klm_cip

My 79 year old mother want me to take her to experience the Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria the first 2 weeks in December this year. We live in Florida. Is it realistic to expect snow or just cold and rain? I am beginning to have second thoughts on this adventure. Also outerwear would it be better to have a coat that is water repellant (they look puffy and quilted) instead of a wool dress coat. My mother is in good health, but I am beginning to worry about ice and not being warm enough or getting her to warm.
Opinions anyone. Thank you.

kybourbon

It might be easiest to do one of the Christmas market river cruises. Grand Circle offers some, but I think there are others such as Viking or Euro cruise.

suze

I think for what you seek, an organized tour would be an excellent idea in your situation. It would take most of the planning worries off your shoulders, so you can both enjoy the trip together.

letsgo39

I also suggest a Christmas Market River cruise.Avalon(owned by Globus)does a great job.This is a great,relaxing way to travel as you only unpack 1 time and your hotel goes with you.

AZKathy

Hi Kim,

I took my 76 year old mother to France for a week in December to see the Christmas Markets. I found a ground-floor apt. in Eguisheim and we rented a car. In the Alsace region it was cold when we were out at night but a couple of days were very pleasant (60s). It did not snow and there was no ice where we were. It is true that she did not want to be out a lot at night but we could drive to all the markets we wanted during the day and just hit a few after dark. We are from the south now and no longer have really good cold weather clothes.

I would imagine a cruise would be wonderful as well.

quokka

Definitely bring waterproof coats. Wool takes forever to dry after a walk in the rain. Germans think practical, they'd rather wear less pretty gear which is suitable to current weather conditions than sacrifice their comfort and health to being 'dressy'.

Even more important - warm, waterproof shoes/boots (not wellies but those Goretex type boots that are warm, comfortable, have a good grip and keep your feet dry). Go shoe-shopping on your first day in Germany if you don't find them at home or prices are too ridiculous.

Snow is possible but there is absolutely no guarantee, no matter what the tour operator's advertising tells you. You are very likely to experience the worst weather conditions of all: temperatures slightly above zero, rain and strong wind. Believe me, this is much more uncomfortable than freezing and snow.

Most Christmas markets take place in the heart of the resp. city. You can easily escape into a nearby cafe or department store as soon as you start feeling cold, warm up, have a hot drink, use the facilities, and then venture out again later. The stores will be decorated prettily for Christmas, so there is enough to see inside, too.

If you're worried about the ground being slippery because of ice and snow, get a pair of those little snow chains that go round the shoes. These things are available at sports/outdoor stores and in the shoe departments of the department stores here.

If you want to plan the trip on your own, choose hotels in the city centres (book well in advance) so that you have short ways and can easily return to your room during the day if your mother wants a rest or if you want to get rid of your huge and heavy bags full of purchases;-)
Avoid the big markets like Munich, Nürnberg, Dresden on Saturdays, they'll be overrun with day trippers and be no fun at all. Better stay more than one night in each city, take it slow. That way you can avoid the peak hours at the markets, soak up the atmosphere and give your mother enough time to rest.

Jake1

Here's a website for info on individual Christmas markets in Germany.

http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/

munich_madl

If you don't want to do a cruise or go on an organised tour, then a good place to base yourself would be Munich. In Munich there are several markets all over (I read in one article that there are around 75 all over Munich and its suburbs), each with it's distinct character. If you're not sick of markets after looking at several, you could do a day trip to Salzburg to attend their market. I took my dad (79yrs also) to Salzburg by train in summer last year. Takes about 2hrs from Munich. From the train station, either take a bus or walk to town (20min). We took a leisurely walk but in the cold, it may be better to hop onto a bus.

Another market which is very lovely and which I would recommend together with an overnight stay is the market on the Fraueninsel in Chiemsee. Chiemsee is a lake about 1hr + drive from Munich. The Fraueninsel is one of the islands on the lake. It is very small but there are a couple of hotels on it. You get there by boat. At night, the lights and the water lapping on the shores make for a fairy-tale atmosphere. We stayed on the mainland and went over for the night as it was cheaper. If you have a car, it would be better but this is also doable by train.

With global warming, it is extremely hard for anyone to forecast the weather. The tendency however, is that there will be no snow (and therefore no ice) in Dec but it will be cold - but not as cold as in Jan or Feb. Do not be afraid about ice. In the cities, the streets and pavements are strewn with either gravel or salt. They are excellent in this respect.

Bring clothes that you can layer and peel off if too warm. Fleece is excellent. As for rain, I am never crazy enough to go walking around in the freezing cold and rain so I don't even possess a proper rain coat - just use an umbrella and thick gloves, otherwise your hands will freeze. A warm hat and scarve are very important and will make a big difference.

here are some links:
http://www.muenchen.de/Tourismus/tou...305/index.html
http://www.christkindlmarkt.co.at/index.php?id=76
http://www.christkindlmarkt-frauenin...h/location.htm

Fran

LilyLace

I took my 80 year old grandmother to Germany in January 3 years ago.

I was going to a week long trade show and asked her if she would like to go along. We stayed in a small hotel in Darmstadt and took the train to Frankfurt each morning. We shopped and walked alot, went out to eat every night and were up early in the mornings. It was cold but not unbearable. Many Germans walk so the sidewalks and pathways are clear.

We also took a train to a small town to visit my cousin at the end of the week - also no problems.

Really depends on your mother's health. Does she walk at home?

Have a great time.

MarthaT

I went this past year on the second week of December with Globus to Germany and Austria. Yes it snowed a little in Munich and Vienna and the counryside between cities was covered in snow.
I am also in Florida and went out and bought a down coat before I went, I am sure glad I did. Probably won't wear it much here at home but I really want to back to more Christmas markets in the coming years.
No ice but just light snow flakes in the cities and of course to me it was really cold being out in it most of the day.
So I think your mother would like it but bring a heavy coat, gloves and a hat and scarf to keep warm.

BTilke

I've taken my late 70s (now 80) yo mother to Christmas markets in Germany. She lived in Florida (now back in PA) and found it cold in winter, but not unbearable. The Bass outlet in The Villages should carry some comfortable, lightweight waterproof walking shoes/low boots at good prices. They had a decent selection when I was there about a year ago.
The Nordstrom in Orlando also carries some, but they'll be more expensive than at a Bass outlet.

If she's interested in a group tour/cruise, she would probably enjoy it.
If she wants to go independent, then then the Munich base with day trips suggestion is also good. Treat your mom to a day in one of the spa towns in the region as well...Bad Reichenhall, for example, has a nice spa and would be a relaxing change from the Christmas market hubbub.

In addition to the comments about what to wear, also make sure she's comfortable in crowds. Some of the big markets are mob scenes.

We greatly enjoy the Christmas market scene in Baden-Baden, one of the top spa towns in Germany. It's a beautiful little resort town, very relaxing, and far less crowded. Excellent shopping in the market (it's not as big as many others, but it doesn't offer tacky, cheap products) and in the town itself. Plenty of free live music performances as well. My mother loved her visits to Baden-Baden. But if you want to do Germany and Austria, it may be too far out of your way.

Just make sure your Mom keeps at an easy pace. The festive atmosphere in Germany and Austria around Christmas is delightful if you take the time to enjoy it, instead of rushing around to do and see everything.

AisleSeat

You might think about taking Mom to Munich Salzburg and Vienna and staying near the center of town in each place. Definately take something that sheds water and layer with a fleece or wool sweater. A second pair of shoes is a good idea too if one gets wet. The gluhwein helps take the chill off too.

klm_cip

Thank you all for your replies, I am feeling much better about this. The funny thing is it all got started when she got a brochure from Grand Circle about their Xmas Market cruise. But I could not give up control of our destiny J and talked her into doing it our selves minus the boat. The Plan is 4 nights in Vienna, 3 nights in Salzburg, and 4 nights in Munich and yes I have hotels picked out that are in the centers of each town.

She does walk and works out at the gym at home, she is probably in better shape than I am.

So I guess I will continue with the planning, we do want to see a few sights too not all Markets. So the plan is a lovely slow trip with lots of hot chocolate. I love the planning as much as the trip itself. And we both love the idea of experiencing the Christmas season over there.

So here we go!

Thanks again for the all the encouragement.

jhaskell

The Christmas Markets are wonderful... the spirit is contagious. I have been twice. Last December I booked a Christmas on the Danube Market Cruise through Collette Vacations. It is an easy way to see the several markets, have comfortable accommodations and our food on the boat was very good. Collette uses Lueftner Cruise Line. We were aboard the Amadeus Classic from Vienna to Frankfurt. The crew was young and anxious to please. There were all ages on the boat. It was an easy way to see the markets with some added signtseeing included. Weather? It's up to Mother Nature...I took a long wool coat, an umbrella, a hat, gloves and scarf...and one of those unsightly plastic ponchos just in case of heavy rain...I never used it and just tossed it. The weather was cold with severeal overcast days but little rain and no snow. Shoes are very important...purchase what you take early to be sure they are "well broken in"...get shoes as waterproof as possible and pack socks for warmth.
We visited the Markets in Vienna, Rothenburg, Nurenberg, Reagansburg, and Passau. Each market is different...some have become very commercial but some are small, quaint with local crafts. Watch the extended forecast proir to your departure and pack accordingly.
You'll love the markets. Enjoy!

AisleSeat

The problem I have seen with the Christmas Market cruises is they can only go where the river goes. In the case of the Danube that means the high points will be Vienna, Regensburg and Nuremburg. Not bad places but you miss Munich Salzburg and possibly Rothenburg.

Lawchick

My parents are in their 60s and are Irish and they FREEZE when the go to Austria in December. It can be very cold but just make sure that your mother dresses very warmly. I would say that a wool dress coat is not enough for a "mature" lady from Florida. Pump her full of gluhwein...that's great for keeping the cold out.