Husband and I want to go away for Christmas this year, but we are at a loss as to where to go! We live in Nashville, and would like some Vitamin E, but flights to sunny destinations are INSANE! Does anyone have suggestions about where "off-season" is for Christmas? We just want to get away.....even if it isn't particularly sunny. Thanks in advance.....

Charleston, SC can be nice during the holidays. Some years, we're at the beach on Christmas days but others it can be chilly. Might be an option.

Tunisia?

Any non Christian destination!

Minnesota -- although we have a great holidazzle parade (electric lights) downtown. Bring your hot chocolate.

Meant to say Minneapolis, Minnesota that is!

Charleston sounds lovely....we have never visited there. Any suggestions for a great place to stay that will be pretty/festive for Christmas week?

How about Nola? They are getting their feet back on the ground. Cafe Du Monde is up and running, and it would be a great Christmas gesture to spend you hard earned travel money with people who so desperately need it. Just a thought~

Charleston Place (www.charlestonplace.com) is right in the heart of the historic district and is always done up for Christmas. There's also several great B&Bs in the area. What kind of price range do you have?

As "a person of alternate faith" I will tell you that Jerusalem is "off-season" for Xmas. Have you been? It's a fantabulous city -- sparkling like a jewel in the desert.

Charleston Place look amazing, but rooms are in the $400 range....a bit more than we can spend!

We are looking for around $125 per night....any more room suggestions?

In the $125 price range, you might try the Andrew Pinckney Inn or the Meeting Street Inn. I've had excellent experiences at both and they are both located downtown in the historic district. Charleston is lovely any time of year, but it is nice to see the historic buildings decorated for the holiday season.

Some friends recently stayed at Meeting Street Inn while in town for the medical school reunion and loved it! The rooms have four-poster rice beds and the rate include continental breakfast. The hotel is just up the street from Charleston Place so the location is perfect for touring downtown. There’s also a fabulous cigar and martini bar called Club Habana right next door. I just did a quick check and it looks like the rates are around the $100 mark right now for Christmas…definite advantage to booking early. Their website www.meetingstreetinn.com.

Some other great places in addition to what Betsy mentioned are Elliott House Inn on Queen Street (great location as well) and their site is www.elliotthouseinn.com as well as the Kings Courtyard Inn on King Street and their site is www.kingscourtyardinn.com.

If there are any other places you’ve found and want thoughts, just let me know.

Is the holiday of Christmas really forced down someone's throat no matter where they travel? I don't think so.

By the way I thought every other place in the USA was sunny except Pittsburgh.

Victoria Canada, and probably Vancouver BC. You can check out hotel rates. We were in Victoria last year and it was lovely, though I wouldn't spend a week there. See if you can mix it up with Vancouver, a great city.

I've spent Christmases past in both Charleston and Savannah. Both are very good locations for the holidays - many activities, shopping is great, and Savannah's squares are decorated. Can't go wrong either way. Second the Pinckney, and I believe there's also a Best Western on Meeting Street that has received some good reviews here. Try searching for GoTravel's post on her weekend in Charleston - she's got lots of good info.

OK! We made a reservation for the Elliot House on Orbitz, and I cannot believ the incredible rate we got (99 for weeknights...promotional rate)!

Thanks for the help....we were sold on the bikes AND hottub. Any more suggestions for eats and Christmas-time fun would be appreciated!

Thanks again....

Excellent choice! You've got 2 great restaurants on either side of you at the Elliott House. 82 Queen (www.82queen.com) is fabulous and I love Poogan's Porch (www.poogansporch.com)...I eat there at least twice a week...can't resist the fried chicken salad...they also have great gumbo. For great seafood, Hank's (www.hanksseafoodrestaurant.com) on Hayne (about 5 blocks from Elliott House).

Check out the CVB website re: Christmas events (www.charlestoncvb.com/xmas/). If the weather is not too cold, walking tours of Charleston are a fabulous...personal favorite is Charleston Walks (www.charlestonwalks.com). Carriage rides are also terrific...personal fav is Old South Carriage Co (www.oldsouthcarriagetours.com).

Don't know if your time will permit a visit to any of the plantations but if they do, my personal fav is Boone Hall Plantation (www.boonehallplantation.com). The current house was built in 1935 because the previous 3 houses were destroyed by fire, hurricane and general neglect. While its the 4th house, its the 1st to be built of brick on a plantation that was known for its brickmaking. It gets all dolled up for the holidays and is quite beautiful. If you saw the mini-series "North and South", this was Mount Royal. They also have a fabulous restaurant that serves lunch...best fried green tomatoes I've ever had!

Drayton Hall (www.draytonhall.org) is also another fav...the house is unfurnished and has no electricity or plumbing...it is as it would have been in the 1800's when it was in its heyday.

Whatever you do, you'll have a fabulous time!

Did I hear someone say "eats"?! If there is one thing I love to do when I travel, it is eat and Charleston has just about replaced New Orleans as my favorite city to eat in. I don't know what type of food/price range you are looking for, but for an upscale meal, it is hard to beat the Peninsula Grill. It is fabulous in every sense of the word...decor, food, service, all outstanding. Did I mention that they have a coconut cake that is literally to die for?! Some of my other favorite Charleston restaurants are: Slightly North of Broad, Hank's, 39 Rue de Jean,
and the Hominy Grill. If you venture over to Mt. Pleasant, I love the Boulevard Diner, and on Sullivan's Island, Poe's Tavern is a great laid-back, beachy, hole-in-the-wall with wonderful burgers. These restaurants are all places that I try to work in repeat visits to. Other places that I've been to and enjoyed include: Blossom, Magnolia's, Anson, Poogan's Porch, and 82 Queen.

As far as activities, I've toured just about every historic home covered in the guide books. My favorites are the Nathaniel Russell house and Drayton Hall. Fort Sumter is another "don't miss", in my opinion. The trip over there is a fun way to get out on the water. Since I don't know the exact dates you'll be in Charleston, I'm not sure if there are any Christmas-specific activites going on at the time, but here is a link that may help you. http://www.charlestoncvb.com/xmas/

Now about Australia or New Zealand, where it will be warm?

Christmas is peak tourist season in Aus and NZ.