Help me decide where to go for Christmas

[sarahsays]

We have been thinking of traveling over Christmas break this year, but I don't know where we should go. Please give me your recommendations

Useful information:
We live in CT and can fly out of New York, Boston, Providence, Hartford, Newark
Length of trip: 7-8 days (leaving 12/24 or 12/25 and returning 1/1 or 1/2)
Airfare/accommodation budget of 2.5k (we are airbnb fans which usually helps keep the accommodation cost down)
Childfree
My H is not a lay on the beach kind of guy, so a city would be best

[goldengirlz]

Two follow-ups:

Do you want it to be “Christmasy?” Do you prefer warm (at least warmer) weather?

I think flight prices are going to be your most limiting factor here. I like Google Flights for inspiration. Input your dates and home airport and it gives you airfare for destinations around the world. That’s how we ended up in Colombia earlier this year and it was totally not on my radar but totally amazing!!

[sarahsays]

Sept 28, 2018 12:21:59 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Two follow-ups:

Do you want it to be “Christmasy?” Do you prefer warm (at least warmer) weather?

I think flight prices are going to be your most limiting factor here. I like Google Flights for inspiration. Input your dates and home airport and it gives you airfare for destinations around the world. That’s how we ended up in Colombia earlier this year and it was totally not on my radar but totally amazing!!

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No preference on Christmas-y or the weather really. I will check out Google Flights tip!

[goldengirlz]

My sleeper choice is always Panama. Looks like you could fly there from NY relatively cheaply.

I’ve heard great things about Mexico City but not sure if December is a good time to go. Obviously we loved Cartagena, which I mentioned above.

Domestically, I’d look at Southern California and New Orleans. If you ski, maybe Colorado? That’s one of the most expensive ski weeks though (right up there with President’s Day week.)

[wildrice]

I have no idea if it will fit your budget (probably depends on deals on flights) but if I was traveling over Christmas, I'd go to Budapest and Vienna. I had started planning a trip to do this last year, and we decided against it, but I think some year we probably will. There are lots of Christmas markets and lights and other festive things going on in both places and it just sounds magical. I think you could either pick one of the two or hit both. My idea was to spend a few days in each.

[rupertpenny]

I would also start with flights. Sky scanner is a good resource, in addition to google flights.

We went to Rome and Florence during that time period several years ago and had a great time. The weather was cool yet pleasant and NYE in Florence was really fun.

[jennybee1018]

Sept 28, 2018 18:42:25 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I have no idea if it will fit your budget (probably depends on deals on flights) but if I was traveling over Christmas, I'd go to Budapest and Vienna. I had started planning a trip to do this last year, and we decided against it, but I think some year we probably will. There are lots of Christmas markets and lights and other festive things going on in both places and it just sounds magical. I think you could either pick one of the two or hit both. My idea was to spend a few days in each.

I will second Vienna. It's one of my favorite cities in general, but even more so in the winter. If you decide you do want Christmas-y, it is one of the best places to be in December. The city is all lit up, there are markets everywhere and it's just super festive. I love it and have been there twice at Christmas and hope to go back again soon!!!

[bellalynn]

We loved Aruba Christmas Day.

[raleighnc]

Sept 30, 2018 1:28:47 GMT -5 jennybee1018 said:

Sept 28, 2018 18:42:25 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I have no idea if it will fit your budget (probably depends on deals on flights) but if I was traveling over Christmas, I'd go to Budapest and Vienna. I had started planning a trip to do this last year, and we decided against it, but I think some year we probably will. There are lots of Christmas markets and lights and other festive things going on in both places and it just sounds magical. I think you could either pick one of the two or hit both. My idea was to spend a few days in each.

I will second Vienna. It's one of my favorite cities in general, but even more so in the winter. If you decide you do want Christmas-y, it is one of the best places to be in December. The city is all lit up, there are markets everywhere and it's just super festive. I love it and have been there twice at Christmas and hope to go back again soon!!!

This sounds amazing.

[wise_rita]

It's really late to be deciding this now!

Whenever I've bit the bullet and traveled over Christmas I've booked by August at the latest.

Before you book flights make sure you're able to get the hotels/activities you want at that destination.

[sarahsays]

Sept 30, 2018 17:41:49 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

It's really late to be deciding this now!

Whenever I've bit the bullet and traveled over Christmas I've booked by August at the latest.

Before you book flights make sure you're able to get the hotels/activities you want at that destination.

Yeah, it is a last minute-ish decision.

I'm not set on any one location so we will likely go wherever fits in our budget and we can get into things we want to do.