Christmas is Coming!
Date Posted: 01/10/2019
Monday 23rd September marked the official end of summer and welcomed us to the crisp (gloomy) days of autumn. According to the astronomical calendar autumn doesn’t end until 22nd December (what?) so with Christmas only 85 days away and autumn seeing us through until three days before, it’ll be Christmas before we know it!
No better time than the present, so let’s talk Christmas 2019! (Gulp)
As soon as anyone mentions Christmas, the list of things to do goes on, and on, stress levels rise and panic creeps in as the days fly by.
We can help with pretty much everything apart from the cooking and family arguments, although if you give them a gift of a holiday, our travel vouchers or currency for their special trip, we may even help avoid some of them disputes! (We said may.)
Counting down to Christmas we will bring you the best of the best from Hays Travel, so make sure you keep an eye out for all our festive favourites. In the meantime, here are a teaser of some of our top Europe and UK Christmas markets as well as some of our best picks for the ultimate Christmas getaway.
Let’s start at home. One thing the UK can guarantee is the cold and what is better than being wrapped up with your loved ones, sipping mulled wine and browsing the best UK Christmas markets. Personally, we don’t think it gets much better…
Edinburgh
If you choose to spend your festive holiday in Edinburgh you certainly won’t be disappointed. Of course, there are the famous Christmas markets brimming with plenty to eat, drink, and gift your loved ones with. Wander along Princes Street Gardens with the crowd and spot a bunch of brilliant buys. Take the chance to practice your skills on the ice rink followed by a spicy glass of mulled wine, or head to watch the Nativity in St Andrew’s Square; perfect for remembering what Christmas is really all about. Edinburgh’s shopping scene is renowned regardless, but around the festive period there is more appeal than ever. Browse the quirky shops for unique gifts you know will put a smile on the face of your family and friends. Lastly, you can’t miss out on the holiday decorations at Edinburgh’s top attractions… They’re simply a must-see.
Prague
Prague at Christmas time is one not to be missed. Open every day from 30 November 2019 to 6 January 2020, the markets light up this spectacular city for all to see. The main markets are held in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, offering the chance of delicious hot street food, festive treats, handmade gifts, toys, and warming hot chocolate to fight off that winter cold! For captivating vistas across the square and a look at the markets from a birds-eye view, climb to reach the top of Old Town Tower. Enjoy a stroll across the famous Charles Bridge to really take in the festive feel of tourists and locals passing by, or walk along the Vltava River at night to experience the city’s ambience at its finest – just be sure to pack your scarf and gloves!
Maldives
If you don’t want to experience the cold and the wet around Christmas time then the Maldives is the perfect place for you. Hitting temperatures of up to 29°C, who says you can’t bring in Christmas from your sun lounger with a cocktail in-hand? Forget the scene of Christmas markets here as you won’t really find many of those. Maybe it’s time to try something new… The idyllic set of islands are home to world-class diving sites ideal for exploring mesmerising sea life and the friendly locals are known for their attentive service to guarantee you a completely restful getaway. Tantalize your taste buds with typical Maldivian culinary delights on your trip, including fresh coconut, tasty tuna dishes, Mas Riha curry, fish soup, and delicious fish cakes known as Kulhi boakiba.
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