John

Hi,

I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland Europe
as much as I can while here.

I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive and
crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or more,
in some circumstances.

I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings regarding
travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all still
there but the costs are not.

any feedback appreciated,
John.

R@L

"John" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi,
    > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland Europe
    > as much as I can while here.
    > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive
and
    > crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or
more,
    > in some circumstances.
    > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings
regarding
    > travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
    > Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all still
    > there but the costs are not.
    > any feedback appreciated,
    > John.

It's not the same in winter. Many things are closed down and you will miss
the strolling around the crowded little towns and seaside villages. The
prices of hotels or houses remain the same from September till May so why
not go in September/October and April/May?

Ronald www.mulazzo.nl


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Szozu

My favourite time for travel is "shoulder season"--May, June and September.
It's a great time to see the countries you've mentioned below.

Lana

"John" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi,
    > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland Europe
    > as much as I can while here.
    > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive
and
    > crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or
more,
    > in some circumstances.
    > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings
regarding
    > travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
    > Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all still
    > there but the costs are not.
    > any feedback appreciated,
    > John.

Ptravel

"John" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi,
    > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland Europe
    > as much as I can while here.
    > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive
and
    > crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or
more,
    > in some circumstances.
    > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings
regarding
    > travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
    > Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all still
    > there but the costs are not.
    > any feedback appreciated,
    > John.

As others have mentioned April/May, September/October are good times to
travel. However, my wife and I frequently go to Europe in December/January
as well and enjoy these trips immensely. It's a different Europe that time
of Europe -- one with far fewer tourists, of course, but also one that
"feels" different than going when it's warmer. We've been from Amsterdam to
Sicily and many, many places in between during the winter. Obviously, it
gets quite cold in the northern parts, but we simply dress for it.

barney

In article , [email protected]
() wrote:

    > It's not the same in winter. Many things are closed down and you will
    > miss
    > the strolling around the crowded little towns and seaside villages. The
    > prices of hotels or houses remain the same from September till May so
    > why
    > not go in September/October and April/May?

I'm inclined to agree with Ronald -- autumn and spring are possibly the
best times to travel. Be aware, too, that even southern Europe may be not
just "not as hot", but distinctly unpleasant weatherwise in the winter --
for example, I had a chilly and rain-sodden trip to Naples in January.
(Still a good trip -- but the point is that hot summers don't necessarily
mean balmy winters!)

Barbara Vaughan

John wrote:
    >
    > Hi,
    >
    > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland Europe
    > as much as I can while here.
    >
    > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive and
    > crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or more,
    > in some circumstances.
    >
    > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings regarding
    > travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
    > Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all still
    > there but the costs are not.

It depends what you're going to see. If you want to hike or sunbathe,
the winter months may not be your best bet. If you're going to see the
Louvre or the Uffizi, then a rainy day in January is ideal.

I notice that some other suggested that September and October are ideal;
this is an excellent time to travel. October can be a bit rainy,
especially toward the end of the month. Also, in much of Italy,
September and October are high season. In Rome, for instance, many
hotels cost more in September than they do in August.

Barbara



    >
    > any feedback appreciated,
    > John.

John

thanks everyone for your help so far..

what about temperatures. I like warm, but don't like oppressively hot and
humid. When is the humidity the highest & most uncomfortable, (the
guidebooks don't really mention it).

John.


"Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > John wrote:
    > >
    > > Hi,
    > >
    > > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland
Europe
    > > as much as I can while here.
    > >
    > > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive
and
    > > crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or
more,
    > > in some circumstances.
    > >
    > > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings
regarding
    > > travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
    > > Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all
still
    > > there but the costs are not.
    > It depends what you're going to see. If you want to hike or sunbathe,
    > the winter months may not be your best bet. If you're going to see the
    > Louvre or the Uffizi, then a rainy day in January is ideal.
    > I notice that some other suggested that September and October are ideal;
    > this is an excellent time to travel. October can be a bit rainy,
    > especially toward the end of the month. Also, in much of Italy,
    > September and October are high season. In Rome, for instance, many
    > hotels cost more in September than they do in August.
    > Barbara
    > >
    > > any feedback appreciated,
    > > John.

Steltzjr

I agree with the others.

Go in September or May. Delightful times.

Now, if you're just going to visit cities, the winter months will be o.k. for
museums and restaurants. But if you're looking to visit Greek temples, small
towns and villages - it's not that pleasant in pouring rain and fairly cold
temperatures.

Barbara Vaughan

John wrote:
    >
    > thanks everyone for your help so far..
    >
    > what about temperatures. I like warm, but don't like oppressively hot and
    > humid. When is the humidity the highest & most uncomfortable, (the
    > guidebooks don't really mention it).

I've never seen hot, humid weather in Europe like the weather on the
east coast of the US. Italy can get quite hot in mid-summer, but if the
humidity goes over 50% people think they're going to suffocate. Northern
Europe can be quite humid, but the heat is never quite like the eastern
US.

Maybe the parts of Europe with a more continental climate have hot humid
weather in the summer, for instance some parts of eastern Europe.
However, I doubt they get anywhere near as hot as Washington, DC.

Barbara



    >
    > John.
    >
    > "Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > >
    > > John wrote:
    > > >
    > > > Hi,
    > > >
    > > > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland
    > Europe
    > > > as much as I can while here.
    > > >
    > > > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive
    > and
    > > > crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or
    > more,
    > > > in some circumstances.
    > > >
    > > > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings
    > regarding
    > > > travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
    > > > Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all
    > still
    > > > there but the costs are not.
    > >
    > > It depends what you're going to see. If you want to hike or sunbathe,
    > > the winter months may not be your best bet. If you're going to see the
    > > Louvre or the Uffizi, then a rainy day in January is ideal.
    > >
    > > I notice that some other suggested that September and October are ideal;
    > > this is an excellent time to travel. October can be a bit rainy,
    > > especially toward the end of the month. Also, in much of Italy,
    > > September and October are high season. In Rome, for instance, many
    > > hotels cost more in September than they do in August.
    > >
    > > Barbara
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > >
    > > > any feedback appreciated,
    > > > John.

Keith Anderson

On Sun, 25 May 2003 10:58:45 +0100, "John" wrote:

    >Hi,
    >I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland Europe
    >as much as I can while here.
    >I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive and
    >crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or more,
    >in some circumstances.
    >I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings regarding
    >travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter months?
    >Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are all still
    >there but the costs are not.
    >any feedback appreciated,
    >John.

For 10 years or so, my parents had a second home on Spain's Costa
Blanca which they used for the winter (November-March). I visited
every year for Christmas/New Year and found conditions absolutely
ideal. Plenty of warm sunshine - up to 22° C during the day - but cold
at night with temps dropping to 7° C.

I also travelled from there to Andalucia (similar conditions) and the
south of France - Nice/Cannes etc.

Occasionally there wre bad days - and one time an awful snowy winter
in the S of France - but generally winter conditions were absolutely
great. (Many retired people from Northern Europe spend the winter
months in Spain)

However, Central Spain (Madrid, Toledo) was very cold and often
overcast, so my recomendations are not for the entire country..

Miguel Cruz

John wrote:
    > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland Europe
    > as much as I can while here.
    > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive
    > and crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double, or
    > more, in some circumstances.
    > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings
    > regarding travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter
    > months? Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are
    > all still there but the costs are not.

Last year I flew from London into Madrid and back out of Malaga for a total
of US$50. About 3 hours' flying time each way. Spent about $10-20 per night
for hotel rooms when not staying with friends.

Seems like at those prices you could experiment.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam

John

what time of year though?


"Miguel Cruz" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > John wrote:
    > > I'm in London, England for two years and hope to travel to mainland
Europe
    > > as much as I can while here.
    > >
    > > I see that everything (regarding travel costs) is *much* more expensive
    > > and crowded during the summer months. Accommodation seems to be double,
or
    > > more, in some circumstances.
    > >
    > > I know it's a very broad question, but what are people's feelings
    > > regarding travel within Spain, France, Italy, and Greece in the winter
    > > months? Although not as hot, is it just as nice? I figure the sights are
    > > all still there but the costs are not.
    > Last year I flew from London into Madrid and back out of Malaga for a
total
    > of US$50. About 3 hours' flying time each way. Spent about $10-20 per
night
    > for hotel rooms when not staying with friends.
    > Seems like at those prices you could experiment.
    > miguel
    > --
    > Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
    > Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam

Miguel Cruz

John wrote:
    > "Miguel Cruz" wrote:
    >> Last year I flew from London into Madrid and back out of Malaga for a
    >> total of US$50. About 3 hours' flying time each way. Spent about $10-20
    >> per night for hotel rooms when not staying with friends.
    >> Seems like at those prices you could experiment.
    > what time of year though?

Last year I went in January. Previously I've visited in the spring and
summer (Madrid was REALLY hot in August).

The seasons each have their own character. It's probably the most fun in the
late spring when the warm weather is settling in and everyone's excited
about being outside, but the tourists haven't arrived yet.

Winter was fine too, but bear in mind that many parts of Spain can be really
cold. It was below freezing much of the time I was in Madrid in January. In
the south it was light-jacket weather.

Anyway, like I said, at $50 a trip, you can try them all. Just book way
ahead on EasyJet or the like.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam

Luca Logi

Steltzjr wrote:

    > Now, if you're just going to visit cities, the winter months will be o.k. for
    > museums and restaurants. But if you're looking to visit Greek temples, small
    > towns and villages - it's not that pleasant in pouring rain and fairly cold
    > temperatures.

I had a very pleasant time visiting Athens in late november (it was a
business trip with a lot of time to spend during the day). I had clear
days and the possibility of visiting the Acropolis without crowds and
without heat. - On a subsequent November trip, however, I had flooding
rain.

My personal idea is that January would be a good time to visit Florence.
Weather in January has less rain than November or December, and some
days are cold but clear. There are few tourists around and the thing is
very pleasurable if you stick to indoor activities.

--
Luca Logi - Firenze - Italy e-mail: [email protected]

Gerald

On Sun, 25 May 2003 18:20:25 +0100, "John" wrote:

    >thanks everyone for your help so far..
    >what about temperatures. I like warm, but don't like oppressively hot and
    >humid. When is the humidity the highest & most uncomfortable, (the
    >guidebooks don't really mention it).
    >John.

Certainly the winter season in Venice has some extremely humid days.
35F and heavy fog. Humidity very close to 100%