‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to be jolly than to get away for the holidays and relax with your nearest and dearest. The Christmas period is a perfect opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and with the New Year holiday following just a week later, you can be flexible with choice of location. So despite the notion that there’s no place like home at Christmas, we have combined a list of five destinations that we think are worthy enough places to visit and rival your traditional festivities.

New York, USA

Always a popular choice for Americans and tourists alike, and it’s easy to see why. The Big Apple offers an abundant array of shops for last-minute spending sprees, including Macys and Bloomingdales, as well as offering tourists the opportunity to see the illuminated lights in Times Square, and the world famous tree that stands tall in the Rockefeller Centre Plaza. This city, for many, does Christmas spirit like no other.

Yorkshire, England

Thousands of tourists flock to the largest county in England in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The historical architecture of York is a wonderful backdrop to the carol singers, first-class street performers and markets that fill the busy streets, and once the shopping is done you can visit world-renowned museums or the Winter Wonderland attraction. To make your stay even more magical there are plenty of cottages to rent in Yorkshire – choose one with an open fire so you can warm your toes and roast marshmallows.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague plays host to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. The quaint wooden huts that line the cobbled streets, selling Czech goodies and traditional foods and wines, create a Winter Wonderland setting and a festive atmosphere for all who visit. Furthermore, choirs and dancers take to central stage in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and children can pet nativity scene animals in the Old Town Square stables.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

This is the only one on the list where a white Christmas is improbable. However, it’s well worth a visit, even for those who crave the snow, because a Puerto Rican Christmas is unique. Daily celebrations start on the first day of December, with locals participating in ‘parrandas’ where they surprise friends late in the evening with music and songs, and continue well into January.  Just be ready to shake off traditions here – spit roast pig is the meat of choice and Los Reyes Magos delivers the gifts, not Santa Clause. Real tradition remains prominent in this Caribbean paradise.

Rovaniemi, Finland

Forget queuing up to see Santa in your local shopping centre, in this Finnish town you can’t get any closer to the man himself. Impressive mountain ranges make up the backdrop to Santa’s home and blankets of snow run for as far as the eye can see. And with reindeer and huskies to pull your sleigh, and log cabins to sleep in, you couldn’t ask for anything more. This really is a dream come true, for adults and children alike. Plus, you may be lucky to see the Northern Lights fill the sky, which will be a Christmas treat like no other.

This article was supplied by Sykes Cottages.