I will be studying in England for the 2009-2010 school year. I will have about 3 weeks for both winter and spring break, so I'm trying to plan trips for both holidays. Since my family will be visiting during winter break, I may only have 1-2 weeks for travel. There are A LOT of places I'd like to visit, so I want to try to visit some during winter and some during summer break so I have more time to enjoy all these places.

What are the best places to visit during the winter in Europe?

Any advice, tips, or recommendations are gladly welcomed! Thank you so much.

mlewns, I'm sure you can get a lot of great advice from others here but you might want to give us more information about yourself and your preferences.

Have you ever traveled around Europe before?
How much money do you want to spend?
Is there anything in particular you want to see?
Do you have any particular hobbies?
Exactly which weeks will you be traveling?
How far from England are you willing to travel?
In winter break, are you looking for warmer weather or do you prefer cold weather sites such as ski resorts, etc.?
Are you more interested in seeing things or meeting people and experiencing cultures? If seeing things, what things interest you most? If meeting people and culture, which cultures do you find more fascinating?

Really, anything that can help us in our recommendations would be very valuable. Because air travel is so inexpensive these days in Europe, your options are really much greater than before.