As the high-season crowds dissipate, Europe starts to decorate for the holidays, making November and December an especially memorable time to visit. Indeed, this is when many of us in the Travel Office plan our own European vacations — most hotel rates drop, lines shorten at blockbuster attractions and delectable autumn vegetable and game dishes appear on restaurant menus. London feels particularly festive during the holiday season, with garlands and twinkling lights everywhere. The Stafford's Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch are legendary, drawing both tourists and locals.
Other Harper Alliance hotels feature tempting specials, as well. Longtime Harper favorite The Lanesborough includes English breakfast and round-trip airport transfers for bookings of three nights or more through the end of March. Beginning at the end of November, Christmas markets light up countless cities and towns in Central Europe. Although the famous market in Nuremberg is the largest, we prefer the more relaxed versions in Munich , Salzburg and Vienna. A complimentary night at The Augustine makes a wonderful excuse to visit Prague 's atmospheric market. Harper members receive the third night free from now through January, with breakfast included. To start planning your trip to enjoy Europe at its most festive, contact the Travel Office at (800) 375-4685, (630) 734-4610 or [email protected] .