Travel Designers Where to go for December short breaks?
It is a popular month for December short breaks with most of Europe hitting some low temperatures and other areas offering warm winter sunshine. Some destinations, more than others are looking very Christmasy and covered in snow. However, if snow and Christmas are not your thing there are many short break options available for some winter sunshine. December is a great month for a short break with so much choice and some fabulous deals to be grabbed. Choose from a city break such as Krakow for snow or Dubai for sun! Treat the family for a visit to Santa in Lapland or Christmas Mini cruise to check out the many Christmas Markets.
Below are just a few of our favourites.
Dubai
Always a popular choice for winter sunshine and shopping enthusiasts topped with an abundance of restaurants and bars. Also popular with families looking for entertainment for children in many child-friendly activities. If you are only staying a short time then read our 72 hours in Dubai on what to fit in.
Kids love Dubai for the waterparks, Legoland, Motiongate and Bollywood. Dubai is constantly adding to its activities for families with the latest IMG world a must-visit for this year. All your Marvel and Cartoon Network characters in one place for your little one to be a superhero for the day. Added to that are live shows and movies to make a great day out.
Christmas Mini Cruise – December Short Breaks
A mini cruise in December is the perfect way to sail to a Christmas Market for those little stocking fillers. Sail from Southampton for 2 nights stopping for a days shopping or sightseeing in Bruge or Amsterdam. For a little longer and an overnight stay there are 4-night options to Amsterdam and Rouen in France.
These mini cruise options are great for multi-generation groups as there is something for everyone on board. Great for those looking for an alternative Christmas party celebration. A fine dining experience followed by a show topped off dancing the night away at the onboard disco. If you are new to cruise you may wish to read more on first time cruisers..
New York New York
The extra hours on the aircraft are worth considering for a short break to New York in December. Perfect for shopping and wonderful for sightseeing, if snow is covering the ground. Christmas decorations and lavishly dressed shop windows make even the most bah humbug get excited about Christmas. Sleigh rides or ice skating in Central Park add to wonderful Christmas memories.
No time for Panto? Then perhaps a show on Broadway is more your cup of tea, book tickets in advance or see what is free last minute. or perhaps just hit the shops and see if you can grab a bargain in the post-Black Friday offers. New York is also a great option to tag on to a Caribbean stay for that city and beach experience. Many flights offer savings if you fly indirect to the Caribbean allowing a short stay in New York before heading for that winter sunshine. Read our 72 hours in New York for ideas of what to do.
Krakow
Perfect for a wintery city break with a good choice of accommodation from budget to luxury. Add in a bit of culture with a visit to the Salt mines and or Auschwitz or just take in the beautiful surroundings and stunning buildings. Foodies will love Krakow with so many great restaurants to choose from hidden in the basements of old Krakow. Look out for local cuisine restaurants such as Czarna Kaczka The Black Duck to fine French flair at Cyrano de Bergerac For cocktails and something different, look out for Mercy Brown’s THE first speakeasy underneath smakolyki restaurant. Think vintage era, chandeliers and dim candlelight with the odd Burlesque night.
Lapland
December is a popular month for Lapland day visits and short 3 or 4 night breaks. Perfect to take the kids to see the Big Man and experience a once in a lifetime holiday. Not the cheapest day trip or short break but one filled with magical memories for all of the family. Most day trips will start early with a flight from the UK into Rovaniemi airport Finland or an alternative. On arrival, you will be kitted out with thermal suits and boots as the temperatures can get as low as -35.
Once dressed it is off on a husky ride or ski-doo, followed by a Raindeer ride and a visit to Santa. Daylight is only for a few hours each day so the activities are the first thing with some taking place in the dusk of the day. After your visit to Santas Cabin, there is time to visit the Elves workshops and take home some souvenirs of your visit. A wonderful family experience to do at this time of year.
Norway Northern Lights – December short breaks
If outdoor activities in the snow are your thing then extend for a 3 or 4-night stay and go in search of the aurora borealis otherwise known as the Northern Lights. There are many options open to searching for the Northern Lights which can be seen between the months of August and April, but more so in the darkest months of December to March.
Norwegian cruises offer guarantees if you don’t see the lights you can have a replacement cruise. If boats are not your thing then choose from the many options from city breaks in Reykjavik with a “search for the Northern lights” extended tour. Or head out to the deepest parts of Norway and hide out in a log cabin for a new nights waiting for the sky to explode with colour.
