Christmas Markets for family
Discussion
rich12 said:
Seems i'm a bit too late to the party for this year to go abroad.
Flights from Luton to Vienna are circa £700 and then it would be a 2 night stay at a hotel plus spending etc which is way too much.
UK it is!
Just a thought, but if Luton is your nearest airport, I'm guessing you're not a million miles from Le Tunnel ?? We've driven to Bruges for the past couple of years (and going again in the next few weeks) for the markets as it's one of my favourite places. A couple of hours to the tunnel for us, and closer on the other side. Whilst we stay quite central now, one year we did stay in a 2 bedroom house just outside the main walls where the owner lived next door - had no problems getting in our out, rooms were cheap, and she was very helpful. Might be worth exploring. Having the car makes for visting Ypres, Tyne Cot memorial also... Flights from Luton to Vienna are circa £700 and then it would be a 2 night stay at a hotel plus spending etc which is way too much.
UK it is!
waynedear said:
Berlin Christmas markets are rather good and the city is fantastic.
One year I want to combine the Berlin Christmas Markets with a couple of days at Tropical Islands:https://www.tropical-islands.de/en/
I don't like Christmas markets. I live in Vienna and can highly recommend it as a really nice place to visit in winter (and summer for that matter). It is freezing so bring a good coat. You can pop into the Christmas Market and have a Glühwein/beer and a pretzel, but honestly I have been dragged along to many Christmas markets and they're all the same. Overpriced cheap tat with fake Christmas smells. My Austrian wife has now come round to the same conclusion.
If you want a 2 days tourism blowout then there are lots of excellent museums (Technische Museum, science museum, natural history museum). Walk around 1st district. Go to Schönbrunn Palace (there is also a small Christmas market there) - don't bother with the zoo but a walk around the gardens is nice. There is also tourism around the opera house, parliament, a few other places.
Look at Lamée Roof Terrace (gives a nice view over St Stephen's Cathedral and the city and you can drink Glühwein/hot chocolate there under heated umbrellas).
In terms of eating, for touristy but nice places, I would recommend eating tafelspitz at Plachutta. Figelmuller has huge schnitzels but honestly I think the schnitzels are better in Plachutta. Figelmuller's sister restaurant is called Lugeck and is right down the street from Lamée Terrace (opposite one of the Figelmullers). I think that is pretty nice. Obviously then you have Sacher and Demel cafés. Landtmann café is right opposite the Christmas Market.
If you need something off the map then I have some nice suggestions but with kids and limited time you're going to be better off just sticking to one of the above.
If you want a 2 days tourism blowout then there are lots of excellent museums (Technische Museum, science museum, natural history museum). Walk around 1st district. Go to Schönbrunn Palace (there is also a small Christmas market there) - don't bother with the zoo but a walk around the gardens is nice. There is also tourism around the opera house, parliament, a few other places.
Look at Lamée Roof Terrace (gives a nice view over St Stephen's Cathedral and the city and you can drink Glühwein/hot chocolate there under heated umbrellas).
In terms of eating, for touristy but nice places, I would recommend eating tafelspitz at Plachutta. Figelmuller has huge schnitzels but honestly I think the schnitzels are better in Plachutta. Figelmuller's sister restaurant is called Lugeck and is right down the street from Lamée Terrace (opposite one of the Figelmullers). I think that is pretty nice. Obviously then you have Sacher and Demel cafés. Landtmann café is right opposite the Christmas Market.
If you need something off the map then I have some nice suggestions but with kids and limited time you're going to be better off just sticking to one of the above.
Just got an email from secret escapes. They currently have :
Christmas market dates in Bratislava, Slovakia - 5 nights in a suite, inc flights from stanstead. late December dates £439pp. If you want a standard room it’s £349 (they might be able to do adjoining rooms)
And
Budapest, Hungary- the Ritz Carlton - £539pp for three nights inc flights from Gatwick for late December.
It’s still possible to escape the UK for Christmas OP - don’t give up yet.
Christmas market dates in Bratislava, Slovakia - 5 nights in a suite, inc flights from stanstead. late December dates £439pp. If you want a standard room it’s £349 (they might be able to do adjoining rooms)
And
Budapest, Hungary- the Ritz Carlton - £539pp for three nights inc flights from Gatwick for late December.
It’s still possible to escape the UK for Christmas OP - don’t give up yet.
pidsy said:
Just got an email from secret escapes. They currently have :
Christmas market dates in Bratislava, Slovakia - 5 nights in a suite, inc flights from stanstead. late December dates £439pp. If you want a standard room it’s £349 (they might be able to do adjoining rooms)
And
Budapest, Hungary- the Ritz Carlton - £539pp for three nights inc flights from Gatwick for late December.
It’s still possible to escape the UK for Christmas OP - don’t give up yet.
The only problem being that Bratislava is absolutely tiny. I am not sure what you would do there for 5 days. Christmas market dates in Bratislava, Slovakia - 5 nights in a suite, inc flights from stanstead. late December dates £439pp. If you want a standard room it’s £349 (they might be able to do adjoining rooms)
And
Budapest, Hungary- the Ritz Carlton - £539pp for three nights inc flights from Gatwick for late December.
It’s still possible to escape the UK for Christmas OP - don’t give up yet.
bulldong said:
pidsy said:
Just got an email from secret escapes. They currently have :
Christmas market dates in Bratislava, Slovakia - 5 nights in a suite, inc flights from stanstead. late December dates £439pp. If you want a standard room it’s £349 (they might be able to do adjoining rooms)
And
Budapest, Hungary- the Ritz Carlton - £539pp for three nights inc flights from Gatwick for late December.
It’s still possible to escape the UK for Christmas OP - don’t give up yet.
The only problem being that Bratislava is absolutely tiny. I am not sure what you would do there for 5 days. Christmas market dates in Bratislava, Slovakia - 5 nights in a suite, inc flights from stanstead. late December dates £439pp. If you want a standard room it’s £349 (they might be able to do adjoining rooms)
And
Budapest, Hungary- the Ritz Carlton - £539pp for three nights inc flights from Gatwick for late December.
It’s still possible to escape the UK for Christmas OP - don’t give up yet.
bakerstreet said:
Does the 6 year old and 2 year old want to go to the Christmas markets. What will they enjoy about that trip?
Mine are of a similar age and you could spend your entire time chasing an unwilling 2 year old round a market...6 year old could be slightly easier.
I'm only doing this for them. The 6 year old is excited for Christmas already and my 2 year old is an absolute angel when it comes to being out and about. Mine are of a similar age and you could spend your entire time chasing an unwilling 2 year old round a market...6 year old could be slightly easier.
I suppose its not so much the 'market' aspect but more the atmosphere and places to go.
I refuse to go to winter wonderland in London because its just a proper piss take.
Had a look last night and they have a Mr men show on. 2 adults and 2 kids £164!!!! Just for that random show!
I do like Brugge, but I found the Christmas market to be rather small in size. There is a pretty good Christmas shop though - and good beer! 
Edinburgh is far better, imho.
At the end of this month, we're heading to Amiens in Northern France, approximately 90 minutes from Calais. The city looks stunning and their Christmas market is supposed to be very good! EuroTunnel have some deals on at the moment; a return trip with one night at a good hotel was £130.
Edinburgh is far better, imho. At the end of this month, we're heading to Amiens in Northern France, approximately 90 minutes from Calais. The city looks stunning and their Christmas market is supposed to be very good! EuroTunnel have some deals on at the moment; a return trip with one night at a good hotel was £130.
irocfan said:
Welshbeef said:
We were totally put off overseas Xmas markets after the terrorists drove the wagon through the crowds in Germany.
It's a little like not going to London because people are somewhat stabby there...loughran said:
Has anybody been to Prague for the Christmas market ? I'm trying to decide whether to go Prague or Vienna, I've not visited either before.
The flights to Vienna are cheap but Prague looks more interesting.
Having done both I would go back to prague in heartbeat! The flights to Vienna are cheap but Prague looks more interesting.
Stayed at the Hotel Paris on Prague booked through booking.com was amazing staff were amazing and the city was great.
Vienna we didn't get to the xmas market as it was so busy, also it is very expensive and some of the restaurants had poor service when they realise you aren't local they are not interested in serving you.
the hotel we stayed in was good though.
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