Ask an expert: Travelling to Italy and France in the winter

Q. We are travelling to Italy and France in December/January (2016/2017) for six weeks and would like to venture away from the major tourist attractions as we have visited some of these already.

We are active "middle-agers" – a little intrepid and independent, and more interested in the culture but would also consider small group tours for some of the time. Do you have any suggestions around what we could expect regarding winter openings and accommodation?

A. For people who don't mind the cold, winter can be a great time to travel in France and Italy. Most parts of both countries see fewer tourists in winter, meaning less crowded museums and shorter or non-existent queues. The opera, symphony and theatre seasons are in full swing in Italy and the mountains offer lots of opportunities for sports enthusiasts.

A lot of the small group tour companies do not operate in France or Italy in winter, however we could look at chateau and villa options in conjunction with a Eurolease vehicle and build your itinerary from there. Be conscious that some attractions in the more rural areas may be closed during winter, so it pays to research in advance.

Other than around the Christmas holidays, you should be able to get some hotel bargains. Remember you can still head to the Mediterranean Coast for some sun – the French Riviera or the southern coast of Italy are my picks!

- Kirsty McCartney, senior consultant, House of Travel Morrinsville

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