Place to travel in December

My suggestion would be Spain. The weather is temperate in December and southern Spain is fairly inexpensive [my 3 star hotel in Cordoba was only 27 € per night]. You could start in Barcelona and then meander westward toward Seville. Portugal is also inexpensive and has many architectural and historic sights. I have trouble enough with English. Visited Spain and Portugal late last November and had no problems with my inability to speak Spanish or Portuguese. Check on the destinations of Rick's Spain and Portugal tours for an idea of where they stop. PM me for more info if you wish.

Why don’t you think a little outside of the box. Kiev? Also Istanbul is pretty inexpensive; even the airfare from the US is generally very competitive. Transylvania is pretty cost effective and incredible any time of the year. The Baltic states would also be cost effective I would think. I priced out a trip to Armenia earlier this year and was stunned at how reasonable the costs were. Decided on Ukraine instead for different reasons. More conventional, maybe Naples? I am concentrating on CHEAP as opposed to VALUE for the BUCK. Am I on the right track?

Language, don't sweat it. Where there is a will there is a way.

Andalusia has the warmest, driest climate in Europe - perfect for winter trips. And it's fascinating. Although there's little English spoken, I found the locals very patient and remarkably successful in communicating. Everyone was warm, friendly, and helpful. It's also one of the cheaper places to visit in Europe. With your interests, it sounds like a perfect fit. Whatever you decide on, come back, let us know, and get lots of tips on detailed planning and sightseeing.

Several times in your post, you mention concerns about things being "open."

The only major problems will be right around Christmas/New Years. For the holidays, it varies by place, but posts here by people who live in Europe indicate that, depending on the place, many things close December 24, 25, and/or 26. This includes not just museums and tourist sights, but also restaurants and food stores, meaning you have to plan your meals ahead. However, these same posts indicate that it really varies by place, so you have to check. Up until December 23, things will be open wherever you go.

If you're going to a seasonal destination like the Cinque Terre, many restaurants and hotels close off-season. But in big cities and less seasonal destinations, you'll be fine. Cities - even smaller ones - don't "close." However, if you want walking tours (for example), these can be less frequent or non-existent in December. This is particularly true for English-language tours of cities, museums, etc; any tours going in December are more likely to be in the native language only. That said, I don't think language should restrict where you go. Monolingual English speakers do fine all over Europe. Once you know where you're going, you can start to learn some basics. For instance, if you're going to Italy, get one of those "Italian for Travelers" type CD's. You'll be surprised at how much even basic language skills will enhance your trip.

Gary,
I also recommend Spain. The weather in Andalucia is still quite pleasant in December. Your trip will definitely be in low season, so you should get very reasonable lodging prices in cities like Sevilla, Cordoba or Granada. I would recommend flying into Madrid and then travel south by train - Cordoba is just less than 2 hour comfortable ride. If you decide to go this route, you should purchase your train tickets online very soon so that you are able to take advantage of the 40 or 50% off promotional rates.

Spain is a big country with history and architecture galore, so looking north of Andalusia is worth considering, too. We were in Madrid last November (OK, so not December, but close), and with a jacket and being prepared for occasional rain, it was a great time. Everything's open -- some places are even open at night -- and even at outstanding art museums like the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza, the art depicts a lot of history. It gets dark earlier than in the summer, but there's plenty to see and do, and Spaniards stay up late!

Toledo and Segovia, for starters, also offer interesting visits near Madrid. Barcelona, in the northeast, is a hotbed of Modernista architecture. One advantage of hitting southern Spain in December, though, would be avoiding the really hot temperatures of summer, when most tourists are sweating it out.

You might think this sound crazy, but what about Iceland? Flights are fairly inexpensive if you live near where Icelandair flies. I went to Iceland at the very beginning of January last year - yes, the daylight hours are super short: just 5 hours of sunlight a day. It wasn't all that cold, 30s but with a biting wind that goes right through you; with proper layers I was fine and comfortable. I honestly think the winter was the best time to visit - the landscape is at its most dramatic, and there are a number of tour companies to do one/two/three day tours.

But to go with your interests of history and architecture, if you do decide on England I would recommend visiting York as one city.

Thanks everyone for the input! Many posted that Spain would be a good option. Since I only have 10 days do you think it would be doable to go to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Andalusia region? Or would that be too rushed? Since I am already over there I would like to see as much as possible but also want to enjoy myself and not feel like I am running from place to place. Also are there any sights in Spain that I should definitely see on my trip?

Another idea might be the south of Spain and a few days to morocco.
Otherwise, there is so much to see and do in southern Spain I would stick to that area and enjoy it. Easier to stay on a budget without moving around too much.

Hi again Gary - our past trips to Spain (and with 2 weeks or more) have been to either northern or southern, but not both, and we still haven't seen a lot of the country (Galicia, east coast, etc.). You could do a hit-and-run and see a smattering of Andalusia, Madrid, and Barcelona, but to get the maximum experience out of your 10 days, and to minimize time spent on a train, bus, or plane traveling around the country, I'd recommend picking either Andalusia (including Granada, with the fabulous Alhambra, and a hamam baths where you can get a great massage, too; plus Sevilla and surrounding hilltowns) -or- Madrid+side trips to Toledo & Segovia+Barcelona. Or cut out either Madrid or Barcelona and see a smaller part of Andalusia.

Madrid offers perhaps the best collection of art museums in the world (including the Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza), plus the royal palace, and San Miguel Market. Toledo, the old capitol and the place El Greco called home, has narrow lanes, an impressive cathedral, and more museums. Segovia has more narrow lanes, the Alcazar castle, a magnificent ancient Roamn aqueduct, and outstanding cochinillo (roast suckling pig). Barcelona is a big city with a Gothic Quarter, Modernista architecture from Gaudi and his contemporaries, Montjuic, and impressive Picasso and Miro museums. Side trips from Barcelona could include Montserrat or Girona, if you found yourself with spare time.

In December, Andalusia will likely be warmer and drier than places farther north.