Fancy some time away for Christmas this year? Of course you do, it’d be lovely to get away during the holidays! And you’ve worked so hard so far as well; you’re in the middle of getting the gifts sorted, you’re planning some wonderful decorating, so now it’s time to pick the place.
After all, you’ve spent plenty of Christmas’ at home, and now could be the perfect chance to whisk yourself or your loved ones away to enjoy the festivities abroad. But where should you go for Christmas this year? Let us take the effort out of it for you - here are some top picks that’ll have you feeling the Christmas cheer this winter time.
The Home of Santa: Lapland
If you’ve always wanted to scope out Santa’s homeland, you can think about booking a trip to Lapland for Christmas this year. It’s a magical place all year round, but it really shines when the winter is laying on thick and lights are strung from every tree! And seeing as this is such a popular tourist location for this time of year, you can arrange to be met at the airport by some of Santa’s Elves, who will guide you towards where you’re staying.
While in Lapland, you’ll find plenty of snow related activities to do, including Tobogganing, which is rare to find anywhere else in the world. But in the village of Saariselkä, the conditions are perfect, and you can go on sleigh rides with Huskies in the front, which you may even be able to have a go at driving yourself. Take some time out to drink cocoa and watch for the native Reindeer, with plenty of Birds of Prey circling in the air - these animals are great for snapping Insta shots of. And if you’re really lucky, you might even be able to get to meet Santa yourself, and be able to ask him for all the gifts you’d really like this year; the child inside you will absolutely love that!
But don’t forget just how cold Finland can get, even if the winter is technically mild in the south of the north. Indeed, you’ll be on the edge of the arctic circle, so make sure to pack plenty of warm items, but any and all hotels will have spare thermal gear in the back if you’re not quite wrapped up enough.
Head Off to Disney World!
We all know that Disney whips up a good Christmas, and no matter where you are in the world, you probably have a tradition of watching a Disney film around Christmas time. And while you can bring Disney home to you with the help of this guide to Disney's Holiday decorations, nothing can beat actually being there in person! So, why not use the money you’ve saved for Christmas this year to book a trip, and spend a bit of the festive season surrounded by the animated magic you’ve come to expect from the Disney name?
You can take your time touring through the Magic Kingdom, as well as Epcot, and even try out the Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom theme parks too. If you’ve got young family members to bring along, they’ll love every moment of their time there, and will always remember just how great his Christmas was.
Stay in the special resort hotel that's dressed to the nines every winter time, and go shopping through a whole host of Disney stores while you’re there - you might as well save all your Christmas shopping until you arrive! You’ll even be able to sample a range of tasty festive treats during your stay, which you can chow down on as you watch mascots wander round in real time. What could be more magical?
And Christmas at Disney world lasts a long time too, so you can guarantee you’ll get a spot anytime between the beginning of November and the beginning of January. Obviously you should book as early as possible, if you decide to go, but there’s still plenty of leeway for a last minute trip!
Check Out Iceland’s Christmas Spirit
Iceland is always a special place to visit during the festive season; you’ll always have a White Christmas, there’s plenty of special scrummy Christmas food available, there’s a Christmas market in every time, and you might even be able to witness the Northern Lights while you’re there. Now that would make for a very special Christmas in 2021!
Sure, Iceland can be a dark country during the winter time, thanks to the short days and the country’s geographical placement. However, considering how many lights are set up during this time of year, you might not even notice the darkness settling in. Arrive in Iceland, usually at Reykjavík, and then move out to whatever village and cozy hotel you’ve booked, as they’ll all have plenty of Christmas treats available for you to have a lot of fun with.
And in Iceland, there’s an extra special Santa Claus tradition, with 13 different Santas visiting during the 13 days running up to the big day itself. It’s said that if you leave a show out on a windowsill, one of the Santas will leave you treats in return. Just remember, these ‘Yule Lads’ are said to be mischievous in nature, so be careful about which shoes you decide to leave out… If you’ve got kids to take along on the trip with you, you could play a little Christmassy prank or two to recreate this sense of traditional magic!
New York is Wonderful in Winter
New York is known for being a big Christmas city, and it’s always going to be cold and crisp on those New York streets when December hits. And if you’ve been saving up for a really big holiday this year, this is the perfect destination to blow the entire vacation pot on! Get yourself a hotel that’s nearly central to save on a bit of money, and then catch a bus or taxi into town - you’ll be able to find public transportation all over the place.
Every single district in New York is going to be dressed up for the occasion, and it’ll be hard to find a spot where there isn’t a single fairy light draped over lamps or from the side of a building. You’ll be able to find a market around every corner, visit a Winter Village down at Bryant Park, and witness the majesty that is the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, where you should be able to try your hand at ice skating with your loved ones at the same time.
Go shopping down a variety of famous avenues, and peek through each store window to see a Christmas display fit for a king in each one. New York loves to go all out when the festive season hits, and that’ll be reflected in both the decorations, staff friendliness, and even some of the bargains you can score at this time of year. Take your time taking in all the sights, as New York is a big place, and have a wonderful Christmas thanks to this one trip!
Mexico is Very Impressive This Time of Year
A traditionally warm climate might not sound like the best place to spend Christmas, but Mexico at Christmas time really is something else! And if you hate the cold, and want to be surrounded by warm weather and even warmer people, this is definitely the kind of destination for you.
Traditionally, Posadas are performed during this time of year; these are processions that reenact how Mary and Joseph sort out lodging just before Jesus’ birth, and they happen once a night over the 9 days between December 16th and Christmas Eve. Led by the kids in neighborhoods in towns across Mexico, each procession ends in plenty of sweets, games, and a special Church service. It really is a wonderful sight to witness, and can give Christmas that special lift you’re really looking for.
On the other hand, many more Mexicans prefer to light Christmas Trees, give out flowers, and hold Christmas markets to celebrate this time of year. You’ll see fireworks every night, and plenty of good food to go around - you’ll even be able to taste a special bread, the Rosca de Reyes, which contains a small figure of Jesus inside. If you get the slice with Jesus in it, Jesus is said to be under your care for that year, and plenty of good luck will follow. What better way to see in the New Year?
If you want to get away for Chirstmsd this year, you’ve got a lot of great destinations to choose from. If you’d like to meet Santa, head to Lapland! If you’ve got some spending money this Christmas, Disney or New York will be wonderful. And if you want to experience a different kind of Christmas, make sure you book a hotel in Iceland or Mexico, to take part in some fun traditions you’ll remember forever.
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