Have you ever dreamt of a sunny Christmas? You could wake up Christmas morning to a sun-kissed beach and swap roaring log fires for festive palm trees!
After a year where everything we know went out the window, spending Christmas somewhere new could be the perfect way to see out 2020. The countries below are currently on the UK Travel Corridor list meaning you don't need to self-isolate on your return to the UK, plus there is no quarantine when you arrive. Although they do have entry requirements such as a negative PCR test, you can carry on your festivities as soon as you arrive and make new traditions that involve a barbie on the beach and lathering the sun cream rather than remembering to defrost the turkey and whacking the heating up full blast!
1.Dubai
Dubai doesn't do things by halves, especially when it comes to Christmas. The restaurants here go all out to keep the festive spirit going, with many undergoing a magical makeover that looks like they're straight from the Alps in the form of cosy ski chalets under twinkling lights. You can still take part in traditional festivities when you head to Souk Madinat Jumeirah's Festive Garden where there will be live entertainment, outdoor movie screens, workshops for children and Santa's grotto so you can still get in those extra additions to your Christmas list. You can't go to Dubai and not take part in an infamous brunch, especially when this time of year you can expect al fresco dining decorated in the full Christmas get up, plus carol singers and live cooking stations. If that doesn't bring the festive cheer, then head to the indoor ski resort and carve up the slopes or marvel at the incredible 40ft Christmas tree!
2. The Maldives
An idyllic way to spend Christmas, The Maldives is the perfect backdrop for a festive fairytale. Choose to celebrate with the resort you're staying on where private and exclusive parties are the norm, or perhaps kick back and relax over the water in your bungalow where you can swap snow showers for shawls of fish. Roast turkey and crispy potatoes might be too heavy in the heat of the Maldives so why not opt for a truly authentic Maldivian Christmas dinner of Fihun mas, basted fish in chilli that's cooked on the barbeque.
3. The UK
If you don't want to travel abroad for Christmas, you can still get away and enjoy a staycation! Possibly one of the most popular ways to holiday this year (not that we had a choice), a staycation still provides the same joy as jumping on a plane. There might not be warm temperatures, but there's still plenty of fun to have. Opt for a Christmas cottage in a quaint village, like the one we all dream about from The Holiday, or perhaps a lodge with hot tub to enjoy a well-deserved break. You'll have to swap bathing suits for welly boots but you can bask in that crisp cool air on a country walk before heading back to your home-away-from-home and battle it out over a game of monopoly!
4. Madeira
Recently implemented by the 'Safe and Clean' label by the Portuguese National Tourist Office, Madeira is a perfect place for your Christmas holiday. You can visit one of the 'Best Sunny Christmas Markets in Europe' and stock up on tinsel trinkets as well as local crafts and Madeira wine. The locals go all out making it one of the best times of the year to visit. Funchal's Christmas lights made the Guinness Book of World Records and are some of the most extravagant in the world. Shop like a local on December 23rd, known as Market night and bask in the hustle and bustle while folk bands keep the sound of Christmas alive.
