2020 has been quite the historical year. Many will be seeking to have a nice getaway and bid this year adieu. During this pandemic time, it is best to be responsible and safe. Staying local or close to home is a great option, but a subdued and socially distanced vacation doesn’t mean having to forgo all the merriment of the season. Whether you want to go to a location with the best Christmas celebration areas or you’re seeking to soak in some sun, here are some of our top picks for the festive holiday jaunt.
Denmark
Denmark is one of the most popular locations to visit during the holidays. Most people love to go to Copenhagen which is Scandinavia’s most vibrant and affordable capital. It's a lovely location where people set the pace rather than cars. This makes it so pre-Christmas activity is a lot easier to navigate. The city streets are decorated with half a million lights and lined with hundreds of Christmas trees. There are meet and greets with Father Christmas in the Pantomime Theater to toboggan rides and strolls along the Christmas market. Cophenhageners have love enjoying Tivoli traditions and have been doing it for generations. You will see vintage roller coasters, magnificent ice sculptures, and have plenty of food and drink options for your holiday vacation.
Austria
This is the famous location where The Sound of Music was filmed and you may recognize some of the locations here in Austria! Austria offers some of the best Baroque architecture, sub-Alpine scenery and musical heritage derived from the city’s most famous son, Mozart. Every year in Austria they set up a Christkindlmarkt or also known as Christmas Market. At this wondrous festival, visitors can hear countless caroling concerts in the town’s Cathedral Square, treat themselves to freshly baked apples and mulled wine, and see real live reindeer. This market is very well known for its array of crafts for sales and makes for the greatest gifts. The snow adds to the Christmas magic and people love to enjoy a hot drink while strolling around the Christkindlmarkt.
Mexico
Mexico’s Christmas traditions originated from Spain’s Catholicism. These traditions have developed over the centuries but you won’t find anything like this anywhere else in the world. The holiday season here lasts for months. Many Mexican families celebrate the season with elaborate Nativity scenes in their homes. This tradition starts December 16th through the 25th. As the holiday goes on, characters will be added to the Nativity scene. On Christmas Eve, the baby Jesus will be put in his crib, and on Christmas Day, the Three Kings make their way onto the scene. This isn’t just celebrated in the homes but you will see huge replicas throughout Mexico town centers. This is a nice place to go where the sun in shining, delicious Mexican food, fruit beverages, and enjoy a vacation on the beach.
The border between the United States and Mexico is closed until November 21st, 2020. Travelers can still fly to Mexico. No testing requirements are necessary but the State Department gives a list of numerous states to avoid because of crime. You can expect temperature checks and other screenings upon arrival.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is one of the origins of where a lot of America's Christmas traditions came from. Mistletoe in this country is considered sacred by the British Druids. It was believed that this plant had magical powers. The romans believed it was a symbol of peace, and that when enemies met under they discarded their arms and declared a truce. This is where the custom of kissing under the mistletoe comes from. England was the very first country to use this during the Christmas season.
The Christmas Holiday is the most popular in this country. Sending Christmas cards is a big hit here. Over a billion Christmas cards are now sent every year in the United Kingdom, many of them sold in aid of charities. The biggest celebration here is the day after Christmas known in Britain as Boxing Day. This is a tradition of giving a Christmas box of money or food for tipping or thanking the milkman, postman, dustmen, and others of good service at Christmas time.
Bahamas
Christmas in the Bahamas is a party! On December 26th, they celebrate Junkanoo Festival. Thousands of locals and tourists dress up in colorful costumes and dance on the streets to bands playing soca, reggae, and genres of Caribbean music. There are also other activities such as the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Pompey Square, Nassau. You can see various concerts and celebrations hosted by different organizations in the Bahamas. Several tourists love to enjoy the warm Caribbean climate. There are beach parties during the holiday season especially during New Year’s Eve, cruise lines, and water parks for families.
Visitors to these sun-kissed islands must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result no more than five days old before arrival. Once you have the negative result, you can apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa.
Canda
If you still want a white Christmas but a unique experience, Canada is the place to go. Quebec City becomes the most festive town capturing all holiday tourists. You can go dog sledding along the Jacques-Cartier Valley, get some skiing in at the Plains of Abraham, take part in geocaching GeoRally, or enjoy one of the many holiday concerts and shows taking place every night in December. This place is really the winter wonderland.
New York, United States of America
You may recognize this place from the famous Christmas movie “Elf.” This is one of the best places in the United States to celebrate the holidays, both Christmas and New Year’s. New York has some of the best and largest Christmas decorations you will ever see! There are spectacular ornaments, iconic ice skating rinks, tree lighting ceremonies, and you can watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square. This town will absolutely enchant you as you walk around its glorious dancing streets, sensational concerts, and amazing kid-friendly events. You can’t help but fall in love with this city.
End the year with a great holiday season and come travel with us on the best adventure yet!
Post written by Aryn