Winter Holiday Travel

Switzerland is much more expensive than Germany. I am curious why you have a trip planned, but don't know where you should go. There must have been some reason you are choosing to travel - things you wanted to see or do?

The one general bit of advice I'll offer is to keep it urban unless you plan on some winter sports. Periods of daylight are much shorter than in the US, and the air is usually damp and overcast. Meaning, all that great rural scenery hides behind a curtain of gray haze.

Christmas markets are a popular attraction in Germany. Some people apparently build entire vacations on going from one Christmas market to the next. In Austria, at least, the Christmas Markets close on 24 Dec. Count on it to be dark by 4:00 or so. Temps can hover around freezing. Maybe a dusting of snow. Maybe not. Overcaste is depressingly normal. Good time of year to visit museums. However, 'tis the season for roast goose, delicious soups and seasonal beers. Is usually a time for family and friends and winter sports at higher elevations. Honestly, holiday cheer is about the only thing that gets me through those shortest, darkest, coldest, dampest days of the year.

I know absolutely nothing about Switzerland but would totally go back to Germany for its Christmas Markets...Last year we went to Spain for the winter holidays, it was the warmest we have ever been when traveling in Europe (we always travel in the Nov-Dec time of year).

I would say Germany and Salzburg would be nice. Last Christmas we spent a day in Munich and then took the first morning train to Verona and on to Venice for Christmas. Had a wonderful time but it is a long train ride. I love Germany - Nurnberg and Bamberg would both be nice and the trains in Germany are fast and easy - and it's much cheaper than Switzerland. We got a nice triple with a big breakfast in Nurnberg for 89euros at Hotel Garni Prost last year. What a bargain.

We did a lovely Christmas trip many years ago. The itinerary was fly to Zurich, train to St. Moritz for a few days, car to Innsbruck, then Salzburg, then Christmas at the Gruner Baum, an old mountain hotel just outside Badgastein. Christmas markets in Austria were lovely and the town of Salzburg the days before Christmas was like living inside of a Christmas snow globe.

Thank you everyone for your advice. I live in a very warm climate and will be moving to an even warmer one so I want my winter holiday to truly be a winter wonderland.

Some great Swiss holiday areas are Davos/Klosters. Great skiing, shops, restaurants and night life. Gstaad is another fun town and in the Rick Steves' approved Berner Oberland region. Many Swiss towns have Christmasmarkts as well. Germany is great for the markets, but a better winter wonderland holiday is found in Switzerland.

"so I want my winter holiday to truly be a winter wonderland." I take that to mean that you want to see snow? If yes, then the closest thing you can get to a guarantee would be to head to the Alps. Everywhere else, the chances are much smaller.