Going to Europe for the first time from December 14 to January 9

[Czar]

if you can, stay in iceland over the new years!

biggest fireworks show in the world 🙂

 

[czech09]

Originally posted by: DVad3r
Anywhere u go in europe will be awesome so have fun. I would recommend Prague over all the above mentioned cities.

Thank you for representin' the beauty 😉. Seriously, if you don't see Prague you're missing out. Plus it's cheap 😉.

 

[DeeKnow]

Originally posted by: Rudee
I've been to Paris before and found the place rather prissy. Had more fun in England than in Paris.

Paris is great fun.... other than all the French people that live there

 

[DivideBYZero]

I'd say London, but you look set on continental Europe.

MEH! 😛

 

[Turnpike]

I've been to Europe several times among other places. My best advice is don't bite off more than you can chew. 2 weeks in one city is so much better than 7 cities in 2 weeks. Especially with a place as big and awesome as Paris/Rome/Athens. Spend a decent amount of time (a week at least! id say 10-14 days) in Paris and maybe hit up the French Riveria (you wont regret that) for a weekend. Switzerland isnt too far away so I'd stop there next, maybe spend 2-3 days. Not alot to see just cool little towns and some nice mountains. Get your ski on there or next door in Austria. Then you could head down to Italy, you should stop in Venice. You really only need a day there, its quite boring at night and go straight to Rome. That's one place I haven't been to yet but I hear its awesome. You might be able to take a boat ride to Athens after that. Anyways that's what I would do since those seemed like the places you wanted to see the most. You'll have a good time and you will avoid tourist season which is a HUGE plus over there.

 

[MrsBugi]

Originally posted by: Czar
if you can, stay in iceland over the new years!

biggest fireworks show in the world 🙂

Really! Where do they take place? We will be there for NYE and have no idea what city/country to spend it in.

 

[Cooler]

Make sure you stop in Amsterdam on your Euro trip .

 

[MrsBugi]

Originally posted by: Turnpike
I've been to Europe several times among other places. My best advice is don't bite off more than you can chew. 2 weeks in one city is so much better than 7 cities in 2 weeks. Especially with a place as big and awesome as Paris/Rome/Athens. Spend a decent amount of time (a week at least! id say 10-14 days) in Paris and maybe hit up the French Riveria (you wont regret that) for a weekend. Switzerland isnt too far away so I'd stop there next, maybe spend 2-3 days. Not alot to see just cool little towns and some nice mountains. Get your ski on there or next door in Austria. Then you could head down to Italy, you should stop in Venice. You really only need a day there, its quite boring at night and go straight to Rome. That's one place I haven't been to yet but I hear its awesome. You might be able to take a boat ride to Athens after that. Anyways that's what I would do since those seemed like the places you wanted to see the most. You'll have a good time and you will avoid tourist season which is a HUGE plus over there.

Indeed, we're happy to be missing the tourist rush season but nervous about the impending chilly weather/gray skies. I think the leisurely route is the way to go, will the French Riviera be nice even durin gthe wintertime?

 

[chcarnage]

Speaking of the Swiss Alps, you're not exactly avoiding the peak season between December 26th and January 2nd, many Swiss will be skiing then, too. There are many places for skiing here, they differ in size (and sometimes height over sea level). Personally I like Laax, Hoch-Ybrig and haven't found a place that was bad. You can see the most frequented places here and a list of all places here. The nicest place for sleding is Bergün which offers two lines (one of them is not for starters, in my opinion :evil: ). The official Swiss tourism website for winter sports is here.. If you still have questions about Skiing or Switzerland aside the Alps, pm me or post again.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
I'd say London, but you look set on continental Europe.

MEH! 😛

London's a good place to visit.

 

[royaldank]

One piece of advice, pay cash whenever possible. Use ATMs to withdraw money. Visa and MC both have a 3% charge on international purchases which means it's better to withdraw money nowdays. Most ATMs over there will not charge you a fee to withdraw money. Until they started charging this fee, it was better to charge as much as possible and let them figure out the best rate. Not so anymore.