So it’s that time of the year again. Are you struggling to think of ideas for holiday gifts? Trying to avoid the last minute queue in shops a few days before Christmas? How about taking a holiday to make the celebration a little more exciting? We say give your family a snowy Christmas holiday — and here some tips to do just that.
Most families start the holidays by planning their Christmas decorations, purchasing new lights and garlands for the season — and get into the holiday mood when the first holiday snow lands! That’s the problem with the seasonal spirit… If you’ve never experienced a white Christmas and a lot of snow, it can be tricky to buy the whole Santa and Rudolf story. Skip buying fake snow and Santa-shaped ice creams this season. Why not give the gift of travel and give your family a snowy Christmas holiday?
Give Your Family A Snowy Christmas Holiday
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Besides, you can be sure that the excitement and joy will be part of the festive season this year: Nothing is more exciting than making angel shapes in the snow to show Santa the way to your home!
Where to Go?
The question of destination is an important one that you need to address carefully. If you’re planning a short break, you need to go somewhere near. Canada, for example, offers snowy landscapes said to breathtakingly beautiful.
But if you’re planning to stay for a few weeks, you could easily book a trip to Europe, where the spirit of Santa continues to hide. There’s a Santa village in the north of Finland where you can meet his helping elves and even his reindeer friends.
If you love the idea of a cold and culinary Christmas, head to Bruges, the beautiful city that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There, you will find beautiful Flemish homes from the 15th century and delicious chocolate pralines to keep you chewing on happiness with every single bite.
If you want to be on top of the mountain, try Salzburg in Austria, which holds Europe’s oldest Christkindlmarkt. It is the place of birth of Mozart; you will be surrounded by music and delicious food.
Prefer flat countries, try Amsterdam where you can attend a spectacular parade of Santas, the Sinterklaas parade, that will melt your heart.
What to do?
Admittedly, if you have young children, it’s likely that you’ll be heading to mountains to make the most of the snowy season.
If you’ve never skied before, it’s time to be brave and take your first lesson as a family. Skiing is a lot easier than it seems, and, you’ll be pleased to know, it doesn’t hurt as much when you fall. For a lot of beginners, the first few minutes can feel a little awkward especially if you’ve never been ice-skating or used rollerblades. It can be difficult at first to maneuver with long sticks of wood – it’s plastic, but you get the picture – attached to your feet.
When renting skis for the duration of the holiday, make sure to tell the shop that you’re a beginner. They will give you shorter skis which are easier to handle but don’t let you get very fast.
If you’re more experienced, you might want to try something more adrenalin-packed such as the Northern Escape Heli-Skiing experience. Don’t worry, the Northern Escape team equips you with the latest safety gear, and you will be accompanied by a certified backcountry ski guide. The only question is: Are you brave enough for it?
But I can’t ski!
What if you’re not an enthusiastic skier or snowboarder? You don’t have to ski to enjoy staying at a ski resort, for a start. There are plenty of others things to do that will still make your holiday magical.
Fancy exploring the area? Try your hand – your foot – at snowshoeing which allows you to walk for long distances without worrying about sinking into the snow.
If you prefer relaxing in the warmth, try to book some spa time to enjoy a massage and a warm pool.
Or maybe you could simply take a stroll to town and enjoy a hot chocolate with a yummy pancake? It’s a specialty in most ski resorts!
What to pack to stay warm?
Whether you’re skiing or not, you need to pack your luggage with the best stuff to keep you warm, cozy and protected.
Start with a good hat that covers your ears: You’ll appreciate it when you’re walking or skiing outside! You need to pack shoes that keep your feet warm and dry, that means that you have to buy quality winter shoes. Always keep a pair of thin, waterproof gloves that you can wear as an inside layer for cold days or as your everyday gloves.
And finally, don’t forget the sunglasses!
Packing Tips for the Holidays
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It doesn’t really need saying, but it can’t hurt to repeat the to-do list for all holiday trips.
Here’s the recap of packing tips for the holidays:
- Try not to book your holiday outside of school vacations, as you don’t want kids to miss out on education.
- Check in advance that you’ve got all passport and visa requirements under control – which means don’t wait until the last minute!
- If you can, always pack a first emergency kit. You may not need it, but it’s useful to keep band-aids and aspirin at hand. You never know what could happen when you travel with children!
- Make sure as well to pack some document or a travel guide for your destination, even if you’re going to a ski resort.
- If there are any concerts, shows or other entertainment options that interest your family, book tickets in advance. You may get them at a better price, but more importantly, there’s no risk of not finding any ticket when you’re there! (And when you’re traveling in the winter, the weather doesn’t always cooperate on your family vacation!)
Can you think of any other ways to give your family a snowy Christmas? There’s nothing better than celebrating Christmas on the slopes!
