Holidays Away From Home: The 6 Best Destinations

The holidays are frequently depicted as a magical time to be with family, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Whether you don’t feel like being quizzed by nosy relatives, you simply want to take a winter vacation, or you’re looking to establish a new tradition with your loved ones in the years ahead, here are six ideal destinations to spend the holidays away from home this year.

If you love Christmas and really want to immerse yourself in the holiday, there isn’t a better place on Earth to do so than Rovaniemi, Finland. When you land in Rovaniemi, you’ll see a welcome sign at the airport that says “Santa’s Official Home Airport.” Once in town, you can head to Santa Claus Village, where you can send a postcard from Santa Claus’ Main Post Office and, of course, meet Santa himself. 

To properly celebrate Christmas, purchase himmeli, a traditional Finnish ornament made from geometric patterns of straw, or try making one yourself. You’ll also want to sip glogi, a mulled wine with cardamom, ginger and citrus that many Finns drink every Christmas. Finland actually has more saunas than people, so enjoy a Christmas sauna after spending the day in the cold.

It’s not all Santa-centric activities in Rovaniemi. The northern Finnish city is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights (weather permitting). You’ll also want to try your hand at dog mushing, also known as “husky sledding,” where you can learn all about the life of a musher on a husky farm.

Where to stay: For one of the coolest accommodations in the world (no pun intended), book a stay at The Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloos, where you can sleep in an ice suite. Each year, the snow hotel opens in December with a new, unique ice carving. If sleeping in an ice hotel is too intense (or if they’re sold out), go for a lake-view cabin at The Silver Birch Resort. From mid-December to mid-January, the resort offers a four-day Christmas holiday package which includes some of the top activities in Rovaniemi, along with airport transfers.

If you seek an escape that’s close to the U.S. and nearly untouched by tourists, Nicaragua is a prime choice. Christmas season in Nicaragua begins on December 7 with “La Griteria,” where cathedrals and churches around the country yell, “Quién causa tanta alegria?” (who causes so much happiness?) and people respond, “La concepción de Maria!” (Mary’s conception). After the yelling, fireworks and firecrackers are common, so don’t be alarmed. On December 8, “La Purisima” celebrations begin to celebrate the “purest conception of Virgin Mary.” With over 90 percent of the country’s population practicing Christianity, it’s understandable why Christmas is such a serious event in the underrated Latin American nation. 

Holidays aside, Nicaragua is an ocean lover’s paradise all year long. Surfers will especially appreciate San Juan del Sur, located on the southwest coast. While there, make sure to check out the Cristo de La Misericordia, a giant statue that rivals Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer. As the largest country in Central America, you’ll want to venture out to more than just one town. From San Juan del Sur, take a day trip to Masaya Volcano National Park, where you can take in the rare sight of a lava lake. 

Where to stay: La Santa Maria Resort located in San Juan del Sur spans 7.5 acres featuring ocean-view villas. It offers activities like horseback riding and surfing, as well as an  infinity pool and wellness center. La Santa Maria Resort is centrally located, situated steps from both the ocean and from the town.

Maybe you don’t want to jaunt across the globe or across the pond, but still desire a quiet and wintery escape. Particularly known for its wine and quaint scenery, Woodinville, Washington is a small town located about 30 minutes north of Seattle. There, you’ll enjoy festive activities like wreath making and a candy cane hunt at the Woodinville Winter Fest.

To dive into the wine scene, make sure to check out Jaine Patio at Matthews Tasting Room & Farm. You can also opt for a tasting pass to get the most out of the 130+ wineries in the Woodinville area. The reason viticulture is so prominent in Woodinville is because the small town is located at the same latitude as some of the top French and Italian wine-growing regions, so consider Washington your little international escape sans passport.

Where to stay: Willows Lodge, part of Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, offers farm-to-table dining at Barking Frog, spa services like a candle hand massage (that’s one way to warm up), and grants access to miles of trails along the Sammamish River.

If you want to do something epic this holiday season, December is the perfect time to go to Antarctica. That’s because travelers can technically only visit the seventh continent between late October and March, due to weather conditions and near complete darkness throughout the remainder of the year.

A trip to Antarctica is not for the faint of heart. To get there, you’ll have to cross the Drake Passage, a treacherous body of water where the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Southern Seas converge. Don’t fret; it’s part of the adventure, and sometimes, you might get lucky with the “Drake Lake,” which is when the area sees calmer waters. If you’re not so lucky, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the “Drake Shake,” where swells can be up to 40 feet.

Once in Antarctica, you’ll have the opportunity to see penguins, go polar plunging (where you jump into the freezing waters of The Southern Ocean), and partake in adrenaline-rush activities like kayaking and ice-camping. Any holiday after that will be hard to beat.

Where to stay: You can only travel to Antarctica with an organized tour operator. For one of the most reputable companies, book with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. The company encourages guests to further connect with their natural surroundings with scientists, cultural experts, naturalists, and undersea specialists onboard. Plus, if you dread crossing the Drake Passage, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions offers two alternative ways to get to Antarctica: to either fly roundtrip, or, for those who want to experience the best of both worlds, to fly one way, and take the Drake Passage the other way.

There are few cities that do the festive season better than New York. You’ll find loads of popups throughout the month of December, from holiday markets to bars to seasonal specials at various restaurants. For some local shopping and eats, head to the Union Square Holiday Market, which features more than 185 vendors. To get your ice-skating on, skip the rink at  Rockefeller Center (which is often packed), and try the new 7,000-square-foot ice-skating rink at Brooklyn’s Domino Park. If you fancy a beverage, check out Romeo’s in the East Village, which has been transformed to “Gnomeo’s” for the holiday season, where you can enjoy sips like a peppermint espresso martini and a mezcal apple-cinnamon highball.

New York famously has some of the brightest and sparkliest trees in the country. Beyond the well-known tree at Rockefeller Center, head to La Grande Boucherie on nearby 53rd Street, a French restaurant with a 26-foot tree with approximately 1,000 ornaments and 15,000 string lights. For some festive hotel trees that you can visit without being a guest, head to The Peninsula New York for a timeless tree adorned with gold bulbs, Lotte New York Palace for a picturesque 30-foot tree, and The Beekman for a shimmery tree located in The Bar Room (the hotel’s designated bar).

Where to stay: The biggest downfall of New York during the holiday season is the cost of hotel stays. For one of the better deals in town that’s also in the heart of the action, book a stay at citizenM New York Bowery. The hotel has a youthful feel with its quirky decor, and offers holiday themed-menus to be enjoyed at their rooftop bar. Plus, if you decide to stay through New Year’s, you can enjoy the hotel’s New Year’s Eve event, with an open bar, small bites, live entertainment, and a complimentary champagne toast as 2025 rings in.

Winter weather is not for everyone, and seasonal affective disorder is abbreviated as SAD for good reason. If you crave a little sunshine in your life and are willing to venture a little further afield, the Maldives are calling. Not only is the archipelago one of the most remote places in the world, but the idyllic nation offers world-renowned natural beauty that simply can’t be topped.

December is the beginning of the dry season in the Maldives, so you can expect low humidity and clear, blue skies. The small island nation has white sands and aqua blue waters, which is largely attributed to it being the flattest country on earth at only five feet above sea level.

Where to stay: For a true Christmas in paradise, head to Mirihi Island Resort. Enjoy your Christmas Eve with cocktails on the beach, and celebrate Christmas Day with Christmas movies on the beach. Aside from holiday festivities, you can start each day with morning yoga on the beach taught by the resort’s yoga instructor, and check out Mirihi’s house reef, part of the coral restoration project overseen by their team of marine biologists.