Are there students in your school who have studied in any of those countries or are currently doing so? If so, you should get in touch with them and ask them about their experience. They will be very helpful in describing their experience at the school, both academically and socially, as well as in the country.

As I posted in another of your thread, we have hosted in excess of 70 foreign students at UCSD. UCSD is very tough academically; while they might take a rare weekend at Big Bear or Mexico, they really only travel on their quarter breaks - yearend and spring break. I expect that the yearend break in European schools is long enough for you to travel wherever you like. Thus, your campus experience is key to your satisfaction - and former study abroad participants are your best source of information on that.