White Christmas

[Dougo]

My family (2 adults + 3 children ages 11, 10, 6) are currently in the middle of our White Christmas. We left Sydney on the 19th December flying to Denver via Dallas. We spent a week in Steamboat Springs where we enjoyed snow on Christmas Day. We then flew east to Boston then took the Acela Express down to New York then to Washington. We spent New Year in NYC with New Years Eve at Madame Tussaud's which was an absolute blast for adults and children. In Washington we even managed to score a tour of the White House. We have just left Washington and now flying to Orlando via Miami for a week of theme parks then a quieter few days in Key West before heading home to Sydney via London. All up it will be 5 weeks in total and would not have missed it for the world.

Chris

how did you manage to score tickets to the White House?

 

[Pushka]

Chris

how did you manage to score tickets to the White House?

You need to go through your Federal Member. Ours is Christopher Pyne and he also offered a tour through Congress. Sadly we didn't have enough time when we went.

 

[Dougo]

Wow, I was told that it couldn't be done and that tours for foreigners could no longer be offered.

Good to know...I'll try that next time I'm heading Stateside

 

[Pushka]

Wow, I was told that it couldn't be done and that tours for foreigners could no longer be offered.

Good to know...I'll try that next time I'm heading Stateside

You need to allow several months to plan. It also depends on how 'active' your Federal member is. Pyne is one of the more active ones. .

 

[drron]

You need to allow several months to plan. It also depends on how 'active' your Federal member is. Pyne is one of the more active ones. .

Im not sure Peter Slipper has the time although he is one of the more active members.:shock:

 

[Baysider]

After swealtering through Brisbane's summer this Christmas, I have promised the family a white christmas for Dec '13. Trouble is choosing the destination, my wife just loves the history and atmosphere of christmas, while M-23 wants to ski & F-20 wants to shop and hit the clubs. My preference is to keep the cost at a reasonable level.


I am hoping that someone out there has a suggestion and some great stories.

We just returned from Edmonton, Canada. Five of us stayed in a gorgeous exec rental furnished 2 bedroom apartment for just CAD 150 per night. There are 4 small ski fields essentially within the suburbs - you can just do them as day outings. There are several large shopping malls and the night-life scene seems pretty good. Calgary is another option and Banff is just an hours' drive away with a few world-class ski fields nearby. The OneWorld option is BNE to LAX with Qantas and then AA to Edmonton (or Calgary), or you can go Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and Vancouver but that's a longer trip.

 

[ChrisDPom]

If your wife wants to include shopping, I recommend any of the Christmas markets in Germany or Austria.

If you wants skiing Canada or the Alps (take your pick of Switzerland, Germany or Austria).

If you have young kids, take them to the Santa Claus Village in Lapland. Web is santaclausvillage.info.

A UK based couple I know took their 5, 7 & 9 year olds there and they had a ball

A trip like this is not cheap but if it is on the bucket list, go for it!!

 

[here2go]

If you want to do a real white Christmas then consider Finland ... Finnair would also be a good excuse for a OW status run out of SIN or BKK or HKG as an example. Go to Lapland and see Santa. Plus you will get in lots of skiing to boot.

I've just done the white Christmas run on crack. Western Christmas in the Austrian ski town of Obertauern at Hotel Alpina. We had a visit on Christmas Eve from "Weihnachtsmann" aka Christmas Man or Santa Claus in a combined Christ the Child and Anglo-American Christmas (the owners we're Austro-American). I want to go back - Herr und Frau Will and their staff we're amazing hosts. I then took the family to Rovaniemi in Finland to see Santa staying at the Santa Claus Holiday village coinciding with Orthodox Christmas. This was cheesy, and confusing for surrounding tourists and many locals as we didn't speak Russian, and frankly the service was disappointing after Austria. However, for the "cheese" factor alone was good fun, even if it was kind of like the Big Banana of the Artic. I intend to write a full report soon.

 

[mushypeas]

Canada is my pick... we just turned from 4 weeks in Toronto, Montreal, Mont Tremblant & finished up in Manhattan.

The killer was this time last week it was -23c in Montreal this week it's +42c in Melbourne.... and I don't have air con

 

[Grandma's Wings "]

Vancouver/ Whistler/ Fernie/ Big White.. without a doubt.... Canada is just awesome roads are always open and warning signs everywhere for Avalanches... somewhere for the whole family no matter what age.including me _ 74 years young.... Go for it...

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Chris

how did you manage to score tickets to the White House?

As your probably aware the Australian Embassy in Washington no longer accepts requests from Australians for White House tours. I wrote an email to Senator Scott Brown of Massachussets requesting a tour of the White House. Within 48 hours I received an email from Ryan Campbell who coordinates White House visit requests on his behalf. In this email I needed to complete a spreadsheet detailing all those people from our party who would be on the tour including passport numbers, etc. Your also need to provide 1-2 dates on when you would be available for the tour. About 2 weeks before the tour I received a confirmation letter from Senator Brown's office including the confirmation letter from the White House which we needed to provide when accessing the tour.

I'm not sure if other Members of Congress or the Senate provide this facility for international visitors.

The genersal advice is to apply at least 3 months prior to your dates. I applied in October for a 3 January tour. We were lucky enough to get the 07:30am tour when there weren't many people around.

Just a hint for you. The White House Tour is Self Guided. If you know the date you want you should also see if you can engage a private tour guide to be part of your party. You would also need to include this person into your list of names when you submit your request. The additional insight they can provide into the tour is extremely useful.

 

[arraitch]

You need to go through your Federal Member. Ours is Christopher Pyne and he also offered a tour through Congress. Sadly we didn't have enough time when we went.

Congress with Christopher Pyne ... the mind does indeed boggle! :shock:

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Congress with Christopher Pyne ... the mind does indeed boggle! :shock:

With Capitol Hill we simply jumped online and booked a tour and you collect your tickets 15 minutes before the start of the tour. Alternatively you can obtain a limited number of tickets on the day. For access to either the Senate or Congress just show a valid overseas ID and you can access the visitors gallery for both chambers outside of when votes are being taken.We were in Washington 2nd January - 5th January with access to the majority of museums being very easy with no crowds to speak of.

 

[Flying mermaid]

If your wife wants to include shopping, I recommend any of the Christmas markets in Germany or Austria.
!

I am starting to plan a trip to Europe to visit Christmas markets (sounds a fun thing to do). Apart from Germany and Austria are there other recommended ones - e.g Poland? Which are the favourite ones in Germany and Austria?

 

[here2go]

I am starting to plan a trip to Europe to visit Christmas markets (sounds a fun thing to do). Apart from Germany and Austria are there other recommended ones - e.g Poland? Which are the favourite ones in Germany and Austria?

I can't comment on Poland. Most countries have a form of markets now, trying to emulate Germany/Austria. I've seen a few in Bratislava, Luxembourg, and Dublin. None of them are worth for - stick with Germany and Austria. I found markets in the British Isles awful - they were an opportunity for Chavs to sell Cadbury.

München (Munich) has several markets, many of which cater for different tastes, ranging from traditional, ethnic, and a LGBT Pink Market.
Nurnberg (Nuremberg) has the most famous markets in Germany, and accommodation is very difficult.
Salzburg markets are nice and the setting is fantastic, with totally camp Sound of Music Tour a must.
Innsbruck was quant.
Berlin huge and more of a fair.
Frankfurt also big, but more sterile.

Bavarian and Austrian markets have a bonus around 6 Dec (St Nick's day) where the Krampus terrorise the markets in tandem with St Nick scaring you into being good. If you aren't, they may just come to you in the night, gut you and fill your belly up with sand and straw.

If you want to see Santa, aim for Rovaniemi in Finland, it might be a tad late to book. Rovaniemi is tacky (think of Big Pineapple) but fun, with lots of reindeer and snowmobiling.

Lots of fun to be had!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

the Krampus terrorise the markets in tandem with St Nick scaring you into being good. If you aren't, they may just come to you in the night, gut you and fill your belly up with sand and straw.

Isn't Santa and St Nick one and the same? Being filleted doesn't really sound like the Chrissie I'd be looking forward to (but being stuffed is getting closer). How to make the kids feel safe, comfortable and at ease at Christmas.......not!

 

[here2go]

Isn't Santa and St Nick one and the same? Being filleted doesn't really sound like the Chrissie I'd be looking forward to (but being stuffed is getting closer). How to make the kids feel safe, comfortable and at ease at Christmas.......not!

Have you noticed that the Germans are generally nicer,people and far better behaved? We need a few Krampus on station in most Australian shopping centres IMHO.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I can't comment on Poland. Most countries have a form of markets now, trying to emulate Germany/Austria. I've seen a few in Bratislava, Luxembourg, and Dublin. None of them are worth for - stick with Germany and Austria. I found markets in the British Isles awful - they were an opportunity for Chavs to sell Cadbury.

München (Munich) has several markets, many of which cater for different tastes, ranging from traditional, ethnic, and a LGBT Pink Market.
Nurnberg (Nuremberg) has the most famous markets in Germany, and accommodation is very difficult.
Salzburg markets are nice and the setting is fantastic, with totally camp Sound of Music Tour a must.
Innsbruck was quant.
Berlin huge and more of a fair.
Frankfurt also big, but more sterile.

Bavarian and Austrian markets have a bonus around 6 Dec (St Nick's day) where the Krampus terrorise the markets in tandem with St Nick scaring you into being good. If you aren't, they may just come to you in the night, gut you and fill your belly up with sand and straw.

If you want to see Santa, aim for Rovaniemi in Finland, it might be a tad late to book. Rovaniemi is tacky (think of Big Pineapple) but fun, with lots of reindeer and snowmobiling.

Lots of fun to be had!

Thanks for all the info