‘Tis the Reason

Okay, so you haven’t quite gotten around to planning that late December holiday getaway. You don’t need more guilt heaped on your work-weary shoulders. But you do need some help. The Christmas to New Year’s travel window is a busy one, so there’s no more time to waste. Here’s a rundown of of what could be waiting for you at the far end of the runway (if you move quickly):

Paris & London—Cold and grey, but who cares, Paris and London are always amazing. And both celebrate the season with lots of good cheer.

Rome & Florence—Not very warm either, but again, always compelling places to visit and hotels usually have good availability.

Spain—It’s low season and consequently quiet and cool in many regions. However, Barcelona and the warmer southern part of the country work well for a seasonal jaunt.

Mauritius—Due to a last-minute cancellation we happen to have our hands on some beachfront suites at the hottest hotel on the island. Seriously sublime.

Morocco—Still warm enough and always fun and fascinating enough. Many hotels have 5-night minimum stays between December 20 and January 3, a small yet surmountable hurdle. It’s a great for the Sahara and hotel availability throughout the country is still decent.

South Africa—Glorious mid summer weather makes it extremely popular so top hotels and lodges tend to be fully booked. But if you’re flexible and open to creative planning, it’s worth a shot.

Tanzania & Kenya—Very good availability in both countries. This is the ‘secret season’, a brilliant time of year to visit. The crowds steer clear and the animals come near.

Uganda—This little-visited country has more game than Santa’s toy sack. An incredible wildlife experience and very high odds of finding a gorilla or chimpanzee under the tree.

Iceland—A cozy, scenic place to spend the ultimate white Christmas. There aren’t many hours of daylight, but who cares when the Northern Lights are so staggering.

Central America—Hotel rooms are hard to come by in Costa Rica, but you might have some luck in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Lesser known, but certainly not lesser countries.

Brazil—If you’re okay renting a private house or committing to a mega multi-night hotel stay and paying top dollar, you stand to be rewarded with beautiful weather and as much fun as you can possible have in Havaianas.