Need a Quick Holiday Getaway? Here Are the Best Places to Go

Is the snow getting you down, or you need to take some time away from your co-workers after the holiday party? Well, here are a few quick getaway ideas that are gorgeous.

London, England

London (Wikimedia Commons)

London is one of Europe’s most festive cities during the holidays. There are markets, lots of fireplaces to cozy up next to, ice skating, and plenty of shopping.

Maui, Hawaii

Maui (Getty Images)

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Need a little sunshine in your life? Head over to Hawaii. Flights are cheap, and if you can swing it, January is the start of whale-watching season. Maui has beautiful golf courses, or you can check out Oahu’s North Shore for surfing and Molokai’s Kahiwa Falls for epic waterfall views.

Tuscany, Italy

Christmas in Florence (Natale Fiorentino 2010/Flickr.)

Traveling with kids? Tuscany is the way to go. There are children-friendly activities, such as Santa Claus’ Village of Montepulciano, which features a Santa Claus castle, a “Toy Factory” exhibit, and, best of all, a mini pony ranch. Not traveling with kids? Tuscany isn’t known for its beauty and wine for no reason.

St. Petersburg, Russia

New Year celebrations at the Palace Square, Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Getty Images)

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St. Petersburg has plenty of historic buildings, snow, and beautiful decorations. According to Jaclyn Sienna India, president and founder of the luxury travel firm Sienna Charles, the city is “incredibly dreamy this time of year.” You can see The Nutcracker at the Mariinsky, which is the theater that hosted the world premiere of the famous show in 1892, or check out the Russian ballet.

Lapland, Finland

Santa Claus rides a reindeer and sled outside Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland. (JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)

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Really feel the holiday spirit by spending time in the arctic circle. Lapland looks just like you would imagine the North Pole to look (it is known as the “Official Hometown of Santa Claus”) and you (or your kids) can meet Santa, some elves, even his reindeer. There are snowmobile safaris, husky rides and “Northern light hunting.”

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague (Getty Image)s

Christmas lights, Gothic architecture, and a huge holiday market in Old Town Square make Prague the perfect holiday destination. Check out a performance at the State Opera or see the Nutcracker at the National Theater.

Hong Kong

Christmas decorations on the facades of the high rises of Hong Kong Island. (Getty Images)

Getty Images

Hong Kong has an amazing “Symphony of Lights Show,” which is a choreographed neon display that’s projected against some of the city’s biggest skyscrapers. You can check them out while on a dinner cruise or at a waterside restaurant. There are also decorations inside the Landmark Mall.

Stockholm, Sweden

Thousands of lights decorate moose statues in Stockholm. Stockholm has lit over 700,000 Christmas lights around the city where 35 streets, squares and marketplaces glistens and glimmers of Santas, moose, stars and other decorations that make the dark season brighter for the Christmas season. (JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)

The city has incredible Christmas markets and beautiful decorations, like the lights you see above. November through March is also the best time to see the northern lights, and through the northern part of the country has better views, you can also see them from the capital.

Malta

Malta (Pixaby)

Give your space heater a break by heading to the Mediterranean island of Malta, where you will find Christmas carolers parading through the streets and temperatures in the low 60s.

Santiago, Chile

View of a Christmas tree in downtown Santiago, Chile. (AFP PHOTO/Claudio Santana)

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The weather in Santiago is perfect during the Christmas season, with warm days and cool nights. You also cannot beat the view of the Andes in Santiago and can head south to see Patagonia.