The gift you can't wrap: 7 holiday trips worth giving this year
Real ideas for traveling over the holidays that won’t wreck your budget
Every December, someone at your table says the same thing: “I don't need anything this year.”
And they probably don't need another sweater, kitchen gadget or gift card.
Maybe what they need is to gather around a different table. A few uninterrupted days together. Something to look forward to.
That's a fantastic reason for giving travel this year, whether it's for your spouse, your parents, your grown kids or the whole family. (And yes, you can give it to yourself. I won't tell Santa.)
Christmas and New Year's are popular travel weeks, so I'm not going to pretend there are bargain resorts sitting empty on December 27. But with smart timing and the right destination, there are some fantastic possibilities.
Here are seven I'd seriously consider.
1. Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest by rail
Best for: A European Christmas without multiple flights
Imagine breakfast in Salzburg, then walking to the train station and watching the Austrian countryside pass your window on the way to Vienna. No airport security. No rental car.
I'd plan about three nights each in Salzburg and Vienna, followed by two or three in Budapest.
Along the way:
Explore Salzburg's Old Town and Sound of Music countryside.
Visit Schönbrunn Palace and a grand Viennese coffeehouse.
Take an evening Danube cruise in Budapest.
Soak in one of Budapest's famous thermal baths.
Three cities, three different personalities, connected by train. The transportation becomes part of the adventure.
When I'd go: Mid-December for the fullest Christmas-market experience. If traveling over Christmas or New Year's, I'd plan around the specific market dates.
2. Grindelwald and Switzerland's Jungfrau Region
Best for: Skiers who assume the Swiss Alps are out of reach
Switzerland isn't cheap, but skiing there can cost less than many Americans expect, particularly if you're accustomed to major U.S. ski-resort prices.
I'd stay in Grindelwald, surrounded by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and mix ski days with experiences for everyone:
Ski the Grindelwald-Wengen area.
Ride to Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe."
Go sledding or winter hiking.
Visit the Alpine villages of Wengen or Mürren.
Take a long mountain lunch and simply enjoy the view.
That's a Christmas present nobody will exchange for a different size or color.
When I'd go: Consider the week before Christmas for the snowy Alpine atmosphere with potentially less holiday-week pressure on lodging.
3. Mexico City
Best for: Foodies and travelers who want culture with warmer weather
Mexico City might be the most unexpected choice on this list, which is exactly why I like it.
Mexico's capital offers colorful neighborhoods, ancient history, world-class museums and food worth planning a day around. If you're in the western U.S., nonstop flights from Salt Lake City make it surprisingly accessible.
Spend your days exploring:
Chapultepec Park and the National Museum of Anthropology
Roma Norte and Condesa
The ancient pyramids of Teotihuacán with a local guide
Markets, food tours and perhaps a cooking experience
Then leave an afternoon empty. Find churros. Wander into a bakery. Follow your nose to dinner.
When I'd go: Early to mid-December for more pricing flexibility, although Christmas week can certainly work with advance planning.
4. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Best for: Families ready to trade snow boots for sandals
Sometimes the best Christmas vacation doesn't need to be complicated. Sometimes it needs to be sunshine.
Nonstop flights from Salt Lake City make Puerto Vallarta particularly practical for Utah travelers, and December brings warm weather plus the return of humpback whales to Banderas Bay.
Choose one or two adventures:
Go whale watching.
Zipline through the jungle.
Take a boat trip to the Marietas Islands.
Explore downtown Puerto Vallarta and Zona Romántica.
Walk the Malecón at sunset.
Give yourself an entire day when the biggest decision is beach or pool.
When I'd go: Earlier December offers more flexibility. Christmas through New Year's is peak season, so plan ahead.
5. Charleston, South Carolina
Best for: A charming U.S. holiday getaway
Charleston doesn't need snow to look good at Christmas.
Think historic homes dressed in greenery, church steeples above old streets and enough excellent food to make stretchy pants feel like an important packing decision.
Stay near the historic district and explore much of the city on foot. Take a history or food tour, walk Rainbow Row and the Battery, browse Charleston City Market or add a harbor cruise.
Don't forget to leave time for just being there.
Charleston is better when you have time for a long lunch and an aimless walk past its gardens, porches and historic homes.
When I'd go: Throughout December. It's especially good for a four- or five-night U.S. getaway.
6. Sedona, Arizona
Best for: Families who would rather spend the airfare money on the vacation
Sedona has one enormous advantage if you live in the western U.S.: you can drive.
Instead of buying holiday airfare for the entire family, load the car and head south toward Arizona's red-rock country.
Once there:
Hike among the red rocks.
Take a guided Jeep adventure.
Go horseback riding or biking.
Book a spa afternoon.
Browse galleries and shops.
Watch the sunset, then stay outside for Sedona's spectacular night sky.
Choose a condo, casita or resort where hanging out feels like part of the vacation (I can help you with that).
When I'd go: Anytime in December. Earlier in the month has more holiday events; Christmas week is about scenery, outdoor adventures and time together.
7. Victoria, British Columbia
Best for: A quieter holiday getaway
Not every Christmas vacation needs to be an adventure.
Victoria is a more laid-back choice: harbor walks, historic architecture, afternoon tea and evenings when putting on a warm coat and wandering around sounds like a perfectly good plan.
Stay near the Inner Harbour and:
Explore downtown Victoria and Chinatown.
Have afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress.
Visit Craigdarroch Castle.
Spend an evening at The Butchart Gardens' Magic of Christmas.
Picture parents, grandparents and grandchildren walking through the illuminated gardens together, stopping for something warm before heading back into Victoria for dinner.
When I'd go: Christmas through early January is especially appealing because Butchart Gardens' holiday celebration traditionally continues beyond December 25.
Which holiday trip fits you?
For snow and skiing, choose Switzerland. For a big European Christmas, take the train from Salzburg to Vienna and Budapest. For warm weather, head to Puerto Vallarta. For food and culture, try Mexico City. For an easy U.S. city escape, choose Charleston. For a road trip from Utah, head to Sedona. And for a slower getaway, consider Victoria.
There isn't one best Christmas vacation. There's the one that fits your people.
Maybe this year's gift doesn't need a bow
Think back five Christmases. Can you remember everything you received? I know I can't.
But the Christmas you spent skiing in the Swiss Alps? Riding a train across Austria? Whale watching in Mexico? Walking through Christmas lights in Butchart Gardens with your grandchildren? Those become stories.
That's what I like about giving travel. You're not really giving someone a hotel room or plane ticket. You're giving your family time together and something to look forward to.
Maybe your trip is Switzerland. Maybe it's a road trip to Sedona. Maybe it's four nights in Charleston with one fabulous food tour and plenty of time to wander.
The trick is choosing the trip that fits your family, your budget and the way you actually like to travel.
Because the best holiday gift may be the one you can't wrap at all.
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