The holidays can be a blast when you’re surrounded by kids who still put out cookies for Santa or grandparents who know that the best stocking stuffers are $50 bills. All isn’t lost, however, if you’ve got no family on Christmas. Say goodbye to the stress of buying gifts for your great-aunt who hates everything and say hello to the prospect of showing up to work in January with a tan. If you’re not sure what to do on Christmas without family, here are some ideas that might tempt you to erase yourself from the family tree once and for all!
Hola, Havana!
Cuba might not be your first thought when it comes to a tropical trip, but it should be. Havana offers the best of everything you might want on an indulgent Christmas getaway. There are cheap cigars on every corner, rum distilleries on nearly every street, incredible architecture, and some of the best nightlife imaginable. Havana’s clubs are known the world over for impressive live music and nonstop dancing until the early hours of the morning, so brush up on your salsa moves before you book your flight.
Christmas in Costa Rica
If you’re looking for a trip that lets you celebrate Christmas without family drama, pack up and treat yourself to a getaway in Costa Rica. Warm weather, sunshine, and amazing beaches are a given, but this is ultimately a destination where you can branch out and try something new. Take surfing lessons, zipline through the rainforest, or get a scuba diving certification as your Christmas gift to yourself. You deserve it after dealing with all that family drama from Thanksgiving!
Pack For Punta Cana
Christmas can be a time to indulge, but it can also be a time to scrimp and scout out the cheapest prices for your tropical vacation. Even if Santa should put you on the financially naughty list for the year, you can still set off on a warm getaway without blowing your budget. All-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, are the ultimate way to get everything you need for a single price. Flights to the Dominican Republic are cheap and quick from most Eastern U.S. destinations, and the all-inclusive deal means you can relax on the beach, soak up the sun, and drink as many fruity cocktails on Christmas Day as you want. No judging parents and no big bar tab means that this is a clear winner for any Christmas vacation.
Shake it up in Sharm el-Sheikh
Haven’t heard of Sharm el-Sheikh? You’re not alone, but you’re definitely missing out. Believe it or not, this is the Cancun of Egypt, and it is where countless Europeans flock each winter to get their tan on while most of Europe is still covered in a blanket of snow. Sharm el-Sheikh is known as a mecca for scuba-diving fans, but it is also just a place where you can work hard on turning your pale winter skin at least two shades darker. Best of all, accommodation is insanely cheap, which means that you can score a luxury room in an opulent hotel for the same price as that smelly motel close to Grandma’s house where you normally stay at Christmas.
Christmas doesn’t have to be a time when you get into a fight about politics over turkey. Trade the drama for airline miles and escape to one of these tropical destinations for the holidays.
