During our year in Italy we would like to travel some but with Casey's school calendar we are very limited in terms of time. We are looking at between December 27 and January 6. So fellow travelers--suggestions. Where in Europe or Africa would you recommend at that time of year? Is it warm anyplace then? Where is a place that Ken and I could enjoy as adults and find things for Casey, too? (He's 8.) Ideas?

Jane, I always say I prefer to stay in cities during the winter, if I'm not going anywhere for weather. That way you could walk most anywhere, crowds are less, mass transit is still available, etc....how about Paris?

I'm not sure about warmth but for something a little more adventerous, Egypt?

If you want to travel far - you might consider South Africa - it is the middle of summer there. Kruger Park with all its animals is quite nice. It is a long trip for not too much time.

Temperatures in Morocco and Tunisia, which are both a bit further from the current turmoil, are not all that great either: average high 50s, low 60s.

I would tend to agree with Kim that staying in cities, where the weather does not play such an important role, is better if you cannot go somewhere that is really warm.

I'd choose either a definitely hot place or a nice and cozy and cold one!
Hot places are quite far away... in December-January as Eloise sais not even Morocco is really a warm choice.
I'd go north to enjoy German style Christmas: Süd Tirol (Alto Adige in Italian, the north-east bit of Italy near the Dolomites) or Vienna, Salzburg... great Christmas, fab winter food and amazingly good heating in the houses

The Canary Islands are pretty hot even at Christmas, even though the water might be cold. I spent New Year's at Tenerife one year and it was fun. Go to one of the islands that is the furthest south, that will help as well. And make sure to stay out of the most touristy places, Gran Canaria is maybe not the best choice. But there are plenty of neat towns on the different islands.

On the other hand, I agree with Giulia, why not go somewhere totally wintry, with lots of snow, skiing, gingerbread and all that? There should be good places in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany for that.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the good advice and we will take it. Salzburg it will be--I think. It makes a great deal of sense for us as we come from the land of perpetual sun and so 80F on Christmas is not unheard of. Casey needs a white Christmas. Now I am excited about that--it will be fun. Salzburg will be perfect for us as it has things to offer our divergent needs. Grazie Molto!

Jane, I just saw this post, and I'm so excited about you planning a Christmas in Salzburg.

Our family has actually spent two Christmases in Salzburg-- 1999 and 2003-- and we absolutely love it. The first time Kelly was six years old, the second time she was 10, and she had a great time. We spent two weeks near Salzburg on our long trip, but that was in the summertime. We know this area quite well.

I have some travel notes for Salzburg posted here and a photo album of our last Christmas trip posted here. The photo album is really a trip report about the alpine portion of that trip (Oberammergau and Salzburg). You might also think about spending some time in Munich, which is also a wonderful Christmas destination.

I'd be glad to offer any suggestions, especially about things Casey might enjoy.

Kathy

Jane, I do agree that it would be perfect for Casey to have a white Christmas, so this is just a suggestion in case you are still looking for someplace on the warm side. We had a great Christmas in Nice last year, and there are tons of things for kids to do there.

Nice, and several other towns in the area, had big Christmas festivals for families, with rides, etc. They also had a living creche (with animals) in the center of town where families would gather for informal concerts of traditional holiday music every evening. The weather was cool (highs mostly in the 50s), but mostly sunny and pleasant. Here is the page from my trip report starting with Nice.

(Photo is from the Nice Christmas park, where there was a giant Ferris wheel that you can see in the photo on the page linked in the trip report).

Thank you all! Roz, you are right about Nice we were there 3 years ago at Christmas visiting friends. But--Salzburg it is. I made reservations for 6 nights right in the center--by Mozart's house at the Goldener Hirschner (or something like that--don't have it right in front of me at this moment.) We move fast once we start thinking--made so much easier by the consensus of all that a real Christmas was important. Once it was said, I knew how right that is. So--once again ST folks have impacted us. I also posted on the expat site and they said the same thing.

Watch the blog for our Christmas experience. Back to packing now--horrors.

Salzburg sounds like an excellent idea! Hey don't forget to watch Sound of Music.