Travel Designers All it takes is a few bad days of rain, wind or even snow to make us all feel like seeing the sunshine again, particularly as Christmas draws nearer the regular battle of where do you spend Christmas and who’s cooking begins. For some the easy option is to cancel Christmas at home and jump on a plane to a different part of the world and let someone else do the hard work. But that’s one holiday time that needs advance planning and leaving it to the last minute will leave you with little choice of destination and highly inflated prices. So when is the best time to plan a Christmas Holiday Abroad? and what destinations are best to consider.
Traveling at Christmas can be so much fun and the sheer bliss of not having to clean the house, buy all the food and drink or spend endless days shopping for gifts that you are never sure everyone will actually use! I can honestly say in all my years I have never cooked a Christmas dinner and with the world your oyster I don’t plan to do it in the future either. Of course there is always home, which for me I am lucky as home is in, Scotland which to me, is the perfect choice for a Christmas Holiday or a New Year fling. My home town of Edinburgh, holds one of the most popular New Years eve parties in the world and is a must on anyone’s list to try. With live bands, a festive atmosphere, and many bars and restaurants to choose from to see in the New Year, what more could you ask for? Warm weather perhaps?
For the sun worshippers planning a Christmas Holiday Abroad this has to be done as early as possible as its peak time, schools are off and lots of companies/factories close down at this time of year. Demand is high and there are only so many seats on the plane, regardless of how many free sun-loungers there may be. If you want to be starting Christmas day with a Pina Colada in one hand a good book in the other and a BBQ on the beach then book early. It’s always good to get back into the office after the Christmas break with a fresh sun tan and lots of stories of your Christmas break.
If it’s snow that you love then a ski holiday at New Year or indeed over the Christmas period would be the perfect option for a Christmas Holiday Abroad. Most of the villages and chalets dress their balcony with Christmas lights and the whole feel of the resorts becomes pure white Christmas. Again for the snow lovers, its New Year that is the most expensive time in the Alps as snow conditions are normally pretty good and the Apres Ski is a lively way to bring in the New Year.
Our tips for planning your Christmas Holiday Abroad?
Airlines release their seats 11 months in advance so the best time to get the best deals for your Christmas Holiday is at the end of January to mid-February. Particularly for the scheduled airlines. Some package operators will offer advance reservation on these popular dates but fares can be higher.
Start planning 18 months before the Christmas period that you plan to travel and finalise dates, hotel preference, and budget. This way when flights come out you can book straight away and get the best prices.
Use an Independent travel agent that can help you to find out some of the very best offers with smaller bespoke tour operators.
Look out for free child places if you are taking your kids on holiday with you. Some of the package operators offer these as early as 18 months in advance.
Sign up to your agents’ email list so that you can be notified of all the best deals coming out. Often free upgrades on rooms or complimentary board basis such as half board or a free upgrade to full board.
Look out for airline world deals as operators often use these times to put together some fantastic packages and prices.
SO what would you rather do for your Christmas Holidays? Stay at home or travel?