Staying at home for the holidays is always a good idea, especially for a family with young kids. You get to prepare for the festive season at your own pace and enjoy a relaxing and peaceful time with your loved ones in your own space, avoiding the travel stress and all the chaos it brings along. Family travel can be challenging, especially around Christmas when airports and destinations are more crowded than normal and the bad weather can ruin your plans.
However, if you want to switch things up a bit this holiday season and spend Christmas with your family somewhere completely different, you shouldn’t let the hustle and bustle of holiday travel stop you. There’s a world of possibilities waiting for you beyond your home’s threshold, so all you have to do is pick a family-friendly destination and get ready to have an awesome vacation. And if you’re having a hard time making up your mind, we have a list of fantastic Christmas family vacation destinations from all over the world that can serve as an inspiration.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom has been recognized as one of the best places to travel to for Christmas by many reputable publications over the years, and we tend to agree. London packs a punch when it comes to festive delights as it transforms into a veritable winter wonderland with tons of twinkling lights, lavishly decorated Christmas trees and wonderful widow displays making city streets sparkle.
As you can assume, there’s no shortage of festive events, Christmas markets, tours and all sorts of entertaining experiences for young and old to enjoy. These include Christmas lights bus tours, attending Christmas-themed shows at one of the many London theatres, exploring the annual Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park or listening to carols in Trafalgar Square.
Paris
Another European capital that makes for a spectacular holiday destination, Paris has a lot to offer for families visiting at Christmas time. Winter is the season when the City of Lights shines brighter than ever, as every district gets dressed up with thousands of festive garlands and pretty decorations creating a magical atmosphere.
Paris has all the traditional Christmas attractions and activities you could ever wish for, from fairytale-like Christmas markets and villages to eye-catching light displays, ice skating rinks, Christmas concerts, theme parks, and many iconic landmarks for you to visit. However, since Paris is a popular tourist destination, crowded by tourists all year round, make sure you book your vacation and make reservations well in advance. Also, if you depart from London and want to avoid the airport hassle, you can check out parking Stansted services to ensure a stress-free journey for the whole family.
New York
Home Alone is one of the most popular family feel-good movies for the holidays of all time, so much so that for many people it has become a tradition to re-watch it every year around Christmas. If you and your kids are also fans of this beloved holiday movie, you’re going to love spending Christmas in the city that served as the backdrop for the second film in the Home Alone franchise.
There are even guided tours that will take you through all the iconic filming locations such as Central Park, the Wollman Skating Rink and the Rockefeller Center, and retrace Kevin McAllister’s footsteps. And regardless of New York’s cinematic allure, there are so many things to see and do in the City That Never Sleep that you and your family will surely have a blast. Ice skating on one of New York’s many outdoor rinks, taking a horse and carriage ride in Central Park, watching the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights display and visiting the Winter Village at Bryant Park are just some of the family-friendly activities to include in your list.
Stuttgart
No one does Christmas quite like the Germans. Every German town undergoes a magical metamorphosis and oozes holiday cheer in December, but since you can’t visit them all, we suggest you opt for Stuttgart. Wondering what’s so special about this city? Well, the abundance of traditional Christmas markets, historic buildings with old-world charm, fun attractions, delicious food and an overall cosy atmosphere create the perfect scenery for a wonderful family Christmas vacation.
Plus, there are many flight routes connecting the UK to Germany, so you’ll reach your destination in no time. For example, the average flight time from Manchester to Stuttgart is under two hours. And if you want to keep things running smoothly, booking your parking at Manchester airport in advance is also a good idea.
Lapland
You may be much too old to believe in legends and fairy tales, but for your kids, the mystery and wonder of Santa Claus is still very much alive. So, what better way to spend Christmas and get into the holiday spirit than to visit Santa’s official hometown in Finland?
Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland located in northern Finland, near the Arctic Circle, is said to be the place where Santa Claus hails from and is one of the best locations to travel to if you want to experience the magic of Christmas with your family. The snow-covered town boasts breathtaking winter sceneries and offers a multitude of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. From snowmobiling safaris and reindeer or husky sleigh rides to visiting Santa’s village, ice skating, and seeing the Northern Lights, Lapland is going to offer you an unforgettable experience.
With Christmas just around the corner, now’s the time to start packing your bags and head to one of these wonderful holiday destinations in search of Christmas spirit. No matter where you choose to go, a vacation with your family is the best Christmas gift you can give yourself this holiday season.
