How stressed out are you this holiday season, folks? It’s a hectic time of year, and we’re thinking you might need a vacation. And what better time to take a holiday than the holidays? Chances are good your office is already closed for a day or two, you’re in a festive, vacation-y mood, and the world is lit up with holiday lights. Perfect!
Ready to jet off to a totally unexpected, exotic — and most important, warm — destination for the holidays? Here are some great warm places to spend Christmas this year!
Sydney, Australia
Madrid, Spain
Don’t want your holiday festivities to end in December? We don’t blame you! Head to Madrid, Spain, and you’ll be keeping the party alive all the way through the first week of the new year for Three Kings Day, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany. Madrid is a high energy city to visit every time of year, with ridiculously good food and fun parties happening every night of the week. But come December, the city fills with popup skating rinks, a huge holiday market in the famed Plaza Mayor, and of course, lots of pretty lights. The festivities rage all the way through January 5th, which marks the exciting Three Kings Parade. Olé!
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Want to stay a little closer to home without—you know—actually staying home? San Juan, Puerto Rico is the perfect solution. This island paradise may not be the first place you think of when you think about the holidays, but it totally should be. You can spend your getaway salsa dancing, sipping coconut rum, and lounging on the beach. And since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, no passport required! Even better? There are tons of direct flights available to Puerto Rico, and plenty of affordable resort options.
Christmas Island, Samoa
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Like Australia, Argentina’s location in the Southern Hemisphere offers warm temperatures that beckon you to escape the cold at Christmas. The season officially kicks off on December 8th with the Day of the Immaculate Conception, and lasts through Three Kings Day on January 6th. The Argentine capital Buenos Aires pulls out all of the stops for its Christmas Eve celebrations, featuring massive feasts, religious services, and fireworks. You can even consider attending a special Christmas Eve tango show, encouraging you to be swept up in the city’s holiday magic.
Kolkata, India
December is one of the best months of the year to visit Kolkata, India, boasting moderate temperatures and dry conditions. Although India is predominantly made up of Hindus and Muslims, there are enough Christians living in Kolkata to make Christmas a vibrant celebration full of fun activities. The annual Kolkata Christmas Festival takes place on the busy Park Street, encouraging revelers to come out and enjoy mouth-watering Bengali cuisine, an adorable children’s pageant, and a variety of musical performances. At the same time that you are enjoying traditional Christmas festivities, you can also immerse yourself in the other cultures and religions that call India home.
Medellin, Colombia
A location close to the equator keeps the climate in Colombia moderate all year long. But since Medellin sits at an elevation of nearly 5,000 feet, it offers spring-like temperatures in December, making it a beautiful place to visit for the holidays. Medellin is best known for its world-famous Christmas lights display and the gorgeous flowers that thrive in this climate. As is typical for South American countries, Christmas Eve is the big event of the season, featuring a wide array of food and drink and gifts that culminate with midnight mass services.
San Fernando, Philippines
If you’re looking for a warm destination full of holiday cheer, you can’t go wrong with a trip to San Fernando in the Philippines. In addition to beautiful and balmy weather, san Fernando offers a full range of holiday events. There’s the Giant Lantern Festival that represents the Star of Bethlehem with its colorful lights. This annual holiday offering has blossomed into a special occasion that attracts visitors from all over the world with bright lights set to festive music.