New Years in Paris and Christmas in ?

thank you, I do have one reserved in Paris but can you recommend a company in London?

What about Christmas in London? I would definitely choose a city, rather than a smaller town. More things will be open. I would also suggest an apartment in each location you choose. You will have more room and the ability to prepare your own food at times things are closed down for the holiday. Apartments for the holidays book up early, so I would start looking now.

I use vrbo.com and homeaway.com to find apartments. Other people have recommended airb&b as being a good resource.

I've always wanted to go to Salzburg at Christmas . . . So cozy and gemütlichkeit . . . There's a train from Gare de l'Est, although I think it's about six hours or something . . . .

For me, it's always been a dream to be in Vienna at Christmas. The kids Christmas market out at the palace is supposed to be great. And I can only imagine how beautiful the city would be decorated. Vienna is a magical city at normal times, but at Christmas it should be wonderful. I have been in Paris at Christmas and I have to say it was amazingly beautiful. Outside the Hotel de Ville they had an ice rink set up with a carousel and warm snacks and drinks. Even the waiters were friendly! My wife and I were at a restaurant by Les Halles and I order the rabbit. When the waiter came to deliver the dinners, he placed my wife's dinner down and murmured "Coq a'vin", then placed my dinner in front of me and murmured "Le Bugs Bunny" without so much as a backwards glance or cracking a smile. It took us a second, but it's been a fun story ever since. There is such a thing as French waiter humor. (good service I knew about, humor, not so common) If you wanted to stay in France and make it a French holiday, what about Lyon? I agree to stay out of the small towns unless you've worked with your local host on where you can eat and what's open when. I would love to be a part of a small town celebration, but you'd have to know someone. Have fun!

We went to Vienna during the Christmas season this past year. Although Vienna (and the Habsburgs/Hapsburgs) sometimes overwhelms me with "too much of a good thing," it was gorgeous with all the decorations and I thought their Christmas markets were great! If you go, be sure and look up in the large trees around the largest market - they were decorated with huge ornaments that were pretty funny and cool. Though it feels so large, we were very comfortable mostly walking or taking public transport around the ring.