Oh, I forgot the old maxim... if you bring umbrellas with you it's much less likely to rain! :)

Well I'm glad it's moved away from brand names for gloves to the idea of op shops for stuff that you will only ever use on this trip,.
For a moment there it was looking as though you'd be spending as much on clothing as you would on the airfares.

But I wouldn't spend too much mental energy on whether to pack an umbrella or not. You can buy one there - just like you can buy a new pair of gloves or a woolly hat.

What you need to get right is the outer layers - expensive everywhere and so not something you want to buy in a hurry in a foreign land.

You each need a Goretex jacket and a good quality two season fleece. Then I'd take a fine Australian merino wool jumper (or two). Lots of long sleeve t-shirts (just ordinary ones will do) - and what I would call a waistcoast, but in Oz- speak is a vest. You know, sleeveless high neck zip up item in either fleece or wool.

I'd skip the silk underwear unless you are going skiing or high mountain trecking. There is nothing worse that coming in from the cold to the warm of a restaurant or museum and taking off the jacket, and the fleece and the vest and still being too bloody hot.

You can't take off that expensive silk underwear without a visit to the loo. Money badly spent I would say.

But comfy shoes are v. important. And good warm socks (these are not so easy to find in the UK for women especially so buy them at home).
Take woolly hat and gloves but don't spend a fortune on them as they WILL get lost, and you WILL be able to replace them.

:-)

§2 of the EU Umbrella Law: It's VERY likely to rain if you do not carry any rain gear.

Bring your Australian Ugg boots and an Australian wool sweater. I have noticed that people who live in warm climates usually notice the cold more than those who live in the cold climates.

Sometimes it feels like the cold goes right through your body. There are hand warmers packs and foot warmer packs and these can help a lot.

You may be lucky and have warm temperatures while there. But if it is extremely cold - respect that cold and dress accordingly as it is easy to get frostbite.

A lot depends on how much time you will be out of doors. It seems here in the USA, the young people just go out the door and into their cars so they don't dress with boots and heavy coats etc. So a lot depends on your activity.

Check out this site:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com

It is a discount outlet for name brand outdoor clothing. I see they ship to Australia for a set price ranging from $27 to $57 with the maximum being $57. With the weak dollar, you might be able to really clean up. Returns would be about impossible though.

Definitely put a layer of something under jeans. Jeans in the winter get cold and hard and the wind just blows right through. I wear thin thermal underwear under my jeans almost all winter. It is usually around 20 degrees F. here. It doesn't itch unless it is wool, which none of it is anymore.

Oh, and pack these little gems:

http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-United.../dp/B000VE0VHC

I have one in fleece. It is so much more practical than a scarf and you can pull it up over your nose and ears if it is really cold and windy. I have smaller ones for the kids. If you are moderately handy you could even sew them yourself.


I think the umbrella is a personal choice. Do you use one at home? I never do, so my rain jacket is fine for me.

I think rain jacket with hood is better than an umbrella. I live in Seattle where it rains all the time and don't even own one (too much hassle to carry).

I believe long underwear is over-kill unless you are going to be doing extended outdoor activities.

Good shoes/boots are key.

Hats, gloves, scarves, can be picked up cheap somewhere along the way.

Anything can be picked up along the way if needed. Why don't you do like everybody else, don't worry and choose your clothes according to the actual weather outside. If you don't have them, buy them when needed.
No need for a lengthy discussion anyway. :-) Thermal underwear? No way, never ;-)

I always travel with silk long underwear. It takes no room in your luggage and provides great warmth. I know that your husband and son will snicker at the feel of silk but it is warm.

Next, if you are going to purchase warm clothing, and obviously you must, at least buy something that might work for the rest of your life.

1. A gortex rain jacket, large enough to go over everything else. Make sure it has a hood. LLBean has a woman's on sale for $109.95. They ship almost anywhere.

2. A polartec jacket to layer underneath. LLBean has a good selection.

3. Knit or polartec hat and knit or polartec scarf as well as mittens.

The kids will probably adapt to the cold more quickly than you and your husband because they are more active. Don't forget that you can wear the jackets on board and put some of your heavy stuff in the pockets.

I think that it is wonderful that you can provide this opportunity for your kids.

Everyone is giving you good ideas. I just wanted to add that my husband and I were in Germany for the Christmas markets last year and it was very cold! We are from the Northeastern US, so we are used to cold, but I was freezing! I used those hand warmers in my gloves and pants pockets all the time. Funny story - one day we were in Munich at one of the little gluhwein stalls. We saw people eating roasted chestnuts so we decided to try them. I didn't care for the taste, but they were so warm that I put them in my gloves and pockets to warm me up! They worked just like my hand warmers, but obviously were a little lumpy. :)

I wore my long silk underwear pants under my jeans, 2 pair of socks in my fur lined boots, several layers of shirts/sweaters and a heavy coat. If I were to go back that time of year, I'd definitely bring fleece tops and more lightweight but warm shirts to layer with.

Now watch - you'll be so prepared with your cold weather gear that Europe will experience a heat wave!

No - you definitely need umbrellas - there can be substantial rain as well as sleet in the more northern areas. And you need an umbrella if it's snowing too.

As for boot/shoes - really you need one set of footgear that is sealed against water - since you may find yourself walking through big puddles or 2/3" of slush or soggy snow. (By sealed I mean a single piece of material - not something with seams that will let in water.) And regular leather shoes will NOT keep this out - water will seep in the seam between the sold and the show - you will get incredibly soggy feet and it will take the shoes a couple of days to dry. You don't need high boots - ankle ones will do - but just regular shoes are risky if you run into any wet weather (practically guaranteed in europe in December).

I think we do need to keep in mind that OP is from a warm climate,, and WILL feel cold more then some of us.
We were in Rome this summer, it was ROASTING hot, but we were with a family from Georgia who said it was fine,, they weren't hot at all, and the kids were wearing long jeans in like 35 degree heat.. myself and another Canadian family were actually almost heatstroke!!!

Umbrellas are a personal thing, as a woman I way prefer them for rain, I don't like hat head, but my hubby and sons would not use one. I still advocate bringing a hat for warmth though, I was in London one year in March and it was so cold and sleeting that I ended up wrapping my scarf around my head like a Russian peasant woman.. .LOL

One more thing not to forget is your favorite moisturizer and chapstick or pick some up there.

With cold temps your skin dries out sooo fast. You won't be used to that. Moisturize everyone's face and hands on the way out every morning.

Thanks so so so much everyone! Your responses are so informative and helpful. It is great to know how people who live in cold places dress for comfort. I really want the whole family to feel warm and cosy so that they can get 110% out of their holiday experience.

Also, thank you so much to all of you who have sent good wishes for our holiday. We are so excited and are counting the days until we leave.

Also, thanks to all fellow Australians who have posted advice as to where to shop in Australia for cold weather gear, and to all posters from all over the world who have shared info about where to shop.

The suggestion to wait until we're in Europe to buy some of the items we need is also a good one. I will obviously make sure that we all have as much gear as posible before we leave Australia, as it would be awful to have 5 freezing people at 6pm in Munich (when we're likely to emerge from customs) to clothe, but it will be fun to pick up a few bits and pieces in the European shops as we go.

Buy 2 sets of synthetic fiber long underwear for each person. One to wear while the other dries on hangers in your room. Synthetic is warmer and dries quickly. Wear this layer next to your skin. Put some layers on top of these, including a sweater. Your outer layer need not be thick, but should be wind/water proof. You want wet weather shoes, and everyone needs gloves(too big is better than too small) and hats. Dry and warm fingers and toes last all day outside. The hat keeps your body heat in and can be pulled over the ears. Start out with these and add to them if needed.

Best wishes for a fab trip!

Hi Ozziez,

You have some good advice here. We have travelled as a family to Europe twice in winter. Only saw snow on ski slopes but have really only travelled through Italy and been to Paris and London.
I like the silk under wear. I ordered from Winter Silks online.

http://www.wintersilks.com/

I find ordering from US clothing sites online is usually cheaper than buying in Australia even after paying for the international freight and I don't actually know where you would get this in Oz. Maybe at a pinch DJs - but I bet it would be expensive.

Having said that I wore this underwear (I am the middle aged mother in the family)- the rest of the family did not, would not. The kids did wear the long thermal underwear as pyjamas sometimes and found a perculiar fashion trend seemingly only known by them, where they would wear a thermal long shirt under a short sleeved Tshirt. Must have been warm enough because that is often all they wore. We did have coats for them and we ski so they all own Gortex ski jackets. Also gloves beanies and scarves are a must.

Regarding shoes - when we arrived in Rome my daughter (18 at the time) announced "I am not going ugly" and proceeded to wear these skimpy leather boots (not waterproof)everyday. She was not allowed to complain to us about being cold or wet ans she didn't. As a note she continued on for a few weeks without us through Amsterdam, Berlin, Warsaw and Cracow and still wore the boots. This was in February.

Heed the warnings about heating indoors. You are more likely to be too hot than too cold in most places. Don't forget Australia has never heard of central heating but Europe seems to love it. You will want to strip off everything you have on in some stores and museums.

I concur with other posters who suggest Kathmandu or try Paddy Palin which is similar.

Happy to anwer other questions you might have.

You will have such fun.

Thanks so much 39N105W7800Ft
for the great advice. Will do!

And thanks very, very much aussiefive for the great advice on where to buy such things and also about the need to be able to take it all off.

Above all Aussiefive - good one, Mum! I had a good laugh when I read about your 18 year old and her footwear. My 16 - nearly 17 - year old is already making very similar comments about what she is and isn't going to wear on her feet - she nearly had a fit when I showed her the new boots her Dad has bought himself - and the 12 year old is avidly making mental notes about future protests she can make too! I am going to follow your lead and state firmly that those who are vain must suffer in silence!

I was in Italy this past December and I also come from a very warm climate...that being said...I wore a nice cashmere and wool coat that came to my knees and that did just fine...my leather waist length jacket left me quite chilled while in Rome. I also had a scarf that I would wrap around my head covering my ears...I found it to be a must for me at least. The one thing I wish I had brought with me was a pair of WINDPROOF insulated gloves. My hands were so cold that it was hard to take pictures. I didn't wear any thermal underwear...just jeans or slacks with dress socks and a sweater under my coat and that did just fine....but make sure its a nice WARM coat. Enjoy your trip!

You are going to be cold. In the UK they are forcasting an 'Indian Summer' which for some reason means good weather in September. It might make it as high as 20 degrees C.

Jeans can get quite cold but what you can do is buy a couple of pairs of opaque tights and wear them under your jeans. If you stop somewhere to eat you will be too warm but you can go to the ladies and take them off and they take up no space in your bag.

Wear several layers, you can get coats here from camping shops that are a fleece and coat zipped together, so really warm but you can unzip them and wear them separately. http://www.hthughes.com/product/59/a...ne_jacket.html

yu will need scarves and gloves but the real secret to keeping warm is to keep your head and feet warm

Warm socks and a hat are essential.