kfusto

We really do not want to go all the way to Italy. We don't get winter where we live and the cold is not a problem for us.

We just want the trip to be easy and not more expensive than it has to be.

sandralist

It would be the low angle of light in Scotland that would deter me from heading that way.

Don't know how to calculate "not more expensive than it has to be." Speaking only personally, I would spend the money to get someplace I really wanted to go (which in your case might be Edinburgh). I would not want to tie myself, however, to transportation logistics that were highly vulnerable to bad weather delays. Although the train tracks have been known to freeze, I think I would probably feel it was easier to stick to train travel. Even if the train gets hideously delayed or even cancelled it easier to cook up an alternate plan from the train station rather than the airport.

So I might pick the train to Belgium or towns like Aachen or Cologne or Trier or whatever else is out there on the train line (Maastricht?) not so far from London. (I think Aachen is about 4 hours from London, if you wouldn't mind having just missed the Christmas market).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/ar...n-Germany.html

But if I was willing to roll the dice on a plane flight I'd most want to go to Vienna I think, because I think it has the most indoor attractions of interest to me. Or Berlin. (But from London that might be as much travel time as going "all the way" to Italy)

kfusto

Berlin is our favorite city in Europe and we would be happy to visit there no matter what the time of year. But in this case we would like to stick with train travel due to possible weather issues.

I will do more research on Germany cities we can get to by train.

Thanks.

sandralist

Yes, I would prefer trains at that time of year too for weather issues. I meant to mention Bonn in my last post because of its wealth of museums, not just art but the museum of contemporary German history. 30 minutes from Cologne.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haus_der_Geschichte

sandralist

I just noticed that the Wikipedia entry indicates the museums might be closed for restoration but the website of the museum doesn't seem to indicate that

http://www.hdg.de/stiftung/haus-der-...nd-foundation/

kfusto

I have read so much about limited train schedules during this time of year that I am confused. It is too soon to check schedules on line for my dates.

Do you know if we will be able to use public transport to the main (TGV) station in London from Gatwick? And hopefully the TGV still operates a decent schedule.

At this point I am thinking we will head straight to Brussels for the first 3 nights and then spend the rest of our time in London where we can settle in and make a day trip or two. We really do not want to make this short trip complex and will have just returned 4 weeks prior from 2 weeks in France.

dulciusexasperis

Doesn't it make you wonder just how valuable your air miles really are kfusto?

You know, you can BUY a return ticket to London from the East coast of N. America (New York, Toronto) for $800. So in reality you aren't saving a dime using points.

kfusto

<Doesn't it make you wonder just how valuable your air miles really are kfusto?

You know, you can BUY a return ticket to London from the East coast of N. America (New York, Toronto) for $800. So in reality you aren't saving a dime using points.>

I agree but we cannot buy Premium Economy for just the cost of taxes. That is the ONLY reason we are trying to use these miles and even considering London.

annhig

you can fly to Newquay in Cornwall from Gatwick on Flybe. We often have great weather at Christmas - we've sat outside eating lunch on a pub terrace overlooking st. Michael's Mount on Boxing Day before now, and needed sun glasses. Lots of the big hotels have deals between christmas and New Year [look at the Headland, in Newquay for example, which is where Roald Dahl's the Witches was filmed, or the Scarlett which has excellent food and a very nice spa] and you can do beach walks, cosy pub lunches, even boat trips if the weather co-operates.

A great contrast to London, and a good way to unwind, IMO.

kfusto

Thanks for the suggestion and it looks charming.

Headland requires a one week stay over that time period.

We are not looking to unwind and relax, rather be in a city where there is enough going on to keep us entertained. Since we live a few minutes from beautiful beaches, it is the city life we are in search of this trip.

Looks like if we make the trip, the easiest option to avoid flying and delays is to combine a few nights in Brussels with a few in London.

I do appreciate everyone's suggestions and ideas.

Thanks!

Gordon_R

>>>...be in a city where there is enough going on to keep us entertained.<<<

I for one am puzzled then by your plan of spending three nights in Brussels - surely one of the most boring cities in Europe. Even during the summer you could see pretty much everything there is in a day or 2 maximum. But in winter? So many other choices...

sandralist

I spent 3 days in Brussels once and while I thought the city was mostly ugly to look at outdoors, I didn't complete the list of art museums I wanted to see (and the Magritte museum wasn't even open). In addition, it is easy to get from Brussels to other nearby cities of interest. I would go to Brussels for 3 nights just to eat 3 dinners there and waffles for breakfast.

If you have never visited the Horta house, it is one of the small gems of European travel.

I think Antwerp possibly puts on a show during week between Xmas and New Year's but I'm not sure.

annhig

We are not looking to unwind and relax, rather be in a city where there is enough going on to keep us entertained. Since we live a few minutes from beautiful beaches, it is the city life we are in search of this trip.>>

kfusto - I'm sure that I could have found you a decent hotel in Cornwall that didn't require a week's stay at that time of year, but as we are "country mice" living close to beaches and cows but not a lot else, we enjoy spending our hols in cities too, so i completely understand.

The food in Brussels is terrific, and like any capital city, there's plenty to do. We liked the Herge museum in particular:

http://www.museeherge.com/en

hope you find what you are looking for!