Florence,Italy Who should go:Art lovers;Renaissance historians;leather handbag shoppers with high credit limits. When to go:Spring or fall.Travellers usually avoid summer in Florence. Paris,France Who should go:Starving artists;Henry Miler fans;traditional food lovers. When to go:Spring is the best time.That's what they all say,anyway.Autumn isn't bad,either,and I'd rather be rooting around the south of France in search of truffles  in autumn.Summer in Paris isn't bad,really. Amsterdam,Holland Who should go:Lovers of Dutch Masters(artists I mean,like Rembrandt,not cigars);bicyclists--it's a bike city in a flat land. When to go:It can rain at any time in Amsterdam,but that's not a reason for not visiting this fascinating city.Off season tourists will be rewarded with good enough weather to stick around.Summer is good for sun lovers. Madrid,Spain Who should go: _ --Madrid never sleeps;art lovers--the Prado is second only to the Louvre in presenting serious art;partygoers. When to go:Spring,when days are warm and the nights are pleasantly cool.Demand for outside eating and drinking starts becoming stronger in March or April.Street life peaks  in June,then slows in July and August as the temperature peaks.Autumn is also good,although you'll risk some rain. Venice,Italy Who should go:Romantic dreamers who like walking through automobile-free streets;your mother(she'll want you to take her there,trust me);almost anyone who wants to see something really different and romantic. When to go:February is the time when the famous Venice Carnival is held and the weather is usually cold and foggy--perfect weather for Venice.Summer?A large number of tourists in shorts and whiny children ruin the atmosphere.You'll greatly enjoy yourself there in spring and early fall. What advice would the writer probably give you if you go to visit Amsterdam?
To avoid going there in summer. To avoid going around there by bike. To take some credit cards with high credit limits. To take an umbrella with you whenever you go out.