Johanna

We are planning a trip to Europe from the end of December through the middle of January. We will be spending most of our time in Geneva at a friend's house, but would like to take some shorter excursions to Italy and possibly Germany. We are not big skiers so any suggestions you might have as to places that would be a good time in the winter. One idea we had was Naples for the slightly warmer temperature, but we are concerned about theft and our safety as females. We would appreciate any suggestions for a warmer spot to get some sun and any other helpful tips to enjoy these less popular winter dates. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you.

Nancy

Dear Johanna:<BR><BR>Naples does not really have great weather in December/January. It rains and can be cold. Naples is not a nice city anyway, but think about a trip to the Amalfi coast in some other season than Jan/Dec. (Bad weather and lots of things are closed.) If you want real warmth, go to Sicily or the coast of Spain. <BR><BR>You might try Tocino, which is the area of Switzerland over the Alps to the south. It has a heavy Italian influence, and is sub-tropical. It does not get the harsh winter, it is in a microclimate because of the Alps. Check with your friends in Geneva about Tocino, specifically Lake Lugano. The train ride from Geneva would be beautiful.<BR><BR>Rome would be a fabulous place in winter. It is not really cold (it snows about once a decade) and would be very uncrowded. I think it is beautiful at any time of year. Of course, if you want a beach, then Rome is not for you.<BR><BR>Zermatt and other ski areas are fun for non-skiers too, so you might think about going there. However, this is prime skiing season, so things may be booked.<BR><BR>Germany will be pretty cold. Vienna will be cold but is a great city to visit for a weekend, as is Salzburg.<BR><BR>Hope this is helpful.<BR>

Davidx

Sicily would be great but may be too far for you. E-mail me if you are interested and I will send you a copy of my notes.

former nyc resident

St. Moritz has 322 days of sun and you can bake at gorgeous and chic outdoor restaurants and champagne bars up on the mountain without being a skier. They have great walks of all kinds and xcountry across the frozen lakes, and most of the tourists are beautiful looking Italians! I must say I have NEVER been to any big city in Europe as utterly boring as Geneva -- we had to spend a half day there waiting for a flight and wanted to kill ourselves...too Calvinistic maybe...so I would use my time LEARNING TO SKI since it is very easy these days and you are going to be in the mecca. Zermatt is another must-see town, also fun for non-skiers (though a darn shame not to ski) with amazing views. Lucerne is just lovely for a day, again with gorgeous views. I only care for Zurich in the summer when everything is green and it is best if you have lots of $$$ since there are plenty of expensive jewelry shops and restaurants. Beaches even in Greece are cold at this time of year -- maybe if you went down to the Sinai peninsula where there are lots of resorts and cheap packages from Switz. you could get your sun. The Red Sea is quite a popular destination with Germans seeking sun. I never fell in love with Munich, but Crazy Ludwig's castles in the snow are magic, and so is Berlin though that would entail a flight. I would discourage Austrian and French Alps for non-skiers, St. Moritz and Zermatt are your best bet as others have said, easy to meet people and all the ski instructors are very nice people in my experience -- try going for it! That is really what Europe is all about in winter. Both towns are pricey but bargains can be found the second week of January which is off-off season. Forget Xmas and New Year's in ski resorts and stick with city trips like Lucerne and the Ludwig castles. The Sinai would be a 5 hour flight away, so please keep in mind you really ARE quite far from sunning opportunities! The best beach I have seen in Europe in winter are those outdoor restaurants on the mountain tops where people can strip down to the basic and tan all day on lounge chairs.

susanna

It's spelled &quot;TIcino&quot; and it's lovely. See Bellinzona, at least! I did experience a very cold winter in Florence and venice many yrs ago - it even snowed in Venice! Go prepared; and remember to get an early start in the day since it gets darker earlier, also, some sights and museums may be shut or undergoing renovations in the off season.