Christmas is officially over, and if you’re like most people, while it was great to catch up with friends and family, Christmas was also probably full of stress. Often the holiday season can leave us exhausted, and as we juggle traveling, shopping, and cooking, it can be easy to forget to take time to relax.
If you’re hoping to get away next Christmas, here are five places to spend Christmas 2015:
Lapland, Finland
Got kids? Take them to the ultimate destination for Christmas. Lapland is officially the home of Santa Claus, and kids can meet Santa, feed some reindeer, and bake Christmas cookies with the jolly Mrs Claus.
There’s also plenty for adults to enjoy, with two Christmas theme parks, the opportunity to see the Northern Lights, an amethyst mine, an arctic snow hotel, snowmobiling and husky safaris.
Germany
The Germans know how to celebrate Christmas, and it usually involves plenty of gingerbread and mulled wine. You’ll be guaranteed a white Christmas, but the biggest draw is probably the Christmas markets, which feature gorgeous handmade toys and decorations.
While there are well over 150 different Christmas markets in Germany, the two most famous are probably Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt and Striezelmarkt in Dresden. These are the traditional markets, and they haven’t been overly commercialised for tourists like many of the others.
Along with the markets, Germany has plenty of tiny towns to visit, with some of the most impressive castles in Europe. Gifts are given on the 24th, which will please the kids, and the 25th is dedicated solely to eating.
Christmas in Germany. Source: Flickr
New York
The lure of a New York Christmas can be hard to ignore. While tourists flock to the city for the holiday season, even the most hardened New Yorker will usually take the time to appreciate the many Christmas decorations, and the huge tree at Rockefeller Centre.
A walk along 5th avenue to gawk at the incredible Christmas displays is not to be missed, and ice skaters can go for a skate at either Rockefeller Centre or Central Park.
Australia
Sick of the cold weather? Saved enough vacation time to make the long flight worth it? Head to Australia and enjoy an Aussie Christmas on the beach. This is one way to avoid the extended family, while taking the time to visit the land down under.
Australians celebrate Christmas with plenty of white wine in the sun, and an Aussie Christmas is the perfect way to escape the cold. Throw some prawns on the barbie, swap your coat for a cozzie (swimsuit), and work on your tan. Now that’s a relaxing Christmas.
A Cruise
The ultimate place to spend Christmas would have to be on a cruise. Book in advance as the holiday cruises sell out quick. Instead of slaving over a hot stove, enjoy a sumptuous spread cooked by someone else, and avoid the crowds at the mall in favour of lying by the pool.
Get the family together for a Christmas with a difference, and enjoy the best of both worlds-Christmas with the family but without the stress.
