Where would you choose to spend Christmas./New Years?
 

Hello all, I just got back from Paris two days ago, well really one day and one very long night ago, and I have recovered from the jet lag I always get on the return trip. The trip report will be coming soon after I unpack and unearth the journal I kept so meticulously.

On to my question, I am now planning a trip for Christmas/New Years and am not quite sure where to go. Obviously prices will come into play but more importantly I want to find someplace that is fabulous during the holiday season. It doesn't have to be full of Christmas lights and caroling as this is the first Christmas where all of the children have flown the coop (envision me dancing in the street with delight that the twenty-something's now have their own places and spouses to keep them occupied during the holidays) and I wouldn't mind avoiding the entire Christmas mess for a nice change. I am looking forward to a few years between children and grandchildren to not put up a tree and be able to just travel where I want. So, does anyone have any great suggestions for that Christmas/New Years destination? Thank you in advance for your suggestions. Take Care Jackie

We took a cruise right after Christmas and rang in the New Year aboard ship. That was fun!

Would you consider revisiting Paris again for the winter holidays? I went for New Year's Eve and it was terribly fantastic. The atmosphere was just great.

If you are asking about Christmas in Europe, which is what I assume since you are on this forum, I don't have a lot of experience with many cities. But I really enjoyed Vienna more than any other place I've been at that time of year. Good luck.

cybertraveler - I had considered taking a cruise but am going on a cruise next month where my son is being married. I tend to get a bit bored on cruises as the inactivity on board on days at sea don't satisfy my high energy level and there really is never enough time when in port to really see and do all that I would like. However, this would have been a great suggestion if I didn't already have a cruise planned next month.

francophile - I also considered Paris but would prefer to go someplace new for this particular trip. I imagine that Paris is quite beautiful at this time of year.

Wayne - Vienna is a possibility. What did you particularly like about it at that time of year?

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Anybody else have any ideas?

I had the pleasure of making this same decision last yeat. My wife found a good fare to Europe one night and woke me up to tell me we were going to Europe for the holidays and where did I want to go. It didn't take me long to answer that ... Salzburg.

Salzburg is Christmas central with a great Christmas markets, enough church bells for several Christmasses and a tour out into the hills to take a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

As long as you are that close Munich's Chritmas markets are well known as well. The central Christmas market at Maienplatz, the crib market with every possible thing for your nativity a block from Marienplatx and several other in town. On our trip we also spent a couple of nights in Rothenburg and it was a great time.

On our way from Rothenburg to Munich the snow on the sides of the highways got deeped and deeper the further South we went. That convince us to make a little side trip through Fussen to see Neuschwanstein in the snow.... breathtaking.

Enjoy your planning. I think that is my favorite part of the trip.

Hi Jackie~
We will be spending this Christmas in our new home in Oregon, so that is what we are looking forward to, but if I were to go to another country, I would choose England.
I want an old fashioned London Christmas and Boxing Day!
We have friends in London and we could visit for as long as we like then go to their other home in Portsmouth for some more visiting!
After a year in Oregon, I will most likely want to spend Christmas in Mexico :D

Hi Jackie,
Just read your entry re Xmas/New Year. May I suggest the Island of Madeira (off Portugal). Gather the place to be at the midnight hour is Reids Hotel. Do have a look up in the guide books at your local library. As I have been to Madeira itself, I feel any of the first class hotels would prove magical and a New Years Eve-to-remember, but Reids seems to stand alone! Look forward to reading of your final choice .... PJ

Hi Jackie,
Re my last entry. Better still, check the forum here. I tried both Funchal, Madeira, and Reid's Hotel for their information since sending last email. Kavey's replies listed are superb and accurate. One mentioned Madeira is for ''the newly-weds or the nearly dead'', or something similar, but don't think I would agree with that statement. Good reading!!! ...Jay

Personally, if I were trying to escape the trappings of Christmas here, I wouldn't really want to go to anywhere that was a postcard of Christmas elsewhere...I'd rather do something a little more off the beaten path. I think going to Germany or other places that could be labeled "Christmas central" would be the opposite of what I'd seek during the holidays...

For that reason, I think I'd recommend seeing Christmas a little further east -- like in Athens or Istanbul. I realize Athens is Greek Orthodox, and therefore will have Christmas in full throttle, but it would be at least somewhat different from the usual Nordic Santa Clause gig we all get here.

Just a thought.

Jules

Personally, if I were trying to escape the trappings of Christmas here, I wouldn't really want to go to anywhere that was a postcard of Christmas elsewhere...I'd rather do something a little more off the beaten path. I think going to Germany or other places that could be labeled "Christmas central" would be the opposite of what I'd seek during the holidays...

For that reason, I think I'd recommend seeing Christmas a little further east -- like in Athens or Istanbul. I realize Athens is Greek Orthodox, and therefore will have Christmas in full throttle, but it would be at least somewhat different from the usual Nordic Santa Claus gig we all get here.

Just a thought.

Jules

I personally have always wanted to go to Paris for New Year's Eve. I also have imagined going to Greece for the Christmas season (lots of family there) or Ireland (again, lots of family). I know that London at Christmas/New Year's is a blast.

I would strongly advise that you book a classy hotel- not necessarily an expensive one- somewhere in Scotland- rural or urban- and chill until the 27th.

Then, get thee to Edinburgh for the days leading up to Hogmanay. It's fabby and lively and fun. You'll find details on edinburghshogmanay.com

Last year we went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen just after Christmas and spent New Year's there. It was magical. If you're interested search on Winter Wonderland to read my trip report. Loved it.

Don't greek Otrhodox celebrate Christmas in January?

Are you looking for a Christmas-y type atmosphere? If not, then there are so many options. In the winter, I particularly like traveling to the Far East. I went to Malyasia this year and Singapore last year and thoroughly enjoyed both. The weather is not bad at that point. Bali and India are next on my list of winter travels.

Dubai is always happening at New Year's though you must book way in advance.

Wouldn't before or after Christmas be better?
In the countries that get into Christmas it doesn't seem as though much would be open and it might be hard to find a good place to eat.
Might be a good time to explore Asia. (?)

Maybe the Canary Islands ? Nice weather, great hotels, lots of beautiful villages to see..and Spanish traditions for Christmas :) It is high season there, though.

Actually, plopping my butt on the couch with some popcorn and soda and watching the Twilight Zone marathon on the SciFi channel has become a favorite tradition of mine.

I too confess that the Twilight zone marathon is the perfect New Year's event for me. Granted it's not the destination that appears in a lot of posts on this forum, but while fixin' black eyed peas, it can't be beat.

Thank you so much for all of the replies and suggestions to this question. There have been some really great ideas here. I think I have narrowed it down to a choice between Turkey and Portugul as both seem like they would offer something different from the normal Christmas festivities that I could get at home. I will say that it was a tough choice when it came to eliminating the Twilight Zone viewing from the running but I had to make the cut somewhere. Maybe next year? More research now awaits me before deciding between these two. Any thoughts on why one would be better than the other? Thanks Jackie