Christmas getaways for a unique festive season with (or without) the family

Santa Claus can't be the only one that gets to travel for Christmas! We've picked the best Christmas getaway destinations to make the most of the festive season.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way… to a holiday. Christmas is a wonderful time of year that brings families together and puts smiles on children’s faces, but it can also be a stressful time that makes you crave a holiday. So, why not head off on a Christmas getaway?

Send your Merry Christmas text messages from the comfort of a sun lounger on the beach, an in-room Jacuzzi or even from a cool cafe in a city you’ve been meaning to visit and explore. So if you’ve been contemplating where to go for Christmas, let us tempt you with some amazing hotel experiences for a memorable festive season.

Christmas getaways around Australia

If you don’t want to stray too far from home, a Christmas staycation might be right up your alley. If family tradition is unbreakable, these Australian destinations will have you spending Christmas Eve with the nieces and nephews and Christmas Day at a holiday spot of your choosing.

The classic Christmas getaway (in the Southern Hemisphere, at least) is somewhere by the beach. Stroll along one of the serene beaches of Byron Bay or pick a spot along the NSW South Coast for catching a tan and some waves.

Or maybe you want to stray away from the classic East Coast and head to the tranquil West. Whether it be Margaret River, Fremantle or even Broome, the warm waters of the Indian will ease any Christmas shopping stresses that are still lingering in your muscles.

Why not utilise the Christmas break for a bit of urban exploration? Be a culture vulture in Melbourne and spend your afternoons at Federation Square, the National Gallery of Victoria or do a spot of Boxing Day shopping down at Melbourne Central.

For an extravagant week off, combine your Christmas getaway and New Year’s Eve with a trip to Sydney. Explore Circular Quay or better yet, climb the Sydney Harbour days before it becomes part of one of the biggest fireworks spectacles in the world.

Christmas family holidays

Even though you might be tempted to head off on a Christmas holiday all by your lonesome for some ‘me time’, there are some pretty cool places to visit with the family in tow.

If you’re keen on finally experiencing a traditional White Christmas, why not take the family to Europe. If heading to the Lapland for a real taste of Christmas spirit is a bit out of reach, London‘s Winter Wonderland is a lovely alternative to get the kids in the Christmas spirit.

Or, head off on a family break to the Big Apple for a Hollywood blockbuster-style December trip. You and the family can recreate scenes from Home Alone 2 (but don’t forget any of the kids at home) and explore the sights and sounds of New York City. Make sure to visit the famous Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Centre or book tickets to watch the Nutcracker for a classic NYC Christmas.

If you’ve spent quite a lot of money on Christmas presents and are trying to figure where to go for Christmas with the family without the need for a passport, there are some pretty great kid-friendly hotels and experiences around the country that will make your time away memorable.

Christmas getaways for couples

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a kiss under the mistletoe or better yet, heading off one of these Christmas getaways for couples.

If you think your partner would prefer you gift them a trip away instead of a new pair of socks, why not book yourselves in at an adults-only resort. Soak up the sun in Port Douglas or surround yourself in nature in the Blue Mountains without kids’ screeching in the pool and taking up too many sun loungers.

Or, if Santa thinks they’ve been really good this year, book yourselves in for a spectacular all-inclusive week of pampering in Bali, Fiji or better yet, the Maldives.

Feature image courtesy of Jacob Lund / Fotolia