BY JOANNE SASVARI
How to get out of town and make this the most wonderful time of your year.
For me, travelling at Christmas used to mean flying across the country to visit family, white-knuckling it through blizzards and endless lineups, lugging giant suitcases full of gifts and coming back to work more exhausted than when I left.
Not this year. This year, my family has their own plans, so I’m going to take my carry-on and a credit card and go somewhere just for fun. But where?
“First and foremost, it would depend on what you want to do,” says Cathy Scott, the “chief exploration officer” of Departures Travel. “Do you want a beach-resort experience or do you hate hot weather and just want to see pretty lights?”
That’s a good question, but it’s not the only one. There are logistics involved in holiday travel that are different from other times of the year. Here’s what to consider when planning your holiday escape.
The Crowds
The good news is that, for the most part, Christmas is low (or at least lower) season for leisure and business travellers. The bad news? It’s high season for everyone else.
It’s the time of year when families want to be together, and they’re all trying to get home at the same time, which is why the Friday before Christmas is typically the single busiest travel day of the year in Canada.
In 2023, the number of people travelling during the holidays had almost caught up to pre-pandemic levels; this year, it’s likely to be even higher. So pack your patience — and definitely plan ahead.
“Flights — book as soon as you can because rates are not going to get any cheaper,” Scott says. Same with accommodation. Also, she says, “Do not check a bag in. Carry on. This is high season for flying, and bags get lost left, right and centre. And make sure to get super good travel insurance.”
Some destinations will be busier than others. “A lot of destinations like Mexican and Hawaiian resorts are extremely busy and really expensive,” Scott says. On the other hand, big international cities are “going to be busy, but not as busy as summertime. Especially places like Rome, Barcelona, Paris — they’re so touristed out [in summer], but in the slower season they can use more visitors.”
You can, of course, avoid the crowds entirely by heading to a smaller, less popular and more remote destination, but just beware that many businesses in those places close for the winter season, including hotels, restaurants and attractions.
The Weather
If you’ve ever been trapped for hours on the tarmac at Toronto Pearson while your Airbus A330 is being de-iced, you know that the other big variable in winter is the weather.
In 2022, a major snowstorm during Christmas week disrupted travel plans for thousands of people all the way from B.C. to Newfoundland. Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled, roads were closed and a plethora of mechanical issues, poor communication and mishandled luggage just made everything worse.
Since then, the country’s major airports have invested heavily in de-icing and snow-removal equipment as well as better technology for tracking luggage, among other things. But the fact remains: Winter weather will always be a thing in Canada.
And it’s not just us. With a changing climate, weather is unpredictable everywhere right now. Keep that in mind when planning your journey. Be prepared, be flexible, carry good travel insurance and don’t check a bag if you can avoid it. Speaking of which …
The Packing
One of the things that makes December travel so difficult is that everyone is carrying so much stuff with them, from skis to gifts to party clothes.
Unless you have a very specific event to dress for — a wedding, say, especially if you’re the bride or groom — you need far fewer clothes than you think you do. Think: layering, simplicity and multi-purpose garments. Jeans are not, generally, your best travel friend, but a little black dress can go almost anywhere, and so can a nice pair of white sneakers. Wear your bulkiest clothes on the flight and consider a lightweight puffer jacket, which can squish down to almost nothing and double as a pillow if you need it. And don’t forget — you can always buy clothes in the destination you’re visiting, and bring home a good story as well.
Pro tip: Invest in a really good quality rollaboard suitcase and embrace a minimalist fashion esthetic. Packing cubes like the award-winning compression ones from Vancouver-based Monos will keep everything organized and let you fit more into small spaces.
As for gifts, remember: Good things come in small packages, and gift cards take up even less room. Alternatively, you can check unwrapped presents (as long as they’re not breakable) or ship them ahead of time.
“I certainly wouldn’t take a big bag of big gifts,” Scott says. Besides, she notes, unless you’re bringing someone a regional specialty like smoked salmon, “You can get anything you can get here anywhere else.”
The Holiday
One of the best reasons to travel in December is to take part in the events your destination has planned around the holidays, such as Christmas markets, festivals, fairs and parades, as well as concerts and theatrical performances. There are also traditional foods, beautiful light displays and sparkly decorations to enjoy. It is, for sure, a special time.
But the holiday itself might be a bit more challenging.
Some destinations have public events that you can join in — midnight mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome (well, Vatican City to be precise) or Junkanoo in the Bahamas or Jamaica — but not all festivities are open to tourists. Be respectful of that, and plan your own celebration.
Also recognize that many restaurants, shops and other businesses may be closed on December 24 and 25, so you will either have to book well ahead of time or make alternative plans. This is where staying in a short-term rental is a good idea. At the very least, you can purchase some festive food and wine and have a cozy night in.
The Destination
So, where to go?
Scott likes the idea of taking a boutique cruise to a destination that might be a little less busy this time of year, like the trip she took to Antarctica over Christmas a couple of years ago. “It was phenomenal,” she says. She also suggests booking a short-term rental somewhere like Portugal, Spain or other popular destinations that are much less over-touristed in winter.
Me, I’m still deciding, but with a whole wide world to choose from, I know this truly will be the most wonderful time of the year.
3 Great Holiday Getaways
Sure, you can do the typical sun-beach-sand trip to a tropical resort, but there are other places to enjoy the holiday season, starting with these three.
Vancouver
Go for: The food, especially the exceptional Asian cuisine, and the outdoor activities, including the three ski hills in town (Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour, Cypress Mountain) as well as Whistler-Blackcomb and Sasquatch Mountain Resort within a two-hour drive.
Get festive: Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park; VanDusen Festival of Lights; skating at Robson Square; Vancouver Christmas Market; PNE Winter Fair.
Info: destinationvancouver.com, hellobc.com
Mexico City
Go for: The history, culture, art, architecture and beautiful parks, plus epic parties, feasts and events from the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (December 12) right through to Three Kings Day (January 6).
Get festive: Candlelit processions, dancing and fireworks; festive lights and outdoor skating in the Zócalo; living nativity scenes along the Pasea de la Reforma (Avenue); the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe; piñatas, so many piñatas.
Info: visit-mexico.mx
Italy
Go for: The culture, food, fashion, history and la dolce vita, which is at its sweetest this time of year. Plus, it’s just … Italy.
Get festive: Midnight mass on December 24; Christmas markets including the epic one in Rome’s Piazza Navona; Fiera Degli Oh Bej! Oh Bej! in Milan; beautiful lights and nativity scenes; visits from Babbo Natale (Italy’s Santa); panettone vs pandoro.
Info: italia.it