Heading off on a last-minute break is the best way to spend the holidays – but you won’t be spending Christmas just about anywhere. Instead, you should consider unique Christmas getaways in 2019. From festive picnics in Thailand to hot air balloon rides in Turkey, these winter escapes will be the highlight of your year.
Tis’ the season of gifting, and at the on-site Art Studio at this beautiful Maldives resort, creative guests can paint, sculpt, draw or craft their own bespoke gifts for their loved ones.
You can try coconut and canvas painting, authentic Maldivian rug weaving, pottery, shell jewellery design and sand turtle sculpturing, all guided under the watchful eye of the resident artist. There will even be Christmas tree decorating for little ones – the perfect activity before the Christmas tree lighting ceremony!
Swap the traditional white Christmas for a Christmas picnic in paradise. On Christmas Day, Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra offers an alternative to the classic Christmas turkey lunch; a tasty tour of Southern Thailand with a traditional Thai street-food style market dinner.
You can savour authentic dishes such as a creamy crab curry and punchy Pad Thai, as well as delicacies of ceviche, sushi and sashimi. Foodie guests can even learn how to prepare dishes themselves at the Sofitel Krabi Cooking School.
By night, an outdoor cinema awaits where you can watch their favourite Christmas classics on the big screen.
This is the ultimate castaway experience: guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain can sail across turquoise waters to nearby Jarada Island – a deserted strip of sand, only accessible for two hours a day before the tide washes over it.
You’ll be seated on traditional, woven floor-cushions and greeted by a resident Chef, for a picnic of authentic Bahraini dishes, drinks and decadent deserts. Feast, photograph and make your memories before the island disappears under the waves. It’s one of the most magical Christmas getaways in 2019.
Spend the holiday season at the luxury argos in Cappadocia hotel where suites are carved from caves and spread through seven revived mansions. It’s the perfect base to explore the famous region.
By Air: Start your day with a hot air balloon journey. Take-off around sunrise for the best views and travel up up and away. It’s a surefire way of making unforgettable memories.
By Tunnel: You can also explore the area’s famed underground city, a network of tunnels and caves that may have sheltered thousands of people during times of trouble.
By Land: Why not jump on a an ATV and ride around the rugged plains? With a guide, you can venture off-road, speeding through valleys, revving up dunes and gliding through the ancient monastery ruins.
This fashion-forward hotel was designed in a unique collaboration with Monsieur Cristian Lacroix, so you can be sure of a glamorous Christmas celebration. Dine on a delectable 5-course Christmas or New Year’s Eve tasting dinner. Highlights include cranberry, mushroom and truffle tart, baby octopus and a chocolate gold dessert. You’ll have a backdrop of a spectacular firework show with the city’s best views of Bangkok skyline.
Or, head to the Chocolab, where children and adults alike can join a chocolate crafting class with master chocolatiers and learn how to make Christmas-inspired creations or a Gingerbread house!
This is the perfect place to escape this festive season. Settle into your private villa where you can contact your own personal butlers 24-hours-a-day, who can organise in-villa spa treatments.
For a truly spiritual experience, there’s guided meditation on the beach at sunrise. This is followed by the magical ‘tak bat’ ritual. Local monks walk down the stretch of white-sanded beach and bless passers-by.
For a festive feast with a twist, V Villas Hua Hin can also organise an in-villa barbecue with the resort’s resident chef. All your favourite fresh seafood and other Christmas-inspired delights can be prepared on demand!
Christmastime at Paws Up is a true winter wonderland. A thick layer of snow means you can get around any way you like: whether that’s on a snowmobile, a dogsled or even a real-life sleigh. Guests can enjoy building gingerbread houses, downhill tubing or soaking in an outdoor hot tub at their private luxury home. A personal visit from Santa is simply the icing on the gingerbread cookie.
Co-founder of Big 7 Travel, Sarah created the company through her passion for championing the world's best food and travel experiences. Before her career in digital media, where she previously held roles such as Editor of Food&Wine Ireland, Sarah worked in the hospitality industry in Dublin and New York. Contact [email protected]
