It was great to see on the news last week that a Christmas shop in Truro had opened it’s doors on one of the hottest days of the year.
While this might seem to be taking it a bit too far if you are looking to get away on holiday at Christmas or the New Year then do not leave it too long to book. It is the busiest time of the year for international air traffic with tens of millions of people flying around the globe to take advantage of the festive season to stay with friends and relatives or go on holiday. Air prices are at a premium and so, in most places, is accommodation. The early bird will not necessarily get the savings but at least they will get a seat on the plane at a time they want to go!
The choice is vast and varied. Long haul trips down-under to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are ideal with the chance to laze out by the pool after a Christmas feast remembering that it will be light until late and the temperature is likely to be high 20s or more. The Caribbean is perfect and other tropical destinations like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kerala, Burma and Costa Rica are at their best. Many safari destinations and most of South America are spot on or for the trip of a lifetime Antarctic cruises will get 24 hours sunshine and the wildlife at its most active. Nearer to home Miami will be a warm 21c which is pretty much the same as Dubai, Oman and Agadir in southern Morocco. The warmest in Europe is likely to be the Canary Islands at 18c.
At the other end of the extreme Christmas skiing holidays can be a bit cheaper than New Year and February and heading straight out onto the piste after opening your Christmas stocking is a real treat. For real snow and cold weather head north to Lapland where you can be sure of reindeer, ice, crackling fires and the amazing Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis.
Of course if you would prefer to be at home remember that in early-December flights, tour prices and hotel rates can be some of the cheapest around. The exception to this is if you want to do pre-Christmas shopping in New York or elsewhere in the States, so why not think of a European Christmas market instead?
If you want to see Christmas in Cape Town or New Year in Sydney. Fancy a festive feast on a tropical beach or hunker down around a roaring log-fire in Lapland then give us a call at Putney Travel – only 151 days to go and counting.
Gaute Bruvik – visitnorway.com
by TMS