<p>Yet another vote here for Rick Steve’s web writeups and books. We went to Stockholm last summer and loved it. I have also heard great things about Copenhagen, but have not been (yet!).</p>
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<p>You guys are spoiling it, I am sure I could have gotten at least one American into trouble.</p>
<p>Stockholm has quite a bit to see, however Copenhagen is a bit of a let down in comparison. It’s sort of a poor cousin to Stockholm & Amsterdam - canal boats & similar architecture. I would not include it on a quick tour of Europe. (I’ve been there several times on business & head to Stockholm at least 3x/year on business).</p>
<p>I bought a Rick Steves book last year for France, and was very impressed with his suggestions as well as cultural information for Americans new to European travel. However as a guide for anything off the main track, there is a dearth of information. Perhaps to his credit, as he only writes what he knows and can recommend. For instance, regarding Brittany, he only discussed one city, if I remember correctly. I needed Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide for a comprehensive guide to the area.</p>
<p>sorghum…he he he he he</p>
<p>I should have known.</p>
<p>There are some places, Mont St. Michel (France) and Gruyer (Switzerland) come to mind, that are completely overrun with tour groups during the day. If you spend the night there, you will have a completely different experience. Walking around in the evening after the crowds have gone is magical.</p>
<p>FYI, Rick Steve’s is having it’s annual Holiday sale now through December 12, 2011. Books and maps are 30% off. It includes on-line purchases.</p>
<p>At the risk of stating the obvious, for those considering late December trips, remember that it gets dark really early in the north in December. In London on Christmas day, the sun rises at 8 am and sets at 3:56 pm. (In contrast, on June 25th the sun rises at 4:44 am and sets at 9:22 pm.) The number of daylight hours may matter a lot to some people and not at all to others.</p>
<p>“The number of daylight hours may matter a lot to some people and not at all to others.”</p>
<p>God knows, it would really stink to go on the vacation of a lifetime and end up with no daylight, and just cold and wet. That would be top priority for scheduling.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice and suggestions … London seems like a good option, and had no idea it got dark at 4 pm! Any other ideas for Christmas and New Year? And if we go to London - and take a two week trip - where else should we go?</p>
<p>Jump on the Eurostar and go to Paris for a few days. Paris is lit up beautifully at night, so darkness will not cramp your style.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/_SvBoExpressBookingTerm?_TMS=1321480761725&_DLG=SvBoExpressBookingTerm&_LANG=UK&_AGENCY=ESTAR&country=US&lang=UK&VT=EB[/url]”>http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/_SvBoExpressBookingTerm?_TMS=1321480761725&_DLG=SvBoExpressBookingTerm&_LANG=UK&_AGENCY=ESTAR&country=US&lang=UK&VT=EB</a></p>
<p>only $65 and 2 1/2 hours</p>
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<p>And about what you will spend for a taxi to your hotel or point of interest. Well, that is obviously sarcastic but just a little. The reality is that traveling through Europe should come with the caveat to become oblivious to exchange rates and cost as everything will cost an arm and a leg, with the exception of baguettes eaten on the street. Pretending that the exchange rate is one-to-one for the Pound and the Euro goes a long way to preserve one’s sanity. </p>
<p>And to stay with the sarcastic spirit, the OP might time the trip around this event: </p>
<p>[course</a> des garcons de cafe de paris 2011 | Waiters race | waiters race | course des garcons de cafe](<a href=“http://www.waitersrace.com/paris-2011]course”>http://www.waitersrace.com/paris-2011)</p>
<p>Yep, that Paris Waiters Race is really called La Course des Gar</p>
<p>But when I checked the site, the price WAS in $$ not EU.(???off season is the reason???) Anyhow, things are looking up (or down?) The Euro is down to 1.35, almost a 10% drop since our last trip to Paris this last March. I only travel in the Winter or Fall when EVERYTHING seems a lot cheaper. I checked out our favorite apartment in the 6th and now it’s only $680 a week in the off season with the better exchange rates. Paris is calling.</p>
<p>Also, OP’ (or OPs) your best bet as far as checking out hotels and restaurants, as well as misc. travel advice is Tripadvisor.com… I am not a huge fan of Rick Steves,for a lot of reasons but mainly because many of the hotels and restaurants he recommends are inundated with other Rick Steve fans.</p>
<p>oh and we have the “Course des Garcons” race every year here in LA on Bastille day! And yes you can call the race by that name, but don’t dare call your waiter that. I have worked in the food industry long enough to know that you NEVER EVER want to anger or alienate the person schlepping your food. Sorghum is playing with fire. ;)</p>
<p>The price will be in the currency of your country. For instance, a trip from London to Paris on 12/15 would be $60.00. Fwiw, I paid 1/2 that from Paris to Brussels on a recent trip with an advance booking. A great rate considering that the arrival tax at the Brussels airport is easily double that. </p>
<p>And, yes, Paris should be calling.</p>
<p>Many years ago (before kids) H and I spent the week between Christmas and New Years in Paris. The city became more and more crowded as it drew closer to New Years Eve. But the tourists were almost all European.</p>
<p>I’ve begun to realize that a tour or cruise has advantage of less stress over exchange rate variability/risk. For example, many of the Rick Steves tours include accomodations, all breakfasts, half the dinners, ground transportation and tour admission costs. So exchange rate variability is only on the smaller costs (lunch, half of dinners, misc spending).</p>
<p>You are right, colorado_mom. We spent very little extra on our Rick Steves tour. All of the dinners they provided were pretty upscale, and some included wine, so most of the dinners we paid for, we chose inexpensive restaurants. Days they provided dinner, we just loaded up on free breakfast, bought a snack for lunch, and came hungry to dinner. Most of the additional money we spent on the tours were really on trinkets and wine (cheap and delicious in Italy). I admit it, we’re kind of tightwads.</p>
<p>I’m envious! whether it is next spring or over the holidays, you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>My personal favorites: Scotland, is so beautiful, spring is wonderful, but chilly
London: I could spend weeks in just that city, seeing plays and eating Indian food</p>
<p>Spain and Portugal. 2 weeks in that area would do it justice.</p>
<p>If you want to try something a bit out of the way, check out Slovenia and Croatia. Slovenia is on the ‘sunnyside’ of the Alps, as they say, and is the most beautiful country.</p>
<p>I’m not a big fan of Paris, but love the Loire valley for all the castles.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, take the train as much as possible. I found it so relaxing to sit and watch the scenery, although it is sometimes cumbersome to drag luggage from station to station. I’m the Rick Steves type of traveller, so I travel lightly anyway.</p>
<p>While mid-winter is not necessarily ideal, my brother and his family went to Venice a couple of years ago right after Christmas because it was the only time they all were free. We all thought they were crazy, but they loved it - even the cynical college sophomore.</p>