Return to 1997 CHRISTMAS Index
Return to 1997 CHRISTMAS Index
For those without children, commitments or a Christian conviction, I can wholeheartedly recommend a holiday at Christmas. It may dent your wallet a bit but Christmas does that anyway.
For skiers, the obvious solution is to slope off. Head for a high altitude resort for guaranteed snow. Many Half Board deals include a gala Christmas meal and you get a great party atmosphere (apres-ski and then some) combined with the exhilaration of skiing. Try Obergurgl in Austria for idyllic alpine scenery and delicious gluwein.
For the ultimate escape, head for the sun. Indulge that barbecue-on-a-beach fantasy. Australia and the Caribbean is always popular destinations but there are plenty of less expensive options available. How about an idyllic Christmas out in the States? A Virgin Fly Drive to Miami was the starting point for my most memorable Christmas. From Miami, it was a short internal flight to The Big Easy, New Orleans. You don't get the steamy, sultry heat in December but the city still has an incredibly vibrant atmosphere and pulsates to the sound of R and B. Food is a gourmet's dream, with many top restaurants serving bargain `Reveillon' menus. Accommodation is cheap and readily available in the pre-Christmas period.
Five days later it was back to Miami to pick up our rental car. First destination was Flamingo, in the Everglades national Park. Hire a canoe for the day to paddle around the mangrove swamps or follow one of the numerous trails. Beware of mosquitoes that are still voracious, even in December.
Onwards to Naples, an elegant and affluent Gulf-coast resort. Rich Floridians head out there for a pastel coloured retirement. It doesn't exactly swing but is got a great deal of charm. We stopped for tea at the Carlton Ritz and enjoyed exquisite cakes and sandwiches in the hotel's sumptuous lobby. A huge Christmas tree reminded us that it was nearly Christmas. Dark glasses (to hide mosquito bites from the previous day's canoeing exploits) made me feel like a movie star. Book in advance and pack some smart clothes to wear, this must be one of Florida's best and classiest bargains.
North to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and the highly recommended Tween Waters Inn. As it was Christmas, we splashed out on a stylish cottage room complete with it's own veranda. Wandering out on Christmas day, we were greeted by an otter, a pelican and a playful dolphin, swimming in the hotel's small marina. These islands are an oasis for wildlife, including the Ding Ding Darling reserve, which is just a short walk from the Tween Waters Inn. . On a deserted beach we cultivated the `Sanibel Stoop', hunting amongst the huge array of shells that wash onto the beach from the Gulf. We cracked open a $2 bottle of American champagne and toasted Christmas. Absolutely idyllic.
From Captiva and Sanibel we headed South down the Keys. Our final destination was Key West and I was completely captivating by it's laid back charm. Quaint gingerbread houses, balmy weather, great bars and a nightly sunset celebration. I wanted to stay forever. What a way to finish a Christmas holiday, cocktail in hand, watching the sun setting over the Caribbean.