Need ideas for a Christmas 2014 holiday vacation?
Apr 13th, 2014, 07:28 PM
#1
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Need ideas for a Christmas 2014 holiday vacation?
Okay Fodorites! I need your help again in picking somewhere for our family of four to go for 10-14 days over Christmas.
We are a family of four that are trying to find a special spot for our annual Christmas trip. My husband and I live in the US and our two adult children live in the UK. For the past five years since we have lost both sets of grandparents, we have chosen to meet our "klds" in the UK and fly somewhere in Europe or Northern Africa for a Christmas vacation.
We are looking for any suggestions that are within a 4-5 hour flight from the UK and that would offer a place that is somewhat warm than the usual European cold, has some historical and cultural things to see/do and has great food and wine. Some of our past trips were chosen because we wanted to be somewhere that wouldn't be totally shut down during the week of Christmas.
Past trips included:
Egypt and Jordan
Morocco
Canary Islands
Cyprus
Madeira
We have done most of the major cities in Europe along with Christmas markets so were hoping that someone could add something new and different? Thank you for taking the time to read this and offer any help!.
We are a family of four that are trying to find a special spot for our annual Christmas trip. My husband and I live in the US and our two adult children live in the UK. For the past five years since we have lost both sets of grandparents, we have chosen to meet our "klds" in the UK and fly somewhere in Europe or Northern Africa for a Christmas vacation.
We are looking for any suggestions that are within a 4-5 hour flight from the UK and that would offer a place that is somewhat warm than the usual European cold, has some historical and cultural things to see/do and has great food and wine. Some of our past trips were chosen because we wanted to be somewhere that wouldn't be totally shut down during the week of Christmas.
Past trips included:
Egypt and Jordan
Morocco
Canary Islands
Cyprus
Madeira
We have done most of the major cities in Europe along with Christmas markets so were hoping that someone could add something new and different? Thank you for taking the time to read this and offer any help!.
Apr 14th, 2014, 12:46 AM
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I'm not sure if any part of Turkey will be warm during that time, but if you haven´t been there, we enjoyed the little we saw and have hopes of spending more time in other parts of the country some day.
Apr 14th, 2014, 01:01 AM
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The Canaries will be warmish. Certainly warmer than anywhere on mainland Europe. It depends a lot on which island(s) you want to visit. There are some interesting historical things to see, plus good walking on the western islands.
You will need to be quick though if you want the Canaries for Christmas.
Dutyfree, if you could consider a slightly longer flight go to Gambia, or Ghana perhaps. Gambia is popular but politically difficult, the president in a despot. But if that doesn't worry you you could consider that. Ghana has slave trade history and is an up and coming destination. I know someone who goes there every year and loves it.
If you decide on Africa make sure you have all the jabs and malaria protection necessary.
Alternatively embrace the winter and go north for a change.
You will need to be quick though if you want the Canaries for Christmas.
Dutyfree, if you could consider a slightly longer flight go to Gambia, or Ghana perhaps. Gambia is popular but politically difficult, the president in a despot. But if that doesn't worry you you could consider that. Ghana has slave trade history and is an up and coming destination. I know someone who goes there every year and loves it.
If you decide on Africa make sure you have all the jabs and malaria protection necessary.
Alternatively embrace the winter and go north for a change.
Apr 14th, 2014, 01:22 AM
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Thank you hetismij-I'm actually looking at New Year but I suspect it will be just as busy.
I have fought shy of the Canaries up until now as what I knew didn't attract me. However I have realised that as you say there are islands for all tastes( I must say I was similarly sniffy about Majorca but having researched we stayed in Fornalutx which was charming).
If we wanted small community ,local architecture, beautiful vegetation and good restaurants -is there somewhere that fits the bill?
I have fought shy of the Canaries up until now as what I knew didn't attract me. However I have realised that as you say there are islands for all tastes( I must say I was similarly sniffy about Majorca but having researched we stayed in Fornalutx which was charming).
If we wanted small community ,local architecture, beautiful vegetation and good restaurants -is there somewhere that fits the bill?
Apr 14th, 2014, 03:04 AM
#7
Australia is a bit too far for me if I only had 10-14 days. I think that I'd do Marrakesh and Essaouira in Morocco, or a 7 day Nile cruise followed by a few days in Sharm. The weather in both places will be much better than here in the UK.
Apr 14th, 2014, 03:46 AM
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Cape Verde islands-friend of mine went and enjoyed it
Azores
Dubai although that's 7 hours from the UK
Tunisia, not sure if that's warm enough
Gambia is only 5 hours from the UK
Malta, again not sure if it's warm enough, might be the same temps as Cyprus for the time of year.
I like embracing the winter, one of the best trips I did at Xmas was to Moscow and St Petersburg.
Azores
Dubai although that's 7 hours from the UK
Tunisia, not sure if that's warm enough
Gambia is only 5 hours from the UK
Malta, again not sure if it's warm enough, might be the same temps as Cyprus for the time of year.
I like embracing the winter, one of the best trips I did at Xmas was to Moscow and St Petersburg.
Apr 14th, 2014, 09:21 AM
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Frances-we enjoyed the Canary Islands a lot. We did try and stay where the usual resort "drunkathons" weren't located.Some towns are filled with the charter tourist groups and others are much quieter.There is history combined with so much natural beauty that you will be occupied the whole time you are there.
I appreciate everyone's suggestions above for our vacation.We live in the midwest in the US and it has been an extremely LONG winter here (getting some snow here again today in April?)so embracing the cold is not an option.We are looking for somewhere that there aren't political issues so we don't have to constantly worry about safety?
Some of the places suggested above, we have already been to as we are an airline family that has traveled through the years. We like meeting our kids in the UK as it increases our options where we fly. We usually use a foreign carrier to fly where we vacation.
I have heard that Ghana is very nice but the airline I fly for has lost several pilots/flight attendants to malaria and complications in the past decade from laying over there!
Cape Verde seems interesting so will look into that.Keep the suggestions coming-thanks! I know that folks that live outside of the US seem to know those "special places" to vacation so appreciate all suggestions!
I appreciate everyone's suggestions above for our vacation.We live in the midwest in the US and it has been an extremely LONG winter here (getting some snow here again today in April?)so embracing the cold is not an option.We are looking for somewhere that there aren't political issues so we don't have to constantly worry about safety?
Some of the places suggested above, we have already been to as we are an airline family that has traveled through the years. We like meeting our kids in the UK as it increases our options where we fly. We usually use a foreign carrier to fly where we vacation.
I have heard that Ghana is very nice but the airline I fly for has lost several pilots/flight attendants to malaria and complications in the past decade from laying over there!
Cape Verde seems interesting so will look into that.Keep the suggestions coming-thanks! I know that folks that live outside of the US seem to know those "special places" to vacation so appreciate all suggestions!
Apr 20th, 2014, 07:57 PM
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Any other suggestions for a destination that is less than 5 hours from the UK and involves history,culture,good food and wine and is warmer than Chicago in the winter. Looking for someplace that isn't so religious that everything is shut up the week before and after Christmas? Thanks-
Apr 20th, 2014, 11:17 PM
#16
How about either Rhodes or Nice? We had a week in Nice one Christmas and the weather was a lot warmer than in the UK. Around 13 - 15 Celsius with sun most days. Of course you can't guarantee the weather anywhere.
You can fly direct from the UK to Rhodes so that might be an option. Lots of history, we enjoyed it there a lot, though I don't know what it's like at Christmas.
Kay
You can fly direct from the UK to Rhodes so that might be an option. Lots of history, we enjoyed it there a lot, though I don't know what it's like at Christmas.
Kay
Apr 21st, 2014, 10:03 AM
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We have done the Canaries,Madeira,Cyprus,Morocco and Egypt in the past five years for Christmas and loved them. We are kinda trying to find a place similar to those places .Daughter has been to Tunisia and was thinking that with the turmoil in that part of North Africa that we shouldn't think about going?
May 10th, 2014, 10:15 AM
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We were getting fed up with this and so decided that we had to crack it today. We have now booked Fuerteventura. Somewhat amazed at the flight prices. Whilst looking at Lanzarote saw that a return from Liverpool was over £800! I could go to Miami for £200 more!
