Christmas holiday - Lapland or NYC?

[Holibobby]

I am a single parent to my 10 yr old DD, I want to make Christmas extra special this year. My DD is hugely into Home Alone movies, and big cities and is desperate to go over to the states - so I'm thinking NYC a week before Xmas for 4 nights. The other option would be lapland - and this may probably be the last year of believing.

Which would you pick?

well it sounds like she would appreciate NYC more so I’d do that

imm sure Lapland will be fun but I reckon peak age is 3-8

I think a trip to New York City would be absolutely amazing at Christmas! She will absolutely love it and you can make it as corny as you like.

NY now and save Lapland for a couple of years and then go in February half term - way cheaper but still all the best bits with reindeer rides, huskies etc. We went when DDs were 7 and 10 and although they still believed in Father Christmas the meeting him part they were least interested in, wish I’d known then about a Feb trip option instead!

Also we booked our Lapland trip a year ahead so you may find that it would be difficult to find availability for this December….

@BadgerFace February Lapland is something I'm looking into (but having difficulty finding anyone who flies from Newcastle). Did you book it DIY or go with a company? If company, which one and would you recommend them?

They are two extremes of a holiday - a big city break or the middle of nowhere with lots of sledging, snow and a much slower pace

I’d be opting for Lapland personally but it is really down to you. Do you want a city break or a snowy holiday that’s a bit more rural with a few shops/restaurants etc

We did a Christmas trip with Magic of Lapland who were very pricy but excellent. The accomodation was 2 or 3 bed cottages in the woods and total capacity as only about 40 people rather than being in a big hotel. It was right by a frozen lake and all the activities were on site so no coach journeys once there.

The only downside for us was no choice at dinner as it was a small venue rather than hotel and I have fussy eaters but I took loads of snacks and the bread and butter and dessert generally did the trick. Totally magical experience, just in a different way to what I had anticipated!

I personally wouldn't touch the US at all for the forseeable future, with martial law in DC, I wonder what comes next.

NY at Christmas is very expensive, look up hotel costs now and at least double them if you can't get a quote for December. DH often travelled to the US and they did everything to avoid Thanksgiving to mid January because of costs.

Lapland - can be amazing even if they don't believe but I would then sell it without the man in red.

If you want a big going away and snow, you could look into Canada.

NYC the teens loved it and I travel in and out of the US all time so ignore the people worried about it. What I will
say is it can be bloody freezing that time of year, the wind whistles down the streets but wrap up warm, magical.