Travel Tips for Christmas, New Year's and Easter
Spending Christmas, New Year's, or Easter in Europe is a great way to become a temporary local - joining the church services, concerts, feasts, and gift shopping. What local traditions and special events have you enjoyed? Have you found that museums and other sights, restaurants, and stores are often closed at this time? Where are the best places to celebrate these holidays?
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Travel Tip
I've been on my first European holiday for two days now, but I've learned a couple tricks:
1. Don't give them pockets to pick. I decided to wear my yoga pants instead of jeans (easier to pack, less space). I also carry a day bag that has a cinch close instead of pockets and zippers.
2. Since I get cold easily, I'm wearing 2 jackets that zip up making my inside pocket harder to get to.
3. The only other thing that I've done is keep my trigger finger ready at all times. I keep my camera in my jacket pocket, but since I take so many pix (267 on the last battery charge) it's easy for me to keep one hand on it at all times.
4. This one is cheesy, but money in the bra works. I never got the money belt due to lack of planning. So I keep the big bucks in a credit card holder in my bra and my spending money for that day in a change purse in my bag.
Last note: I had a schedule for my holiday set, but once I made it to Brugge I know see why Rick likes it there so much. Peaceful, relaxing and blissfully slow paced. I like it here so much that I've changed my plan to include an extra day here!
Oh, I'm an American teaching in Germany, but I'm from Texas & Colorado.
Adrienne <email>
Frankfurt am Main, Hesse Germany 02/12/2008
holiday in Rome and PAris
HEllo Travellers. My family and I will be going to Paris for New Years Eve.. .Any ideas on what to do to celebrate. We will also be in Rome for Christmas. Michelle
michelle <email>
Chicago, Il USA 10/12/2007
Easter in Rome
We enjoyed Easter in Rome in 2006. Talk about packed. Vatican City on Easter Sunday had every pilgrim in Italy there. But what a thrill to get the Pope's blessing and see St. Peter's all decked out. But be advised the Sisten Chapel and Vaitcan Museum is CLOSED!
Matt
Sunny San Diego, CA USA 09/05/2007
New Year in Paris
My family & I spent last New Year's Eve in Paris. It was fantastic! Upside: the Metro is free in the evening of New Year's Eve and fireworks spectacular. Downside: Dinner should be booked in advance almost anywhere & prices are higher than normal & the Metro is packed with people.
Do yourself a favor if you can't afford the high prices: buy some yummy food items and champagne early in the day & celebrate with your loved one(s) in your room or apartment.
Many sites are closed on New Year's Day, but we were lucky because the Pompidou was open. We had an apartment only 4 blks away and walked over after breakfast right when they opened. It got really crowded later in the day.
There's a fantastic New Year's Day parade to see if nothing is open which is a real kick. Parisians really know how to put on a good show.
I would definately do it again in a heartbeat!
DFloyd
USA 08/15/2007
travel to Morocco
24/male, i will travel to Morocco,from 02/07/07 to 02/08/07, if there are any suggestions to help welcome
deep <email>
spain 06/18/2007
Visitng the Amalfi Coast
My wife and I just returned from 3 weeks in Italy and Greece. We spent 2 nites in Sorrento and took a local bus to Positano and then on to Amafli. Rick is right. Splurge, and hire a car. We wanted to retun by boat to have e view from the ocean. In Amalfi, we found a boat service going direct to Sorrento for 7 Euros. It was the M/n Marine Club. About 100 feet long with a stern loading ramp. When it arrived at the wharf to dock and load passengers, it slammed into the concrete wharf and a deckhand who was attempting to secure a line, was thrown in the air about 10 feet and landed out cold on the steel ramp. We watched the rescue drama for about 30 minutes and the ship was still not able to dock. Very poor seamanship as the weather was good and no waves. We immediately got a refund on our tickets and took the bus back. Very scary.
Eric Goodwin <email>
Cornwall, PEI Canada 06/08/2007
Prague at Easter
From experience, I can attest that Prague is absolutely mobbed on Easter. As far as I could surmise, the only reason was that everyone in Europe seemed to have a work holiday.
The crowds did not detract from my enjoyment of the city- if anything they added to the festive environment. However, that dream photo you might want to take of the Charles Bridge? Unless you take it at 6 in the morning, forget it, there will be too many people to get a good picture.
Tom <email>
Washington, DC USA 06/04/2007
German Christmasmarket tips
Here are a few tips about traveling to see the Christmas markets in Germany in December. I recommend anyone going to see them.
1) The big-city markets are almost exactly the same, and the medium-sized markets are trying to be and look like their larger cousins. The only difference between Wurtzburg and Nurnberg's markets was that Nurnberg has the Christkind. Pick one large market when you want to see the biggest and best.
2) The larger markets have about 15 different kinds of booths that repeat themselves over and over, kind of like a state fair. Know this going into it.
3) The smaller markets offer the most variety, but they are typically only open for one or two days. Each market has its own flavor on the Christmas market. I recommend the market in Dinkelsbuhl. It's half Christmas market and half Renaissance Festival.
4) The smaller markets are not typically open during the week. Plan on being very bored in those smaller towns at noon on a Monday. But the silver lining is that you get the entire town to yourself!
5) Each town, no matter the size, has its own Gluewhein mug. You pay a small deposit when you get your drink. You can get the deposit back if you return your mug. But the mugs make a fantastic and inexpensive souvenir. The deposits are typically 1 or 2 Euros.
Jarrod <email>
White Bear Lake, MN USA 06/01/2007
Easter in England
Our family is also going to be in England for easter and touring the country. We are 6 people, any ideas or tips on hotels would be great. We too only have hotel booked in london, nothing else yet.
w
Julie <email>
san clemente, ca USA 03/19/2007
Christmas in Paris or London?
Were thinking of going to Paris or London for Chirstman next winter. Which one would be better/ mort affortable?
Emma
MA USA 03/16/2007
Easter in England
We are going to England for 2 weeks at the beginning of April, which means that we will be there over Easter weekend. We are spending 3 days in London (before Easter) and then getting a car and touring the country. Because our plans are vague we only have reservations in London. Considering the Easter holiday is this a mistake? We are not picky about where we sleep.
USA 03/09/2007
I've found that nearly everywhere in Western Europe is crowded over the Easter holidays, as that is when the European schools have holiday (don't go to DisneyWorld that week either--it's a British invasion!)
Just by looking at the number of people you can see at St. Peter's on tv...I would imagine Rome would be incredibly crowded.
USA 01/17/2007
On Holiday in Rome
Will be in Rome on Valentine's. Looking for an excellent restaurant and theater to celebrate. Rome should greatly inspire the essence to savor! Ciao!
Jo
Los Angeles, Cali, USA 01/17/2007
Easter in Rome
Has anyone been to Italy, Rome to be specific, during Easter weekend? I am not Catholic, but as fate has it I may be there on that time. Will it be too crazy? Will everything be closed? Do you suggest changing my dates so that I am not there over the weekend?
fetchbonnie <email>
Vancouver, BC Canada 01/07/2007