Best hub for LOOONG layover on Christmas Day?
Oct 1, 2008, 5:34 pm
#1
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Best hub for LOOONG layover on Christmas Day?
Hi all, I'm going to end up stopped over somewhere in Europe on Christmas Day this year, probably either FRA or LIS.
My question is, first of all, assuming I venture out of the airport, would anything at all be open at either of these? Are there any Christmas breakfasts/lunches worth recommending?
Any particular advice about which of the two would be better?
My question is, first of all, assuming I venture out of the airport, would anything at all be open at either of these? Are there any Christmas breakfasts/lunches worth recommending?
Any particular advice about which of the two would be better?
Oct 1, 2008, 9:32 pm
#2
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Definitely not the U.K. (no public transportation that day). That said, I'm not sure if any place in Europe is good for x'mas. Europeans tend to make it a family thing so everything pretty much shuts down. I'm sure the Turkish community in FRA will ensure some services are available but not sure if there's public transportation. Brunch/breakfasts are not easy to find in Europe. People tend not to eat out for that. You'll need to find a hotel for that.
Oct 2, 2008, 2:18 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
There will definitely be public transport in Germany (and probably Portugal too - but I've never been in Portugal at Christmas). It's only the UK that makes everybody walk or drive to see family for Christmas. There will be a reduced schedule, but definitely not a complete shutdown.
The main Christmas celebration in Germany is on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a public holiday so shops etc will be closed but you should definitely be able to find some restaurants that are open (just done some googling on google.de which seems to confirm what I just said)
The main Christmas celebration in Germany is on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a public holiday so shops etc will be closed but you should definitely be able to find some restaurants that are open (just done some googling on google.de which seems to confirm what I just said)
Oct 2, 2008, 2:46 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Not knowing about Lis, some words on Germany...
Public transportation will be available, just on a very reduced schedule. the 25th is a national holiday, no regular shops will be open (kiosk, most gas stations, maybee shops in train stations and at the airport will be open).
Regarding Breakfast/Lunch, make sure you reserve up front since some hotels tend to get quite some lonely customers these days (my wife works in a hotel, and according to her X-Mas is BUSY for brunch/lunch/dinner....)
LIS might be a nice choice, considering it could be sunny and warm, would be a different setting for X-mas
Cheers
Public transportation will be available, just on a very reduced schedule. the 25th is a national holiday, no regular shops will be open (kiosk, most gas stations, maybee shops in train stations and at the airport will be open).
Regarding Breakfast/Lunch, make sure you reserve up front since some hotels tend to get quite some lonely customers these days (my wife works in a hotel, and according to her X-Mas is BUSY for brunch/lunch/dinner....)
LIS might be a nice choice, considering it could be sunny and warm, would be a different setting for X-mas
Cheers
Oct 2, 2008, 5:53 am
#5
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On the 24th stores will close around noon. The afternoon and evening is for church for people who go there and for family and of course present opening.
On the 25th public transportation will run on sunday/holiday schedule. So instead of trains or busses every 10 minutes just every half hour or once per hour. The only shops that will open in Frankfurt will be in the main train station, gas stations and of course at the airport.
In general live will pretty slow in Germany between Dec 24th and January 2nd. We actually call this time "between the years".
Oct 2, 2008, 7:47 am
#6
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From what I read up, last year in London, there was a bus that ran the Heathrow express route from the airport into Paddington Station. If there isn't, I guess I'm stuck at the airport, but we'll have to see how things come together closer to the date, I suppose.
Despite the lack of public transportation, it seems like there is more happening in London than there necessarily would be in FRA, right?
Oct 2, 2008, 7:57 am
#7
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Hmm...well, at this point, it looks like it will be LHR where I'll have my yule-tide layover. I was waiting for the flights to work out a bit better, and they did--this option puts my in C the whole way cuts, out the need for an intra-Europe flight, and allows for more possibilities if things open up later on (this is an award).
From what I read up, last year in London, there was a bus that ran the Heathrow express route from the airport into Paddington Station. If there isn't, I guess I'm stuck at the airport, but we'll have to see how things come together closer to the date, I suppose.
Despite the lack of public transportation, it seems like there is more happening in London than there necessarily would be in FRA, right?
From what I read up, last year in London, there was a bus that ran the Heathrow express route from the airport into Paddington Station. If there isn't, I guess I'm stuck at the airport, but we'll have to see how things come together closer to the date, I suppose.
Despite the lack of public transportation, it seems like there is more happening in London than there necessarily would be in FRA, right?
Oct 2, 2008, 8:50 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
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Everybody will be cooped up at home eating Christmas dinner.
Some people will be cooped up in restaurants eating Christmas dinner instead - which they will have prebooked three months in advance.
Unless you are visiting family I can't think of anything worse than being in the UK on Christmas Day.
Oct 2, 2008, 2:17 pm
#9
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Thanks for the link to the earlier thread, bcmatt!
Well, I wasn't expecting the full London experience (in some ways, I'm counting on it!! 
) Just the same, it doesn't sound too much different from most of the continent on a Sunday. But if I can walk around, see the Christmas decorations, and book lunch somewhere, I'll be happy.
Admittedly, here in the US (particularly in suburbia) things die off that day, so I figured it would be much more the case in Europe, particularly the continent.
) Just the same, it doesn't sound too much different from most of the continent on a Sunday. But if I can walk around, see the Christmas decorations, and book lunch somewhere, I'll be happy.Admittedly, here in the US (particularly in suburbia) things die off that day, so I figured it would be much more the case in Europe, particularly the continent.
Oct 2, 2008, 4:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
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If you have other reasons to transfer via LHR (such as a C class seat) then that's a good enough reason to be marooned in the UK on Christmas Day. But you'll have to expect to get very bored and very lonely.
Oct 2, 2008, 11:33 pm
#12
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So for now, it's a bit of a 0-sum game--either walk around a bit on Xmas, sit in the airport, or sit on a plane.
Oct 2, 2008, 11:36 pm
#13
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Oct 3, 2008, 1:24 am
#15
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The following might be useful...
Link: http://www.londontown.com/London/A_L..._&_Boxing_Day/
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