Compare Christmas and New Year holidays

For a hot Christmas, head to the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean islands such as Mauritius or the Maldives or, closer to home, spots such as Morocco or the Canary Islands. Hot destinations in December include Thailand or Goa which are toasty warm into the late 20°Cs and early 30°Cs, while short-haul destinations are a little cooler.

Yes, the majority of hotels will be open as normal during Christmas and New Year, and some might have special events on to help make your celebrations special such as gala dinners or live performances. However, it’s always worth checking what’s happening and which facilities are open at the hotel you’re considering before you book.

In the UK, there are three bank holidays over Christmas for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Many schools will close for two weeks over the festive period. In 2026, UK schools tend to close on December 18 and re-open on January 4 – but always check exact dates with your child’s school as they can vary.

Warm European destinations that are great for a Christmas holiday include the Canary Islands, parts of southern Spain, Malta and Portugal. Temperatures tend to be in the high teens to early 20°Cs meaning al-fresco meals, beach days and outdoor adventures will be high on your agenda.

The best Christmas markets include Krakow, Prague, Vienna and Munich where there’s festive fun and tempting stalls to eat, drink and shop at. In Krakow, shop for traditional hand-painted Christmas baubles, look out for live performances at Prague’s Christmas market, cross your fingers for snow in Vienna, and embrace the Christmas cheer under Munich’s 25-metre-high Christmas tree with 3,000 candles.

The best city breaks at Christmas include New York, Paris, Brussels, Prague and Barcelona. New York will have dazzling window displays and ice-rinks, the trees on the Champs-Elysées in Paris will be wrapped in lights, Brussels holds a sound and light show every evening in Grand-Place, Prague has excellent Christmas shows and Barcelona is likely to have blue skies.

For warm winter sun over Christmas and New Year, top destinations include the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean with temperatures around 25°C to 30°C in destinations such as Aruba, Barbados, the Maldives and Mauritius. When it comes to short-haul stops, the Canary Islands, Madeira and southern Andalusia, Spain, are some of the warmest with temperatures ranging from 17°C to 22°C.

Many countries in the Southern Hemisphere and near the equator celebrate Christmas during their warm summer months, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil. Spend Christmas day on the beach with a picnic or a barbecue. For milder winter sun, the Canary Islands are your closest warm weather Christmas.

Yes, holiday deals are usually more expensive over Christmas, particularly for departures around Christmas Day and New Year and in the school holidays. With many people enjoying time off, demand is much higher than at other times of the year, driving prices upwards. However, it’s possible to find better-value deals by travelling earlier in December or being flexible with your departure dates.

Yes, you can still find last-minute Christmas holiday deals, but availability may be limited and prices aren’t guaranteed to be lower. Popular destinations and family-friendly resorts can sell out quickly, so being flexible about where you go, your departure airport and travel dates can give you more options when searching for a last-minute escape.

All-inclusive holidays can be good value over Christmas, particularly for families and travellers who want to know the majority of their costs upfront. Meals, drinks and selected activities are usually included, which can make budgeting easier during a busy period. Compare the full package price with other board options to see which offers the best value for your trip.