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I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

There’s meant to be no place like home at Christmas time, but tap those heels three times and I’ll take you to our top 5 winter wonderlands. I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, a place where there’s no fly swatting, I get a snow tan instead of a sun tan and the weather permits getting dressed head to toe in festive attire (not a bikini in sight!).

Any old town can pop up a Christmas tree and string a few lights along, but few places go all out to create that Christmas magic. Here’s our top 5 destinations that trump the rest:

New York City

NYC collage

In NYC, you’ll be rockin around the Rockefella Christmas tree, the centre of New York’s holiday celebrations. This tree is the real deal and towers up to 85 feet, sparkling in 45,000 LED lights and a 9.5 foot Swarovski star! We predict oodles of festive selfies, with half a million merry makers passing by daily (get your stick out).

It’s the time of year where it’s absolutely acceptable to be a glutton, but when you feel like you should be rolling along, get moving and go gliding on the ice instead. The best place to skate in NYC is no other than Central Park, which has two frozen ponds for skating. Take a breather afterwards and saddle up in a horse drawn carriage to whisk you along the park paths. Bucket list ✓

No trip to NYC is complete without hitting up the iconic Macy’s superstore. As well as picking up unreal sales from boxing day (a girls gotta rug up in the cold right ;)) they also have Santaland. Santaland is an artificial North Pole village, beaming with live elves, an enchanted forest, animated displays and a large train.

If, after all of this your glass of milk is still only half full of festive cheer, duck out onto 34th Street and if you’re lucky you could witness a Christmas miracle 😉

Hot tip: Santaland draws big crowds which can see you wait for hours. We recommend signing up for an express pass on Macy’s website up to 48 hours before you arrive and you’ll only have to wait 15 mins.

London

London collage

It’s handy that most of London’s top tourist attractions are the locations that celebrate Christmas with all the trimmings, making it super easy for you to see and do it all.

Here are a few must dos;

  • Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland
  • Go ice-skating at one of six rinks in the city, our pick is Somerset House.
  • Harrods department store lights up with Christmas decorations inside and out, with post-Christmas sales taking the festive joy into the New Year 😉
  • Regent St, Oxford Street and Carnaby St all sparkle with pretty street ornaments styled perfectly (just like their retail stores).
  • Munch on roasted chestnuts and hot mulled English cider at Borough Market.
  • Grab your friends, get santafied, then take part in the annual Santacon, where thousands of santas ho-ho-hope to make everyone as merry as can be by spreading the ‘festive spirit’ (naughty & nice gestures get the most lol’s). All festival participants then meet together for a large Christmas parade.
Our UK Product Manager, Alex is hiding in these merry makers ☺

Our UK Product Manager, Alex is hiding in these merry makers ☺

Our UK Product Manager, Alex is hiding in these merry makers J

Amsterdam

According to elves whispers Saint Nicholas aka. Santa, was born not far from Amsterdam, so you can expect Christmas greatness from this place. Amsterdam claims it has the largest Saint Nicholas parade in the world with more than 1km of floats and boats. From the Christmas Tree at Dam Square, to the frosty canals that reflect the festive lights- Amsterdayyuuum you’re fine at Christmas! 😉

Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland.

Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland.

Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland.

Rovaniemi, cosies up to the Arctic Circle border and being so close to the North Pole, might just be Santa’s home

Rovaniemi has two big draw cards; the Santa Claus Village and Santa Park, which give visitors tours of ‘Santa’s workshops’, close encounters with reindeer, sleigh rides and even a Santa dedicated post office.

Vienna

Vienna collage

Picture the most elegant Christmas markets at the base of illuminated historical building; this is the scene you’ll be met with in Vienna*.

 The city hall square has a Christmas tree towering over these traditional markets that date back to 1298 and are filled with stalls that sell handmade Christmas baubles, an army of nutcracker dolls and finger food with gluhwein (spiced mulled wine). The markets are alive with the sound of music, as you weave through the stalls ‘The Vienna Boys Choir’ chimes through the air, the first three notes just happen to be Do-Re-Mi …

*Vienna is a green light for Sound of Music puns – #sorrynotsorry

 Out of all of these detinations, if you could have just one white Christmas, where’s your pick?

 




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