Where to travel for Christmas and New Year

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

Christmas and New Year is the busiest and most expensive travel period of the year. Planning early makes all the difference.

In India

• Goa: midnight mass, beach parties and New Year celebrations.
• Kerala: Christmas in Kochi, with stars and lights, and the Cochin Carnival around New Year.
• Pondicherry: a quieter French-flavoured celebration.
• Rajasthan: palaces and desert camps.
• Kashmir and Himachal: a chance of snow.
• The Andamans: sunshine and beaches.

Abroad

• Dubai: New Year fireworks at the Burj Khalifa.
• Maldives: luxury island celebrations (book very early).
• Thailand: beach parties in Phuket and Krabi.
• Singapore: Christmas lights on Orchard Road and New Year at Marina Bay.
• Lapland: Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi (Lapland). See Lapland with kids: planning a Santa and snow holiday.
• Europe: Christmas markets in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
• Australia and New Zealand: summer celebrations, including Sydney's famous fireworks.

Tips

• Book four to six months ahead.
• Many resorts have minimum stays and compulsory gala dinners on New Year's Eve; check the conditions.
• Travelling a week earlier or later saves money.

See Book early or wait for a last-minute deal? and our Festival and seasonal trips page.

Snow or sun?

For a white Christmas, choose Lapland, Switzerland, Austria or Kashmir. For warmth, choose Goa, Kerala, the Andamans, Thailand, Dubai or Australia.

Budget alternatives

If peak prices are too high, consider less famous destinations: Gokarna instead of Goa, Pondicherry instead of Kerala's busiest beaches, or Vietnam instead of Thailand. You can also celebrate New Year at home and travel in the second week of January.