Hello Have previously been to France/Italy (Sept/Oct 09). Am looking at going in December/January 2012/13. So far have us (4) - Landing Zurich (4 days) TGV to colmar (staying at Riquewhir 7 nights as a base), TGV to Strasbourg (4 nights), then on to Paris (2 weeks as a base) - somehow thought of Christmas and New Year in Paris. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Have dates available from 10 December to 13 January. Not sure how to plan this.
Thanks everyone
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33778 posts
leanne Why TGV from Colmar to Strasbourg? The more frequent regional trains with no reservations take around 31 minutes. The occasional TGVs take 28 minutes. I would suggest 3 minutes isn't worth the hassle.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33778 posts
A bit more, leanne. Some folks here bristle when old heads stick their oars in. Are you looking for specific or general advice? If it were me I would think 11 days between Colmar and villages and Strasbourg is quite a lot. Will you have a car? I would, to get around Route des Vins. Are you using the bahn website?
Posted by
OP
brisbane
43 posts
Hi again Specific advice would be helpful. We are from Australia - have never experienced a "cold winter" and would like suggestions for our trip - just thought Christmas in Paris sounded ideal and trying mainly to plan around that! Thanks
Leanne
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
"We are from Australia - have never experienced a "cold winter" and would like suggestions for our trip." http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp for realistic expectations about the weather.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33778 posts
leanne You have 4 days (nights?) in Zurich. Are you staying in Zurich? Its quite expensive there and many will suggest that 4 days is quite a lot there. Or do you intend to head to the mountains? Are you there for snow stuff, city stuff, or scenery? Many will suggest a couple of days in Muerren or Wengen in the Berner Oberland.
Posted by
pflugerville, tx, usa
26 posts
Hello, I don't have much advise yet but my husband and I will be spending our honeymoon in Europe around that same time and I have planning on being in Paris for New Years Eve also, I will let you know if I find any really good deals with hotels or B&B. Megan
Posted by
OP
brisbane
43 posts
Thanks everyone for your replies to date. Q. For 5 weeks from 10/12 - where would you go? Interested in culture, have been to Paris before but thought of staying again for extended time as a base. Will be travelling by train - not car. Just looking at ideas at this stage. Thanks
Leanne
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
"Many will suggest a couple of days in Muerren or Wengen in the Berner Oberland." I would second the recommendation on a mountain resort over Zurich, but not on a cost-comparison basis. Realize that in the winter, the mountain regions are generally at their busiest and most expensive. Skiers (like me) are willing to shell out a large premium for mountain lodging in the winter.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33778 posts
Thanks for that, Tom. Tongue-tied-erism. What I meant to say was Zurich, relative to other flatland places in the surrounding Swiss, German, Austrian, French areas is expensive, and that 4 days there would be both quite a lot of time and quite a lot of money. I also wanted to suggest that whilst in Switzerland it may be worthwhile to go and play in the snow in the Berner Oberland. I know I would . I also suggest that staying near Colmar for 7 nights and just down the road at Strasbourg for 4 more is quite a lot of time, and I love Alsace. A fortnight in Paris sounds good.