Posted on Monday, 27 November 2023

Love Christmas, but don't love the cold? Thankfully, there are many destinations where you can enjoy the festive season while replenishing that now-faded summer tan.

Here are a few Christmas getaway ideas with tips for Xmas dinner - plus an option for those who have already been ‘baubled-out’ and would rather keep the mince pies to a minimum!

Australia

Christmas dinner idea: BBQ on Bondi Beach, near Sydney.

Happily, Christmas coincides with summertime Down Under - which is home to some of the planet's most beautiful beaches. 

Australia's East Coast has more than enough to keep you busy over the festive season: aside from a Christmas BBQ on the beach, think snorkelling or scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef, enjoying a 4x4 adventure on the idyllic sand dunes of Fraser Island, or undertaking an epic road trip down (or up) the Great Ocean Road.

But for those with the time and the inclination, there's lots more to see and do elsewhere: visit the astonishing Uluru (Ayers Rock), or book a seat on an Indian Pacific train - running for some 2,704 miles from Sydney to Perth.

It may take a while to reach, but Australia has a 'home away from home' feel about for many Brits: there are no language barriers, everything seems strangely familiar - and the Christmas traditions are very similar. And crucially, it's wonderfully sunny!

Florida

Christmas dinner idea: Xmas buffet at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando.

Long a popular winter destination for UK families, Florida boasts a huge choice of attractions and activities for a Christmas break.

Alongside excellent beaches, the Sunshine State is famed for its abundance of theme parks (Magic Kingdom Park, Universal Orlando, and Walt Disney World to name a few). Know that Christmas is one of the busiest times at Floridian theme parks, so do arrive early, since some parks can reach capacity!

The state is also a mecca for golf lovers - it has over a thousand courses to choose from. For a festive round, consider The Breakers Ocean Course, the oldest 18-hole golf course in the state.

And there are other amazing outdoor experiences that shouldn't be missed. Chief among these is an Everglades airboat tour, on which you get to cruise the vast Everglades and glimpse - hopefully - alligators, panthers and snakes.

December is a wonderful time to visit, with temperatures of up to 25C. Not as warm as November, but still much toastier than a UK Christmas!

Madeira

Christmas dinner idea: Treat yourself to the high-end Mozart restaurant in Funchal, Christmas menu available from 24 December.

If you don't want to travel too far for your Christmas sun fix, consider pretty Madeira - fours from the UK by air.

Located just northwest of the Canaries, average daytime temperatures in Madeira can reach 20 degrees over the festive period.

'The Pearl of the Atlantic' takes Christmas seriously: the capital, Funchal, boasts amazing Xmas lights (switched on December 1st), a Children's Christmas Village with festive wooden train and Santa's sleigh, and various Christmas markets with local food, tropical fruits and flowers. 

Funchal has an oldy-worldy charm with its cobblestone streets and relaxed atmosphere - perfect for Christmas. Here you can also experience the Funchal toboggan ride - where you cruise down a narrow alley in a wheeled wicker basket - safer than it sounds!

Outdoors enthusiasts will love the trail to the lofty Pico Ruivo - a forested route where atmospheric mists often descend on the lichen-clad trees. And while winter-time temperatures of around 20 degrees aren't perfect for swimming, you might still brave the Porto Moniz natural swimming pool for a refreshing dip!

Turkey

Christmas dinner idea: Despite the county's name, you won't find many Turkey dinners on offer! But there are many other exquisite foods to try.

As a Muslim country, there's little sign of Christmas in Turkey. As such, it could be an ideal destination if you're not the biggest fan of the festive season.

However, cosmopolitan Istanbul is home to a sizable Christian population, where Christmas services do take place in the handful of city churches.

Wintertime temperatures in Turkey are mild - and certainly more pleasant than the UK. You'll be hard pushed to get any sun tanning or sea swimming done in this season, but it's pleasant enough to enjoy walking, hiking, and cycling - or simply strolling around the vibrant, friendly cities.

Among the top winter sun destinations in Turkey are Side - with its Greco-Roman ruins and sandy beaches, and Marmaris, with its buzzing nightlife and pretty seafront promenade. Both destinations lie on Turkey's southern Mediterranean coast. Expect daytime highs of 15 - 16 C.

Istanbul is probably too chilly if warmth is your goal (it has highs of around 11C in December) - but it's still an amazing city to explore for a day or two. Top attractions include the incredible Hagia Sofia Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern - a vast underground water storage facility built more than 1,500 years ago!

Cyprus 

Christmas dinner idea: Ouranos Restaurant in the 5-star Annabelle Hotel - festive meals with panoramic harbour views.

Christmas is a big deal in Cyprus, with a host of traditional Christmas markets, concerts and theatre performances pencilled in for 2023.

But how warm is it?

Located to the south of Turkey, Cyprus is a couple of degrees warmer than its larger neighbour. Expect up to 17C on the coast and 19C inland during your Christmas visit.

The island is famed for its romantic harbours, picturesque beaches, and sparkling waters. The Mediterranean's third largest island also boasts plenty of archeological attractions, including ancient Kourion and the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos.

The island's world-famous party towns - including Ayia Napa and Limassol - are much quieter over Christmas, but this does mean there's plenty of space on the pretty beaches.

The Maldives

Christmas dinner idea: Book one of the sumptuous gala dinners that are put on around Christmas.

You can expect a white Christmas in the Maldives - only the white stuff is sand, not snow. Additionally, you can expect not-very-Christmassy temperatures of 25-30 C!

The resorts offer Christmas-themed activities and festive food - but otherwise it is not celebrated because the Maldives is a Muslim country.

More generally, winter is a great season to visit the Maldives thanks to the minimal rain - which makes it an ideal time for snorkelling.

Canoeing, scuba diving and yoga are some of the other top pursuits this time of year.

There's no denying the Maldives is a costly destination, but Bandos Island offers some of the more affordable options - with ringed house reefs offering easy access to the warm turquoise waters.

Speaking of warmth, did we mention it reaches up to 30 C in December?

Gambia

Christmas dinner idea: Sample a sumptuous Christmas dinner in the Ngala Lodge.

Both Christians and non-Christians in the Gambia celebrate Christmas. Expect to see lots of special festive model boats - called fanals - particularly in the Kombo area. The most famous seasonal highlight is the Carnival of Fanal Parades, put on after the Christmas Eve service.

A number of churches hold Christmas services - including of Catholic, Methodist, and Lutheran denominations.

Otherwise, Africa's smallest country may only have 50 miles of coast - but they are as pristine as any in the world, and great places to spend the Christmas period. And in winter - just as every other time of year - you can enjoy them in 30C!

Alongside the dependable warmth and coastal delights, you can visit the Abuko Nature Reserve (no car required), the Bijilo Forest Parks with lots of well-maintained walking trails, and the Kachikally Crocodile Pool - a sacred site for locals, since crocs represent the power of fertility.

Plenty of package holidays are available for winter sun breaks to this unique west African nation.

The Balearics

Christmas dinner idea: Consider a festive gourmet meal at Palma's La Despensa del Baron - in a unique 14th-century Gothic setting.

As part of (mostly) Christian Spain, you can expect plenty of Christmas joy on the Balearics. For instance, Palma, Majorca's capital, comes alive with dazzling festive lights, while Menorca boasts the Fira de Nadal en Mahón Christmas market. Ibiza, meanwhile, puts on a host of Christmas parties in its world-renowned clubbing districts.

Otherwise, this trio of Mediterranean stunners - so loved for their hot summers - are very mild over the Christmas period.

Majorca boasts top-rated beaches like Alcudia, as well as its swish capital, Palma. More superb beaches are on offer in Menorca and Ibiza, with plenty of watersports and other beach-based fun. 

As you might expect, Ibiza is not overflowing with party-seekers in winter, but there is still plenty of absorbing nightlife. And who could resist Christmas on the beach?

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