IF YOUR clients can’t face the rigours of London’s Oxford Street for their Christmas shopping this year, why not suggest Germany’s traditional festive markets as a relaxing alternative?
The most famous Christmas market is Nuremberg, in the south of the country, which dates back 400 years, but many other German cities offer equally impressive fairs, from late November until Christmas Eve.
Family-run stalls offer a range of hand-made arts and crafts, ranging from jewellery and wooden Christmas tree decorations to hand-knitted sweaters. There are a lot of festive nibbles to be had too: grilled sausages, roast chestnuts, hot mulled wine and Christmas cake. Carol singers and choirs add to the atmosphere.
Due to increased consumer demand, German Travel Centre has expanded the number of destinations from four last year to 12 for this year, adding the north German cities of Bremen and Hamburg, and also Berlin, the country’s newcapital.
Managing director Mohamed Bhimani said: “Our favourite fair is Cologne. It has four different markets scattered around the city centre, all within walking distance of each other, as Cologne is a compact city.”
Prices for Cologne start at £121, which includes return flights with British Midland from Heathrow, and one night in a three-star hotel.
Moswin Tours offers a choice of 15 destinations. For those clients who want a traditional experience, programme development manager Savita Seth recommends Lubeck in north Germany and Augsburg in the south.
“They are smaller, picturesque medieval towns, especially magical when the lights are switched on at night,” she said.
“I particularly recommend the opening night, it is usually quite an event, with a choir,” she said.
Prices for Lubeck start at £292 for a two-night break in three to four-star accommodation. The price includes flights to Hamburg and rail transfers to Lubeck.
At the other end of the scale, for those who want a fun-packed, big-city experience, Taber programmes director Rachel Taber reckons Hamburg is ideal.
“In the first week of December, Hamburg stages the biggest fun fair in Europe, the winter Dom, with big wheels and white-knuckle rides,” she said.
Prices start from £120 per person for a three-night cruise break with DFDSSeaways (formerly Scandinavian Seaways).
The package is based on the Harwich to Hamburg route, an overnight crossing.
Clients share a two-berth cabin and get breakfast on board.
DERrecommends a two-night break in Munich, to get three markets for the price of one. Business development manager Babette Braun said:”Munich has an excellent fair and you can also use the city as a base to see the Christmas markets in Augsburg and Nuremberg. Augsburg is 40 minutes by train and Nuremberg around an hour away.”
Prices start at £281 for two nights in Munich including flights, bed and breakfast in a three-star hotel and transfers.
For those who want a quick trip, Airtours is planning to repeat its successful day trips by air to the Christmas market in Rudesheim, on the river Rhine. Departures are from Gatwick, Cardiff and Manchester. Prices start at £169.
Christmas markets
Travelscene: a three-night break to see Munich’s Christmas market costs £249 per person if clients travel out on a Friday. The deal includes return scheduled flights with British Airways from Gatwick and three nights at the three-star hotel Hahn.
Cosmos: a five-day holiday taking in Koblenz, Cologne and Trier starts at £169, including coach travel and three-star accommodation with half-board.
Cresta: a three-night break to Munich’s Christmas market, staying at the three-star Atrium Hotel, costs £258. The package includes three nights’ accommodation with breakfast and flights from Gatwick.
Thomson Breakaway: a two-night break to Munich’s Christmas market, staying in the four-star Hotel Platzl costs from £301. The deal includes return scheduled flights from Gatwick, breakfast and a guidebook. The offer is valid from November 1 until December 27.
Crystal: city-break clients visiting Cologne’s Christmas market can get Sunday night free when they stay Friday and Saturday night. Clients stay at the three-star Flandrischer Hof hotel. The deal includes flights with BA from Heathrow and breakfast. Prices are from £195.
Munich
Description: the capital of Bavaria, located close to the Alps. It’s population numbers 1.3m. Munich is an elegant, historic city built around the River Isar.
Attractions: Munich boasts 45 museums and more than 70 art galleries. The Marienplatz, the main city square, is dominated by the neo-Gothic Neus Rathaus (New Town Hall), with its elaborate Glockenspiel.
New developments: the Olympic Spirit attraction which opened in March. Next year Munich will get a new modern art gallery.
Entertainment: the world’s opera and ballet stars appear in the Bavaria State Opera, and an Opera Festival is staged every summer. The city is home to three internationally acclaimed orchestras. Jazz, blues and pop fans should head for the Schwabing district clubs.
Getting around: Munich can be explored on foot. There is a good public transport system: underground, rapid transit, bus and tram services plus an extensive network of cycle tracks.
Eating out: a three-course evening meal works out at about £13 per head including wine.
Accommodation: ranges from five-star hotels to guest houses, with a total of 36,000 hotel beds. Standards are high.
Shopping: the inner city contains 8,000 shops, including 15 department stores. Main shopping streets are Theatiner Strasser, Maximilianstrasse and Brienner Strasser.
Getting there: British Airways, from Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh and Birmingham; Lufthansa from Heathrow, Stansted and Manchester.
Tour operators: Cresta, DER Travel Service, German Travel Centre, Moswin Tours, Taber Holidays, Thomson Breakaway, Travelscene.