General Travel Tips and Advice Have you traveled before?- Please share your tips and advice with fellow Tpunks! |
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07-19-2007, 10:02 AM
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#1
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BeNeLux in the winter
Hey everyone-
I decided to take an additional 2 weeks off for my Christmas vacation this year. I have some family commitments in London for the holidays but between Boxing Day and the 7th of January (when I need to be back in London for the flight home) I have free. I was thinking about spending a few days in Adam and then spend a night or two in Brussels.
Has anyone been to Holland or Belgium in the winter? Is the weather managable? Is it too wet? Also, are all the shops/bars/restaurants closed during this time?
any sugguestions for nye would also be appreciated.
Anyone that's traveled to or lived in holland during the winter, I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks,
Jeff
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07-19-2007, 11:13 AM
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#2
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No one regrets traveling
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I think Amsterdam and London are the similar during the winter. I flew from sunny Madrid to Amsterdam and as we broke below the clouds it was like I was descending into a cloudy depressing "hell-hol". My advice, stick to Spain, Italy, Greece etc
I was in Munich in February and most everything was open despite the crummy weather.
--Joey
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07-19-2007, 06:33 PM
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#3
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I would skip Brussels and go to Brugge. If you don't mind the cold Scandanavian weather, you will have a good time there. I also heard that new years is fun there, but I haven't been for new years. I don't think that you will find shops closed either. People travel to these places year round. There just won't be any nice sunny warm cafe tables for you to enjoy!
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07-20-2007, 01:16 PM
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#4
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Ooooh oooh, I lived in Holland during winter, pick me, pick me!! Hahaha
Well, last winter it was actually pretty mild weather. I still found it very cold but yeah, it only snowed twice. And not around christmas. But apparently the year before last it was snowing for new years eve.
If you are thinking new year's in amsterdam... well, maybe you will like it but I thought it was horrible. It was full of obnoxious tourists, absolutely packed out and so dirty and so many drunk people even before midnight. Plus I got groped in the crowd. That is why I always say Amsterdam is dirty. Weird thing is, the Canadian girl I was with was also groped a couple of times and she didn't think it was that strange, she said it always happened to her back home...?!?!! What is wrong with Canada?!?!!
I think all the cool young dutch people head to Rotterdam, although the hague is probably good that night as well. And I heard about something on new years day when all the dutch peopel jump into the river in rotterdam. You should definitely do that
Anyway, just ranting about new years eve, sorry, i'm a bit passionate about that. But in regards to rain... when I was there I thought it rained SO much (after coming from the droughts of Aus) But now I am living in Dublin and it has rained 42 days straight!!! It is unbelieveable. Also I think a kind of a freak occurence even for Dublin but still... yeah, Holland is maneagable in winter, if I could survive it. Just make sure you have a great jacket and boots. We all wear boots in holland, i haven't seen the same type in other countries and in fact people kept staring at my feet when I was wearing them backpacking. Especially in Romania. But they just seem to stare all the time in Romania.
Aaargh I hsould post more often I guess, instead of spiling it all in one post! A bit exciteable sorry. But feel free to ask more questions, if you dare...
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07-21-2007, 01:42 PM
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#5
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Minister of Offense
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I've been to both Amsterdam and Brussels in the winter - this last winter.
Amsterdam was BITTER F'IN COLD when the wind picked up, but was otherwise just fine. A little rain here and there, like any other time of year - hell, I got more rained on in July there than I did in January.
Brussels was chilly but not at all what I'd consider "cold." My friend who now lives there complains more about the regular rain than about the temperature, and she's from Texas and used to live in Southern California, if that's any indication.
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07-22-2007, 02:32 PM
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#6
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lover of Germany
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I've been to the Netherlands during December and went through Belgium. Now, Belgium kicks ass any time of year but its nice in the winter-Marc is right though skip on to Brugge. Then again spend a day or so in Brussels because it has some stuff worth seeing.
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07-23-2007, 06:54 AM
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#7
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thanks for all the advice.
looking at accomidation it seems that amsterdam is packed for new years eve. i enjoy drunken revelry, but from what i read, nye in amsterdam seems a bit like times square in new york (not my thing)
i wouldn't mind checking out another city fot nye. my whole plan was to leave london and avoid overpriced drinks and loads of tourists. so if anyone has any suggestions.
louse- given your netherlands expertise i may be pestering you with questions about holland for the next few months. sorry in advance.
in terms of weather, keep in mind i'm a hardened new englander. 11 inches of snow is just a 'dusting' to me. however, i didn't want to be traveling in shiitty weather the whole trip (not like i can change that though...)
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"An inordinate passion for pleasure is the secret of remaining young. -Oscar Wilde
"I showed them...I'm still alive." Homer Simpson
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07-23-2007, 03:23 PM
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#8
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Hey, pester away, no worries.
Yeah, I am a sooky Aussie about weather, but it is not just snow that is an issue. The wind is very very strong and also very cold especially when coming off the water, like in Amsterdam or where I lived. And just the icky drizzle all the time.
I'm glad you want to avoid Amsterdam on NYE, good idea. Like I said, Rotterdam or the Hague might be okay, as big Dutch cities, but I am sure anywhere will have something going on. Though keep in mind that like christmas, Dutch people normally stay home for NYE, well despite young people of course- the exception to every rule. Ummmm yeah... well if you want to ask questions that's fine because I can't think of anything I should tell you.
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