Traveling to Europe- Winter?

Count on cold weather. If Florence, the average daily high temperature in December is 51 °F and the overnight low is 36 °F. It's unlikely to snow, but there's a good chance of rain; Florence averages 10 rainy days in December. December is the second rainiest month in Florence. I always carry a small, folding umbrella in case of rain. In London & Paris, the average daily high temperature is 45 °F. Both average about 16 wet days during the month. Spain tends to be warmer than Italy in the winter. In Gijon in Asturias, the average daily high in December is 55 °F and the overnight low is 45 °F. It also averages 16 wet days during the month.

Take a winter coat. You won't need a long winter coat, but be prepared for bad weather. An umbrella that is still OK when turned inside-out in strong winds is a great thing to have. No one really just wears a poncho for rain gear, you want an umbrella. Gloves and neck scarf. London just stays damp. I was there in November and was cold.

You will do more walking than you ever thought possible. So be very careful about taking heels. You want flat shoes for their very irregular surfaces. Wear thick socks for walking days and thin ones for sitting days on the plane.

Try to do London around November 5th. You will need to find out when Guy Faulkes Day is and what that means. They do fireworks that night. The next day the Queen opens Parliament. So be next to Buckingham Palace and the red streets and there will be a parade. Find out more about this timing before you go. I had NO ONE in front of me for this! Her horse-drawn carriage is moving very fast, about 30-40 mph. But I saw her! And Prince Phillip.

The Queen only uses the red colored streets. It is faint but you can see the difference.

Get into a group to go up in the Eiffel Tower. Otherwise you will wait in line forever on the ground. Groups get lots of preference.

Visit www.weather.com for weather information, Start following the weather for your destinations about two weeks before your trip, particularly the extended forecasts as your departure draws culture. As you approach packing time, you should have a good feel for your destination cities' weather trends. I think Weather.com also has weather histories so you can get an idea farther in advance. London and Paris will definitely require heavy coats and gloves. I'm not sure about the Spanish and Italian destinations. Have a great trip!