OT - What would you do...

[shushh]

Due to club med deciding to open one week later and my reluctance to back track on my travels, we now have to rearrange our travel plans for the week of Dec 16 to Dec 23.

After much "discussion", we have narrowed down our choices. We will be giving up Turin, Milan and 2 days of Venice for either:
1) London - neither DH nor I have been since we were children. Being a big city, there will be plenty to do in all weather for both kids and adults. There is also a direct train from DLP (where we'll be travelling from) and a direct train to the Alps (where we'll be going next)

2) Southern France - the area looks so charming. Other than the towns of Nice and Villefranche, we've not been to the region. To visit Carcassonne is on our list. And it might be nice to break up the trip with a little bit of driving. Planning to visit Montpellier, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Aigues-Mortes, Pont Du Gard

The problem is both sound so good and we can't decide...

 

[PrincessInOz]

Flip a coin. They both sound fantastic!

London could be easier for you and DH with kids.

But I personally love the South of France and there is so much to explore there.

 

[Andona]

In late December, maybe it would be better to be in London, lots of nice warm indoor activities. I suspect the south of France won't be at its best at that time? But I don't know for sure, we have only toured northern France.

I guess Im also biased, London is my favorite city in the world to visit.

Andona

 

[BecBennett]

How much time do you have? I'm thinking London sounds good if you have more time, and Southern France if you have less time... If that makes sense...

 

[queenie82]

Giving up Turin, Milan and TWO days of Venice...for a Club Med
Venice....oh how I adore you and I've always wanted to go to Milan...



London will be 'easier' but you would get more out of Southern France experience wise assuming things are still open in Winter. Certainly more in terms of the 'kind' of things you might have gotten out of Italy...

 

[shushh]

Thank you all for your input. You know it might end up coming down to a flip of a a coin...We've "decided" on one and then changing our minds at least 4 times tonight!

BecBennett we'll have a total of 7 nights to play with.

Andona, we're thinking along the same lines as you with regard to London. That there's enough indoor activity to counteract any bad weather.

Queenie, we'll still have 3 days in Venice unfortunately 1 of those days will be New Years Day so I'm guessing there'll be NOTHING open that day. I'm guessing that'll be a good day for me to catch up on my blog!

Giving up Milan is tearing me up as well. That was one of the options that we discarded...Going around the other way through Lausanne down to Milan to Turin then to the club med.

Most of the tourist things are still open in southern France just for shorter hours I think. We've got to look into this in more detail.

 

[queenie82]

You'll get there another time is my motto Number of times Milan has been scratched in an itinerary is painful for me too

If there are places open I'd go for Southern France given what you're leaving out. Although I guess you'd always worry about a snow storm situation on the roads.
Having said that London doesn't cope well either with Snow storms from my eye in the sky either...

I'm sure you'll have a lovely time either way...
And 3 days in Venice is still good. You can still take the ferry around and wander the streets sight seeing if the weather is ok. Photos WITHOUT people in St Marks square

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Both options are pretty amazing even though you are giving up Milan. I would agree with Andona, perhaps London in potentially not great weather would be simpler but of course the south of France sounds divine. How will you choose.

 

[Toy Story]

If you are travelling this year - I would do London, the city is having a great year with the Jubilee and the Olympics - you may still get the end of year hype.

 

[quasar4legs]

I would pick London in december, it is a great winter destination.

Have fun, it sounds like a great trip.

 

[alicia1506]

wow, what a tough decision... i would personally love to do the south of france, although i've heard it's a better destination in the spring/summer/autumn seasons and maybe not so much in winter, whereas london does have lots of both indoor/outdoor activities that could be incorporated no matter the weather. ..

what a hard decision to make -- best of luck with it no matter which way you decide, i'm sure it will be beautiful.

 

[shushh]

Thank you all for your input!

Just thought I'd let you know that we ended up deciding to go to southern France. Realistically, we will not get to Europe at any other time of the year other than Dec/Jan and so there's no point NOT going to southern France just to visit it at a better time of year. It was a tough choice as London would be great post Olympics and Jubilee. Sigh...will update on details of the changes as soon as I figure it out!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Glad you and DH made a decision. Now the planning can continue.