Where would you go if......

Oh what a fun question! :)

I fell in love with Italy, and given the fact that you are going in November, I'd certainly visit there for a while. Italy in the summer was a bit too warm for me.

Happy travels!

Spain, definitely!
I recently returned from my first (but not last) trip to Spain, where I visited a kind of "unknown" area, the Pricipality of Asturias, on the northern coast. The people in this area are of Celtic heritage, and even the landscape looks Irish. If the weather is a little too chilly at that time of year, you could always head south to the Costa del Sol or Andalusia. I'm jealous!

I'm with Karen on this.
I was in Italy in November 2005.
I'm from Texas and the weather in Rome in November was just like Texas! It may not always be that warm so dress in layers. Florance was much cooler.
Have a wonderful trip no matter where you choose to go!!

I agree about Paris! It's a must. the weather may be a bit cooler than in Italy and Spain (which are very worthwhile destinations also), but I have been to Paris in late October and in January, and loved it then.

Bon voyage!

Totally different opinion here. Our favorite Nov./Dec. destination is the UK. We often base ourselves in London and do day trips out to places like Cardiff, York, Canturbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Windsor, etc. The weather there is usually very similar to her in NC. We love the UK and especially enjoy the Christmas markets that start up in late Nov. We have even been to the Highlands during Nov. and loved it. Light snow on a few days, beautiful! We have also done Austria during the winter. A bit chilly, but absolutely marvelous!!! With your budget you could do some really amazing things. We have been "over the pond" more than 40 times and still have lots we want to do. Feel free to email me for details and specific ideas.

If you don't go to Paris, you might as well stay home...;-)

For relative warmth, we'd say Sicily and the south of Italy or Spain-- why not BOTH if time is not a problem?
If you allow youselves $150/day (surely reasonable in winter), you will have enough for about 6 weeks travel.
Try apartments and small hotels n B&Bs. Make your own dinners MOST of the time. There are plenty of stores wherever you choose to go.
Must also agree that w/o Paris, you cannot say you have gone ANYWHERE.
Buon Viaggi et Bonne Voyage und Gute Reise !!!

I agree that the weather in the UK, even up north, isn't that much of an issue, although the temps won't meet your 60-70 degree standard. For me, the real issue would be the brief hours of winter sunlight. That said, London is London, even when it gets dark before 5 pm.

What a great dilema :) Do you have Rick's whole Europe book? He has some great itenerary planning advice that might help and then you can read a little about each place. Once you focus in you can buy the regional books to do the detailed planning.

Colleen -

What a great question! For my money (and my taste buds) the Lot and Dordogne valleys are the winners. I'm sort of "off" the big cities and the cuisine and culture of the French countryside cannot be beat. Have a great time.

Colleen, I've heard many French citizens opinions that the best cuisine is to be found in Strassbourg, for what it's worth.

If you are considering Brittany, here's a suggestion which I know only from the Internet. Their web site is below. Have a look. bon voyage. P.

http://www.levieuxchiennoir.com/

I have been to Paris, London, Munich, Milan/Lake Como, Madrid/Barcelona and love them all for various reasons... but if I were to go back for one?? I would say Spain hands down!!

In Spain you can spend a night in a castle, have a lot more sunshine during that time of the year, and visit places which aren't as "overrun" by tourists... well, not as much as some of the places like in Italy.

I think I also like Spain more because living in So Cal I can speak some Spanish, where my French or Italian is non existent!

Colleen, if you are going in early November and want pleasant weather, I would definitely stick to the southern half of Italy and the southern parts of Spain and Portugal.

Colleen : I visited a total of nine countries in Europe and Britain. If you have not been to Europe before, I recommend : first go to the island Crete in Greece. Don't leave Crete until you feel rested, with energy and a feeling of physical and emotional well being. (In November, Crete has warmer weather than the other islands of Greece).
And go to Italy, southern France, southern Spain, Portugal, and Austria. In Austria, visiting Salzburg and Vienna can be pleasant in November or December, because you would be inside buildings. Visit Neuschvonstein in Bavaria. I think the $7000. could pay for travel to all of those countries. In each country I recommend stay at one place for several nights. For example, when you are at Florence Italy you can look at art in Florence for two days, and go on day trips to hill towns in Tuscanny. On days when there is rain, people can enjoy being inside buldings. And, I would seek a place to submerge in warm water, and get a massage, in Austria ?