With the thought of winter flurries and colder temperatures looming ahead, it’s tempting to think about hatching an escape plan to a sunny beach destination, and Christmas is the perfect time for a family trip because it’s all about spending quality time together, whether in the snow or in the sand.
While chasing the warm weather is easy, it can be harder to choose a destination that everyone in the family will enjoy. From different ages to different interests, you’ll find something for every family member at one of these places. Just don’t forget to pack your sunscreen!
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is one of the most unique travel destinations in the world, where futuristic skyscrapers overlap beaches and sand dunes in a magnificent cityscape. For Christmas, the city is transformed with lavish and festive decorations. If you wanted an energetic beach vacation without sacrificing holiday opulence, this is the place to go.
December is the perfect time for a beach vacation in Dubai, when the weather is at its absolute best. Dubai’s beaches are great for lounging in the sun, but you’ll also find people catching waves or trying their hand at a variety of watersports.
You’ll find lots of family-friendly amenities, with waterparks, trampoline playgrounds and scenic miniature train rides for the youngsters and barbeque picnic areas, bike trails and free yoga sessions for the adults.
If you tire of the beach, go to one of Dubai’s many shopping areas to experience its world-class shopping scene. You’ll be surprised to still be able to engage in some traditional winter activities, like skiing and ice-skating, inside Dubai’s elaborate shopping malls. Be sure to visit the Madinat Jumeirah, which transforms into a winter wonderland for the holidays.
With an elaborate German-style Christmas market, a kid-friendly Snow Zone and appearances by Santa himself next to a towering Christmas tree, there is no shortage of Christmas magic in Dubai.
Sydney, Australia
In Australia, Christmas comes in the summer, and there’s nowhere better to experience the holiday than Sydney. Christmas in Sydney begins with the lighting of the giant tree in Martin Place, and family-friendly Christmas concerts are sprinkled throughout the city in the days leading up to Christmas, including the celebrated Carols in the Domain.
Don’t plan on staying indoors on Christmas Day—with most stores being closed, the most popular way to spend it is on the beach. On Christmas Day, huge crowds gather at Bondi Beach with beachgoers donning revealing festive getups to beat the Christmas heat.
For dinner, try a Christmas pavlova in lieu of a fruit cake as per Australian tradition, and roast prawns instead of turkey. On any other day, Sydney’s world-famous beaches are less crowded, and you could have a family surfing lesson or just lounge around on the beach.
Kids will also love learning about nature at the Aquarium or at Taronga Zoo, where you can spot kangaroos, koalas and even capybaras. Stay until New Year’s Eve to watch the spectacular firework show over Sydney Harbor to ring in the New Year ahead of the rest of the world.
Nassau, Bahamas
A perennial family favorite, Nassau’s glimmering beaches call to anyone who shies away from the cold winter weather. Tourism is an important part of the Bahamas’ economy, and the islands are all done up for visitors year-round. Christmas is no exception, with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Pompey Square.
Nassau’s beaches are always a good idea, and December weather is perfect for a swim, but if you want to get up close and personal with some marine life, visit Dolphin Cay to swim and kayak with the dolphins and see how bottlenose dolphins and sea lions are being cared for after their Mississippi home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Kids can also learn about the interesting history of the Bahamas at the Pirates of Nassau Museum, and you’ll love checking out the Caribbean flamingos at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo.
Besides being home to a number of great beaches, Nassau also boasts some major resorts, like the Atlantis and the Baha Mar, which go all out for Christmas as well. Festive competitions, crafts and activities with Santa are on the schedule at these resorts, and you might even catch the performances of some notable entertainers as they take the holiday stage. The whole family will love spending their Christmas in paradise!
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Popular among Europeans for tropical weekend getaways, the Canary Islands (Spain) are a great place to spend a beachy Christmas. With open-air Christmas concerts and bustling Christmas markets, the holiday spirit abounds in Tenerife.
There is so much to discover on the island, from golden and black sand beaches to the Mount Teide and Masca Gorge, that you’ll find it hard to spend the entirety of your holiday in your resort. You’ll want to get out and explore all of what the island had to offer.
Spend New Year’s Eve here for an impressive firework show under some of the world’s starriest skies, and go for a swim on the morning of New Year’s Day to take part in a Canarian tradition. You won’t find Santa Claus here, though. Instead, the Three Kings come bearing gifts each year on January 5th atop their camels in an anticipated procession through the streets of the island.
Which one of these destinations is calling you?
