First time ever to Europe and going solo!!

GOOD FOR YOU! Although not the cheapest city my recommendation for your 5 day jaunt is London. I too am a solo female traveler. Have escaped to London 6 times and NEVER tire of it. One of the best cities on the planet. It's a very walkable city, the tube system rocks (except for the Central and District lines which always seem to have delays), museums are free, pubs are safe with good pub grub, cathedrals, churches a plenty....one of my favorite memories is attending Midnight Mass at St Paul's...magical! I'm NOT a traveler who shops much BUT the after Xmas sales will be in full bore. Harrod's will be closed but really there's so MUCH more to see and experience than a famous department store. Lastly, there won't be a language barrier, Xmas lights and displays will still be up, weather will be cold but most likely not freezing and the wonderful www.walks.com will be available. I adore Dublin, haven't seen Munich in 30 years but my vote is for London!!! PM for some more tidbits about where to stay,etc.

Jennifer, I am glad that you are going to be able to travel for 5 days, and you have come to the right place. I would suggest Münich and maybe a day trip to Füssen or Salzburg. I would not try and travel beyond a daytrip, because you have limited time and factoring in train travel from A to B is way too time costly for only a few days. Remember you are also going to be experiencing jet-lag which may set you back a whole day.

I think that you will be to late for the Christmas markets but you could go to Rothenburg ob der Tauber which has a few year-round stores. Also keep in mind that somethings will be closed 1/1/09 for the holiday. If you decide on Münich check out Eden Wolff Hotel on expedia.com $105.00 per/night and seems nice and close to train station and old town.

Happy travels!

I won't make a recommendation, but here's a city-by-city comparison on the criterion you listed: Based on your sight-seeing priorities, I would give preference to London or Munich over Dublin (has plenty of pubs, but can't compare to the other two for cathedrals or art galleries). For budget, Munich is probably the cheapest of the three, but hardly inexpensive. You'll find great food and shopping in all three cities, too hard to pick a winner in this category. For weather, Munich probably experiences the coldest winters, although certainly less harsh than Toronto. London, with it's extensive Underground is probably the easiest to navigate, although the sites of interest to tourists in Munich lie within a relatively compact area. Simply because the native language of London and Dublin is English, you may find these cities a bit friendlier. By reputation, Bavarians are not known as the most immediately friendly people in Europe, although you'll hear enough English spoken to start a conversation.

I'd go for London. It's a great place city to start with for all the reasons given above. Also, the exchange rate is the best in a long time finally making London more affordable than it's been in a while. My first trip was a tour of England. When I got home, I told myself I could do that by myself so the next year I went back for 3 weeks on my own & had a wonderful trip. So will you.

I think I would go for London too. What an amazing city and you certainly won't lack for things to see and do and you will be able to meet lots of people too if you like. This is just a top world class city. If you look around for some B&B's or pensions, you should be able to find something reasonable. Big plus is that the dollar has increased in value against the pound.

Save Germany for your next trip when you have more time to travel around and plan things.

I too recommend London, with perhaps a day trip via Eurostar to Paris!
Have a great time, and I assure you you will not be lonely.

I second the day trip to Paris. I know someone who did it the other way around. If you leave early & return late, you'll have time to walk around Paris, sit at cafes, & get a good look at the city.

If you were me(!), you'd go to Paris for the entire time!
Actually, wherever you go, you'll have a fantastic time (especially if you go prepared with Rick's guidebooks)!

Leaving on the 26th means you arrive on the 27th.

Considering what you wrote, I'd also vote for London. Lots to do, lots to see, no language barrier, a great way to introduce yourself to Europe.

A day trip to Paris is easy and possible. But remember, you won't have that much time.

Arrival on the 27th --probably a little jet lagged. That leaves you the 28th, 29th, 30th and then you leave.

For 3 1/2 days, I'd stick to one city and I'd choose London.

Oh...you'd better decide quickly. It's only 19 days before you leave. Hotels may be busy.

If you do decide on London, I'd also suggest a very quick trip to the bookstore to get Rick's guide to London--and start reading fast. It will give you enough to do during the short time to keep you busy every minute.

I usually travel alone so when in London I go on a few London Walks and meet people to have a drink with, a meal with, or sightsee with. The guides are great and the walks are fascinating.

London is a great place to do a short trip. I'd suggest that you consider the following: Arrive morning of Dec. 27- do hop-on/off bus tour. Walk around Covent Garden/Leciester Sqr/Picadilly area and people watch. Eat in China Town or a pub. Dec. 28- Do Tower of London, Westminster Cathedral and one museum of your choice. Dec. 29- day trip to Windsor with play that night. Dec. 30 either a day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, York, Bath, Cardiff or Canturbury or more of London's museums. Return on Dec. 31

Paris...without a doubt! The difference in airfares for your dates on kayak.com is about $30 U.S....and you'll save that in a day or two with lower prices for accomodations and meals in Paris. It's the city of light, the city of love....what more can I say!

I think you're getting good advice so far. Personally, I'd pick Paris, but I'm sure you can't go wrong with London, either.

However...I will add this suggestion: see if you can find a way to extend your trip, if only just a bit. As others have pointed out, you will probably be jet-lagged and unable to really do much on the first day there. That leaves you just a few days. I'm sure your situation is complicated with child visitation times, etc., but I would try real hard to see if you could find some way to extend your trip by a few days. It's a long way to go, and while a few days in London is better than nothing, if you could stretch your trip out to 10 days or two weeks (or whatever you can), it would be well worth it. Even adding a day or two would make a big difference (for example, if you just add a few more days, then you could do a nice over night trip to Paris from London, or vice-versa).

So much to see, so little time. See if there's any way you can manage to swing a bit more time.

Hi Jennifer, I think you should go to London. You were given wrong info above Harrods will be closed Christmas Day 25th, Boxing Day 26th ONLY. You would be able to visit Sat., Sunday, Monday and Tuesday the 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and the 31st. The hours for Sat., Mon., Tues are 10am to 8pm with the food halls opening an hour earlier and closing an hour later. Sunday hours are 11:30 to 6pm. Even if you don't want to spend a lot of time in Harrods the food halls are fun to walk thru and a great place to get tea and/or something to eat. Everything is so easy to get to either by walking or the tube, and the pubs are fun and pub food is very good at a good price. Have a great trip.

Wow! Thanks everyone! I think London is a clear winner. It is also an decent flight arriving early on the 27th which leaves me the entire day to sightsee. Don't get me wrong, would LOVE ot go to Paris, however after a couple of heartbreaks recently it is much too romantic a city right now..lol

My points can get me into the Hotel Russell. Has anyone heard anything about this hotel?

Here's Trip Advisor's page of reviews of the Hotel Rusell

Jennifer,

I'm getting into the discussion a bit late, but I would also recommend London for your first trip to Europe. I'm also a solo (male) traveller and have been to all of the cities you mentioned, and feel that under the circumstances it's really the best choice.

As others have mentioned, you'll probably arrive on Dec. 27th, so you'll really only have about 3 days. Is there any way you could squeeze an extra day or two into the trip? Even though travel from Toronto is easier than from the west coast, you'll still be jet lagged and probably won't see a lot on the first day.

There are lots of sightseeing possibilities in London! I'd suggest you check Rick's London or England books so you can focus on the sites that you really want to see (pack the book along!). With only 3 days, you don't want to waste ANY time. Of course, there are many Museums & Cathedrals but you could also visit the National Gallery or Tate Modern, a Musical (or two? Check the tkts booth in Leicester Square for half price tickets), the London Eye and of course "The Tower".

I'm not familiar with the Russell Hotel, but the comments on Trip Advisor generally seemed to be favourable. The staff at the Hotel will be able to provide info on good Pubs or Restaurants in the area.

Which airport will you be landing at? If it's Gatwick, it's easy to take the Gatwick Express to London Victoria (about £15 - 30 min. or so). The Tube is very easy to get around. For such a short visit, an Oyster Card probably isn't worth it, but remember to hang onto your ticket to exit the Subway).

If you have any questions about travel with ATM cards, Cell phones or other technology, post another note. Be prepared for the costs in London - it's expensive, especially with exchange rates at Cdn$1.90 or so!

Be sure to put Paris on your "future" list. Even travelling solo, I still found it an interesting city with lots to see. And of course Rome...

Happy travels!

For art go to Amsterdam. That's an easy first trip I think.

The exchange rate it good right now, of course could be better. Today it is $1.49.

Jennifer

Congratulations! My better 3/4 is in the same boat. She's a single mom, who's never been over the pond. I've travelled extensively.

This Xmas we're headed to London for a couple of days (but its ungodly expensive) then on the Eurostar to Paris. We've got a bit longer than you, but the same deal. Personally, I'd do a day or two in London and the same in Paris. It'll certainly give you a flavour as to what you want to concentrate on the next time---and there will be a next time.

I have the names of some inexpensive hotels in both cities if you's like to PM me.

Good Luck!

Hello Jennifer. Of the three destinations that you mentioned, I think London is the best choice for travelling in the winter, and being there only three whole days. London has plenty of things to see inside of warm and dry buildings. Ride in the London "Tube". A tourist in London does not need to stand outside in the cold rain. Some of the museums in London have free admission. If you want to experience a small town in England, a day trip to Canterbury (to see the cathedral and the town) can be a pleasant day trip from London, and it does not need to use all of your time in one day. Just being in London is an exciting experience. I like listening to the various accents in the talking of the people there. For the first whole day in London, I recommend : start at Westminster Abbey (church) at 9 A.M. Be in it for 45 minutes. Walk from it, along Whitehall Street, to the British National Gallery at Trafalgar Square. Directions for that walk, with a small map of it, are in Rick Steves' book on LONDON. Every painting in the National Gallery can be seen in less than two hours. For a quick walk through it, the paintings in the Old art section of it can be seen in one hour, and the paintings in the "New" art section of it can be seen in thirty minutes. I would ride in a Taxi car from Trafalgar Square to Covent garden for lunch and people watching there. Read about Covent garden in Rick Steves' book on London or England.

Good Luck & remember you RS city guidebooks (study them BEFORE you get there)& a central location for your hotel & public transportation.
I can't push Paris enough as a large (small town) City that is traveler friendly from the people to the museums to the Metro. Never been to most major US cities but have visited Paris 5X in as many years.
Enjoyed London the 1X there and must get back as many sights missed.
My wife & I took in "Wicked" in London and Circ du Soleil in Paris. Those are things that are fun and you mix with the locals.
Have a great trip.