Christmas holidays abroad

Why should wine be the only thing that gets hotter at Christmas? Pack your swimming costume and sunglasses for Christmas in Australia. Prepare your tastebuds for a feast on Christmas Day in South Africa. Check in for luxury hospitality in the all-year sun of the Middle East, from the extravagance of Dubai Christmas holidays to the astounding architecture of Abu Dhabi or family-friendly all-inclusive in Ras Al Khaimah. Fly west for laidback days on the coast of Mexico, the Caribbean, or perhaps a Caribbean Christmas cruise. Travel east to Thailand, where you’ll find a beach for every taste and a magical atmosphere in the city. Select your perfect spot around the equator or, just like the birds, fly south for the winter to keep the thermometer as topped up as your Champagne flute this Christmas.

Imagine Christmas Day sipping cocktails by the pool in the 30°C sun, wandering from breakfast to the sand, from lunch to the sea, and - after sunset - from dinner to the party. On Caribbean Christmas Holidays, you leave frosty windows behind for tropical island balconies and all-inclusive resorts. Watersports and diving await between feasts, and each island is filled with attractions from colonial towns to picturesque fishing villages and stunning jungle trails where waterfalls cascade, and freshwater pools invite you to take a cooling dip. 

On the mainland, Christmas in Mexico offers laidback luxury from Cancun to Tulum, and fascinating ancient sites like Chichen Itza and Coba are just a short drive away. You could choose repeats on TV with the heating on full or embrace the blue skies and warm days of the Caribbean at Christmas. The choice is yours.

Weather forecasting isn’t tough in the Middle East. Destinations from Dubai and the UAE to Qatar and Oman enjoy more than 300 days of uninterrupted sun every year, and Christmas is just as cloud-free as July. December and January still regularly exceed 20°C, and a light jacket will be enough to keep you toasty in the evening.

On top of this, luxury hotels in the Middle East go big for Christmas and New Year. Christmas in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah is filled with feasts from celebration brunches and festive afternoon teas to gourmet banquets. At the same time, grand lobbies are adorned with seasonal decorations and magnificent trees. You’ll even find Christmas markets popping up to warm the atmosphere after sunset. For something more laidback, the souks of Doha and Muscat come alive every night. As for New Year parties, lavish doesn’t cover half of it!

Good company, delicious food, and sharing joy make the Christmas and New Year period magical. And it is these qualities that have made Thailand one of the world’s most favourite holiday destinations. Thailand at Christmas is Thailand at its best: the best weather and atmosphere and a fantastic place to spend the festive season. Relax on the sweeping beaches of your favourite resort or tiny island, from lively Phuket to laidback Koh Samui and vivacious Koh Phi Phi to tranquil Koh Lanta.

For city lovers, Bangkok at Christmas is a world of illumination and enchantment filled with vibrant modern entertainment and serene spiritual shrines. Eat a traditional Christmas dinner on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, or spice up the season with Thai delicacies served everywhere, from bustling street food stalls to renowned rooftop restaurants.

Christmas and the New Year come to New Zealand and Australia first, so why wait? If seeing one of the world’s most iconic fireworks displays isn’t enough to tempt you, how about exploring the diversity of Australia and the majesty of New Zealand during the warmest time of the year? Learn to surf on Sydney beaches, sip artisan coffees in Melbourne laneways, or sail to the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas.

Fill your festive plate with farm-to-fork lamb and a Central Otago pinot noir on New Zealand’s North Island, or sail with dolphins in the sounds of the South. Whether adding a week of adventures to a family visit or turning a festive trip into a month-long expedition, why not skip to the front of Santa’s delivery schedule and include an Australia Christmas Day on a grand tour down under? Don’t worry, he’ll find you.

Only a two-hour time difference but a world apart in weather makes Christmas in South Africa an ideal choice for a warm winter without the jetlag. You won’t have to get up early for well-wishing calls home on the big day. Once you arrive, there is a stocking full of ways to spend the season. Get away from it all and share the festivities with lions, rhinos and elephants on a Kruger or the Eastern Cape safari. Choose oceanside meals on the clifftops of the Garden Route.

Indulge in artisan a la carte and a bottle of bubbling Cap Classique in the Winelands. Retreat to Durban’s Indian Ocean beaches. Or join South Africa’s biggest celebrations in cosmopolitan Cape Town and the bays nearby. Travelling with the family? Sun City hosts an unforgettable Christmas in the Pilanesberg National Park, just a short drive from Johannesburg.