21 unusual Christmas travel ideas for every kind of traveler

A couples escape, a family holiday or a cliche-free solo trip – here's a selection of our favorite quirky Christmas getaway ideas for a not-so-ordinary holiday season.
Because if you don't bring the Christmas spirit in your heart, you won't find it on your travels, even if you venture as far as Lapland.
Plus, if the legend is true, Santa will find you wherever you are.

This list will guide you through all the cool and unusual things you can do this Christmas. We encourage you to find the ones that resonate best with your traveler's soul:

Sand, heat, camels: this image is the antithesis of every stereotypical Christmas card. So if you're looking to do something different, why not head straight to the nearest desert? It doesn't need to be a rough experience – you can stay in a luxury tent.


A luxury tent at Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan | Christian Piatt/Flickr

This short video says it all in a very inspirational way:



Less Traffic, More Trips from Moment on Vimeo.

Cover yourself in a dollar-store Santa costume and stir up a little holiday confusion on the slopes of your favorite ski resort.

If you have kids, make them build the igloo while you prepare the dinner. Bring candles, warm blankets and woolen socks for everyone.

We're not suggesting just any old road trip; for this challenge, you need to decorate the car. Head somewhere that's open on Christmas Day, like a nature park or the historical center of a nearby city.

Book a ticket on the nearest available cruise and sail the holiday season away. Or, if you'd rather travel under your own steam, swap the cruise ship for a kayak.

Head to Guatemala, Colombia, Venice, Thailand or anywhere with colors more vivid than a photoshopped image.


Guatemala | Ronald Cuyan/Unsplash

There is nothing like immersing yourself in an open-air mineral pool in the winter. You'll feel like you're cheating nature as you watch snowflakes falling from above while you soak in warm mineral water, not caring about tiny details like weather forecasts or temperatures more suited to polar bears… Bring hot drinks with you.