WINTER is definitely a very cold place in Europe but that’s the way some tourists like it. There are only five kinds of people who love being in Europe at this time of the year – the Americans, the Canadians, the Japanese, the Koreans and themselves. Of course, Middle Easterners, Africans and those living in the tropics cannot withstand the cold here as it tends to get -3 degrees Celsius in early January or so. That’s after Christmas already so spending a few weeks during the holiday season here may not be all that bad either.

A journey to Europe during Christmas time begins at home wherever you are in the world. Choose a travel agency who will do the booking for you. The most popular ones are found online – Expedia or Travelocity. But they tend to be a little expensive during Christmas time because its peak season so go for some little known but equally impressive travel agencies. They may be found in your home country so you may just as well inquire there. Besides, queuing in those telephone calls may not be worth it. But the nice thing about Expedia and Travelocity though is that these competitors both give quality service because of the stiff competition between them.

A typical customer service staff will get your call and will convince you to get whatever package is cheapest that you can afford. So better grab that opportunity if I were you. And if you reserve early to any of these places in Europe from Bonn to Lisbon, then it may as well be the ride of your life. The most thrilling places in Europe to go to during the holidays is Switzerland and France because it is there that you can find the Alps. The Alps is the winter’s haven in Europe as lots of activities are happening around here – from skiing to ice skating or even dog sled racing. There are also mountaineering, hiking and biking activities amidst a snowy background where even your breaths turn into vapor and perspiration may tend to become icy.

Downhill at the urban centers is where you find the glittering lights of Christmasdom. And I don’t mean churches. I mean shopping malls. It is here in Europe where you can hit the biggest discounts on things – from game consoles to PDAs and iPhones, name it, they have them all here. It’s even much cheaper to buy here than anywhere else in the United States or in Japan so better buy these gadgets before heading home in New Year.

But wait, New Year may as well be a great place to stay here in Europe. Gaze at the spectacular fireworks during New Year’s Eve and have a photograph taken with those fireworks with the Eiffel Tower, the River Seine, the River Thames, the Venice Canal or the London Eye as your background. But if you still want to spend Christmas the good old fashioned way, then hit Spain, Portugal or France. These are the most religious folks in Europe.