let's go on ho ho holiday
btw, i'm chasing the sunshine this christmas 🎅
For the past few years, Christmas has been shit.
Not to the fault of my loved ones, but deaths, divorces, and the general glum-ness of British winters have released my inner Grinch in me.
I planned my defenses in preparation to tell my parents about my plan to escape for the season and get a tan instead.
“I’d rather maximize the annual leave and use it as a chance to break up the winter months” “I don’t want to be reminded that I’m single again” “I just cba with the commercial bullshit”.
However, to my surprise, they just asked if they could come as well.
So now, I’ve been tasked with researching where on earth we should visit to chase the seasonal sun! I guess that if you’re reading this, you might fancy it as well. So, here are the best options I’ve found:
The Criteria
🌎 Best return flights that are currently available from London airports, departing the weekend of the 20th, returning after Christmas or, potentially after New Year’s for the long haul
⌛ Duration of travel time from London to the destination, long haul vs short haul
🔥 Average temperature of the destination during December
💸 Cost of the destination (accommodation, activities, food & drink) against GBP
Short Haul
The Canaries - Spain 🇪🇸
Reliably accessible via short and direct flights from the UK, the Canaries are one of the most visited destinations for Brits all year around, yet somewhere that I’ve never been! The two most populated and tourist-focused islands are Lanzarote and Tenerife but the Fuerteventura and Gran Caneria are also great options. Although some of the beach towns have been overrun by fellow Brits abroad, there are still plenty of beautiful harbour towns and dramatic rocky peaks which I’d happily spend the Christmas season exploring.
🌎 Returns from £260 pp from Gatwick to Tenerife with EasyJet - £250 to Lanzarote from Gatwick⌛4 Hours 🔥14°/21° 💸 Budget-friendly
Athens & Islands - Greece 🇬🇷
I visited Greece for the first time last year on a 4-day November getaway to Athens so I can confirm from personal experience, that it’s pleasantly warm during winter and the vibes are great. The Acropolis and surrounding ancient sites were much enjoy manageable in the low season (both in regards to temperature and business).
When avoiding the main tourist areas such as Plaka, food and drink were incredibly reasonable in the capital. Nearby islands such as Hydra and Aegina are only short ferry rides away and have seaside towns, small beaches, and plenty of cats which sounds as far away from jingle bells and snowmen as possible.
🌎 Returns from £150 pp from Gatwick to Athens with EasyJet⌛4 Hours 🔥14°/21° 💸 Budget-friendly
Madeira - Portugal 🇵🇹
Madeira keeps cropping up on my Tiktok FYP, its dramatic mountains, luscious landscape and cute coastal towns are by definition ‘a bit of me’. This autonomous region of Portugal is located just north of the canaries off the coast of West Africa. Although not as warm as some of the other far-flung destinations on this round-up, it’ll be undoubtedly balmier than old Blighty is in December.
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Considerations with Portugal and most short-haul destinations are that they are also Christian countries, meaning local businesses and typical tourist attractions’ opening hours will be affected. I the traditional B&B’s such as Quinta das Hortênsias which ooze rustic charm, with lucious little gardens that offer sweeping views of the coastline below.
🌎 Returns from £237pp from London to FNC Madeira ⌛4 Hours 🔥7°/13° 💸 Mid-range.
Cairo - Eygpt 🇪🇬
Sand, sun, and sea. Tick tick tick. Eygpt has world wonders and fascinating history for your culture fix, but also crystal blue waters on white sand beaches in Sharm El Shiekh. Flights are more on the expensive side, and organising transport requires more pre-travel planning than other destinations, however, the payoff seems worthwhile. Plus, as it’s a majority Muslim country you’ll be able to crack on with typical tourist activities such as cruises down the Nile River or seeing sandstone temples without the festivities of Christmas interfering.
🌎 Returns from £330 pp from London to Giza with EasyJet ⌛4 Hours 🔥18°/25° 💸 Mid-range
Long Haul
Isla Holbox - Mexico 🇲🇽
Mexico is super high on the list of countries I’d like to visit. Mayan temples, white sand beaches, crystal clear cenotes, and tacos instead of turkey all appeal for a Christmas escape. Although the destination is further away, Mexico’s temperature remains high throughout the year, and December falls within their dry season meaning you’re very unlikely to experience any tropical storms. Although the country isn’t super duper budget-friendly, you can keep prices down by eating locally and enjoying free activities to save on costs.
🌎 Returns from £999 pp from Gatwick to Cancun ⌛11 Hours 🔥24°/30° 💸 Mid range
Phuket - Thailand 🇹🇭
I travelled to Thailand last year and can confirm that it’s pretty much the perfect country for a holiday. In comparison to the GBP, accommodation and food is very affordable. The culture is friendly and welcoming and the country’s range of offerings, tropical islands, the bustling city of Bangkok, and beautiful Buddhist temples. For a Christmas escape, I’d suggest flying into BK for a few days, before the train down to Phuket for a beach escape. There you can explore the charming old town, scuba dive or just soak up the sunshine. Although flights are more expensive, I’d argue that the cost of activities, accommodation, and food (we’re talking £2 for a Pad Thai and less than £30 per night in a nice hotel with a swimming pool) may balance this out in comparison to European destinations.
For the city, I would avoid Khao San Road and instead opt for anywhere near Lumphini Park or by a BTS station, find somewhere with a pool, allowing you to cool offer after a day exploring Bangkok’s busy streets like this one. Then anywhere that tickles your fancy in Phuket either near Patong Beach or in the charming Phuket Old Town.
🌎 Returns from £426 pp from London to Bangkok⌛12 Hours 🔥24°/32° 💸 Budget-friendly
Cape Town - South Africa 🇲🇽
Famed for its wine, wildlife and dramatic coastline, South Africa is a popular destination for sun-seekers year-round. The port city acts as a great jumping-off point to explore the surrounding Cape Winelands district, famed for its world-class vineyards. December also falls within the remit of whale watching season off the coast of South Africa! Something that I would *very much* like to experience.
🌎 Returns from £516 pp from London to Cape Town ⌛11.5 Hours 🔥17°/27° 💸 Expensive
Conclusions? 🎅
Christmas and New Year will always be more expensive for travel. Lots of people are journeying home therefore flights peak around these times.
However I’m going to assume you would spend a fair bit on presents, food, and boozing if you’re hosting regardless, so if you’d rather splash out on some sunshine, why not?
Short Haul - European flights average at around £200-250 for a return and are more likely to be affected by early closing times and cooler temps, however, flight time is shorter and about half the price of long haul.
Caribbean and Asian - destinations come with a heftier upfront flight cost, looking at around £450-500 for a return flight if you book soon. However, the pound goes further in many of these countries, meaning you can get more for your money while away and you’re guaranteed warmer temps.
Or you can always keep it simple and go somewhere snowy. I hear the alps are nice this time of year.
By becca mae x
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Mexico still has my vote!🇲🇽
This is such a fun planning session! Since you’ve never been to Mexico so that’s totally my vote for you all!