Tuscany, Italy

“There will be wolves,” was all the incentive needed to stir enthusiasm in my perma-wired boys, aged 10 and 13, for a few nights at Oasyhotel, a new collection of sixteen Scandinavian-inspired wooden lodges perched 3,600 feet up a mountain in the Tuscan Apennines. As we sat around a campfire on our first evening, mesmerised by the crystal-clear sky, the wolves felt tantalisingly close, even if seeing these elusive animals in daylight is rare. Wolves spotted: zero, but the deep nature immersion had a magnetic pull regardless. The entire site is a World Wide Fund for Nature reserve, with regenerative principles at its core, so wildlife, including deer, wild boar and foxes, roams free. But the real magic was the thrill of whizzing up and down mountain trails at speed: we were kitted out with electric bikes on arrival.

This former hunting estate is set in more than 2,470 acres of wild-flower meadows and beech and pine forests. We visited in deepest autumn, but in the summer a lake offers swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking. For grateful parents, there is yoga and an on-site spa offering transportative massages. And for kids, the young and utterly charming staff brought a relaxed and fun energy, even during the swanky dinners in Le Felci, one of two restaurants. The ecological ethos extends to the food: 70 per cent of the produce used at the hotel comes from the mountain, so breakfast included the estate’s own organic yoghurts, cheeses, jams and juices, while dinners were mostly rich, hearty and meaty Tuscan dishes of pork, rabbit and beef. The younger and pickier guests among us were plied with fantastic burgers, cotoletta cutlets and fries on repeat. Less popular with my snowflakes was a morning spent making caciotta cheese in the dairy (my idea of heaven), but feeding the farm’s Limousin cattle next door distracted them. It’s hard to imagine cows having this transfixing effect at home, but on the mountain, nature wove its magic. Clare Coulson

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Edgy Radisson RED Cape Town V&A Waterfront has a great location near the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

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2. Kakheti, Georgia

Kakheti, Georgia’s premier wine region, is beautiful at any time of year. But winter is its hidden secret. Tourists are scarce but the wineries remain open, lighting their fires to warm you up as you taste unique wines you’d struggle to find anywhere else. Georgians love a good feast (known as a supra). Try to find a tour or hotel that is offering a traditional supra to experience the incredible, almost medieval revelry of feasting here — which includes platter upon platter of grilled meats and veg as well as oozy, cheesy khachapuri flatbreads.

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Lopota Lake Resort & Spa hosts a range of festive events — including markets with boots of sweets and live Georgian folk music. There’s also an ice rink and a kids’ club. Georgian Christmas is on January 7 so late December should be much quieter for bookings.

• Best tours of Georgia

3. The Rhine

Spend the Christmas season afloat on the Rhine, accompanied by a glass of local wine as steep vineyards and historic castles slip by. The journey is a soothing way to celebrate the festive season, as most sailings stop at Rhineland cities such as Cologne, Koblenz and Bonn. Here, amid the twinkling lights, visitors and local people mingle in charming Christmas markets, while the swish of skates on an ice rink, shoppers’ voices and Christmas carols provide a lively soundtrack.

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Riviera Travel’s Christmas on the Rhine tour is a unique way to discover the area’s history, as well as its enchanting festive markets.

• Best Christmas markets in Europe
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4. Berlin, Germany

Christmas holidays are celebrated with gusto in Germany as its festive markets overflow with copious helpings of mulled wine and twinkling fairy lights. Hip Berlin has a huge funfair and you can get straight into the Christmas spirit with a ticket to one of the regular shows on Alexanderplatz. There’s a high chance of snow: temperatures can slip well below zero in December and the average low is minus 1C.

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Wilde Aparthotels Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie, is a short stroll from the landmark as well as metro connections to other parts of the city.

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5. Barbados

The Caribbean is made for Christmas. Barbados, a go-to Caribbean favourite for Brits, is at its most relaxed between mid-September and mid-December, when hotel prices drop by up to a third and the air-kissing, winter sun-seeking regulars haven’t yet jetted in. There’s a risk of rain, but it never lasts long, and the temperature’s still a balmy 27C. The island’s Atlantic side is an exhilarating whirl of dramatic shores (particularly around the little town of Bathsheba), rolling surf, flapping coconut palms and topsy-turvy hills that seem a world away from the busy beach resorts lining the west and south coasts. Drive over to bask in the peace and fresh air; the Bay Tavern in Martin’s Bay is a mellow spot where Bajans take a break on Thursday afternoons, shooting (and feeling) the breeze at a “lime” (informal hangout).

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Sandals Barbados and its sister resort Sandals Royal Barbados have access to a beautiful stretch of beach and are just outside the lively resort of Oistins.

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6. Courchevel, France

Courchevel is still a gathering ground for the world’s super-rich. Broad, easy-skiing pistes combine with Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels to create the most luxurious of all ski resorts. The period from Boxing Day to New Year’s Eve has the biggest social buzz: think champagne bars and perfect teeth, set against a razor-sharp mountain ridge. New Year in Courchevel isn’t cheap, so save where you can by booking a central, self-catering apartment in the Forum. Brush up your skiing with New Generation Ski and Snowboard School, so you don’t take a tumble outside the key slopeside bars. And don’t wait until December 31 to start the celebrations.

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If you’re a serious skier with no budget constraints, Hotel Le K2 Altitude is a ski-in, ski-out option with just 14 rooms and 18 suites.

• Best ski resorts in France

7. Muscat, Oman

Hop on an overnight flight to Oman and wake up seven hours later in the capital Muscat, then get straight to the beach — it’s only ten minutes’ drive from the airport. For the rest of your stay, take a traditional dhow boat trip from Marina Bandar al Rowdha so the little ones can enjoy the rare marine life, or absorb the Bedouin vibes of the Arabian desert with teens. Try stargazing and camel-riding at Wahiba Sands, or head to turquoise-hued Wadi Bani Khalid oasis. Alternatively, hire a local driver through your hotel and day trip around Muscat to explore its frankincense-scented Mutrah Souq. Nearby, the call to prayer echoes around the minarets at the opulent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, open most days for visits.

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The Chedi Muscat is a sprawling seafront resort within easy reach of the city centre.

• Best hotels in Oman

8. Edinburgh, Scotland

It’s not just gingerbread-scented markets and riotous Hogmanay parties that make wintry Edinburgh so appealing. Even under grey skies, you’ve got warm, world-class museums and restaurants — and the icy North Sea winds are your excuse to duck into a snug watering hole for a soul-warming Scotch. For bargains, go in early December when the Christmas markets are open, but the city is still relatively peaceful. Take a spin on the panoramic big wheel above Princes Street, bar crawl under the fairy lights of George Street and pop into the National gallery to contemplate winter scenes. After dark, head to the Royal Botanic Garden to sip spiced cider and marvel at its Christmas illuminations.

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For a memorable stay, check into gothic-inspired Witchery by the Castle for gourmet feasting in a decadent dining room.

• Best hotels in Edinburgh
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9. Salzburg, Austria

Revel in the unabashed schmaltz — this is the fantasy festive break. Dressed to the nines in baroque finery and surrounded by snowcapped peaks, Salzburg is the staunchly traditional, chocolate-box city of Mozart and The Sound of Music, and will cocoon you in comfort. Walk around the streets of the old town streets, dive into vaulted beer cellars and shop for lederhosen. To warm up? Climb every mountain, of course. Make your first wander an atmospheric browse along the narrow Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s glitzy shopping alley, where five-storey Renaissance houses provide a bulwark against winter weather. Explore its dimly lit, arched passages and within a few paces, you might stumble upon Balkan Grill Walter, a kiosk selling Balkan beef sausages since 1950. After, make a prosecco pitstop at Seppo, an intimate wine bar, or cosy up with the crowds in the hidden Sternbräu beer garden.

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Hotel Goldener Hirsch is in the heart of the city’s baroque centre.

• Best ski resorts in Austria

10. Finnish Lapland

For the real deal and endless other wintry activities, such as snowmobiling, skiing and reindeer rides, head north to the smaller resorts of Levi, Yllas or Saariselka. Levi is just 20 minutes’ drive from Kittila airport, making transfers with weary tots super speedy. Here, Santa’s village is way out in the wilderness: a huddle of twinkly log cabins hidden among snow-laden pines. Kids can decorate gingerbread cookies with Mother Claus, make decorations and visit Elf school to learn Finnish terms such as “Hyvaa Joulua” (”Merry Christmas”), as well as having a private tête-à-tête with Santa. The focus is firmly on wholesome festive fun and, refreshingly, souvenir stops are sparse.

But don’t go too early — travel from the second or third weekend in December for a guaranteed snowscape. Ample time is crucial: do not book one of those 24-hour round-trips, as children will become so tired and cranky you’ll wonder why you bothered. Four nights is better, and even then you’ll wish you had more. Darkness reigns here: daylight falls between 10am and 2pm, when an eerie green and pink glow illuminates the sky.

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To make the most of your setting, book a stay at Golden Crown Iglu, which has glass igloos primed for northern lights viewing.

• Best hotels in Lapland
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11. New York, US

This city is the face of Christmas, especially in films. Don’t miss the magical displays at Macy’s (Miracle on 34th Street); the steps of the Plaza Hotel (Home Alone 2); and the Rockefeller tree (Elf). The chance of snow isn’t as high as in the perma-dusted movies, but it’s always possible as temperatures can dip to a bracing minus 10C. New York’s stores turn charitable at Christmas, with epic window displays resembling free galleries. Start with the glittering scene at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue, then pass Tiffany before nipping over to Saks. Next head to the Rockefeller Center for a mulled wine and a gawp at the tree. For Christmas shopping, Bryant Park is transformed into the Winter Village, with stalls selling affordable gifts such as handmade scarves and soaps. It’s free to hit the ice rink here, too.

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Facing its namesake park, Bryant Park Hotel is one of the few places in the city where you can wake up to greenery without paying a small fortune for it.

• Best affordable hotels in New York
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12. Tenerife, Spain

If you’re hoping to add some winter sun to your Christmas, this is the place to be. Yes, tourism has made its mark on Tenerife, but the resorts in the south-coast destinations of Costa Adeje and Playa de las Americas take up only a fraction of the island. Beyond, unspoiled beauty awaits: seaside villages and picturesque coves, gracious colonial towns, a rainforest dripping with lichen, and ravishing ravines. And all beneath the awesome gaze of a 170,000-year-old volcano, Spain’s highest, Mount Teide.

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Adults-only Hacienda del Conde on the north coast of the island is your escape from the hubbub.

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13. Cities along the Danube

One of Europe’s great rivers, the Danube is perfect for a Christmas cruise, taking in cities along the way such as Budapest, Bratislava and Regensburg. Passing through the heart of central Europe, revellers can celebrate the festive season at Christmas markets garlanded with Christmas lights and spirit. A mulled wine here, a juicy, grilled sausage there — which Christmas market will be your favourite?

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Avalon Waterways has multiple great-value sailings along this route.

• Best Christmas market cruises
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14. The Ganges, India

Consider spending Christmas on a luxurious cruise along India’s holiest river where the warmth of the winter sun mixes well with the festive spirit. Standouts include misty early mornings revealing ancient temples, small boats bumping along in the water and devotees by the edge, followed by the wake-up call of bazaars and the solemn fortresses of Jaipur and Varanasi.

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Try Uniworld, whose decadent vessel Ganges Voyager II allows you to complete the journey in comfort.

15. Marrakesh, Morocco

There’s a local saying that Morocco is “a cold country with a hot sun”, and while snow on the Atlas Mountains from mid-November to April demonstrates how bitterly cold it can be at night, there are also piercing blue skies and sunshine warm enough for you to hit the pool. December is the time to snag a bargain to Marrakesh, but pack layers and stay somewhere with heating. Only July and August are cheaper — but they’re only worth it if you can handle temperatures in the high 40s.

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At Royal Mansour Marrakech, you’ll have a whole riad with private plunge pool to yourself and access to fine dining restaurants from Michelin-starred chefs.

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16. Mauritius

It’s the blossoming of flame trees rather than the dressing of firs that marks the start of the festive season in Mauritius. These trees, red as Santa’s suit, bloom between late November and early December. Shortly after, seasonal hotel lobby decorations and shop window displays appear across the island. Food is central to a Mauritian Christmas and hotels in beach resorts like Grand Baie and Flic en Flac offer gala dinners and festive brunches so you can tuck in with a cocktail or two.

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Located right on Flic en Flac beach, laid-back Sugar Beach offers a fabulous view at sunset.

• Best hotels in Mauritius
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17. The Maldives

Trade in the traditional festive palette of red and green for a landscape that’s a centillion shades of blue. Sleep in a villa suspended on stilts above the Jacuzzi-warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and snorkel and day-sail your way through the season. Many hotels in the Maldives offer traditional menus on Christmas Day. However, if you boycott the sprouts, you’ll be rewarded with platters of fresh lobster, oysters and grouper — all washed down with a bottle of something sparkling.

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Fly to the capital, Malé, then take a seaplane to a private island resort such as Medhufushi.

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18. Singapore

Singapore soups up the Christmas experience. Festivities start in mid-November when almost two and a half miles of Christmas lights are switched on in the Orchard Road shopping area. Shortly after, restaurants debut their festive menus and Christmas Wonderland opens at Gardens by the Bay. The season’s climax is the extravagant countdown and fireworks party at Marina Bay.

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If you’re worried about it all feeling a little too merry and bright, stay at a beach hotel like Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island. With its infinity pools, 30-acre gardens and views of the South China Sea, it’s a sanctuary amid the festive flamboyance.

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19. Antalya, Turkey

No jokes about eating turkey in Turkey please — here in Antalya, you can be as festive or not as you want. Many of the resorts in the region will have stonking good deals on all-inclusive breaks, with gala dinners put on for Christmas day. Even if you’re not set on a fly-and-flop, the fact that Christmas Day isn’t a public holiday here means you can shop, go to restaurants and visit attractions as normal. There’s a good chance of sun, but it’ll probably be too cold to hit the beaches. Instead, why not visit one of the ancient ruins for some light culture without the crowds? Termessos and Perge are particularly impressive.

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A short drive from Antalya city, family-friendly Limak Lara Deluxe Hotel & Resort Antalya is a great choice if you’re after an all-inclusive option.

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20. Japan

Tokyo goes all in on the Christmas spirit, but with its own twist. Around the city are illuminations, where lights are strung up around buildings, trees and just about everything else from around mid-November. Look out, too, for festive fairs and Christmas markets where you can pick up kawaii (cute) handmade gifts. If you have kids, a visit to Tokyo Disneyland is essential. And no, you don’t have to adopt the tradition of eating KFC instead of a roast on Christmas Day — plenty of hotels will offer a more conventional festive meal.

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Foodies will love the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, home to the Michelin-starred restaurant est.

• Best things to do in Tokyo
• Best hotels in Tokyo

21. Christmas Island, Australia

What could be more apt than spending the festive period on Christmas Island? This slice of paradise is closer to the tropical waters of Indonesia than the Australian mainland, making the weather here pretty much hot all year round. That said, December tends to be the rainy season in the region, with days often overcast — no matter, you’re likely to spend most of your time snorkelling its bath-warm waters anyway. Back on dry land, you’ll see one of the most spectacular annual migrations: it’s mating season for red land crabs and millions of them will be scuttling from the forest to the coast.

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If Christmas Island’s location isn’t remote enough for you, Swell Lodge, standing alone on the west coast, will certainly up the ante.

22. Iceland

Iceland is the perfect holiday destination for travellers in search of Christmas spirit. Here, the festive season pulsates with lively Christmas markets where wooden booths brim with food and drink, and gifts glitter as imposing Christmas trees stand guard. Expect a true winter wonderland made up of wild lava fields and craggy mountains topped with snow for added sparkle. Take a self-drive into the mountains and catch the northern lights glimmering in the dark sky, and don’t forget other seasonal sojourns such as trekking near the Snaefellsjokull glacier.

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Book a tour of Iceland to let someone else tackle the snowy winter terrain while you take in the views.

• Best hotels in Iceland
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23. London, England

London does a stonking good job of putting on a good Christmas display — as you would expect from any capital city — but what it’s particularly good at is the stunning array of settings where twinkling lights breathe magic into the air. There’s Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, where fairground rides, circus acts and Christmas market stalls selling mulled wine and bratwurst will make anyone giddy. Or Battersea Power Station, where the brightly lit facade overlooks a riverfront ice rink. And who could forget the shopping streets around Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, where shops compete to put on the best displays? Fortnum & Mason’s is unmissable.

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art’otel London Battersea Power Station overlooks the landmark, and the best views are, of course, from its rooftop pool and bar.

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24. Zakopane, Poland

When it comes to Christmas, Poland goes big. The traditional festive meal here (eaten on the evening of December 24) consists of 12 courses — from beetroot soup and dumplings to the honeyed, spiced gingerbread cake that is piernik. Zakopane is Poland’s winter wonderland: a ski resort two hours’ drive south of Krakow. The pretty mountain town is stuffed with wood-panelled taverns and family-run hotels and has options for horsedrawn sleigh rides and sledging. If you’re eating out, book a table in advance somewhere rustic and cosy like Gospoda Polska Kolibecka.

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Snomads has a range of chalets where you can cook for yourselves (if you have room after Polish Christmas dinner). Prices for ski passes and hire are usually much cheaper than in the Alps.

snomads.co.uk

Additional reporting by Qin Xie, Imogen Lepere, Marianna Hunt