Europe during Xmas and New Years

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  Davo1111 on 20/06/2018 - 19:54

  <Where to spend New years?

  hogmany

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  scottishdave on 20/06/2018 - 19:57

  +2

  There are a number of discussion threads in Whirlpool that have some good ideas for Xmas in Europe. Bon Voyage.
  https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?action=search&q=chris…

  ..and New Years
  https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?action=search&q=new+y…
  https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?action=search&q=new+y…

  Although I am not religious, I enjoyed Christmas midnight mass in different European cities in different years. I went to the bigger, important cathedrals in each city. It is very uplifting.

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  [Deactivated] on 20/06/2018 - 21:47

  Vienna.

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  AutomationGuy on 21/06/2018 - 07:05

  For The Christmas period (before hand - some close a week before, check the dates at each) you absolutely must go somewhere with Christmas Markets. They are amazing, we went to them all through Germany and to Strasbourg just across the border in France.

  I spent New Years in Munich - was pretty incredible because for one night a year fireworks are legal and everybody just flicks to all the central squares and parks and there are just hours of fireworks going off (that you can also buy and launch yourself - I think we paid 30 euro for a mixed bag from the supermarket).

  • 

    pf2 on 21/06/2018 - 09:25

    I second going to x'mas markets in the weeks before Christmas. Vienna, Cologne, Dusseldorf markets are all amazing. Make sure you have the chimney bread and mulled wine!

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  DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 20/08/2018 - 20:51

  Merged from Calling All Travel Gurus (Western Europe)

  Fellow travel experts. I'm seeking your Western European travel Hacks and tips.

  My partner and I (late 20s) will be heading to France, Netherlands, Germany, Ausria, Switzerland over 4 weeks in Christmas New Year period.

  1. What was your favourite city? Why?

  2. What is the one activity you would do again?

  3. One thing you wish someone told you before you got there?

  4. Hidden Gem not found on Tripadvisor/travelguides

  5. Something you wished you had avoided (city/show/tour)?.

  I have read my fair share of Google articles and travel websites, I'm here to pick Ozbargainers brains and hear some interesting stories that can't be found in Google…

  • 

    Godric on 20/08/2018 - 21:06

    +5

    Have you tried calling travel Guru's in not all caps?

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 20/08/2018 - 21:25

    +3

    Have you tried calling Travel Gurus without inappropriate apostrophes?

  • 

    Lunarboogie on 20/08/2018 - 21:33

    -1

    I'm a bit of a self-confessed travel guru which is why I can't help. Any travel guru worth their salt would avoid those staid countries like the plague and head to the places less travelled. If you're heading to Afghanistan or Kiribati, let me know.

  • 

    AusGP on 20/08/2018 - 22:25

    +2

    I wish you had Italy on that list. But my 2 months partly spent in some of those countries (France/Netherlands/Switzerland out of the list) I would say:

    1. Lucerne - very pretty city, good base to explore some of the mountains nearby if you don't want to move luggage around (admittedly better bases if you're willing to move around a bit more)

    2. Eat eat and eat more in the smaller French cities.

    3. Spend more time in Loire Valley (only went for daytrip and tour), less in Paris.

    4. Many great French cafes and bistros that aren't on the recommended lists out there but easily found by looking up Help and Google Reviews just around the corner (don't go to ones too close to touristy areas). Stay away from the USA based lists.

    5. Burgundy wine tour with a 5 star company - whilst they refunded the full cost of our tour after we retracted our genuine 3 star Trip advisor report - left a bad taste in the mouth - but heck I couldn't turn down a 240 euro refund for my wife and I!

    • 

      DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 22/08/2018 - 19:24

      Great info! Thanks I'll be looking into Loire Valley looks amazing.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 21/08/2018 - 01:33

    I haven't been, but Mont Blanc by cable car might be amazing that time of year. Have a look at pictures of Aiguille du midi.

    • 

      DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 22/08/2018 - 19:25

      Looked up Aiguille du midi cable car and looks incredibly in winter, definitely adding it to the list.

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  madreece on 22/08/2018 - 19:35

  Strasbourg for Christmas, and LOVE the Loire Valley region.