Europe in November/December - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**skidrage** · 11-01-2003, 01:52 PM

Hi All

I am new to this site (very helpful by the way!) and I have a question about Europe in November and December. There are some cheap flights going on right now so I might head back there, but I have a couple questions.

1. What is the typical climate in Spain and southern France during this period? I would mostly stick to south of Munich to travel as I know it is already pretty cold in places like The Netherlands. Germany and Belgium.

2. What is the hostel situation like at this time? I know that reservations are not too important due to it being an offseason, but I like staying in hostels and want to know if there will be a decent amount of people staying at this time period as well.

3. Can anyone suggest a good hostel in Barcelona? I know of Kabul and have heard mixed opinions (great place to meet people, but dirty).

Thanks all for any help!

**Carisia** · 11-01-2003, 06:04 PM

Hi there, I can't offer much in terms of specific advice/answers, but I'll be travelling in Western Europe in Nov/Dec also, so you're not alone (see Western Europe message board / "France and Italy in 2 Weeks" topic I posted earlier, but now I'll also be hitting Switzerland, Spain and Portugal). Also, check out the "HOSTELS, HOTELS, and other Accommodations" message board. Finally, you may already have checked out www.hostels.com - they have hostel ratings by country/city. Maybe we'll run into each other during our travels, are you definitely going? Cheers!

**skidrage** · 11-01-2003, 06:52 PM

Thanks for the reply. I will know in a few days if I am going for sure. Where in Spain do you plan to go? I have been to Madrid and San Sebastian and would probably head back to those spots and also go to Barcelona and maybe one other town.

**worldwidemike** · 11-02-2003, 08:31 AM

Italy is okay in November, temperature-wise. That is the only one I've been to in Nov-Dec. The Mediterranean has a Wet/Dry climate (if I remember my geography classes right!). So, expect cool, damp weather in places normally known for being sunny and warm.

Perhaps TP can tell you more about Spain...and Dmac is there in Italy right now, right? How's the weather, man?

worldwidemike

**kyle j** · 11-02-2003, 01:12 PM

I am heading to amsterdam munich and maybe the french alps in mid december and I have researched the weather some and all of those places tend to have highs in the low 40'sF and lows in the low 30'sF but you can always go to weather.com and look up specific cities that you will be in. Best of luck

**travelpunk** · 11-03-2003, 04:12 AM

Skidrage, WELCOME TO THE BOARDS!

Madrid is pretty cold right now. Thats' the word, directly from my contact in Madrid(gf lives there

). However, last year at this time, my friend that worked at a hotel resort in Marbella, told me that people aere still laying out at the beach because the weather was much warmer there!

Dmac is in Italy right now, and I just read a post of his saying that it's cold there now. "Bring a warm jacket, gloves, and maybe even a scarf," I believe that was the word from mac daddy.

Reserving hostels is a good idea, for the small popular hostels. Other than that, I think you'll do fine by winging it, unless it's a holiday or some sort of festivity is happening in the town that you're visiting.

Here's a list of Barcelona hostels that may help you. Gat Raval and Pension Bahia are constantly mentioned and voted as great hostels.

If you go back into Madrid, maybe you already tried it, but Barbieri International in Madrid is constantly voted a Top Ten hostel, and in fact, voted one of the TOP TEN hostels world wide in 2002! It is small and gets packed quickly, so if you do plan on staying in Madrid and want to stay there, it's a good idea to at the very least, pre-book that one.