<p>We are visiting Morocco mid-Dec and would like to celebrate Christmas in another country. We’ve narrowed it down to Greece, Italy and Spain. Any input? Would hotel rates be crazy around the holidays?</p>
<p>I can only speak of this country. Christmas Eve Midnight Mass is big, and Christmas Day is a family day, but most families exchange gifts and the kids get their presents on January 6, Three Kings Day (Los Reyes Magos). On the night of January 5 most cities/towns will have a cabalgata(bid parade) with lots of floats and fireworks, and at the end come the Three Kings on camelback. Just as our children may go to visit Santa and ask for something, children in Spain go sit on the lap of therir favorite King to ask. Cookies and milk are not usually left out, but straw is often put out for the camels.</p>
<p>I usually think hotel prices at this time of year in Spain are crazy. Madrid will be quite chilly, but if you go to Sevilla it will be nice, probably only a sweater or very light jacket would be necessary. Wherever you go, it should be great.</p>
<p>I was in Greece once time in the spring and they celebrated Easter a week later than Europe. Is the Xmas holiday off a week as well?</p>
<p>we spent xmas in italy 2 years ago. can’t say enough good things. compared to American excess, there was a distinct lack of public decoration and celebration. we got tickets to go to midnight mass at the Vatican. i’m not even Catholic (rest of the family is) and it was a fantastic experience. </p>
<p>most sites were open and available. we actually walked right into vatican museum which i’ve heard is virtually impossible. visited pompei and vesuvius. spent a few days in florence. D is currently taking “intensive italian” with the intent of studying abroad in rome. looking forward to going back. :)</p>
<p>Italy hands down.
Greece is orthodox so Christmas will be "delayed " by two weeks and in Spain it is all about the Epiphany (Jan 6th).
But where in Italy? No idea…</p>
<p>"I was in Greece once time in the spring and they celebrated Easter a week later than Europe. Is the Xmas holiday off a week as well? "</p>
<p>No and Easter isn’t always a week later either. By the way, other parts of Europe celebrate “Easter” at the same time as the Greeks.</p>
<p>We have celebrated Christmas in Salzburg and in Paris and both were great experiences. Just make sure you have dinner reservations well in advance as almost every restaurant is closed. I think it was in Salzburg where we ended up eating pizza at an Irish pub!</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1013441/travel_italy_now_christmas_in_italy_tv_italy_telly_rome_florence/]Italy[/url”>http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1013441/travel_italy_now_christmas_in_italy_tv_italy_telly_rome_florence/]Italy[/url</a>], definitely.</p>
<p>Italy without a doubt, and Rome ideally. Rome has almost 400 churches, also the city is truly a walking city if you book in the right area. Plus the weather is mild, not like other cities.</p>
<p>We did Venice for Carnivale and it was amazing.</p>
<p>Italy can be cold then but you need to think about which part you’re considering. I lived in N. Italy, which is not S. Italy at all, and I don’t think I’d spend Xmas in Milan. I’d also check to make sure the major attractions are open during the season. Italy has its own odd ways when it comes to opening times for museums and the like.</p>
<p>I lived in Italy and spent two Christmas holidays there. I found it a little bleak, but then again I ENJOY an little Christmas excess. I have however enjoyed some lovely Christmas holidays in Austria and Germany. I would reiterate Lergnoms advice on closing schedules for attractions and I would add restaurants as well.</p>
<p>I’ve been in Italy the week after Christmas. It’s not my favorite time to visit, because it gets dark so early. We were there for New Year’s Eve and had to watch out for closings that day. Do go to a mass somewhere - I loved doing that in Germany and I’m not Christian. We were in northern Italy (Siena and Pisa) and it was pretty chilly. My brother and his family recently spent the week after Christmas in Venice and had a fabulous time. It was cold, but they are from New Hampshire and so it didn’t seem bad to them.</p>
<p>thanks for the suggestions. Our travel agent said either Spain or Italy. She recommended Tuscany.</p>
<p>May we come along?</p>
<p>Yes, I will leave room in my bag. I might buy a rug in Morocco, though.</p>
<p>I’d be in a city with lots to do inside, restaurants, decent accommodation. It can be cold, dark and rainy at the end of December. But a fireplace and good cheer and great local variety and options will take the grey away. Morocco should be o.k. On the other hand, you may get glorious but cool sun. Just never know.</p>
<p>If you AMEX platinum, they have a great concierge service for free. It also allows you to use the Crown room in the airport for free…much better than sitting in the boarding area, since they have light fare, free beverages, including wine. The service also allows you early check in and late check out at the hotel if you use them. Finally, each hotel we stayed at they bumped up our room to suites, and within minutes of getting in the room, there was always a knock on the door with complimentary food trays, bottles of wine, water and soda.</p>
<p>They can also book sightseeing tours with them.</p>
<p>If you are thinking Tuscany, maybe you want to try one of the hotels that does a cooking lesson with it…might be fun for the holidays.</p>
<p>I froze my butt off one winter in Tuscany, but it does have a certain stark beauty about it. I highly recommend spending some time in Sienna. It’s small and not overrun with tourists except for the big event of Palio. I suppose there is a definite advantage in being in Florence off season because in season it can be way too touristy.</p>
<p>It is warmer in Rome. I’ve never been there at this season but I suspect it’s even more shut for obvious reasons.</p>
<p>Yes, I am definitely thinking Tuscany now. Our travel agent will be helpful, but if anyone has suggestions for best places near Tuscany to visit, I’d love to hear them. Since we live in VT, I’m guessing Italy will feel pretty nice.</p>
<p>We stayed in an old home in the Chianti area of Tuscany for a week one summer - fabulous trip - but summer with beautiful weather and a pool with a hillside view of the vinyards. We did day trips to Florence, Sienna, Pisa, San Gimignano, Arezzo, etc.<br>
I vote for Greece for warmer weather. We visited Crete for a fall term break week when lived in England - can’t remember if that’s Oct or Nov but the weather was amazing - not a cloud in the sky.</p>
<p>If I remember right we booked our Tuscany villa through this site: <a href=“http://www.tuscanynow.com/Villas_Tuscany.aspx[/url]”>http://www.tuscanynow.com/Villas_Tuscany.aspx</a></p>