Europe - December - best places?

[NDiddy]

I don't know if my suggestion would interest you at all but here goes. In 2012, SWMBO and I decided that it would be great to get away for Christmas and spend it by ourselves. A choice not made lightly as it is the time for family but nonetheless we went through with it.

The toughest part was where to spend Christmas and after a lot of research we decided Dubrovnik. It was absolutely amazing and is still the best travel experience to date, for me anyway.

We got a great rate at the Hilton in a Club room (but more on this later). The weather was mild during the day and low teens during the night. There were no tourists so it felt like we had the whole town to ourselves. Walking the wall and only passing may be 6 people on the way was certainly enviable compared to what I read on-line. They had a great Christmas market near the church next to a ginormous tree and it felt like a quaint village as opposed to a tourist destination.

But what made this trip more memorable were meeting people like us for the 3 days we were there. On Christmas eve, we were one of 3 groups in the club room in the Hilton. We had no plans apart from having a few drinks, walking the town, dinner and back to the hotel. We got chatting to an elderly Canadian couple who were going to be spending Christmas alone anyway because they're kids were spread across the globe and couldn't make it this year. There was a solo German man who was fulfilling his dying mum's wish to visit his birth city and he made the effort to do so this year.

Incredible coincidence that we should all be there together and needless to say we hit it off. The Hilton manager allowed the drinks to flow till 10:00pm and then we all had Christmas dinner together followed but more lubricants at an Irish bar. To this day it remains one of the best days/nights (albeit groggy) I've had on vacation. People connecting and coming together is always hard to top.

Anyway I suppose I have a bias to Dubrovnik and will always recommend people go there. However I suppose the point is that no matter where you go, if you're open to new experiences, meeting people and taking life as it comes there'll always be a "Dubrovnik" no matter where you choose

 

[amaroo]

I will be in Europe for December and early January.

< snip>

So are we.

3 weeks drinking Italian red, 1 week in Norway eating Reindeer and chasing the Nth lights, 4 nights in Paris ... capped off with CX F to HKG.

 

[love_the_life]

The OP specifically ruled out the UK and Ireland for locations to visit. That just leaves the rest of Europe; how long is a piece of string? Agree with other posters that a bit more detail on likes/dislikes etc would be very helpful. There is a huge difference between the south, along the Mediterranean for example, and the north up to Scandinavia.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I don't want to limit the suggestions!
I have enough points to fly anywhere within Europe and there is good availability on BA, IB and AY.
I've been to a lot of countries before - the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland - but I'm happy to revisit to see something worthwhile.
If you really need narrower parameters then additional places in Portugal or Spain would be great.
In Portugal I've only been to Lisbon.
In Spain I have been to Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza and Donastia-San Sebastian.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Dubrovnik sounds lovely, always meant to go there but hadn't thought of it yet this time.
Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[RyanD]

How about Belgium? Apart from being a considerably quiet and not so crowded it is absolutely beautiful in winter. Know it from my own experience. Anyway, here's a good article offering a couple of really interesting options on that topic 10 Incredible Places in Europe You May Not Know About - Globelink.co.uk - Travel Information - Globelink Blog - maybe it'll help to decide. But I'd go to Belgium. Consider it and have a great time on your holiday

 

[esseeeayeenn]

How about Belgium? Apart from being a considerably quiet and not so crowded it is absolutely beautiful in winter. Know it from my own experience. Anyway, here's a good article offering a couple of really interesting options on that topic 10 Incredible Places in Europe You May Not Know About - Globelink.co.uk - Travel Information - Globelink Blog - maybe it'll help to decide. But I'd go to Belgium. Consider it and have a great time on your holiday

Thanks some interesting places in that list.
Belgium is a great idea, it fits in with practicing my French speaking.

 

[EestiTiger]

I would vote for Tallinn Estonia As mentioned previously, December is all about the Xmas markets. Tallinn old town xmas markets are something to see. Stunning little place, not as many tourists as the bigger more popular markets and more chance of some snow cover I recommend heading to Glorias which is a basement wine cellar bar. A rabbit warren of joined rooms with vino everywhere. Will be a bit cheaper than Western Europe.

Estonian Air went bust a couple of weeks ago but there are other carriers to get you there.

 

[mark4217]

Belgium!!, a Teflon vest would make a nice clothing accessory. I am there in April so hope it all calms down by then.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Thanks for a your input, particularly on Dubrovnik.
Lady Cool Cat & I are booked to go to Dubrovnik in late June 2015 for three nights/three days.
We would like to know if you have any hot tips on where to go and any cool restaurants to check out in Dubrovnik.

 

[EestiTiger]

Will be in Dubrovnik in August - great place, but jeez it gets warm with the radiated heat from the pavement and buildings! I have some restaurant tips for the islands if you are planning to get offshore? My only tip is to try the local stuffed squid - my mouth is watering just thinking about it...