Whether you’re escaping a Christmas at home for the first time or are a seasoned convert, enjoying the festive season abroad is the gift for all the family that keeps on giving.

What’s not to love? Say Sayonara to the supermarket queues! Have someone else not just buy but also serve you Christmas breakfast, lunch and dinner! And kiss goodbye to obligatory relatives’ visits / the great Christmas morning battery hunt / hiding the sherry from Great Aunt Gladys.

Here, we’ve chosen our favourite festive destinations that provide the perfect family Christmas holiday alternative, whether you’re after some guaranteed winter sun and beach fun or, conversely, wanting to turn the winter dial-up to the max in places like Norway or Canada.

Whatever you prefer, here’s our winter wishlist for fantastic festive escapes.

Top destinations for family Christmas holidays 

Quick links

Where? Costa Rica

Family Christmas holiday in Costa Rica, with parents and kids wearing Father Christmas hats and eating mince pies

Probably our best-prepared guests ever, enjoying their family Christmas holiday in true, festive spirit!

What will the weather be like?
Costa Rica is tropical and is covered in rainforest. But Christmas is one of the best times to visit and there should be plenty of sunshine. Bring a mac or a brolly just in case, but don’t forget your sun cream and sun hat.

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
Exploring the quiet waters of the Peñas Blancas river by boat, keeping watch for caiman, bats, monkeys and snakes. See our Costa Rica with Kids blog for more inspirational activities.

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
Walking across giant hanging suspension bridges in Arenal and wooshing down the volcano’s seven-stage zip-line. Exhilarating!

How?
Costa Rica Easter & Christmas

Where? Cambodia

Family on river boat trip in Cambodia

Swim in waterfalls, explore ancient ruins, and tuck into delicious food on a family Christmas holiday in Cambodia

What will the weather be like?
Cambodia experiences its peak season over Christmas and the New Year, when temperatures are at a wonderfully pleasant 26 degrees Celsius, almost no rainfall, clear blue skies, and plenty of sunshine to top up those vitamin D levels. When better than to explore the Angkor temple complex by bike or on foot, or to hang out on the southern beaches?

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Having flown into the charming town of Siem Reap, you’ll be ready to explore what is arguably the highlight of any trip to Cambodia, Angkor Wat. It’s a vast temple complex and is best explored by bike or with your driver guide, and you can easily spend a few days doing it justice, perhaps Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, too. Watching the sun set over the complex is a Christmas present the whole family will love!

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Staying in a floating eco-resort in the Cardamom Mountains, kayaking through the mangroves, swimming in waterfall pools or taking a boat ride to see the monkeys and birdlife that live in the jungle canopy. Alternatively, you could hang out on the idyllic islands of Koh Rong. Hammock, anyone? Check out our Cambodia with Kids blog for more inspiration.

How?
Cambodia Highlights or our combo trip, Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights

Where? Egypt

Family taking a selfie portrait at the pyramids in Egypt

Visiting the world-famous pyramids on a family Christmas holiday is something the kids will never forget

What will the weather be like?
Despite December being the first month of winter, the south of the country will be bathed in lovely, sunny weather, highs of 23-24 degrees – ideal for sightseeing. Do bring a sweater for evenings, though.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
It’s one of the quintessential Egyptian experiences: taking a felucca (a traditional sailboat) down the Nile, stopping at temples en route. Not only do you feel immersed in the culture, but it’s also slow travel at its best.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Taking a camel ride around the Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, coming up close and personal with The Sphinx. For more ideas on family-friendly activities, see our Egypt with Kids blog and our customer photos of Egypt gallery.

How?
Highlights of Egypt

Where? Norway

Dod sledding in Norway on a family Christmas holiday

Dog-sledding is exhilarating, huge fun and a Stubborn Mule favourite

What will the weather be like?
Quintessential, quite magical, Christmas weather: snowy, dark and refreshingly cold (from just above freezing to just below in the daytime, around minus 7 at night). Perfect!

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Prepare for possibly the most active, yet festive, day you’ve ever had, whether that’s dog-sledding with a team of huskies, going on a guided snow-shoe excursion keeping your eyes peeled for willow grouse or red fox, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling (for children aged 15 +) or learning about reindeer herding from the local Sami people.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Could there be a better way to see in the New Year than watching the spectacle that is the Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights? We can’t think of one! Get some tips on how to capture this stunning light show on camera.

How?
Norway in Winter

Cycling above Fletcher Bay, Coromandel, on New Zealand family holidays

Enjoy long summer days and the great outdoors on family Christmas holidays in New Zealand

What will the weather be like?
Located in the Southern Hemisphere, if you are travelling during the Christmas holidays, you’ll be exploring Aotearoa (Māori for New Zealand), in peak summer. Expect hot, dry, sunny days as standard but be prepared for more inclement, changeable weather too.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Unless you’d like to stay in Auckland, you could be exploring Hobbiton, the real-life Middle Earth movie set, a 10-acre site complete with Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and the Mill. Soak in the thermal springs at Rotorua on Boxing Day if you’ve overindulged.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
See in the New Year with a bang in the adventure capital of Queenstown. There’s something exciting here for all the family, from the Skyline Queenstown Gondola, reaching Bo’s Peak, or, not for the faint-hearted, taking a luge.

How?
Highlights of New Zealand in 2 weeks or our 3-week New Zealand Grand Tour

Where? Belize

Boy on Belize beach giving 'right-on' hand sign

Family Christmas holidays in Belize offer incredible beaches, water sports, rainforest and Mayan ruins

What will the weather be like?
Warm, dry, and sunny.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
As family Christmas breaks go, this is fairly hard to beat: waking up to the sound of howler monkeys (we admit, it’s a very loud, guttural roar) in a gorgeous Eco Lodge in Lamanai, Belize’s answer to the Amazon Rainforest. Go crocodile spotting, listen to and watch the colourful wildlife or walk to a local Mayan ruin.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Snorkelling in Shark Ray Alley – a channel where rays, sharks and turtles gather in crystal clear waters, undoubtedly one of the best places to snorkel in the world. See our Belize with Kids Top 10 and our customer photos of Belize and Mexico.

How?
Belize Adventure Highlights

Where? USA

Family Christmas holiday in California - kids by Golden Gate Bridge

See the sights and enjoy the USA’s classic take on Christmas festivities

What will the weather be like?
T-shirt weather in the daytime, bring a hoodie or light sweater for the evenings in LA, whilst it pays to wrap up warm if you’re seeing in the New Year in Vegas.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Like many things here, it’s ‘go big or go home’ and the USA does the festive period like no one else. It might be too chilly to dip your toes in the Pacific, but head for the Los Angeles coastal area to join the crowds as they rollerblade along the prom. A joyful yet relaxed way to live like a local for a Xmas you’ll never forget!

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Where better to see the New Year in than Vegas, baby?! There are shows, the blingiest hotels and parties galore, whilst the entire 4-mile Vegas strip is closed to traffic from 6 pm to become a giant, pedestrian mall with a party atmosphere. At midnight, 80,000 fireworks make up one of the planet’s biggest and best displays.

How?
Classic California

Where? Oman

Oman with kids holiday - teenager on the Balcony Walk

Oman is a fabulous destination for family Christmas breaks, especially with the help of a knowledgeable guide

What will the weather be like?
Hot, sunny and dry, with average temperatures around the low 20s. Perfect for exploring.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Climb aboard your camel train and the whole family can head out into the desert, before enjoying a sumptuous, traditional lunch in a Bedouin tent.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Being a ‘dry’ country, you are free from the obligation of attending raucous parties. Instead (and all the better for it), spend the (hangover-free) day in the spectacular mountains at Jebel Shams, Oman’s answer to the Grand Canyon. The views will take your breath away. Check out our Top 10 activities in Oman with Kids to see what else you could be doing.

How?
Highlights of Oman

Where? Thailand

Thailand at Christmas photos of family on raft with karst scenery behind and turquoise sea

Soak up the sunshine surrounded by beautiful karst scenery on a family Christmas holiday in Thailand

What will the weather be like?
Average temperatures of 27 degrees, peak water visibility and very little to no rain. Temperatures are hotter in the south than in the north.

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
Enjoy an action-packed day in Kanchanaburi, home to the Bridge over the River Kwai. The afternoon is spent helping to wash elephants in the river (you’ll be squirted in return), whilst the evening is spent on a floating jungle raft on the banks of the River Kwai.

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
Spend the day kayaking through the beautiful karst formations of the Andaman Sea before tucking into a delicious New Year celebration meal. On New Year’s Day, you’ll be heading to the beach for a few final days. (Visit our Photos of Thailand and Thailand with Kids blogs for more ideas.)

How?
Southern Thailand Adventure 

Where? Mexico

Mexico with kids - Mango stall on beach

The kids will love Mexico’s Yucatan beaches – perfect for a family Christmas holiday

What will the weather be like?
Christmas time is one of the best times to visit, where the weather will be hot, sunny and gorgeous but not too humid. You’re looking at average temperatures of around 25 degrees, perfect for family Christmas breaks.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
You’re staying in a beautiful hacienda surrounded by lush plantation. The air is warm, the skies blue, and, after a lazy morning opening presents and enjoying a fresh fruit breakfast, you’ll head out to spend the afternoon swimming in an azure-blue cenote. What better way to end the perfect festive day than enjoying dinner on the terrace, sipping cocktails whilst listening to chirruping cicadas? See our Mexico with Kids blog for more activity ideas.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Whilst Mexico is famed for its beaches, why not see in the New Year doing something different? Lake Bacalar is a 42km long, 2km wide lake renowned for its clean, turquoise waters. Make the most of the balmy temperatures, maybe stand-up paddle boarding or swimming before partying in the evening.

How?
Best of Mexico Yucatan Peninsula

Where? Canada

Snow shoeing in Canada on family Christmas holiday

Work up an appetite snowshoeing and then tuck into Christmas dinner beside the log fire… bliss

What will the weather be like?
In a word, ‘freezing’. Although temperatures are sub-zero, there can be lots of blue sky in the daytime, unless it’s snowing, obviously.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Mother nature takes care of the winter wonderland backdrop in Lake Louise and Banff, so where better to spend the day unwrapping gifts, sitting around a roaring fire, and indulging, than a lodge here? If you don’t want to spend the day snowshoeing or taking a horse and cart ride, enjoy the ‘hot chocolate trail’, or people watch as you sit on the heated terraces.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Vancouver is a little wet and miserable at this time of year. Instead, Whistler’s slopes are at their best with both mountains open for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, fat biking and more. Tubing, ice-skating, and snowmobiling also on offer. Powder perfect!

How?
Western Canada for Families

Where? Nepal

Family hiking in Nepal watching dawn over the Annapurna Mountains

Enjoy some festive family bonding in the Himalayas, with both gentle and challenging treks available

What will the weather be doing?
Crisp, clear with beautiful skies – the perfect time of year to see the Himalayas at their best, when they’re not covered by the clouds and mists of the rainy season. It’s cold of an evening, so pack your cardi!

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
Spend the day doing what Nepal is best known for, trekking – but it’s superior trekking. After being brought tea and breakfast in your trekking lodge – a step up from the more ubiquitous tea houses – you can spend the day walking along the valley paths, being awed by the world’s most iconic mountain scenery.

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
It may be hard to tear yourself away from the luxury safari lodge in Chitwan National Park but rise early, and you’ll be rewarded by wildlife galore as you go on safari on the lookout for rhinos and tigers. As you are on the banks of the River Rapti, you can also head out by boat looking for crocodiles and other water-based wildlife in the afternoon, before being treated to a candlelit banquet back at the lodge. Check out our Nepal with Kids blog for more ideas on child-friendly activities.

How?
Active Nepal

Where? Sri Lanka

Family on safari at Minneriya, Sri Lanka at Christmas

A Sri Lankan safari is a popular activity on family Christmas holidays

What will the weather be doing?
Plenty of sunshine, dry days and peak beach conditions. Average temperature: 30 degrees.

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
Exploring the largest National Park in Sri Lanka, Wilpattu, on a search for leopard, crocodile and sloth bear. The day starts with a relaxing breakfast and time to open a present or two. In the afternoon you will take a safari in search of wildlife before returning back to an African-style safari camp for a slap-up supper. (See our Sri Lanka with Kids Top 10 for an inspiring overview of what you can do on family Christmas breaks.)

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
Enjoying the picturesque tea plantations of Ella, either relaxing by the pool or taking a hike through the plantations with superb views. The evening entertainment will be relatively low-key, but you can join other guests for a celebratory dinner.

How?
Sri Lanka Christmas Tour

Where? Colombia

Cartagena sunset on Colombia family holiday

All the family will enjoy exploring picturesque Cartagena at Christmas or New Year

What will the weather be like?
It is the dry season in December so the ideal time to visit this up-and-coming ‘hot’ destination (it will be reasonably hot too!).  But remember Bogota, the capital is over 2600m in the Andes and many regions are tropical so, basically, pack for all climates.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Recovering from Christmas Eve! In Medellin, they go to town with the lights. Take an evening tour to add some real sparkle to your pre-Christmas Day celebrations and enjoy a snacking food tour of traditional buñuelos (dough balls) and natilla (caramel pudding) amidst all the razzle-dazzle.  On Christmas Day you could enjoy a fascinating tour into the city’s infamous narco past, retold through some incredibly colourful street art. You could also visit a local children’s foundation that our partners support and become a real Father Christmas.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Christmas is a really important holiday for Colombia and for the whole of December, there are celebrations and dancing in the streets culminating in New Year celebrations. What better spot to bring in the New Year than the Pearl of the Caribbean, Cartagena? Enjoy a magnificent firework display in this exquisite city then escape to a Caribbean island for some R&R to recover. Note that most hotels have a minimum stay and should be booked far in advance. Quirky New Year Colombian tradition – at midnight, walk around town with a suitcase, which should bring you luck for lots of travelling in the following year. We like this!

How?
Best of Colombia or the more adventurous Colombia Off The Beaten Track

Where? Guatemala

Where to stay in Guatemala - Lake Atitan, Casa Palopo

After a day packed with activities, relax on a gorgeous terrace overlooking Lake Atitlan

What will the weather be doing?
It’s the perfect time of year to go, with plenty of sunshine but not too hot. The rainy season will have recently ended so everything looks lush and green.

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
At Christmas time in Guatemala, you could be out kayaking around Lake Atitlan and visiting the indigenous village of San Marco. Along the way, you could cliff-jump and hike along ancient paths through some of the world’s most glorious scenery. And you could enjoy your Christmas dinner outside on a terrace, watching the sun set over the lake.

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
New Year celebrations throughout Guatemala are energetic and colorful, with all-night parties, dancing, live music, and fireworks. Any of the towns and villages that dot Atitlan’s shores should be fun – especially Panajachel.

How?
Best of Guatemala or combine with Belize on our Guatemala & Belize itinerary.

 

Where? Laos

Luang Prabang golden temple, Laos, Christmas holiday

Stroll around Luang Prabang on a family Christmas holiday, one of South East Asia’s loveliest cities

What will the weather be like?
Laos is gorgeous at this time of year, as late December is roughly the middle of the dry season and you’re guaranteed warm and sunny weather – just make sure to pack some sweaters for the evenings.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
This is the perfect time for some R&R. Although Laos is no beach destination, in the south of the country the Mekong is wide and home to some tropical-island paradises where you can stay in riverside bungalows in gardens with pools and loungers.

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
To welcome the New Year in, stroll past the sparkling golden temples of Luang Prabang down to the Mekong River where you can enjoy an ice-cold drink as you watch life unfold on the river. Later head to a nearby waterfall for an invigorating swim before dinner in a delicious local restaurant.

How?
Laos Highlights, or combine Thailand, Laos &  Cambodia

On safari in South Africa with grand parents

Tracking the Big Five in South Africa – safaris can be adapted to suit all ages

What will the weather be like?
More sunshine than you could poke a candy cane at.

What you could be doing on Christmas Day
Tracking the Big Five, but also black wildebeest, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, and more in the Eastern Cape, accompanied by an experienced guide adept at finding the best places to spot wildlife. It’s an early start, yes, but you’ll be able to open your stockings later in the day, perhaps when back at camp enjoying a slap-up lunch. (See our South Africa with Kids blog for lots more ideas.)

What you could be doing on New Year’s Eve
Cape Town does New Year’s Eve well, it’s much more of a celebration than other destinations we travel to. Saunter down to the waterfront after enjoying an evening supper washed down with wine from local vineyards to watch a spectacular fireworks display.

How?
Classic Cape & Garden Route

Where? Iceland

Family in winter landscape on Christmas holiday in Iceland

Wrap up warm and hike in incredible snowy landscapes, explore ice caves, and look for the Aurora Borealis

What will the weather be doing?
What will the weather be like? In a word, Cold! The clue is in the name, but that’s what makes Iceland a real winter-wonderland destination, ideal for a snowy, rather magical and atmospheric Christmas break. Temperatures are around zero degrees Celsius and days are short.

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
Soaking in the hot springs of the Blue Lagoon will be a selfie you can’t help show off to the ‘folks back home’, and a memorable way to spend Christmas hanging out with the locals. You could also be taking a whale-watching tour, traversing the Golden Circle, or swapping the turkey for the infamous fermented shark. Or not.

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
Does the idea of walking across a glacier (perfect at these freezing temperatures) tempt? Or taking a crystal ice cave tour? Or swapping NYE fireworks for the Aurora Borealis? Alternatively, you could be seeing in the New Year with a night in the capital, Reykjavik.

How?
Iceland in Winter

Where? India

Beach in Kerala, family Christmas holiday

Recharge the batteries on a palm-fringed Keralan beach before returning home

What will the weather be doing?
There’s a smaller weather window to visit India’s southern states, after April it’s too humid ahead of the monsoon, whereas July and August are ‘peak pour’. But Kerala is at its very best from November through March, meaning Christmas is an ideal time to visit.

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
Unlike the rest of the country, Christianity is the third largest practiced religion in Kerala and as such, Christmas Day is observed by nearly 20% of the southern state. You could spend Christmas Day based amongst the tea plantations of Munnar, in Raj-style bungalows (and G & T’s a-plenty), perhaps exploring Eravikulam National Park, getting up close to some of the world’s last Nilgiri tahr (endemic Indian goat) before coming back for an evening feast.

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
Fancy seeing in the New Year hanging out on a beautiful beach in Mararikulam, its soft sands palm-fringed, swimming in the sea to cool down? What better way to recharge the batteries before returning to ‘normality’ back home?

How?
Kerala Family Holiday

Where? Brazil

Family group in Brazil

Cheers! Brazil is a top choice for family Christmas holidays

What will the weather be doing?
Think of Brazil and images of beach volleyball, sipping on cooling caipirinhas and swinging in hammocks rocked by gentle breezes come to mind. There’s a reason for that! Come Christmas time, the weather is hot, sunny and humid. In Rio, average temperatures are 24 degrees, 29 degrees maximum. Heaven!

What you might be doing on Christmas Day
Hit the beaches along the glorious Emerald Coast, samba your way through a few Xmas carols on the cobbled streets of colonial Paraty, or experience the mighty Iguazu Falls. (At this time of year they are at their most powerful as rising water levels will create a huge volume of water). 

What you might be doing on New Year’s Eve
Rest assured, no self-respecting Brazilian would miss an opportunity for a party and New Year’s Eve is no exception! Join the fun-loving ‘Cariocas’ for Reveillon on Copacabana beach with live music, fireworks, and probably more than a few mojitos.

How?
Highlights of Southern Brazil

Family Christmas holidays next steps

For more inspiration, see our Holidays with Teenagers round-up, our Multi-Generational Holiday recommendations, or our handy calendar, Around the World In Six School Holidays. Or for a summary of all our destinations, see our post on the Best Family Holiday Destinations. There’s an abundance of exciting places to visit and things to do for every type of family.

If you are ready to start planning a family Christmas holiday for 2024 or any trip for the coming year and beyond, ring us on 01728 752751 during office hours, or send your enquiry via our website contact form. We’ll do everything we can to find a great option for you and your family.

Liddy Pleasants, MD Stubborn Mule Travel