My top 5 Holiday Destinations for a Family Christmas in the Sun
Mauritius - a Christmas Paradise
December is one of the best months to visit this lush Indian Ocean island. Children can enjoy the wonders of nature – swimming in the lagoons or under waterfalls, studying the coral gardens and exotic fish. There are glass bottom boat trips to be had, an undersea walk as well as The Mauritius Aquarium, hiking in the Casela Nature Park or a visit to the Tamarind Falls, one of the most beautiful places in Mauritius. Temperatures are 29C with eight hours of sunshine per day.
Approx. flight time from UK: 11.5hrs Time difference: UTC +4
Thailand – magical kingdom for families
Thailand has been very popular this year and I have had lots of enquiries to visit over the Christmas period and I’m not surprised. It’s the ideal season to travel between November and April, the heat isn’t too overwhelming, and the rains are less frequent. Children will relish in the mysterious jungles in the north and they will love the endless paradise beaches in the south. If you’re feeling more adventurous visit the Erawan Waterfalls and the caves and subterranean galleries of the Koh Sok national park where the forest – one of the most ancient in the world – conjures up Jurassic Park! Don’t miss a visit to Elephant Hills – Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camp which is easily accessible from popular beach resorts. There are two camps, The Elephant camp and the floating rainforest camp. Two to four-day soft adventure tours are available to book - please contact me for further information.
Approx. flight time from UK: 12hrs. Time difference: UTC +7hrs
Festive Fun in Tenerife
This is a great last-minute choice for late bookings due the high volume of flights and accommodation on offer, ranging from self-catering apartments to all-inclusive five-star luxury hotels that offer a range of water sports, kids clubs and entertainment and mouth-watering menus, so there really is something for everyone. Tenerife is the archipelagos largest islands. There are many scenic beaches, buzzing nightlife and stylish shopping. There are some great parks too to visit with the little ones such as Jungle Park which has birds of Prey, monkeys, caimans, tigers, white lions or The Loro Park, where 3000 parrots live. There’s also an underwater aquarium and an amazing penguinarium!
Flight time from UK: 4hrs. Time difference: standard time UTC +0
Mexico – a Christmas of scenery, colours and sounds
Book an all-inclusive package at one of the luxurious, all-inclusive hotels on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, meaning that you don’t have to worry, and that Christmas is covered, from the food and drinks to family activities and entertainment. Children will love The Olmec, Toltec, Aztec and Maya sites. You can spend a whole day wandering around the biggest – Chichen Itza; Palenque, half swallowed by the jungle or laid-back Tulum. Or swim through the turquoise waters in cenotes (natural wells) and explore the mysterious caves in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula – for older children they also have the opportunity to snorkel among whale sharks off Isla Holbox. A yuletide speciality you can feast on is Tamales, which is made by steaming corn husks or banana leaves containing masa, a maize dough, wrapped around pork or beef
Flight time from UK: 10hrs. Time difference: UTC -7hrs
South Africa
A wonderful atmospheric destination in December with evening carol concerts in Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens and the festive lights in Adderley street. It’s peak season and a busy time to visit. The children will love to try and find the Big Five; rhinoceros, cape buffalo, elephant, leopard and lion. The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve among others, is a particular favourite for families as it offers a chance to see the big five in a virtually malaria-free region. Between June and December, you can also see whales from the beaches or cliff paths in Hermanus and you can find ostriches and loveable meerkats at Oudtshoorn. There’s also lots of water sports offered along the 300km of coastline which is lapped by two different oceans. Certain beaches around Port Elizabeth and Durban are perfect for splashing about in the surf. In Cape Town itself, children can experience Two Oceans aquarium with sharks, seals and penguins; a ride on a camel at Imhoff farm or take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain where you can see the whole town and visit historic sites such as Robben Islands where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned or pay a visit to Victoria falls from a boat, helicopter or micro light! Flight time from UK: 11.5hrs. Time difference: UTC +2