Christmas can be a stressful time, with so many people to see, countless presents to buy and vast amounts of food to eat; if it wasn’t for the prospect of going back to work, most people would be glad when it’s all over.
The thought of getting away from it all and relaxing for a week or two on the beach is usually associated with summer, but an increasing amount of people are choosing to forego the expensive prices and overcrowded tourist destinations of the summer, escape the cold and head for a Christmas break unlike any other.
If spicy, colourful and delicious foods combined with year-round sunshine sounds good to you then Mexico might just be the perfect place for your Christmas break. Mexico holidays aren’t just about relaxing in the warm sunshine with a cerveza though, as Mexico has one of the oldest and richest cultures in the world. Home to famous ancient civilisations such as the Mayans and the Aztecs, Mexico also boasts one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: Chichen Itza.
Meaning ‘at the edge of the Itza’s well’ Chichen Itza is thought to have been built by the Mayan civilisation circa 600 AD and today is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, interest in Chichen Itza’s iconic step pyramid (known as ‘El Castillo’, or ‘The Castle’) was revitalised after being featured on Sky One’s An Idiot Abroad.
While Mexico’s lure lies in its ancient past, the attractions of Dubai holidays are firmly set in the present. With an average December temperature of a balmy 26 degrees C, the world’s tallest buildings and the most luxurious hotels, Dubai is the jewel in the crown of the Middle East.
If staying in what is known as the ‘world’s only seven star hotel’, the Burj al Arab might stretch your purse strings a little too far, Dubai presents plenty of opportunity to put your money to better use. Dubai is quickly earning a reputation as being a shopper’s paradise, with more than 70 individual shopping malls offering everything from designer goods, to gadgets and antiques. And with many boutiques and outlets still firmly set in traditional market selling techniques, haggling for your wares is encouraged, so with a little persuasion and persistence, you might walk away with more than just your Christmas shopping.
While the Middle East is still finding its feet as a popular tourist destination, the Far East’s popularity goes from strength to strength. Whether it’s the Great Wall of China or the Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat, the Far East has always been the West’s definition of exotic. This part of the world's real appeal, however, doesn’t lie in monuments and temples, but in its natural beauty, and nowhere is this more evident than the beaches and desert islands of Thailand.
Thailand has shrugged off the after-effects of war and political trouble to present holidaymakers with one of the most enticing options in the world. With palm tree trimmed beaches, lush jungles and warm, shallow waters teeming with exotic wildlife, Thailand holidays represent the quintessential tropical paradise break. And with December being one of the driest months in Thailand’s calendar, Christmas is the ideal time to go.
Whether you want to snorkel in bays that have inspired depictions of tranquillity for generations, relax on beaches plucked from a daydream or indulge in some of the finest and most popular cuisine in the world, a holiday in Thailand will struggle to disappoint.
Wherever you decide to go if you need a break this Christmas, nothing relieves pre-Christmas stress or post-Christmas blues as much as a healthy dose of sun and relaxation. What better way of contrasting the gloom of grey sleet and pale snow than with a golden tan and a bright smile?