Early December Vacation (What destinations to consider)

Ice Fishing in North Dakota

I went to Helsinki to first week of December and it was fun. Cold, dead silent at night, tasteful Christmas market. Airfare and accommodation were very affordable. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a little winter getaway.

R2 Maybe I will try that or Oslo. It's a solo trip. Were people friendly?

You might be able to scoop up some bargains in London due to the pound tanking, but you might get mugged by a starving half frozen Londoner.

R3 when I travel I tend to keep to myself so I couldn't speak to the friendliness of the locals. I can tell you that people weren't noticeably rude. I've also been to Oslo and it was extremely expensive. I would recommend Helsinki out of the two.

Mexico will be cheap but the pools will be chilly. London, Paris are cheaper in January.

Berlin can be cold dark and rainy in December. London is a far better choice at that time between the two.

OP Here. I'm sort of leaning towards London now.

Some good plays are coming out, there will be a Lucien Freud exhibit at the National Gallery. Any other good exhibits coming out?

Menier Chocolate Factory is now putting a season this year as well.

If I stay in the US, I was maybe considering Asheville to visit the Biltmore estate or maybe Charleston.

R2---Did you try out any Finnish saunas or thermal pools? What were some of Helsinki's attractions you found worthwhile to see?

Oddly, despite at 20% drop in the pound, fares haven’t come down. Not sure when they will. I’m not booking Europe until fares return to where they were 7 months ago. The only reason to go to Europe in December is because it’s cheap. Not being able to wander the streets takes away a huge part of my enjoyment.

R10. Also a lot less crowded. Museums generally are one reason I visit and I like them less crowded.

R10 Fuel prices are still high and fuel is priced in dollars.

Charleston and Asheville are nice long weekend destinations. If you are spending an entire week, you will get bored in either place. For something off of the beaten path, try Strasbourg and Colmar in the Alsace region of France and it's German counterpart, Freiburg. All of the cities are charming and Strasbourg has a French version of the Christmas market from Nov 22 through Dec 23rd. The airport most convenient is Mulhouse (MLH).

I hear Des Moines is lovely in early December. Terre Haute, also.