really cold at night. Since it get dark so early, we spent a lot of time out at night! Would we do it again? In a minute. The atmosphere at the markets was amazing and the Alps and decorated alpine villages covered in snow was simply magical. Paul

Slightly different take because I'm already here, but I can't wait to get back to Oberstdorf in January. Other than maybe GaP or St. Moritz, I can't think of anyplace I'd rather be in January. Even if I had to fly across the pond, I would still want to be in the Alps in January.

My take is that big cities are your best bet in winter if you're traveling all the way to Europe...nothing is closed, lodging is cheaper, and lots to do. BTW, the lakes of northern MN closer to the border are beautiful and fantastic in summer, but there's nothing going on up there in December or January (I suppose someone living in Bemidji or Brainerd may disagree). On the other hand, Minneapolis is one of the top cities in the country IMO any time of year, including January. If you're okay with Minneapolis in winter, anywhere in Europe is easy by comparison IMO (weather-wise).

"My take is that big cities are your best bet in winter if you're traveling all the way to Europe". Yesterday was a perfect illustration of that wisdom. I drove up from Germany to visit family in Belgium. It was so foggy I may as well have been driving through the clouds. Visibility was at times as low as 50 meters. So, the lesson hits home again and again- if you´re going to spend your hard-earned time and money to travel here in the winter, stay in urban areas or mountain resorts.

I DID my winter weather due diligence, thank you very much, and was still blind-sided by cancelled flights,cancelled trains, lost luggage, and temps well below normal. However it was a nasty intestinal virus that really knocked me on my a@@.
Vienna did not disappoint me , and every thing has been bearable, but not nearly as PLEASUREABLE as I hoped. I will probably not return to Europe mid-winter again - but that's just me. PS - Don't know for sure yet when I'll get back to US.

I'm taking my first winter trip in February and I have pretty low expectations. I'll be in Rome and Florence and planning to stick to mostly indoor sightseeing. I built some extra layover time into my flight. Like Sharon, my first choice was Thailand, but it's too far for the amount of time I had. On the plus side, this trip will probably cost half of what my most recent summer trips have cost. And I'm hedging my bets by planning another summer blowout vacation later in the year. Hopefully I'll get over and back without any major delays.

Just got back Wednesday from a spin through Eastern Europe and I wouldn't have changed a thing and yes I got lucky to fly out of Munich with all the weather havoc going on elsewhere. I'll go again too, this was just a little sampler trip and Prague and Budapest shine bright...great people, sights and bargains.

The travel problems caused by the weather are major reasons to purchase trip insurance! It won't salvage your vacation, but at least you can be reimbursed for most (?) monies already spent.

Janis, what kind of expenses are you thinking about? When our travel was disrupted last winter we incurred about $2000 in unexpected expenses. Mainly by purchasing train tickets to replace a cancelled flight and by purchasing clothing as our luggage took 10 days to catch up with us. ALL of that was reimbursed 100% by the airline within 4 weeks of our return home. No need for travel insurance in that case.

We are kicking around in the area right now. Started Dec 14th in Strasbourg through Rottenburg, Munich, and now in Prague. It has been damn cold but we were prepared for cold so we are fine. Railroad schedules have been disrupted but nothing that is not manageable. Trips are a little longer. Till a couple of days ago it had snowed every day - lightly. Have had about four hours total of direct sun but other than that it has been a terrific trip. If it is this cold and still crowded cannot guess what summer much be like. The hot wine in the Christmas markets raises the outside temp considerable. Crossing our fingers for Friday as we have to connect through New York. Would we return -- Sure.

After seeing all the problems this year in europe with the snow I doubt I will ever travel to europe during the winter. Nothing worse than having to stay at airports with cancelled flights. My son who lives in Paris told me the only transportation to CDG from Paris during the snow was the RER which only ran q 30 minutes. The trains were so packed people had to hold strollers,light bags above their heads during the ride to CDG while standing up.

I have been watching the horror stories on TV about travelers stranded for days due to the heavy snow in the eastern US, and I would have to say that i work too hard for the money I spend to travel to risk being stuck somewhere due to winter weather conditions. I have traveled in the winter before - spent a month in London years ago, and I had a great time with friends, but these days I'm not willing to take that chance. I live in Chicago, where the winters are brutal, and my work schedule is such that i cannot take time off in the winter anyway. So thats when I save, and plan for traveling in the spring.

Actually, most of our traveling has been in winter. In fact, we are leaving in two weeks for a jaunt through Scotland, England and Belgium. I do have some concerns about the weather, but we're packing accordingly and are as prepared as we can be for any weather delays. We're fairly flexible and tend to roll with things as they happen. We were in Paris in February of '09 and we had very nice weather with plenty of sun. I'm not holding my breath for much sun on this trip but, as on all trips, I'm really excited!!

Just to add to my post of 12/20. I had all the right outerwear, and underwear,(grew up in Canada- I do know the drill) but I still found the below freezing temps in Germany/Austria/Hungary difficult. Could usually only last about 30 mins before losing feeling in toes and fingers ( I have Raynaud's), so had to make a lot of stops in cafes and shops to warm up. I was sick twice during this trip - first a stomach virus, then bronchitis and sinusitis for the last week. As beautiful (and cold) as Budapest was, I felt so bad, it was hard to be enthusistic about anything I saw there. Don't regret the trip at all, but learned several lessons: I am much happier travelling in warmer weather and having 14-15 daylight hours. Spending time in airports hoping to get on the next (or maybe the next next) flight isn't fun or a productive use of my precious and limited leave time. Being sick while travelling is my ultimate bummer. It sucked up my energy and enthusiasm. And even though I had taken a big ziploc with all kinds of OTC meds for all kinds of things, I didn't have enough and ended up visiting apothecaries in 5 cities. Interesting...but wasn't part of my grand plan. You can get really good and reasonable meals in department store cafeterias. I recommend Karstadt and Galleria in Munich. Full dinner - 7-10Eu. If anyone want s reasonable-priced private driver in Budapest ( available March-Dec), PM me. RESULT - Since I was lucky enough to experience several Xmas markets, I have now checked that off and will plan no more trips in winter that aren't tropical ; AND:
I'm going to have to have a DO-OVER. So spring of 2012, it's back to Nuremburg, the Danube, Passau, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich and Budapest. Maybe I'll add Prague too. Guess I'd better start planning now!!!!

Conditions lately in NW Europe... it has warmed up considerably. From about a week before Christmas until about 1 week ago, the temperature barely went above freezing. Now, the snow has completely melted and daytime highs have been mostly in the 40s. We've even had some brief glimpses of the sunny sky (emphasis on the word "brief"). Not warm at all if you're from the south, but not nearly as cold as it was.

and I thought it was just us Brits that were preoccupied with the weather. Love the snow, the dark evenings with the fire lit, the effect the low sun has on the snowy hillsides, love my furry boots and a damp dog, the gluhwein and sledging to pub, days off work as village cut off from civilisation and how else do we really appreciate the long sunny days of summer? Wouldn't want to spend time sitting around in airport lounges though so sympathise with delayed flights etc. German saying mentioned earlier is true however, 'there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad choice of clothing'

Oh yes, Shoni, I also loved the snow while we had it. I'll take the wonderful frozen snow over the mud we have now any day. Much easier to wipe the snow off my dog's paws than the mud.

Tom, is it true that there is nothing more satisfying than a tired dog? Sad, but in our house true!

'there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad choice of clothing' Not necessarily a true statement. I made correct clothing choices - layers, silks, sheepskin, wool, waterproofing....but still had numb toes.

Elaine, if you still had numb toes then you had the wrong choice of footwear, unless of course you were marooned for a week on the north face of the Eiger

We took toe warmers along to put into our boots. And those worked great for hours that we were walking/standing in slush (NYE Berlin). www.heatfactory.ca/english/product.php?id=21

To add to my earlier post about "no bad weather..." I did manage to keep really warm (sometimes too warm shuttling in and out of overheated museums) with some well thought out clothing choices. On three of those August through December Europe trips we had 45 So Cal college students with us and I would watch them shiver and shake in their layered clothing and athletic running shoes--we always advised them to bring a sturdy pair of walking shoes but do you think that happened... I wore a pair of thin, lined, leather "waterproof" little black boots that I wore with one or two layers of thin cashmere socks. I have stood in 0 degree weather in Berlin for hours at a time with no discomfort. Those little black boots purchased 12 years ago still have an honored place in my closet although I don't get to wear them much in SB.

Iusually travel in summer or shoulder seasons.My one winter trip was to Florence and Rome in January. In summer I saw David along with about 100 close friends and in January there were 3 of us. The part I didnt like was that the outdoor cafes were mostly closed and we were for the most part forced to eat inside .This eliminated one of my European highlights.

We have traveled to Europe (Belgium, Netherlands, Germany) the past two Decembers, plus Italy several years before that. I love it that it gets dark early and we can see the beautiful lights in the cities and Christmas markets. Life is too short to hate one of the seasons. I love them all. With lots of layers, including waterproof boots, down coats and toe warmers, we always stayed toasty in the coldest, snowiest of conditions. This year, cold and snowy Gemany was just so beautiful... there were times when I felt like I was on the set of Dr. Zhivago.So many days the softly falling snow wasabsolutely magical. Many restaurants had roaring fireplaces to warm us. Since I live in beautiful Bend, Oregon, where there are endless things to do in the summer like camping, hiking, rafting, river floating, and kayaking, I hesitate to leave very often during my favorite season here. We love to visit European cities,which are incredible year round, but especially memorable at Christmas time. Winter vacations are probably about half the price, with far less crowds. I like having trips planned throughout the year, so no part of the year is wasted. I love our winter trips every bit as much as our spring, summer and fall ones. They're unique and special in their own way.

I have done three winter vacations in Europe, and would not be afraid to do it again in spite of the lousy weather we had this time around. I think we had all of 4 or 5 days of brief sunshine. The rest of the time was overcast, gloomy, drizzle, rain and bitterly cold, but we were ready for the elements! I kind of like the quiet and less tourists to be honest. The shorter days can be a hassle, but if it works out to be a good time for you, I say go for it. Life is way too short to wait for the right time.

We went to Rome 12/26 through 1/3 and I have to say that, even though I am also "always dreaming of Europe" as Eli is, I don't think I would do it again during winter (well, if I had unlimited funds, I would). Our original flight didn't take off because of the snowstorm in NY and on the second day, with the Newark Airiport in complete chaos, we would have had to wait 2 more days if that flight didn't take off (it finally did). Then, our contact for the apartment in Rome wasn't there as he said he would be, and 2 hours later led us up to a freezing cold apartment. I like to meander through cities leisurely and discover things - I know I should have known better but I only get 2 weeks vacation plus the week between Christmas and New Year's. But for what we spent, it was just too short a trip. I never really got a feeling or an affection for Rome. Next year if we go away, it will be to someplace warm.