where should my family and i spend christmas?
October 28, 2023 2:57 PM Subscribe
i have well over 1m delta miles, so delta flies there is the only rule. we have too many options. where should we go? approximately December 22nd - January 4th. two 40 something adults, 2 young teens. we live in Florida so beach and warm aren't requirements (but we aren't jonesing for cold either so consider environmental not a major factor).
honestly, that's it. we have looked at all inclusives, a museum tour of many different european cities, paris, french polynesia, germany, vermont, amsterdam, dominican, hawaii.... like. they all seem great. how do we pick? so state your case. include an itinerary of museums and things not to miss.
honestly, that's it. we have looked at all inclusives, a museum tour of many different european cities, paris, french polynesia, germany, vermont, amsterdam, dominican, hawaii.... like. they all seem great. how do we pick? so state your case. include an itinerary of museums and things not to miss.
Best answer: I keep going back to the Yucatan. So fun for teens. There's a different cenote for every day. One's with bats, high jumps, local swimming hole with a zip line, etc. Fun shopping, terrific food. Interesting and very affordable things to do like snorkeling, boating, etc.
With that much time? I'd do 4 nights in 3 different places. Maybe Playa del Carmen, Merida, Tulum.
posted by ReluctantViking at 4:46 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
With that much time? I'd do 4 nights in 3 different places. Maybe Playa del Carmen, Merida, Tulum.
posted by ReluctantViking at 4:46 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have no idea how far a million miles would take you all and how intrepid you and your family are, but I would be looking at both Delta itself and its SkyTeam partners for redemptions to places *exceptionally far* from Florida which are both lovely (or at least enjoyable) that time of year and also so cash-ticket-expensive then as to make a visit there at the same time prohibitively expensive, like:
- India; you could spend a week and a half exploring Delhi, Agra for the Taj Mahal and perhaps somewhere in Rajasthan and have a “classic” taste-of-India trip which would be pretty simple to organize independently, or, alternatively, fly to Chennai and explore Tamil Nadu’s temples, food, art and cultural heritage all quite different from the north hitting Puducherry, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai; I’ve done this trip solo with a backpack but perhaps an agency would make this simpler with as a family
- the North Island of New Zealand; fly into Auckland and do a self-drive (perhaps a campervan?) down the spine of the island; a rough week-and-a-bit itinerary from Auckland might take you, via Hobbiton, south and east to the geothermal wonders around Rotorua, then south via Lake Taupo and Mount Ruapehu and finally to Wellington; there is so much to see and do and while the South Island is definitely more visually stunning, it’s also a lot more rural and the distances are much longer
- Vietnam, visiting at least Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City
- Thailand, taking in Bangkok and Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai up north
- Japan, travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto by (mostly-)bullet trains via the stunningly preserved town of Kanazawa; this would allow you to enjoy some time in the snow somewhere in the Japanese Alps, like the ski resorts around Nagano or the historic Shirakawa-go/Takayama area on the way; staying in a traditional ryokan even for a night would also be fascinating for your kids
posted by mdonley at 6:20 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
- India; you could spend a week and a half exploring Delhi, Agra for the Taj Mahal and perhaps somewhere in Rajasthan and have a “classic” taste-of-India trip which would be pretty simple to organize independently, or, alternatively, fly to Chennai and explore Tamil Nadu’s temples, food, art and cultural heritage all quite different from the north hitting Puducherry, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai; I’ve done this trip solo with a backpack but perhaps an agency would make this simpler with as a family
- the North Island of New Zealand; fly into Auckland and do a self-drive (perhaps a campervan?) down the spine of the island; a rough week-and-a-bit itinerary from Auckland might take you, via Hobbiton, south and east to the geothermal wonders around Rotorua, then south via Lake Taupo and Mount Ruapehu and finally to Wellington; there is so much to see and do and while the South Island is definitely more visually stunning, it’s also a lot more rural and the distances are much longer
- Vietnam, visiting at least Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City
- Thailand, taking in Bangkok and Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai up north
- Japan, travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto by (mostly-)bullet trains via the stunningly preserved town of Kanazawa; this would allow you to enjoy some time in the snow somewhere in the Japanese Alps, like the ski resorts around Nagano or the historic Shirakawa-go/Takayama area on the way; staying in a traditional ryokan even for a night would also be fascinating for your kids
posted by mdonley at 6:20 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
I feel like you could use a bit more randomness. Ask your kids where their friends are going on holiday and copy their itinerary. Have all travellers put 3 destinations in a hat and then draw. Invite two more travellers (perhaps older?) and do their dream destination.
posted by shock muppet at 6:21 PM on October 28, 2023
posted by shock muppet at 6:21 PM on October 28, 2023
Best answer: I would go to Argentina. (Looks like Delta can get you as far as Buenos Aires and then a partner airline could take you to somewhere like Comodoro Rivadavia.) Why not go someplace where it's summer, especially since you aren't used to winter weather? That seems like it would be much more pleasant than Europe or the northern US. (Unless you love the idea of a white Christmas in a place with real winter, in which case Vermont would be nice and maybe Colorado or the Alps would be even nicer.)
I'm sure you could find things to do in Buenos Aires, but the real point of a trip to Argentina would be to rent a car (something with good clearance) and go visit some beautiful places where you can see lakes, mountains, beaches, guanacos, rheas, Andean condors, etc. If that doesn't sound like fun, maybe don't pick Argentina, but at least consider the southern hemisphere.
posted by Redstart at 7:58 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm sure you could find things to do in Buenos Aires, but the real point of a trip to Argentina would be to rent a car (something with good clearance) and go visit some beautiful places where you can see lakes, mountains, beaches, guanacos, rheas, Andean condors, etc. If that doesn't sound like fun, maybe don't pick Argentina, but at least consider the southern hemisphere.
posted by Redstart at 7:58 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Southern Germany...Bavaria region...Most excellent Kriskindelmart in every town. You are close to the Alps too...Maybe a side trip to Zurich or Vienna...All dooable.
posted by Czjewel at 8:45 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Czjewel at 8:45 PM on October 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Christmas in Edgartown is a big thing here on MV, and if you've never been here before there is plenty to do and explore that week. And I know a couple good restaurants on the island. The MV museum is very cool.
posted by vrakatar at 9:11 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 9:11 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Snow country in Japan is cold but it's memorable cold. Make memories!
If this didn't seem like potentially a once-in-a-lifetime thing, I'd say Puerto Rico, my friends' kids all love it there and it's magical around the holidays. You could hop over to St. Croix or someplace too.
posted by BibiRose at 5:15 AM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
If this didn't seem like potentially a once-in-a-lifetime thing, I'd say Puerto Rico, my friends' kids all love it there and it's magical around the holidays. You could hop over to St. Croix or someplace too.
posted by BibiRose at 5:15 AM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: It would help a lot to know about the interests and expectations of the adults and the teens. Remote wilderness? Nightlife? Educational? Disney? Relaxing? Intense? Touristy? Fancy? Rugged?
If you could even share some of the best (and worst) trips and/or family experiences you've had in the past, we can give better guidance
I appreciate the sentiment but I'm not interested in coloring the answers in any way. We're a seasoned flexible traveling family with hugely diverse interests. The kids have been in many foreign countries, and were not born in the USA. And obviously, having accumulated multi million delta miles I travel a lot as well...
Really, we could go anywhere and enjoy just about anything. So just have it!! Excited to hear your suggestions.
posted by chasles at 9:06 AM on October 29, 2023
If you could even share some of the best (and worst) trips and/or family experiences you've had in the past, we can give better guidance
I appreciate the sentiment but I'm not interested in coloring the answers in any way. We're a seasoned flexible traveling family with hugely diverse interests. The kids have been in many foreign countries, and were not born in the USA. And obviously, having accumulated multi million delta miles I travel a lot as well...
Really, we could go anywhere and enjoy just about anything. So just have it!! Excited to hear your suggestions.
posted by chasles at 9:06 AM on October 29, 2023
like. they all seem great. how do we pick?
You just pick! It's kind of a mindset thing -- you have to tell yourselves that this is one of many, many awesome trips in your lifetime and that whatever your choice is, that's the one that just came up in the hopper this time. There's no wrong decision to make, so every option is the right one.
Me, I'd do Patagonia? But that's just on the top of my list right now.
posted by mochapickle at 1:18 PM on October 29, 2023
You just pick! It's kind of a mindset thing -- you have to tell yourselves that this is one of many, many awesome trips in your lifetime and that whatever your choice is, that's the one that just came up in the hopper this time. There's no wrong decision to make, so every option is the right one.
Me, I'd do Patagonia? But that's just on the top of my list right now.
posted by mochapickle at 1:18 PM on October 29, 2023
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If you could even share some of the best (and worst) trips and/or family experiences you've had in the past, we can give better guidance.
posted by nkknkk at 4:28 PM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]