Christmas holiday inspiration needed!

[Winterwanderings]

It looks like it will just be the three of us at home this Christmas as two of my children will be away travelling. So my husband, myself and my 20 year old son.

I do enjoy parts of Christmas at home although struggle after a few days due to the darkness (we’re in Scotland). I’m a teacher so get two weeks holiday.

I’m looking for inspiration of where to go for a week maximum. My son has university exams in January do we don’t want to be away too long.

Any thoughts? I’m quite open minded but prefer off the beaten track places. Thanks!

At that time of the year I’d want sun and to relax , maybe Cape Verde

Oh that’s a good idea. I’ll take a look.

Glasgow has flights to Barbados. I’d stay in Oistins as it’s a nice town quite close to the airport.

New York? Extremely busy but good fun over Christmas
Iceland? Hire a car and make the most of the stunning scenery
Quebec City

For sunnier places:
South Africa
Thailand
Dubai
Goa
Cambodia/Vietnam

Barbados is great at Christmas, and easy flights from the UK
Also had some good shorter trips in Malta
Off the beaten track, Ghana is my favorite country I've visited recently

NYC is awful during Xmas and new year. People pushing and shoving.

Lots of interesting ideas here, thanks . Saving the Far East and India for another time when we have longer. Barbados is a thought but the jet lag puts me off a bit, having said that at least my son will be up at a reasonable time! Fancying Africa-Gambia/Ghana….

Fly to Salzburg and book a nice hotel in a nearby ski resort with a wellness spa, pool etc for Christmas. The Christmas week is actually usually fairly quiet and affordable (the big week is the New Year week) but hotels always do great Austrian Christmas dinners on 24th Dec.

Even if you don't ski - although you might want to give it a go - there is walking through the crisp snow, snow-shoe hikes to mountain huts, horse-drawn sleigh rides, cake, gluhwein etc. and you can always take a day trip to Salzburg for the markets, decorated streets and to satisfy your inner "Sound of Music" craving.

We go to Southern Spain for 3+ weeks over Christmas and New Year. I know you want off the main drag place, but hear me out. We stay in Estepona, have a look, it's very nice and no all day breakfasts and beer at all. Easy to get to places in the hills if you want.

However, for a week I'd probably stay in Malaga city. Very easy to get to from UK (if that's where you are based!), and opportunities to go to Cordoba, Granada and the Caminito del Rey (have a look), all accessible by train or coach from central Malaga so no driving (you can have Rioja instead!). The city of Malaga is brilliant and vibrant with plenty to do, or not! Easy access from airport too. Weather has been very pleasant over the last few years, not boiling but very nice and the longer days are so uplifting since darkness is around 6pm.