Best place to visit at Christmas?

Kit1

Hi

I am looking for ideas for my husband's 50th birthday on Christmas Day and thought as it is only going to be the 2 of us this year it would be nice to go away. He will only be able to have 10 days off at the most.

It would be nice to go somewhere warm but that isn't the most important factor. We like to explore new places so not just looking to sit by a pool all day.

I did think about the USA as we have never been there and l know some places are warmer than others but does everything close down for the holidays?

Many thanks for your ideas.

wallbash

There is no boxing day, everything works well apart from the actual Christmas Day, friends who have been were a little disappointed

Doshwaster

Most of Spain will be open. Christmas Day is a holiday but it doesn't shut down like we do so restaurants will be open and public transport will run. A few years ago I had an excellent Christmas Day doing a bar crawl of Barcelona.

torbrex

I loved New Orleans at that time of year :T

I did miss out on a New Year party by not booking a place ahead but still had a great time for 10 days.

Weather was t-shirt and lightweight jacket most days with only one rain day.

Lots to do in the city so I didn't bother hiring a car, I used the money I saved to get a better hotel, closer to the French Quarter

littlereddevil

We are off to Thailand, but like Torbrex absolutely love New Orleans

davelewis

Cruise? I'll be on Queen Mary 2 for my 40th this August. Over Xmas the Queen Mary 2 does a Caribbean cruise.

omarsgirl

I thought cruise too. there are lots of cruises that go from the USA around the Caribbean. No chance of them feeling closed. We cruised the Caribbean a few years ago (feb/march) and loved it.

MoneyMate

Lanzarote is looking good for us around 22 deg fairly peaceful place plenty to do walks etc, cheaper than going across the Pond .

richardw

You could do a warm and cold 2 centre US holiday, say San Diego and Chicago or Miami and NYC etc. They don't do a 2 day shut down like the UK.

ferf1223

I grew up a few hours from Chicago and no way would we fly into or out of Chicago in the winter - we never plan family visits in the winter due to the potential for snow-related delays...while they are set up to cope with snow a whole lot better than the UK snow it can still be carnage...just worth considering.

I agree that other than Christmas Day things will be pretty normal in the US. Anywhere I have lived in the US cinemas are open on Christmas Day - not that it would suit everyone but it's a 'something to do' on the day when most places are closed.

richardw

Yes, perhaps not as snowy risky as Chicago.