ESCAPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Walk this way to Grace Bay Beach, Turks & Caicos

This has been a year unlike any other, where traditions and commonplace activities have been replaced with health and safety restrictions that have changed nearly all aspects of our lives.

A recent study about consumer sentiment found people are desperately looking for inspiration and meaning among all of the uncertainty in the world around us. A staggering 76 percent of people said they would rather spend their money on experiences instead of material products.

All of us know that the excitement over a new purchase quickly fades as it becomes part of our everyday lives and gets replaced with the next new model – whether it’s a new car, new phone or new clothes, yesterday’s trends are tomorrows charity.

But experiences like travel help define your purpose and passion, and contribute to the social relationships that fuel our inner soul. The anticipation of a planned vacation, the experience of the trip itself, and the stories that we tell for years are the lasting impact that changes who we are and gives deeper meaning to the world around us.

As you are thinking about this year’s holiday celebration, instead of struggling to come up with the perfect gadget or widget, focus on moments that matter with your friends, family and loved ones. Turn this theme into a positive by ending the year with a family vacation to celebrate the holidays in a different state of mind.

The Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii are welcoming healthy visitors with socially-distant hand waves and friendly, mask-covered faces. Resorts and airlines are enforcing stringent safety measures to create safe environments, making it easier for you to travel worry-free and enjoy a much-deserved, stress-reducing vacation.

Celebrating the holidays in a new culture allows you to appreciate these festive times with fresh eyes and possibly discover new traditions you can incorporate into your own back home. Here are a few of the more popular destinations that are ready to welcome travelers for the holidays.

Sunrise at Horse Shoe Bay in South Hampton, Bermuda

With Jimmy Buffett’s Christmas in the Caribbean playing in the background as you walk down the jetbridge stairs into the warm tropical air, you know right away that leaving your worries behind and spending the holidays on a tropical island is just the right gift for 2020. With numerous Caribbean islands open to travelers (see the full list here), the holidays can be spent with your toes buried in the soft sand or celebrating with the locals in unique ways. For instance, special beings bring gifts to kids on three separate occasions in Aruba: Sinterklaas on December 5, Santa on the 25th and the Three Kings on January 6. Boats adorned with festive lights sail through Hamilton Harbour as part of the Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade, and gorgeous Christmas displays are set up on Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos, often called the most beautiful beach in the world. And in Jamaica, Christmas Eve is dominated by the Grand Market, where celebrators shop all day and party all night.

Introduce the kids to Maya ruins in Tulum, Mexico

Mexico

Changing playlists, we hear the upbeat and festive Feliz Navidad as we arrive at our luxury all-inclusive resort in Mexico. Trade in the white snow for white sand, traditional culture and flavorful cuisine in Mexico. Beginning on December 16, children begin nine nights of Posada processions, where they celebrate Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn by calling on decorated houses and singing songs while holding lit candles. Special piñatas and life-sized nativity scenes are found across the country. On Christmas Eve, known as Noche Buena, people take part in the final Posada and then celebrate with a massive Christmas feast, capped off with fried pastries sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon for dessert and a warm Christmas punch made with fruit called Ponche.

Helicopter view of Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii

Hawaii

The iconic strumming sounds of ukuleles, a fresh flower lei and a little Mele Kalikimaka made famous by Bing Crosby brings a bit of Aloha spirit to all of us. Luaus, mai tais and alohas for days, the Hawaiian Islands are the ultimate destination for families who wish to unplug and forget that 2020 ever existed. And, oh, the beaches! Watching the crystal blue waters of the South Pacific lap at the glistening, colored sands of Hawaii’s epic beaches is nearly a religious experience. Beginning October 15, the state is initiating a pre-testing travel program, opening up the islands to visitors with a negative NAAT test (nucleic acid amplification test) prior to arrival. This makes Hawaii a prime choice to celebrate the holidays, where you can see Santa’s sleigh and reindeer replaced by outrigger canoes and dolphins, decorated palm trees lining the festive beaches and the Jolly Man himself decked out in floral-printed Hawaiian apparel.

Planning for your festive season away from home for yourself or your extended family takes careful planning and coordination to get all the pieces just right. Now, more than ever, the complexities of traveling under new health and safety protocols means the guidance and assistance of having an expert travel advisor by your side helps you to travel better. 

If you are ready to give the gift of a travel experience to your loved ones this year, we are ready to help make it a reality!

To plan your holiday escape, contact your travel professional today.