Okay, so cosy evenings by the fire sound nice… but why waste the most wonderful time of the year shivering in single-digit temps when you could be living your best beachy life unwrapping your pressies in the sun? You’ve done the same tradition year after year, so we think it’s time you try switching things up a bit. Swerve the seasonal scaries and escape the UK for a Christmas to remember. Swap the mulled wine for margaritas by the pool, the puffer jackets for palms, and baking in the kitchen for the All Inclusive buffet. We know which one we’d rather do…
And, don’t worry about where to go this festive season because we’ve done the hard work for you and shortlisted five destinations to make this Christmas one to remember…
Feeling festive? Check out our latest Christmas holiday deals.
Cyprus
With up to 340 days of sunshine a year and 64 Blue Flag beaches, Cyprus is the perfect place to spend Christmas. Temps might not be super hot, but December still hits 20 degrees – much warmer than home and means you don’t have to be huddled under a blanket this festive season. The celebrations are pretty big, too. They last almost two weeks, from the 24th of December through to the 6th of January, so you can really stretch out the fun. Expect things like carol singing – known as kalanda – and floral decorations. Oh, and Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without all the food, right? Cypriots fast for 40 whole days before the big one, so you can imagine the feasts are unreal. Think turkey, chicken, lamb AND pork with all the trimmings, and desserts like kourabiedes – small almond biscuits.
La Palma
The Canaries are a firm fave for their year-round sun and great beaches, so where better to warm up your winter than La Palma? Being just a quick flight from the UK, you can be topping up your tan with highs of 22°C in no time. It’s got beautiful volcanic landscapes, epic black-sand beaches and lush forests for you to explore. This island takes Christmas pretty seriously as well, so you’ll have no trouble getting in the festive spirit. Nativity scenes – known as belenes – spread across the island, and the small village of Franceses features life-sized models of Mary, Jesus and Joseph in a cave.
Thailand
If you’re after a festive break where the celebrations are a bit more laidback, then Thailand is ideal. Its known as ‘The Land of Smiles’ and it’s not hard to see why. Swap the grey and cloudy UK for blue skies, gorg beaches and temps reaching 30+ degrees, which means no sad faces on Christmas morning. While Christmas itself isn’t officially celebrated in Thailand, there are a few traditions you can join in with. On Christmas Eve, there’s a special lantern ceremony, followed by a big feast on Christmas Day. But don’t expect turkey and all the trimmings, as this one’s all about traditional Thai food like curry and rice.
Dominican Republic
The only white Christmas references you’ll find in the Dominican Republic are the stunning white-sand beaches. With over 200 beaches and temps reaching 29°C, this place meets the brief for the ultimate sun, sea and sand break. But don’t think it’s all about sunbathing here because the Dominicans love Christmas as much – if not more – than us Brits. The festive celebrations last three whole months and it’s all about family, food and a good excuse to party. Aguinaldos – their take on carolling – involves groups of family and friends moving from house to house, singing and dancing. And with more people joining in as they move through the neighbourhood, it turns into a full-on street festival. Check out the pretty capital of Santo Domingo for a festive shopping spree, with shopping malls, cute pop-up stalls and arts and crafts markets selling local Christmas decs and unique gifts.
New York
There’s basically no bad time to visit New York, and where better to spend Christmas Day than NYC? The whole city screams festive fun, from the huge Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center to the ice rink in Central Park. The city’s shopping scene is always top-tier, but it transforms into a magical winter wonderland at this time, with over-the-top window displays. You’ve also got loads of cute Christmas markets all over the city where you can pick up unique gifts or relax with a hot chocolate or mulled wine. And you might even spot the big guy himself if you’re lucky. So, if you feel like a hot and sunny Christmas is a bit too out there for you, then New York is the perfect mix of old and new.
Ready to enjoy a different kind of Christmas holiday this year? Check out all our destinations with December holiday deals.
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Author: Rachel Coppenhall (she/her)
Last updated: 28/07/2025
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