Which would you choose?

[katieh]

Just found some great deals to Europe out of San Francisco for fall and winter and currently debating with husband which we should do. I've been to Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, and Spain (several times for Spain) so would rather do somewhere new. We tend to be more budget oriented but LOVE good food, wine, and beer.

Which sound most appealing to you, and why? Or if you have done any of these and can offer tips based on your experience, I'd appreciate it!

Over Christmas and New Years
8 nights - Helsinki with Tallinn and St. Petersburg (fly in/out of Helsinki)
8 nights - Paris with Amsterdam or Brussels (choosing not to do whole time in Paris because Paris over the holidays sounds expensive)
8 nights - Vienna and Budapest (with one night in Zurich, where we fly in/out)

Thanksgiving
8 nights, 2-3 outside of Paris, 5-6 in Paris in apartment

my birthday (February)
fly into Madrid on cheap flight but spend week in Morocco

[Deleted]

Paris Amsterdam Brussels

[emilyinchile]

The first trip sounds way too cold for me. The third sounds like too much moving around with 3 cities in 8 days.

Either of the Paris trips - Thanksgiving could have better weather, but seeing places at Christmas can be special - or Morocco would be my choice.

[Deleted]

I'd probably choose Morocco based on the milder weather, though I do enjoy traveling during holiday festivities. I'm usually not opposed to traveling in off-seasons with less than ideal weather, but I don't want to go somewhere so freezing and/or snowy that I can't see/do much. All of your destination options sound great, but I'd do Morocco first. My second choice would be Paris for Christmas.

[travelingjen]

Of the options you have listed, I would choose Morocco for weather reasons. But that's because I hate traveling to cities when it's cold/rainy/snowy out.

[pittpurple]

I really like the idea of the Thanksgiving Paris trip - just personally, I've only been to Paris once and it was just a couple days so I'd love to go back. it will be cold and wet, but you'll have a lot of places to yourselves which wil be nice.

Morocco has been on my list for ages so that's a vote too! And after living in Scotland for a while, I always vote for sunshine.

I think the Christmas plans just sound too rushed or too cold. I really, really loved Tallinn, but I was there in March last year and it was really cold. Helsinki even more so. I think it would be unbearable in December but I don't deal with cold well! I think switching cities a lot over a holiday season is potentially difficult/expensive as well.

[Waffles]

I really wouldn't fancy any of the places listed in the middle of winter: Helsinki, Tallinn, Vienna, Budapest & St Petersburg would be absolutely freezing and Paris/Amsterdam/Brussels very dreary/wet.

But I generally don't like colder weather hols.

My vote goes to Morocco in Feb or Paris in Nov (still sort of dreary though).

[scout8]

I would think the Helsinki trip would be really cold and dark that time of year, but maybe I am wrong.

All the others sound good to me, but I would probably go with Morocco. I have always wanted to go there.

I was in Budapest for the Christmas market one year and it was really fun. It was cold, but not freezing.

[shauni27]

Morocco for weather reasons and it is on my bucket list.

[Wanderista]

I've been to Vienna and Bratislava in the winter though not Budapest. Vienna is really nice in the run up to Christmas time. I probably wouldn't go literally during Christmas though. There's a great Christmas market and the whole place has a really magical quality at that time of year. Lots of people go then so it is pretty crowded, but there are lots of market stalls selling hot wine and also cafes selling cakes and pastries.

With plenty of layers, you can go on a carriage ride, the sound of the horse hooves on cobbled streets has a melodic quality that adds to the season. Also, there are lots of museums, shops and palaces to visit. So there is plenty to do indoors. Around Christmas, there would probably be classical concerts too, but yeah, Vienna is not really a budget destination at that time of year.

I'd either pick Vienna but not right during the holidays, or I would pick Paris during Thanksgiving when it is not a holiday there. If you want to escape cold weather, then yeah, pick Morocco. I did not find Vienna to be too cold as long as I had a good coat, scarf and gloves.

[katieh]

Well, we're probably crazy....

We picked Helsinki - we arrive on Dec 24 and have 13 days, so we're thinking 2-3 in Helsinki, 3-4 each in st. Petersburg and Moscow 2-3 in Tallinn.

It's going to be freezing cold, but (and I'll probably regret saying this) after a year in San Francisco, having moved from Chicago, I'm kind of looking forward to some winter weather.

[mrsukyankee]

I spent a week in Prague in the winter and LOVED it, so I'm sure you'll be fine in Helsinki...especially if it snows. Gorgeous!