Alex Starke

We returned to Vienna on Dec. 27-Jan.3 and, though it was cold, we had a
great time. Just bring lots of warm clothes and when you get too cold, go
into a cafe and have an apertif or coffee.
"Mobutu" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > People in this newsgroup and in guide books and and other places always
    > advise to visit Europe in summer and not winter.
    > Is is really grossly impractical to be a tourist in winter? Or is it
    > more an emotional thing?
    > I'm from Australia and where I am it is warm and sunny every single day.
    > It gets boring. Cold, dark and rainy/snowing weather sounds like an
    > enjoyable novelty. Is that so insane?
    > And with cheaper, off-peak airfares and accomodation it gets even
    > better. But if winter is a real hindrance to travel I take it back.

Stephen Ellenson

"Alex Starke" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > We returned to Vienna on Dec. 27-Jan.3 and, though it was cold, we had a
    > great time. Just bring lots of warm clothes and when you get too cold, go
    > into a cafe and have an apertif or coffee.
    > "Mobutu" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > People in this newsgroup and in guide books and and other places always
    > > advise to visit Europe in summer and not winter.
    > >
    > > Is is really grossly impractical to be a tourist in winter? Or is it
    > > more an emotional thing?
    > >
    > > I'm from Australia and where I am it is warm and sunny every single day.
    > > It gets boring. Cold, dark and rainy/snowing weather sounds like an
    > > enjoyable novelty. Is that so insane?
    > >
    > > And with cheaper, off-peak airfares and accomodation it gets even
    > > better. But if winter is a real hindrance to travel I take it back.

We prefer the off season. The airfares are good, hotels are discounted, the
crowds aren't crowds, and walking for miles each day is much easier. We are
from a region in the US that gets very cold so the weather where we travel
doesn't always seem so extreme. Four more hours to the start of our trip to
Amsterdam and then Nice and it's rather exciting.

Peter Hartikka

    > The only grief you might encounter is in England. Half an inch of snow and
    > the entire country crashes to a gridlocked halt!

Not just England, unfortunately; there have been a few incredibly
disruptive snowstorms in France this winter, including one that caused
several hundred people to have to spend the night in their cars.

However, the nice thing about winter weather in most of western Europe
is that the weather is either cold but sunny (as it is now), or
warmish and rainy. Snow is quite rare, so for many people it's
actually fun.

In any case, though it's cold now, there are already signs of spring;
crocuses and other early flowering bulbs are pushing through. And the
days are rapidly getting longer.

I would absolutely not hesitate to come here in the off-season (if I
didn't live here already).

-Peter in Brussels

Owain

"Peter Hartikka" wrote
    | However, the nice thing about winter weather in most of western Europe
    | is that the weather is either cold but sunny (as it is now), or
    | warmish and rainy. Snow is quite rare, so for many people it's
    | actually fun.
    | In any case, though it's cold now, there are already signs of spring;
    | crocuses and other early flowering bulbs are pushing through.

I noticed today that snowdrops have arrived in central Scotland (they might
have been here for ages, I just haven't walked
the-path-through-the-trees-where-the-snowdrops-grow since the start of the
year until today.

Owain

Tim

"Owain" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Peter Hartikka" wrote
    > | However, the nice thing about winter weather in most of western Europe
    > | is that the weather is either cold but sunny (as it is now), or
    > | warmish and rainy. Snow is quite rare, so for many people it's
    > | actually fun.
    > | In any case, though it's cold now, there are already signs of spring;
    > | crocuses and other early flowering bulbs are pushing through.
    > I noticed today that snowdrops have arrived in central Scotland (they
might
    > have been here for ages, I just haven't walked
    > the-path-through-the-trees-where-the-snowdrops-grow since the start of the
    > year until today.

My garden is still under 8" of snow.
Not a snowdrop/crocus/daff anywhere. It was -12°C this morning.
Tim.