Where should I go for vacation over Xmas?

Go to the mountains, mostly by train, and take a few walks if the weather permits.

Or Puerto Rico. Dry, warm, American.

Come up to Whistler here in BC. Rent a car and drive up from YVR because the Sea-To-Sky highway from North Van to Whistler has incredible scenery the whole way. $300+ per night at the resorts, bring much more cash because of incidentals and the higher prices compared to Metro Vancouver. Glacial lakes and stunning mountains FTW. Again, please bring $$$. Please get your measles/COVID/flu/pneumoccocal booster shots before travelling, we've had our fill of foreigner germs!

Or stay at a Vancouver hotel (I recommend the Pan Pacific) or go over to Victoria on the Island (The Empress Hotel is always a good choice).

Go to Italy, OP. Cool weather and cheaper prices.

London is generally warmer than NYC in winter. Not tropical, but close to 50 for highs most days. It is much further north however, so the shorter daylight hours will be apparent, and it's grayer than New York when it is daytime. Maybe get a cheap flight to Mexico City? Lots to see and do there

Depends on what you want - a lot of warmer places are overrun and more expensive.

Pro tip: Fly out early morning Dec 25th. The prices are cheaper, there is a lot of seat selection, the airports are a breeze and people feel bad for you for having to travel on Christmas Day.

It's awesome. Flight attendants are cheerful - the flights aren't crowded with people and presents. It's a breeze to get to the airport - low to no traffic.

Highly recommend.

Yes, I’ve flown on major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, and the airports are empty!

I'm in Costa Rica right now. Seven days is enough.

OP Go to London. It's lovely at Christmas, and there is so much to see that the weather is not even a factor. All the museums are free, and and of course you can do a show or two on the West End. Goto a service at Westminster or St. Paul's. See the lights and decorations. I love London. Go to Burrough Market in Southwark.

R9 is Beth Jarrett, leaving Conrad behind.

Can we stay at your place while you're gone?

And London sounds wonderful.

Old Quebec. I hear it's beautiful at Christmas.

Paris, Texas

Buenos Aires. Sao Paulo. Sydney. Cape Town.

London is fine at Christmas. In terms of sites, it’s a very indoor city-museums, theater, music so neither the short days nor the weather needs to be of concern. It’s easy to get around and hotels are cheaper because it’s low season. I did a Christmas-New Years trip there a number of years ago. Costa Rica will be in peak season and hotels will be expensive and booked up. A better time would be around Thanksgiving or after New Years.

The Catskills.

Costa Rica or London? That's polar opposite vacations.

The main question - do you want beach and warm weather and relax? Or do you want a 'cultural' vacation to explore countries you've never been to before.

I'd be on the warm weather side myself, but that's just me.

London at Christmas is a big one. If you’re lucky they’ll be snow.

I've been told there's all sorts of festive stuff going on in London at Christmas.

I went to Helsinki a few years ago during December and liked it.

R20 - as opposed to the rest of the world, who doesn't have festive activities during that week?

I love London at Christmas! The lights and decorations are charming, and the combination of cold weather and the holidays means you can sit and have tea and scones a couple of times a day without guilt. It's pantomime season in the theatre, which is wonderful. If you like panto, you're all in clover. And if you hate panto, its popularity means it's easier to get good seats at other shows. But seriously, London has a lot of great restaurants -especially if you like Indian or other Asian cuisines. World-class museums. Theatre. Lots of interesting historical sites. If there's snow, be sure to take a walk through Highgate Cemetery. Most people go to see Karl Marx, but I always visit Christina Rosetti. Afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason. Oh -and the window displays and decorations at Fortnum's, too. You could also do some great day-trips to other cities around the UK -or even do a night in Paris. Or better yet, fly over to Rotterdam and spend a night aboard the old SS Rotterdam, which is now a charming hotel and museum.

I could go on and on.

OP should go early enough to enjoy the Christmas markets, too, R23. I've had tea at Fortnum's and it great. Fortnum's is great. But I have also had tea at Harrod's. Really nice. We also went to Harrod's food court. Good stuff!

Puerto Vallarta of course.

[quote] We had originally thought somewhere in Asia, but flight prices are crazy.

That’s what reward miles/points are for. You should have being saving them for a trip if you haven’t already. I never pay cash for international flights. I only use points.

GREECE 🇬🇷

Don’t go to Italy. The workers there can’t be trusted to show up to work.

Germany or Italy. They both do a great Christmas.

Roatan Island Honduras

See the coral reef, the America's version of the Great Barrier Reef.

R26: It's too late for Asia---New Years is a big deal in all the Asian countries, even if it's our New Year calendar, and it's peak season for SE Asia. Award travel will either be expensive (lots more points than usual--all the airlines use dynamic pricing) or unavailable.

Far away

Most of Europe is “off-season” for travel in December. Should be good deals on flights.

I still say Europe. London, Rome or Vienna.

I’m thinking London—although I’m not sure how long it’s worth staying. Gets dark early and is somewhat cold

Beth thought it would be nice to go to London for Christmas.

Oh, shit. If you're worried about the cold, and the dark, stay the fuck home or go to fucking Florida.

Most of things to see/do in London are indoors--the short days and any cold are not going to make much difference.

The winters in London aren't that ferocious. It's comparatively mild in December. Cold drizzly, but not too bad January and February is more wintery. But you know what? Find out for yourself. If this is something you have never done before, go for it. Have an experience. IMO there's a lot more to like than not to like. Don't act like some fusty old thing.

Have you considered North Korea?

Or the North Pole?

We're planning on Vienna, Munich and Prague.

Christmas Eve at the Chicago Steamworks is always enjoyable.

Another London vote. Paris is easy to get to via train. Perhaps split your time between the two cities.

I live in London and agree it’s a nice time to visit. The run up to Christmas is very lively and atmospheric. If you have 9-10 days you could also go to Amsterdam (4 hours by train). Or Paris of course. Or somewhere else in the UK.

The Valley of the Dolls.

How can people even think about going on vacation with all that's going on in the world?

I can, no problem, but I wonder how all the people suffering chronic breakdown can.

South America? Brazil?

Go to Edinburgh, and stay for Hogmanay.

South America is peak season, very expensive.

I was in London for Christmas a couple of years ago & a lot of the city was shut down - not just for Christmas day, but a couple of days after Christmas. That included the Elizabeth line out to the airport. It seems like all the locals headed out of town to Spain or some place warmer.

Speaking of some place warmer, how about a cruise? Granted, cruises aren't for everyone, but then you don't have to contend with what is/isn't open during the holidays

That's true, R51. It does get quiet from 25 Dec - everyone's hunkering down at home for a few days. So if you're in London as a tourist you probably need to research what's open and what you want to do. Christmas day is a good day to cycle all over the city - no traffic!

When I was there, things closed on Christmas Day including the tube, but everything was open before and after. Not much difference from here or a lot of places.

I've done two cruises over the holidays - Panama Canal (we were in the canal on Christmas Day) and South America (Buenos Aires to Santiago.)

I loved Rome at Christmastime. Naples was extremely lively on Christmas day and a unique experience…however, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Rome or London would get my vote.

I lived in London for a few years and Xmas was always so lonely and quiet. Many things are closed and families get together (I was invited by friends for Xmas lunch each year but thought it would be awkward hanging out with their relatives so I ate beans on toast alone in my tiny studio flat).

I vote for somewhere warm.

Rome. Italian Catholics are big on Christmas.

The tourist mobs won't be there.

If you're traveling between Christmas and NY go to the Caribbean because at least you'll see a lot of rich, famous people.

if you're in London staying at a hotel you'll be fine. So what if you have a quiet Christmas Day itself.

What are Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto like at Xmas or slightly before? Internet says good... anyone here have experience?

How’s Hawaii in December?

Montreal is magical at Xmas but be prepared to trudge through snow and freeze your ass off.

Go to London. It's beautiful and not too cold. The lights are spectacular and everything is so festive. One thing...everything is shut down on Christmas Day accept restaurants. Public transport is closed too. But a stroll through London during that time is magical. I was there in 2019 and had dinner at Quaglino's and watched the Queen's message on my phone on the stoop of a house...so memorable.

R47 Things are not horrible in most of the world. A few countries are going off the rails, that's it.

American tourists talking about the things they do in London always makes me laugh.

You are being made fools of.

London hotels are insanely expensive in December. While London is fine, for the money you spend you can get a much better and more exotic vacation. Rome is much more interesting - and cheaper.