Helen

Venice, as has been previously suggested, and Vienna. Venice is wonderful off season - in October and February there are few tourists, the city comes alive to its own people and it is so friendly. I have visited several times but the last time was December 2007. Everything was gearing up for Christmas but it was low key. A 3 day vaporetto pass cost 30 euro and that took me up and down the grand canal and out to the islands and just about everywhere when my poor feet needed a rest. The cultural things - Doge's Palace, Bassilica, Guggenhiem, the naval museum at the Arsenale, the islands - Murano (glass blowing), Burano (lace making) and the Brenta Canal (Palladian villas) not to be missed. Eating out could be cheap - a tourist menu (two courses plus a glass of wine) were around 15 euro (even around St. Mark's Square). But pay a little more and you will find many good places to eat - even outside during the winter (they have patio heaters to keep the punters warm). I must admit I did splash out a few times and even just at the side of the Rialto Bridge with a salad, pasta, meat dish, a carafe of the house wine, double espresso and a grappa it was just 70 euro (including tip). February may be a little more expensive than October because of the Carnivale but in December I paid 149 euro for a three star hotel just up at the bus station (Hotel Olimpia - part of the Best Western Group) for 4 nights bed and breakfast for one person. With a Ryanair sale deal I paid just over 50 euro return from Dublin to Treviso (about 45 minutes bus journey and 9 euro return bus fare away). Entrance fees were reasonable ( 5 - 6 euro). As I had visited most of the big ticket sights previously the only one I paid for on this occasion was the Arsenale museum (1.70 euro).

Vienna - well this is a fabulous city - lots of history, music, things to see and do. Can't remember the name of the hotel I stayed in but it was at the top of Maria Hillfer Strasse near the Westbanhof Station. The Hofberg, Statpark, Volksgarten, Schonbrunn Palace, the Belvedere and everything in between. Easy to use public transport system. Great food and several branches of a fast food chain that specialise in sea food (can't remember the name but they are all over the place). Also great shopping - basic stuff on Maria Hillfer Strasse but in town in the Graben and the streets around all the designer shops you could wish for. A great city to just walk around and go "wow". Again not expensive (unless you frequent the designer shops). An added bonus is the possibility of visiting Salzberg and/or Bratislava. Both fabulous places but maybe not really destinations in themselves.

Wherever you go have a ball.