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Christmas/New Year's Travel
Hi ladies,
I had to make a new name since the nest gods decided not to send me a new password to my old account. I don't post much, but need some advice. You are a well-traveled and knowledgeable group, so I think you can help me 
Since the holidays run on Mondays and Tuesdays this year (Christmas Eve on Monday/Christmas on Tuesday/ New Years Eve on the following Monday/ New Years Day on Tuesday), DH and I thought this would be the perfect time to take two weeks off without missing much actual work for a vacation.
Neither of us have gone to Europe, but were thinking this would be the perfect time, since we would have so much time to spend over there. However, neither of us are much for the snow or cold dreary weather. Our plan was to go to London over Christmas, then Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Now I am thinking that it will be too wet and cold, and we would be better off going somewhere else (maybe Italy? I can stand some cold, but nothing like the Midwestern/Northeastern U.S.) I just hate to get there and miss out on all the fun because I am miserable the whole time. I am a Floridian, so I am not tough at all when it comes to the cold!
So what do you think? Should we tough it out and stick with our original plan? Is it worth it to travel to these destinations at this time of year? If so, how would you arrange when to go where? My understanding is that London completely shuts down over Christmas, so maybe go to another place first? Should we just scarp this and figure out another place to go? If so, I am open to suggestions! DH and I have only really traveled the United States and Canada, and we are hoping to start a family next year (which for us will be a complicated process) so this may be our last hurrah for a while.
Sorry if this got too long! Thanks in advance!
Re: Christmas/New Year's Travel
I have been to London in November and the weather was actually not bad. It was cold, but we were lucky in that it didn't rain. I was in Amsterdam in September and was quite cold, but I wasn't prepared for it. Had I had my warm jacket and more socks, I would have been fine! I'm from Phoenix, btw, and quite a wuss when it comes to the cold.
You are right about London over Xmas- everything is pretty much closed on Xmas Eve, Xmas, and the day after Xmas. We originally thought about going over the holiday, but my FI had been during that time and talked me out of it. We went over Thanksgiving instead. I think you'll find that a lot of places will be closed over the holidays no matter where you go. I just recommend going into it with the mindset that you'll have a few days to go walk around and sightsee without actually touring a museum or anything.
Our wedding on Wilson Island!
It would mean facing the snow, but Germany is well-known for its Christmas Markets, making it a very unique time to visit.
You will find that a lot of things shut for Christmas across Europe, but tourist attractions are usually only closed for the actual holidays: Dec 25 & 26, Dec 24 and/or 31 depending on the country, and Jan 1.