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Best Christmas holiday destinations

Where to hightail it to over the Christmas break – as well as the best sites to score the biggest holiday deals.

Whether you want to spend Christmas on sun-soaked islands like Fiji or experience a white winter in meccas like New York, we’ve personally shortlisted 10 top places to go this festive season – whatever your agenda.

Plus, we’ve included our top five sites to book holiday packages as well as the leading sales to save big on your Christmas trip. Hit here to skip to our list.

Top holiday destinations for Christmas

1. Best for FOMO: Bali

According to Skyscanner, Bali was the top international spot for Aussie Christmas holiday makers in 2017. If you’re thinking of joining the masses this year, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s THE place to go. Stick around until New Year’s Eve when the skies become frenetic with fireworks and celebrations last well into the next day.

  • Cost: High-end-priced accommodation and mid-range food
  • How long should I stay? Five to seven days
  • Recommended hotel: With its own beach, huge pool, and Jacuzzis the Melia Bali gives you more than one opportunity to spoil yourself at Christmas.

Book your Bali holiday

2. Best short international break: Auckland, New Zealand

Kicking off the festive season with a huge Santa’s parade and Christmas in the Park festival, Auckland goes all out at Christmastime. With the sunshine also comes the flowering of the red pōhutukawa, which is the Kiwi take on the Christmas tree.

  • Cost: Mid-range accommodation and reasonably-priced food.
  • How long should I stay? Three to five days
  • Recommended hotel: You can count on festive feasts in Eight restaurant and seasonal high teas in the Lobby Lounge, when you book a Christmas stay at Cordis Auckland.

Book your Auckland holiday

3. Best local break: The Whitsundays

You can expect all the typical festive trimmings when you spend Christmas in the Whitsundays, as resorts lay on events like carols by candlelight and visits from Santa. For little ones, keep on top of our School Holidays Activities guide here.

  • Cost: Luxe accommodation due to high demand and high-end prices for Christmas Day dinners.
  • How long should I stay? Three to five days
  • Recommended hotel: Spend Christmas in one of Peppers Airlie Beach’s spa apartments and indulge with a festive lunch in the onsite Tides restaurant.

Book your Whitsundays holiday

4. Best for a white Christmas: Lapland, Finland

There’s more than a handful of magical locations you could spend the holidays in for a white Christmas but if we had to pick one, it would be Lapland. Not only is it the home of Santa, but it’s graced with snow by the bucket fulls in December and offers festive activities such as reindeer rides and the chance to visit the man himself.

  • Cost: High-priced accommodation and meals due to its relatively remote location.
  • How long should I stay? 7-10 (in and around Lapland)
  • Recommended hotel: Make this a Christmas to remember by staying in the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort - Igloos and Chalets where its Finnish sauna shall keep you warm while its ski-in ski-out facilities can get you out on that powder.

5. Best for festivities: London

Offering Christmas shopping on Oxford Street, festive markets with mulled wine, a huge winter wonderland festival in Hyde Park and the possibility of a white Christmas, London is a huge crowd-pleaser when it comes to Yuletide trips.

  • Cost: Mid-range accommodation as competition keeps prices from soaring too high. Pricey food and drink, though.
  • How long should I stay? 7-10 days
  • Recommended hotel: Festive afternoon teas and Urban Grill Christmas meals are all available at Thistle Kensington Gardens.

Book your London holiday

6. Best for beaches: Fiji

Santa makes an appearance by speedboat at many Fijian resorts over Christmas and festive lunches and carol services all take place beneath the sun’s warm rays.

  • Cost: Luxe accommodation prices due to seasonal demand and high-end seasonal meals.
  • How long should I stay? Three to five days
  • Recommended hotel: The Shangri-La's Fijian Resort & Spa launches itself into the festive season with a tree-lighting ceremony and Santa has been known to parasail into the resort on Christmas day.

Book your Fiji holiday

7. Best city break: Singapore

As if Singapore’s Gardens By The Bay light show wasn’t enough, the city shines brightly over Christmas as streets are transformed into a glowing winter wonderland. Hit up Orchard Road for lights, installations and the chance to snap a pic with Santa, or restaurant-hop to taste-test all manner of festive feast specials.

  • Cost: Mid- to high-priced accommodation due to peak season but well-priced food.
  • How long should I stay? Two to three days
  • Recommended hotel: Stay in the thick of things in 4-star accommodation when you book a room at YOTEL Singapore Orchard Road. It boasts free Wi-Fi, swimming pool and breakfast daily.

Book your Singapore holiday

8. Best for island hopping: Krabi, Thailand

Eat your Christmas lunch overlooking the jewel-blue waters of the Andaman Sea and work off any excess with a walk along the powder-soft sands, or jumping on a ship to explore by water.

  • Cost: Mid-range-priced accommodation with plenty of budget-friendly places to eat.
  • How long should I stay? Five to seven
  • Recommended hotel: Footsteps from Nopparat Thara Beach Centara Anda Dhevi Resort and Spa features an outdoor pool, waterslides and Jacuzzi.

Book your Krabi holiday

9. Best low-key destination: Cook Islands

Not too many people hit up the Cook Islands over the Christmas break. It could be the cost of flights or the lure of other beach destinations but either way you’ll get some R&R this Christmas period when you land on the mellow Cook Islands. Most resorts offer Christmas lunches, should you not want to break from tradition too much.

  • Cost: Luxe accommodation and mid-range meals.
  • How long should I stay? Three to five days
  • Recommended hotel: With its private beach, rooftop terrace and festive gala dinners, Crown Beach Resort and Spa is a top choice for a Christmas break.

10. Best for Christmas and New Years holidays: New York City

With its Christmas shopping opportunities, snowy scenery, holiday markets and classic New Year’s Eve countdown at Madison Square, New York is hard to beat during the festive period.

  • Cost: High-end accommodation due to demand, but you can find a few cheap delis to eat at to keep spending money down.
  • How long should I stay? 7-10 days
  • Recommended hotel: The NYLO New York has been known to decorate its bar in candy canes and serve special festival cocktails during the Christmas holidays.

Book your New York City holiday

5 sites to book Christmas holiday packages online

1. Flight Centre
For holiday packages near and far to whatever your budget, Flight Centre can customise a holiday that works for you.

  • Sort holidays by type, from family and beach breaks to short escapes and ski holidays.
  • Interest-free finance available on purchases of $999 or more.
  • More than holidays, you can also book tours and cruises with Flight Centre.

Go to Flight Centre website View coupon codes for Flight Centre

2. Nexus Holidays
Low on price and high on quality, Nexus features all-inclusive flight, tour and accommodation packages across Asia, USA and Europe.

For a change of pace, you can also book a cruise, a stopover, sports and even Disney holidays – for the kids, naturally.

  • Local and national guides available to suit larger groups of travellers.
  • Select packages come with international flights while others are tour-only, allowing you flexibility with your travel.
  • Holiday extensions and optional excursions available.

Go to Nexus Holidays website View coupon codes for Nexus Holidays

3. MyBali
MyBaliFocused solely on Bali breaks, MyBali is your one-stop-shop for high-end holiday packages without the high price.

  • Score up to $5,000 in bonus value. This can include wine credit, club entry, welcome drinks and amenities plus food and beverage discounts.
  • All holidays include flights, accommodation and airport transfers.
  • Deals change up often. Bookmark our deals page to keep on top of the best as they come in.

Go to MyBali website View coupon codes for MyBali

4. MyFiji
If you’re keen to hit the beaches and coral-laden waters of Fiji, MyFiji are the holiday experts to hit up for everything from luxe honeymoon packages to family-friendly deals.

  • All packages include flights, nights and airport transfers.
  • Score up to $3,000 in bonuses including wine, dine and spa credit, welcome gifts and exclusive tours.
  • Room upgrades available for a fee.

Go to MyFiji website View coupon codes for MyFiji

Stephanie Yip

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Stef is the Travel Editor at finder.com.au and has been writing about travel for over a decade. She's visited over 50 countries and has had some incredible experiences, including hot air ballooning over Cappadocia, hitchhiking across Romania and seeing the Northern Lights (twice!). And while she’d never say no to a luxury escape, she's far more likely to stretch her travel dollars as far as they can go by keeping her ear to the ground for unbeatable travel bargains. And she'll tell you all about them, too! Stef has had articles featured on Travel Weekly, Escape and Hostelworld.

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