supez

My wife and I have many miles with Air France and can get flights to several locations (with connections in Amsterdam or Paris) for a 10 night vacation. Currently have found flights to Amsterdam (direct flight), Venice, Prague and Copenhagen. The problem with the connecting flights are that they are around 3-4 hours longer each way than a direct flight to Amsterdam.

I understand the weather should be pretty chilly in most places but we are used to it from living in New York. I also have been to Paris/London and Italy during Christmas/New Years and still loved both trips.
We just came back from a long trip all over Spain and went to Greece last year. I've been to Paris, London and Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome) while she hasn't been anywhere else in Europe.

I've thought of these few itineraries so far and am looking for some advice/ideas.

• Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris
• Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris
• Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Cologne
• Venice, Florence, Rome
• Prague, Vienna, Budapest

bilboburgler

Well they all sort of work, though Cologne is a bit off the beaten track. Bruges is relatively small town and may be a pass by over say one night, the others are all interesting cities. What are your interests? As these alternative lists don't really let us consider what you want.

supez

After talking more with my wife, it seems she's really set on Paris or Italy so I think we can get rid of any other options. We are interested in history, good food, architecture, museums, maybe some Christmas markets if available and just generally beautiful locations. We are also interested in some nature or countryside destinations if possible as a day trip; but the weather might be bad that time of year.

bilboburgler

Well I'd look at either Paris, Strasbourg, Reims (which shows you some great architecture, food, wine and museums plus Christmas fairs) as well by train and of course Florence, Rome and Venice is always popular. Italy has no real tradition of Christmas fairs, but they have them now.

supez

Thanks for the advice! We're leaning towards the France trip but have a few questions.

We can only get a flight to Paris with a stopover in Amsterdam on the day we need to go so it's a little longer. So, we're thinking we use the free option to extend the stopover and stay in Amsterdam a bit and skip Reims. We also want to visit Colmar on a day trip from Strasbourg.

So, we have 2 options right now:

• Option 1:
  • Reims: 2 nights (Layover in Amsterdam, arrive in Paris around 1:30pm, then train to Reims)
  • Strasbourg: 4 nights
  • Paris: 4 nights
• Option 2:
  • Amsterdam: 3 nights (We arrive at 10:30am)
  • Strasbourg: 3 nights (Connecting flight to Paris around 8am, get to Strasbourg around 1pm)
  • Paris: 4 nights (Flight home from Paris)

I think Amsterdam looks much more interesting to us but we are losing a day in Strasbourg. I'm not sure if Colmar requires the whole day but it's 1.5 days in Strasbourg and maybe any leftover time after the Colmar day trip.

What do you think?

Madam397

If you've never been to Amsterdam, then you can easily spend time there as so much to see and do, although around Thanksgiving time the weather will not be ideal. Last time I was in Amsterdam it was the end of October a few years ago and we did have one day of torrential rain but it was pleasant enough to walk around. On that trip, we rented a car and drove to Bruges for two nights with a stop in Antwerp to visit the cathedral, very easy to do. On our way back as we had a night flight to Tel Aviv from Amsterdam we stopped in the Hague for an afternoon, enough time to have a nice walk although not to tour the Palais of Justice. Bruges is very charming.

Other options from a Paris trip include the train to Chartres, or adding a few days to tour Normandy. We had done that a few years ago and it was around the beginning of October and ideal weather.

In the process of planning a trip now for the beginning of October to Edinburgh and Glasgow and then additional days in London

bilboburgler

I visit Alsace every few years, I never found Colmar of any real interest though I love spending time in the wine villages. Strasbourg, on the other hand is a great visit. Some of the cities near Strasbourg are better to visit Nancy and Metz (use the train) than Colmar and then there are places like the Lalique factory in the countryside.

Amsterdam has a lot to see

bvlenci

Amsterdam and Bruges aren't especially cold in the winter, although there's a good chance of rain. I used to live in Rotterdam, and I can suggest Rotterdam as a great place to spend a few days.

When I lived in Rotterdam, I spent a month in the Hague, house-sitting for a friend. I absolutely loved the Hague, and it's a convenient location for lots of day trips.

Both Amsterdam and Bruges can be unpleasantly crowded in high season, so the end of November sounds like a perfect time to visit.

Paris can be very cold in the winter, being further inland. I've never been there in late November. We spent a pleasant week there at Christmas a few years ago.

Ten days is very little time. If it includes the days of travel from and to the US, I would stick to one location, and it would be the Netherlands. I would skip Paris in either case, because it's a large city with tons of things to see, and you can't do it justice in a few days. Remember that there isn't a lot of daylight so far north at that time of year.

uktravelover

Always difficult to make suggestions when there are a number of options. On giving it some thought, I would reconsider splitting your time between Amsterdam and Brussels. Both are interesting cities with lots to do and see. You can catch the train between the two. With regards to Xmas markets, there is a good one in Brussels and also The Hague as well as other towns in Belgium and the Netherlands but you need to check dates.