WHERE TO GO AT CHRISTMAS: 20 IDEAS
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
Why: Mexico goes big on Christmas – elaborate nativity scenes, street processions, plazas decked with fairy lights, festive piñatas – so it’s ideal for a taste of tradition with a side of sunshine. Forgo the rowdy Caribbean coast for the more laid-back Pacific side, where family-friendly town Puerto Vallarta excels at ‘something for everyone’: snorkeling trips around the Marietas Islands’ ‘Hidden Beach’; a sunset boat ride to Las Caletas cove for a traditional dance show; wandering around botanical gardens; eating at torch-lit waterfront restaurants; and, yes, even clubbing for those who are so inclined.
Insider tip: The Malecón is Puerto Vallarta’s seafront promenade, the center of community activity and a riot at Christmas, with craft markets, street-food vendors, palm trees hung with stockings and Santa-hat-wearing sandmen.
HAWAII
Why: A tropical Christmas in Hawaii still feels festive. On Oahu, Honolulu City Hall is festooned with lights, and has a heavily decorated 50ft-tree out front; on Maui, Santa rocks up at Wailea Beach on Christmas Eve via outrigger canoe. Anyone of these preternaturally gorgeous islands will appeal across the generations, with their mix of white-sand beaches, watersports, and family-friendly hijinks. Forget the busy mega-hotels and rent a sprawling dream home with Exotic Estates. Shoreside villas have a hotline to local concierge services, so you’ll never be stuck for something to do.
Insider tip: On Oahu’s North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center hosts a Christmas marketplace; on certain days, real snow is brought in for making snowmen. Check out Hukilau Marketplace for updates.
WHISTLER, CANADA
Why: Dreaming of a white Christmas? It doesn’t get much merrier than North America’s favorite ski resort, where snow is guaranteed, as are festively freezing temperatures. As well as a heap of family entertainment (the weekly Fire & Ice show sees skiers jumping through fiery hoops), there’s everything from ice skating to snowmobiling for the kids, and the slopes stay open on Christmas Day. Large, luxurious chalets are plentiful around Whistler Village: many with gorgeous views of Blackcomb Peak, patio heaters for outdoor evenings, and games rooms to keep all ages entertained.
Insider tip: Canadians are more likely to feast on pumpkin pie than Christmas pud on 25 December. Save the hassle of making your own and pick one up at local favorite Peaked Pies – it’s actually an Aussie bakery, but Whistler’s hungry skiers love it.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Why: This Middle Eastern playground can make every generation feel like a kid again – whether that’s riding the slides of its water parks, sledding down a ski slope in a shopping mall, or jumping around on its giant trampoline park, Bounce. And while Christmas isn’t a national holiday here, bling-bling Dubai can’t resist this twinkly time of year: the malls and hotels are all a-sparkle with lights and enormous trees. Add to that the weather (highs of 26˚C in December), plentiful beaches, and all-ages fun (such as ogling a giant dancing fountain or speeding up the world’s tallest building), and it’s not such an out-there idea.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the surreal experience of shopping center Souk Madinat Jumeirah at Christmas, when there’s a German market, a snowball zone, and Santa riding a gondola-sleigh around the mall’s canals.
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
Why: ‘Partying’ in Colombia might once have been synonymous with cocaine, but if there’s one place that really shows how the country has changed, it’s Caribbean seaside city Cartagena: no longer a best-kept secret, but a bona fide tourism big-hitter. Crowds come for the buzz of the picturesque Old Town, livelier than ever at Christmas: where festivities spill into cobblestoned streets, public squares shimmer with over-the-top trees and giant baubles and the colonial mansions’ famous flower-filled balconies are strung with lights.
Insider tip: Formerly sketchy, now shabby-chic Getsemani isn’t just Cartagena’s hippest neighborhood (with interactive pop-up dining and factories-turned-pizza-restaurants), it’s the best damn nightlife spot in the city, too. Bazurto Social Club is the place for sultry salsa dancing with locals, or touristy Café Havana – all retro 1930s style, Panama hats, and lethal mojitos – pops five nights a week until 4am.
BERLIN, GERMANY
Why: If you’re looking to combine Yuletide cheer with a breathless party scene, you won’t go far wrong with Berlin. The Germans practically invented Christmas (we have them to thank for embellishments including decorated trees, baubles and tinsel), and they’re the undisputed world champions of the Christmas market (find a toboggan run and ice rink at Potsdamer Platz; Alexanderplatz packs a Ferris wheel and Christmas ‘pyramid’ with more than 5,000 lights). The city’s club scene hardly closes down for Christmas, however; on the contrary, it often ramps up.
Insider tip: Clubbing stints require planning: wear sturdy shoes and at least one T-shirt change. Dresses and heels aren’t simply impractical – and usually, induce the bouncers to turn you away.
VAL D'ISERE, FRANCE
Why: This St-Tropez-on-snow is the party ski resort, and a Christmas card-worthy delight this time of year, too. Here in the powder-swept Alps, there’s no shortage of festive markets, steaming vin chaud, or decadent Christmas menus paired with Champagne. On Christmas Day, ski lifts are open as usual and Dick’s Tea Bar, the party place-to-be, brings the après with resident DJs. Plus, Val has been outdoing itself with ultra-luxe chalets lately: seven-room Chalet Husky has a climbing wall, infinity waterfall, and space for rifle shooting and archery; at Arctic Townhouse, you’ll find a sauna, indoor hot tub, and screening room.
Insider tip: Luxury travel specialist Scott Dunn tells us you can’t beat L’Atelier d’Edmond for a decadent Christmas dinner. This double-Michelin-starred stunner typically rustles up a tasting menu that forgoes turkey for the more refined flavors of Arctic char and deer.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Why: This is where probably the world’s most famous Christmas Day beach party is held. On 25 December, Santa-hat-wearing crowds descend on Bondi’s beloved crescent for barbecues and frolics. Lifeguards even plant a fir tree in the sand and, in the absence of snow, many folks build festive sandmen. However, anyone planning a rowdy booze-fest will be disappointed: the entire beach is an alcohol-free zone. Christmas just not Christmas without grog? Nearby, The Bavarian Bondi Beach will be a beery riot and even does a Christmas roast.
Insider tip: For a less crowded experience, try Balmoral Beach, where the Bathers’ Pavilion usually puts on both a booze-included buffet and a three-course lunch. The restaurant’s wall of glass patio doors, which look out to sea, just might seal the deal.
BALI, INDONESIA
Why: You don’t have to look hard for the romance in Bali. Horseback rides on the beach? Check. Gripping each other tightly on a scooter, zipping past 50-shades-of-green rice fields? But, of course. Glamping in the jungle, with your own private saltwater pool? Well hello, Capella Ubud. And then, when you’re hankering for a festive fix, there’s the Canggu Xmas Bazaar: a unique blend of traditional wooden Balinese architecture, festive crafts, and Indonesian street food. Kitschy, yes – but it’s Christmas, after all.
Insider tip: Top off Christmas Day with a fireworks display: locals love setting them off once darkness falls, and if you head to the beach in Canggu you’ll catch one of Bali’s more fabulous sunsets, too.
ST LUCIA, CARIBBEAN
Why: Caribbean islands don’t come more romantic than St Lucia, with its dreamy views of the Pitons, incredible beaches and chocolate plantations (meaning you can expect chocolate-covered spa treatments and couples’ chocolate-making classes). Thanks to a strong Catholic culture, Christmas is a big deal here, too: St Lucian twists include its traditional, deep-red sorrel drink (made with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger), and black Christmas pudding (soaked in red wine). While roast turkey remains on the menu, expect sweet potatoes and plantains in place of parsnips and sprouts.
Insider tip: The island’s most interesting restaurant for a romantic meal is undoubtedly Boucan, at Hotel Chocolat’s cocoa-plantation-set boutique residence. Along with head-on views of Petit Piton, you’ll eat a cacao-infused menu, featuring dishes such as cacao pasta and cacao-infused beef tartare.
FINNISH LAPLAND
Why: Christmas in Lapland needn’t just be for kids: throw over Santa and snowmen for cozy nights in glass igloos, and romantic husky-sled rides through forests glittering with frost. Head up to Ylläs and you can even get steamy in a sauna gondola: a cable car converted into a sauna, which takes guests on a 20-minute ride. An outdoor Jacuzzi session and traditional sauna are included in the (admittedly steep) price. Note that a typical Lappish Christmas dinner often involves reindeer, which seems like a truth only suitable for an adult.
Insider tip: If you’re looking to work off all that Christmas food, Ylläs National Park opens up its snowshoe tracks to fat bikers, so you can pedal your way around this wintry wonderland and work up a real sweat.
NEW YORK CITY, USA
Why: Sure, everyone knows Christmas in New York is special – but do they know it’s romantic, too? From ice-skating under the Rockefeller Center tree to riding the gorgeously restored, vintage Jane’s Carousel on the East River-front, and strolling hand-in-hand across a twinkly Brooklyn Bridge, this is movie-grade amour. This being NYC, of course, you can also find some cutting-edge takes on Christmas classics. Such as an erotic spin on The Nutcracker by neo-Baroque dance troupe Company XIV, performing in Bushwick until 13 January 2019.
Insider tip: Cuddle up on a Christmassy date at Williamsburg’s Nitehawk Cinema. Even better, you can order food and cocktails right to your seat.
KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA
Why: Christmas is one of the busiest times of year to climb the Roof of Africa. So, if you’re traveling solo, but fancy meeting new people, this is a great way to tap into some group spirit while also ticking off a life goal – pack your Santa hat for commemorative pictures at the top. As Christianity is a major religion in Tanzania, the holiday is very much celebrated: though it’s more low-key than the West’s commercial circus, you’ll see enough trees and baubles to feel suitably full of good cheer. Forget the turkey, though: Tanzanian families tend to go all out and buy a goat or a cow for the big dinner.
Insider tip: It’s practically mandatory that you follow up the Kili trek with a restorative break in Zanzibar. The new, village-style Zuri hotel made our 2019 Hot List: its 56 standalone bungalows are set amid dense bush and spice gardens, with Indian Ocean waves rolling just beyond your window.
SPIRITUAL RETREAT, ARIZONA
Why: Alternatively, if you’re going to go it alone, you could just make it all about you. In New Age-y Sedona, luxurious Mii amo destination spa focuses on transformative journeys for individuals, with various experiences focusing on different nuances – do you want to explore your inner self, for example, or embark on a new stage of life? Surrounded by Sedona’s famously mystic red rocks, and offering spa rituals from massage and mindfulness to Native American-inspired therapies, this is a solo escape designed to help you focus exclusively on yourself.
Insider tip: If all that health and wellness has you reaching for a glass of vino, you’re in luck. Unlikely as it may seem, Sedona is also home to a cluster of boutique wineries, gathered in a rare green belt around the village of Oak Creek.
HIMALAYAN TREKKING, NEPAL
Why: Sometimes, in order to escape Christmas, you need to escape the world entirely. Even in Kathmandu, a colorful clash of Hindu temples and Buddhist prayer flags, Christmas Day is a recognized holiday – with Santa hats, decorated trees and glittering lights to match. There’s never been a better time, then, to leapfrog the masses and head for the Roof of the World on an Annapurna trek. Though it can get cold up in the Himalayas this time of year, the trails are blissfully quiet. Even better, a proper trek should take at least a week, so if you head off on Christmas Eve, it’s all about New Year by the time you’re back – when Santa will be safely absent 'til next winter.
Insider tip: December’s daytime temperatures and clear skies make ideal hiking weather but come nightfall, the mercury will usually dip below freezing. Be sure to bring a down sleeping bag and plenty of layers.
ATLAS MOUNTAINS, MOROCCO
Why: Morocco isn’t exactly big on Christmas, though you’ll still find traces of it in big-city malls and hotels, and there are Catholic churches throughout the country (thanks to historic Spanish and French influences). Make a beeline for the remote Atlas Mountains just outside Marrakech. Handily, some smart retreats have sprung up in this rugged region, so you can go off-grid in style. Berber Lodge – village-like and set inside an olive grove – is low-key, glam and gorgeous.
Insider tip: If you’re set on scaling Mount Toubkal, be aware that this time of year requires serious skills, crampons, and ice axes. Alternatively, stay below the snow line with treks through Ouirgane National Park and Azzaden Valley, which are excellent in their own right, but also have great views of Toubkal.
