SURPRISE TRIP

Old Jul 17th, 2017, 02:55 AM
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SURPRISE TRIP

So DH surprising me in December with 4 day trip to one of these cities: Prague, Oslo, Copenhagen, Madrid or Barcelona. Since I do not know until the day I leave where I am going, I cannot thoroughly prepare in advance. Your quest, if you choose to accept it, is to give me your best version of an itinerary to any one of these cities inclusive of 4/5 star hotels with great views and 4/5 star restaurants for dinner.thank you!
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 05:08 AM
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Seems you DH hasn't considered the effect of weather on packing...

If he is planning the trip, why are you asking about hotels and restaurants.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 05:32 AM
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Thursdayd- I failed to mention first week in December as time of year. I can still ask about hotels to visit them
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 05:43 AM
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Oslo in December and Barcelona in December will not have the same weather.

See weatherunderground.com - easily 20F difference in the highs.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 05:45 AM
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It will be cold everywhere mentioned, except for Barcelona, so pack accordingly.

Retarding hotel and restaurant recommendations, I think you should let the crowd know a little more about your taste in accommodations and cuisine.

All are different. Not all 4 or 5-star hotels are created equal. Restaurants are a matter of personal taste ☺️.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 05:53 AM
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I have had the lucky privilege of celebrating my previous two January birthdays in Prague. And, we have also spent the week between Christmas and New Years in Prague. Not early December, but close.

On the gray days the camera is set to B/W; on the clear mornings we rise early to catch the purple/pink/blue swirls of morning light over Prague Castle. A Saturday visit to a farmer's market is a must for me (we live in Vienna, so I can take purchases home); if the day is truly weather-spectacular we have gone to Vsyehrad for an outing, but that has happened only once. In July. Other times, we pick a neighborhood, bundle up, and set out. If you are visiting for the first time, the usual suspects of sights and museums will fill your days. Bonus points if there are Christmas markets.

Shopping is also on my activity list. Vienna lacks true department stores; and the stores that do exist shutter by 1800 on Saturdays and all day on Sundays. Plus, Prague has several French and British labels that I have come to enjoy.

For dining, the birthday dinners have been at Deer and Caserol, with Deer my new favorite for its seasonal and modern Czech cuisine and outstanding wine selections.

For lodging we have stayed at Iron Gates, though it offers no view; and Old Town Square which is, as the name suggests, right on the square. We like both, but Old Town Square delivers breakfast to the suite as part of the reservation; it is so nice not to have to "dress" for breakfast sometimes.

Happy Planning!
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 05:54 AM
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Although you did not state, it appears this is not a total surprise. Is this more like this: you create a list of options and your DH chooses one of them but would not tell you until the departure day?

Given that the destinations include cities with various weather scenarios where you can be snowed in, hotels with great view can lose all their attractions at the last minutes.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 05:59 AM
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Barcelona for me - can't stand the really short often dark dank days in northern Europe.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 06:04 AM
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It can be cold in Barcelona too. Snow is not unheard of there.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 06:41 AM
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What an awful surprise.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 07:45 AM
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On the average days will be longer; temps warmer and much less likely to snow in Barcelona than northern Europe. Yes it could and it could be rather warm in northern places at times too.
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 07:51 AM
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>> inclusive of 4/5 star hotels with great views and 4/5 star restaurants for dinner
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 06:00 PM
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Really? No advance warning about the climate or sunset/sunset times? I can understand that the intent is incredibly romantic, but in pragmatic terms, I would NOT be happy. JMO.

To comment further, I would need to know a bit about YOUR intersts, as I find these cities extraordinarily different from each other.

I do appreciate your husband’s intent. With a bit more information, maybe we can help shape your questions to him so that he can still offer a surprise, without delivering a disaster.

That’s my hope!
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Old Jul 18th, 2017, 02:32 AM
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First,

Bedar- I resent your comment. This forum is for travel advice. No need to make a general negative comment. I hope FODOR deletes it!

Fourfortravel- I appreciate all of your advice!

PalenQ - can always rely on you. But thought you would elaborate some more.

Janisj - why so negative?

hetismij2- thank you.

Greg - correct! Makes it more exciting. You give your bucket list, partner picks, whalah surprise off we go. So yes, silly romantic who cares. We're living life.

How come this forum has so many negative nellies? What happened to go with the flow?

We like, art, culture, seafood, meat, potatos, flea markets, museums, long walks, boat rides, doesn't matter. We will wear snow boots or rain boots if we have to. Life is short, we are living it!
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Old Jul 18th, 2017, 02:39 AM
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My experiences with each of the cities you mention are ones that suggest an appreciation of graciousness and civility. So I guess NONE would match your needs. Good luck!
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Old Jul 18th, 2017, 03:03 AM
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I think Bedar's comment was meant in fun. If there had been a happy face at the end of it perhaps the tone would have been more the intent.
If Greg had written the original post, I might have understood it. I am afraid it just wasn't clear.
With all due respect, when first read, I wondered why you as the recipient were asking about hotels and dinner. If go with the flow works for you, then let husband choose one, and go with the flow. None of these places are going to be sold out and all are known for their excellent lodging and food options. Giving him a short list of restaurants, hotels and cities to pick from doesn't allow him to provide that romantic personal gift for you (unless that isn't the intention). It sounds like one of those Christmas lists a wife or mom has on hand. Give me one of these items that I really want but won't buy for myself and then 'surprise' me.
For myself, I would be game to pack 2 bags - cold or rain and let him put the correct one into the car/taxi trunk. I will know he has booked accommodation and one excellent restaurant. We would use the fight to plan what we would do once we decided to leave our room ;-)
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Old Jul 18th, 2017, 05:13 AM
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"Shopping is also on my activity list" The sales in Spain and France do not begin until after Jan 6, Epiphany.
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Old Jul 18th, 2017, 05:44 AM
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If you go for Oslo in December you will get Christmas lights everywhere and hopefully some snow. Stay in old world Grand Hotel where the Nobel Peace Prize laureates always stay, and meet the Nordic kitchen in three Michelin stars Maaemo.
Grand: http://www.grand.no/en/default.html
Maaemo: https://vimeo.com/27856616
https://maaemo.no/
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Old Jul 18th, 2017, 06:32 AM
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>>Janisj - why so negative?>Bedar- I resent your comment. This forum is for travel advice. No need to make a general negative comment. I hope FODOR deletes it!
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Old Jul 18th, 2017, 07:17 AM
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No, I wasn't. For me, not knowing where I was going would be awful, not romantic at all. The destination for only 4 days is inmaterial. I would just need to know what to pack. The husband will have to make all reservations in advance so recos don't count here. The OP will have no say in the matter. Anticipation is one of the great pleasures of travel so if she can wheedle the destination info out of him, they could have pre-trip pleasure planning where to stay and eat. Then again, she could go with an empty suitcase and spend all four days shopping for a new wardrobe. Not my idea of fun. ��
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