Hello All..
We are a family of four (two kids - 10 and 8) and living in the Seattle area. So we are used to rain and the gloomy cold weather. The question is whether it makes sense to travel to Europe in winter just becaz the prices are cheap. We are thinking of going during end of Dec. and returning on 9th of Jan. to Italy/Spain and may be to France. Does most of places close during the Christmas..? Is it that cold to walk around with good jackets..? Will it be torture to go around in that weather !!
Since most of the places we'll be visiting are museums and architecture (just sight seeing), one advantage is less crowd. I am looking for advise from someone who travelled during this time. Also, suggestions to the places we should avoid or to include.

We won't be doing any winter sports...

Thanks in advance for everyone.

I have been to Europe several times in the winter and I am planning a trip to Paris in January. If your focus is on indoor activities, then the winter is the perfect time to go.

You say you are accustomed to rainy, cool weather so I think you'll be OK with that. I am from a place that is sunny and warm for most of the year and I can handle the European winter, so surely you can too. And no, it will not be torture as long as you have the appropriate clothes.

The only part of Europe I would avoid in the winter is the Greek isles, only because so many places close for the season. I have visited Spain and Italy in the winter and had no problems with closures, although the opening hours are sometimes shorter than they would be in the summer. But that's OK, at least you're not fighting crowds.

Hi
disadvantages: cold weather, rain likely, shorter hours of daylight, no gardens
advantages, especially after the Xmas and New Year holidays: lower rates, no crowds

Most major attractions and many restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. A few places will be open--if you narrow down where you want to go, there are websites to check what's open and closed.
Places will close early on the day before the holidays, though not major attractions probably. Since the holidays are on Saturdays this year, many small establishments will likely remain closed on Sundays even if they normally open on Sundays.

Good cities to visit in winter: Paris, London, Rome, Florence--each has many indoor attractions. If you are talking about a 10 day or so vacation, you should limit your trip to at most two cities, or even one. You will lose most of a day going from one place to another, plus there's the packing and unpacking. Rome and Florence make a good combination. Paris and London are often combined, but each is also good for an entire one-week stay.

You should be fine in Europe in December and January if you are prepared for the sort of weather you experience in Seattle. If you are going to be gone about 2 weeks, I suggest choosing one country and spending your time there. Italy would be great - you would have time for the Big 3 - Rome, Florence and Venice.

I live in Seattle too. My wife is a school teacher so we travel on school holidays... like the Christmas or winter break. I track the weather and Paris and London and it is pretty much the same as Seattle, wet but bearable. The further South you go (Spain or Italy) the warmer and nicer the weathr will be, sort of like going to California. If you go to the mountianous areas obviously it will be the same as going to the mountains here.

I live in Vancouver and I'm planning to go to Italy at the end of this month and in January. Look at www.weather.com to get ideas about average precipitation and temperatures in various cities. I don't see how the weather will be worse in Italy than in the Pacific Northwest. I am making a conscious effort to force myself to go out for walks even when it's raining (actually quite easy to do given we have a dog).

During the period I will be in Italy (Dec. 27 - Jan. 9), few places are closed, except for New Year's Day and Epiphany Day.

We spent New Year's in Paris last year with two children ages 8 and 13. Morning light seemed to emerge kind of late in the morning and afternoon light didn't endure too late either. But it's a pretty good time to visit restaurants and museums, as you've suggested. The lines in Paris were long at times, however, so you really should get the museum passes that allow you to cut through the lines and just walk in. I would also suggest metro passes for getting around Paris. It was cold so warm, comfortable shoes (like Merrell's) would be the best for walking about the city. Lastly, make sure to make reservations for good restaurants in advance if you can. I would research the restaurants that you want to visit and then ask your hotel concierge to make the reservations.

Hope this helps, should you think seriously about Paris.

Go for it! I like traveling off season. Unless you want to lay on a beach, you will be fine. I have travelled to London and Paris in January, and went to Spain this past February, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Less crowds, cheaper flights/hotels...

It is not too cold to walk around. London was a little warmer than NY (cold but no snow), Paris was conparable NY, Madrid was in the 40s, but in Sevilla it was almost 70.

It is not torture to go around in that weather, unless perhaps you are used to Florida. But, from Seattle, you should be fine!

Have a great trip.

Karen

I agree with Karen. The off season is the best time to travel to Europe. I just got back from another great trip. Airfare is cheaper, museums and art galleries aren't crowded. I've been to London, Rome and Iceland in the winter. I caught the end of winter and beginning of spring this past March in Iceland and the weather wasn't that bad (and I live in So. California). I love the cooler weather when I travel.

My sister and I love to travel to Europe in the winter months. The prices are great and no crowds-less than 50 people in St Mark's square, less than 10 people staring at David, ect. Since we're used to Midwest weather, we smile at the Italians bundled up when the temp is in the low 40's.

jdbird, the Italians do bundle up don't they? At home I don't but when Italy when it is cold I find myself doing the same thing. Keeping in style I guess?

Since you are "used" to non-sunny weather which you may or may not experience in Europe I would definitely consider going. What with the Euro-Dolar exchange rate not getting any better you'll benefit from lower hotel room rates and a someone already mentioned smaller numbers of visitors.

I've been to Berlin in Amsterdam and Northern Germany in November as well as Switzerland...had a "HardWear" down-filled jacket (that can be "stuffed" into a small carrying bag) and that was MORE than adequate for warmth.

I'd take a travel umbrella just in case.
In terms of places to visit, for museums in Spain you cannot do much better than the "museum mile" in Madrid (the Prado, Thyssen, etc.) and parts of Florence and Rome for that matter are like one great big outdoor museum. Barcelona would be a "must" if you enjoy Gaudi architecture.

I hope you decide to go as I do not think you'll regret the decision.

I would leave tomorrow if I could. By all means if you want to go, and yes Seattle is not the warmest spot in the US is it (neither is the Sacramento Valley in CA right now), go. Enjoy every moment. You know what clothes to take and the lack of tons of tourist plus no hot humid heat (remember this when it is a bit cold and damp LOL) will more than offset winter weather. Wishing you a your family a beautiful trip.

Don't let winter stop you. It's pretty mild in Italy and Spain. But don't think there won't be any crowds. Europeans like to take short city breaks during the Christmas holidays, and museums and restaurants will be busy. Check now to see about hotel rates.
The first week of January should be better; in most countries, schools start again that week.

If you go to Spain/Italy and decide to include the south of France (Provence), keep in mind that the Mistral could be blowing. The wind can be VERY strong and that wouldn't be a fun experience.
Paris should be great. It's wonderful in winter.

Don't expect all of the major sights to be less crowded. Remember schools are out all over the world and there will be lots of little children with nothing to do so parents bring them to the museums...major sightseeing venues...etc.

Our favorite time to go to Europe is the two weeks after Xmas. The lines for many of the big attractions are generally short. (We walked straight into Windsor Castle on a January 2). The daylight hours are short, but that was no big deal to us. While the weather is chilly, living in Houston, we welcome that. We have done Austria, London, Paris in the winter and had a great time in all. Spain this year. Enjoy.

It really depends on you, but I did not enjoy Italy in Late November 2002. I went for the low pricing. I was very fortunate to miss the flooding in Venice by only 2 days, but the weather was cold I was soaked to the skin by humidity my whole trip. Don't bring cottons and cotton blends! I've since reformed my fabric selections.

I love to walk. The days were short and the natural light, bleak. Naturally, since it was Italy, I made the best of it, but I felt I didn't fully experienced the cities. Also, I happen to like crowds- maybe not full summer throngs, but St Mark's just wasn't the same with a few dozen scattered people.

Just as a point of reference, I usually travel at the tail-end of the shoulder season in late March/early April, so I can reap the benefit of warming air and first blossoms. Still you are 4 people, winter is a good value, go for it!

I am sure you will enjoy, just do that smart layering thing, and choose wools, silks or pique, not synthetics or cotton blends. A good fall jacket, scarves and gloves should be fine. You may not need reservations for some museums, your hotel can help you.