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Winter Travel

Winter is a great time to travel especially if you are interested in seeing the culture of other countries or if you are just looking to escape the cold. There are many places that are common for tourists to visit at this time of year and I’m going to tell you about a few of my favourites below!

Spend December

Shopping of course! December is a great time for shopping in the great outdoors as Christmas Markets become common throughout Europe and the UK.

Stay Close To Home: There are loads of Christmas Markets in the run up to the holiday season all around the country. With local produce, arts and crafts, food and drink and unique Christmas gifts they are a great place to shop and spend the day. Some of my favourites include Norwich where you can sample food from around the globe and my home town of York where you can always pick up a fabulous leather handbag. To find out if there is a Christmas Market near you visit the Enjoy England site which has been set up by tourist information.

Take a Day Trip: If you have a day to spare and are looking for an adventure hop on the Eurostar and head to Lille where you can enter their Christmas Market at Place Rihour for free! The market runs from 21 Nov - 24 Dec 2007 and is a great place to pick up gifts, festive foods and of course wine. As well as stalls there is entertainment provided throughout the day in the form of theatre, games and Father Christmas. Lille is only 1 hour 20 minutes from St Pancras on the Eurostar and so is easily accomplished in a day.

Go For The Weekend: To Prague – the city comes alive in the winter as Christmas is a very important date in the calendar. If you decide to do some Christmas shopping in Prague you will not be disappointed and will find a wide range of goods on offer including Czech glass, wooden toys, scented candles, Christmas tree ornaments, hand-made jewellery and puppets! There are many markets in the city most of which run from December 1^st -January 1^st and run throughout the festive season. Prague is a truly magical place in December and believe me if you are looking for a place to put you in the festive mood – this is the trip for you.

Spend Christmas

If you don’t fancy spending Christmas at home this year up to the eyeballs in turkey grease and watching the Eastenders Christmas special in despair (will they ever have a Merry Christmas in the square?!) then take the plunge and book a holiday, there are some great options available and once again here are some of my favourites.

On A Beach: If the thought of a white Christmas fills you with dread this year then heading abroad to spend the Christmas period lazing on the beach could be perfect for you. If you don’t want to go very far then Spain could be the answer – although you can’t expect it to be red hot you will still get more hours of sun every day than in the UK with the Canary Islands and the Costa Del Sol being particularly popular with Brit’s at Christmas. If you are looking to go further a field your choices are endless, Thailand and Singapore are often popular choices but if you have the money and are looking for the ultimate luxury I suggest you head to the Caribbean where the sun is hot, the sand is white and the sea is blue all year round!

In A City: If you are going to spend Christmas in a city it has to be the one that never sleeps! I have spent many a Christmas in New York and am even toying with the idea of booking a last minute flight out there as we speak – the pull of the lights is just too great for me to resist! Unlike most cities in the UK there is loads to do in New York on Christmas Day and you will find that there are many restaurants and strangely enough cinemas open. My favourite way to spend my time is to arrive early on Christmas Eve, check into my hotel, do some shopping and see a show! Then on Christmas morning take a walk around Central Park, go and watch the spectacular offering by Radio City on Broadway (there are normally around 4 shows on Christmas Day) and head to a Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner with a twist. The atmosphere in New York is electric over Christmas and is a great place to spend a fun filled Christmas.

In Peace: Last year I had one of the nicest Christmas’ ever – out of the city and in the country! My friends and I along with their little angels (yeah right!) headed out to the Cotswold and hired a cottage in which to spend the Christmas period (how quaint I hear you cry!) It was a great experience – the kids really enjoyed being away from home and it was a very relaxed affair. We woke up on Christmas morning, opened presents and headed out for a brisk walk before lunch – we then curled up by the fire and whiled away the hours watching the TV and playing games – sounds just like Christmas at home I hear you cry – but somehow it was much, much better! There are loads of Cottages available and this year if I don’t go to New York (see above) I’m definitely booking one for me and my lover – I think I’ll be divinely romantic!

Spend New Year

Lots of people don’t really celebrate New Year which in my book is tantamount to sacrilege! Imagine what better excuse is there for a celebration! If you are looking to spend the New Year away from home this year here are some great travel options no matter who your companion.

With Family: Head of to the slopes with your family this year and you could have a fun and energetic start to the year. If you want to start your resolutions early there is no better way than skiing which can burn up to 400 calories per hour! Good job because when you get off the slopes there is bound to be something hot, fattening and wonderful waiting for you. Whatever your ability skiing is a great activity for all the family and what better way to see in the New Year than on top of a mountain with an ice cold beer in your hand!

With Friends: New Year is the time to party and what better way than to see in the New Year than with a group of friends in the party capitol that is Dublin! Dublin goes party mad on December 31^st where there are street parties, music, dancing and of course alcohol. If you are planning on a trip to the Emerald Isle you’ll find that most of the pubs offer free entry however if you are planning on hitting a club you will need to by tickets in advance. Be warned if you are planning on counting down the New Year in Dublin that taxi’s will be a rarity on the night and that the next day most of the shops will be closed – so make sure you buy your hangover remedy the day before!

With A Loved One: If you are looking for a romantic way to see in the New Year then you should head to Scotland and book a room in a Castle. It is every girls dream to spend a night in a castle and there are many in North that offer packages for the New Year. If there are a few of you, there are even castles that you can commander for yourself – imagine just you and you’re friends for a few days in your very own castle! I spent New Year in a Scottish Castle a few years ago and it was a magical experience – we arrived to find champagne in our room, were then treated to a 6 course buffet, spent the evening dancing in the disco and saw in the New Year with a fantastic firework display. If you are looking for something truly special for your New Year – this could be the perfect choice for you.

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