Vague heading, I know, but where to go?
 

I have a very limited holiday this year (Dec 16 to Dec 20) and want to escape the wintery blues in London for somewhere more exotic and WARM! I am a daft American, and have only been living in Europe for a few months and working nonstop so I've been to limited places. I've been around to closer areas (Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow) and to Paris, and that's it.

I was hoping to go someplace I could take beautiful photographs, see great architecture and art, eat amazing food, but do it on the cheap with a few splurges- I'm currently thinking Italy (Rome?) so I can splurge on a gondola ride. (Would it be sad if I was all by lonesome riding the gondola? I will be traveling solo and hear that they are meant for two people, ie me and my beau). Does Rome sound like it would fit my needs? Any other suggestions? Like I said, I want a palce warmer than the UK in winter, but I would still like to be in Europe.

Any advice would be grrrrr8!

Hi mat. Well I hate to break the news to you but you won't find any gondola rides in Rome. You will need to go to Venice for a gondola ride.

Now warm is not exactly what I would think of in December in Europe. However Rome can be pleasant. And Rome is beautiful. Rome is certainly a city that would ispire you to take photographs, it certainly has fantastic arhcitecture. And the food in most cases is very good.

In my opinion Rome would meet all your needs except it probably will not be warm if you mean summer type weather. But if you dress properly you will be fine.

And you can save the gondola ride when you and your love one visit Venice.

I would suggest that you read threads here on Fodors, as there are always some regarding Rome. And then utilize the search box here on Fodor's for further information. In the meantime go to the public library and check out a couple of books regarding Rome. Perhaps one in the style of a "coffee table" book with lots of beautiful photographs to give you an idea of what you want to see in Rome. You have time to get organized for your December trip so that is good. Have fun planning and dreaming about your trip to Rome.

Thank you so much!

How about southern Spain? Warmer and cheaper than Italy, I think. Maybe Seville or Toledo?

mat,Natalie has a good idea about Spain. I have a friend from Seville. Although I have not visited there I believe you would find everything you are looking for. I do not know if it would be cheaper but I am sure that Natalie obviously does. That is something to research also.

Welcome to Fodors, and keep in touch about your plans. It will be fun to hear what you final decision is. With the inexpensive flights there in Europe you are very fortunate. Take care.

Thanks for the idea about Toledo or Seville. I will def. look into that.

I had another thought- I wouldn't be escaping the cold, but what about Amsterdam? Has anyone been to Amsterdam? Would it have photogenic scenery, good architecture, amazing food, etc?

I've always wanted to go there since I saw that movie Eurotrip and they go to Amsterdam and they freak out eating "hash brownies" only to find out they are just regular brownies. I've always told my ma I'm going to go to Amsterdam and have "brownies with absolutely no drugs in them." (A line from the movie)(Another aside, yes, I am quite immature for my age!)

Hi mat, immature works. What the world needs is less serious people IMHO.

You know Amsterdam is a place I change planes at to go to Italy but I have never been in the actual city. Everyone loves Amsterdam it seems. It is sometimes called the Venice of the North (but there are no gondolas). It would be very cold. The food there has a reputation for being fantastic. Why don't you go onto google (www.google.com) and look at some websites and see if it would interest you. Visiting somewhere that you have always wanted to go to is an excellent idea. And it would be a quick flight from London. With having four days that would be good. And since you are in London you know doubt have the proper clothes for cold weather. And young people love Amsterdam. Do some research and post back here on this thread of yours. You have me interested in what you will decide. Have a nice Sunday.

mat,

It might be worth noting that Ryanair's winter flights go on sale from 1st June & if you get in early you will find some fantastic bargains.

As much as I like Amsterdam I think Seville is a better match to your original requirements & you can fly there from London Stansted with Ryanair.

On the other hand, it would be fun just to look at Ryanair's list of destinations & pick out somewhere that appeals.

Hope you find somewhere.

Jim

Hello Mat:

It sounds like Lugano, Switzerland is the place for you. Check it out on this site. Gradyghost

Thank you all for all the advice you gave me! Just to keep those of you who are interested updated...

I will be going to Malta. I haven't figured out flights or hotels or anything like that yet, but I think it sounds very exotic and fun. Gharb Folklore Musuem sounds fun, and the pictures I've seen are gorgeous. Plus, how many people do you know who've been to Malta?! (Rhetorical question, please don't burst my bubble and say "Everyone, including my Grandma." I want to think I am adventerous!)

Anyway, if anyone knows anything about Malta that would be helpful, I'd welcome the advice. Thanks.

Mat

Hi mat, how nice that you updated us regarding your plans!

I have not been to Malta but I can tell you this. I have several friends in Italy that have sons (in their 20's) and some of them have gone to Malta and raved about their trips. So I think you would really enjoy it. Don't believe to many American's think to travel to Malta (I haven't).

I would imagine if you go to www.google.com and type in Malta in the search box you would get lots of interesting information.

Be sure to give us a trip report afterwards! Take good care.

Mat003, I think you didn't really mean to say Rome. Did you mean Venice? I would love to see Venice in December, but I wouldn't expect warm weather! I saw some old photos in which it looked so beautiful in the snow, with no crowds.

How about Palermo? (I recommend sicily as a whole, but with only four days was trying to pick someplace where you might get a direct flight.) It wouldn't be exactly "warm" but would be warmER, and Sicily is slightly exotic, and if it's food that interests you, I think you'd be happy there.

I might pick Lisbon if I were in your position, though I wouldn't expect that to be warm either. Seville sounds good, too, if you can get a direct flight. I visited both only briefly, more than 30 years ago, so can't give any real advice.

I don't like to rain on your parade but unless things have changed a great deal since I was there, Malta is not the place for amazing food...

The architecture can be quite fascinating; art is in more limited supply. If I recall correctly, there is a Caravaggio in the Co-Cathedral (I don't remember why it's a "co-cathedral"...) in Valletta.

We have a co-cathedral here in Castellon. It means that the diocese has two names in its denomination, the one here is Segorbe-Castellón. The Cathedral is in Segorbe (that's why it is the first name) and the second is here and that's why is a co-cathedral.

<<Anyway, if anyone knows anything about Malta that would be helpful, I'd welcome the advice.>>

I didn't want to criticize your header, since you acknowledged that you didn't know how to word it (in retrospect, you might have gotten answers from those who did not answer by using a header like "An American expatriate seeking advice on a wamer(er) destination for December 16-20 (now that I have been living in London for a few months)"...

But particularly now that you are seeking information of a much more specific nature, about Malta, now you really should re-post.

Few people knowledgeable about Malta will have reason to look at this thread, figuring that it may have already run its course.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thank you, Rex. I actually did just that. It got pushed down super fast, and I accidently posted it before finishing the title. I just wanted to update anyone who had helped me before. :D