Places to stay around Christmas time

Posted by Susan (Portland, OR, USA) on 11/14/12 10:50 AM

My daughter will be traveling, alone, prior to Christmas and wants to visit the markets at Strasbourg, Nuremberg and Brussels. It will be immediately before Christmas (she's heading to London for the actual holiday), and was wondering where to stay. There are a lot of hostels and hotels, but I thought a guesthouse might be more friendly at the time of a holiday. She'd like internet access, but would forgo it for a nice, homey place. Any suggestions! Thanks to you in advance Susan

Posted by Kira

Seattle, WA, USA

11/14/12 12:44 AM

1068 posts

You don't mention your daughter's age, but if she's under 25, I'd say a hostel would be the perfect place to stay. Hostels are VERY friendly and over the holidays can turn into an oasis of friendly family feeling. I was at a hostel in Wales many years ago over the July 4th weekend - all the Americans and a lot of the Canadians got together for an impromptu picnic on top of Cadair Idris, and it was great! I was also in a hostel in France one Thanksgiving - we had a great meal that everyone (not just the Americans) rustled up together, and it is now one of my fondest memories. I suppose a guesthouse could feel more friendly - but I also think it might be weird. Because if a real family are the hosts, and she's not part of the family, she might feel left out? A little? Dunno - that's just my gut feeling.

Posted by Claudia

Land of La

11/14/12 01:54 PM

8649 posts

Your daughter understands that London's public transport system pretty much closes down around 9pm on Christmas Eve and is non existent on Christmas Day. Wouldn't want her to be stranded.

Posted by Tom

Danville, VT

11/15/12 05:21 AM

12040 posts

"My daughter will be traveling, alone, prior to Christmas and wants to visit the markets at Strasbourg, Nuremberg and Brussels." This doesn't answer your question, but if she'll be in Brussels, I would recommend a quick sidetrip to Hasselt to visit their "Winterland". Sort of a combination of a Christmas market and a winter-themed carnival, but without all the hokey midway games and with much better food. It's the most elaborate Christmas market I have yet seen in Europe.