The warmest winter escapes

If Christmas isn't your thing

For a number of years, I was able to escape to a tropical island during the holidays. Now, it's not that I don't like Christmas, but if you give me the choice to stay here in the cold or go somewhere where it's about thirty degrees, well, my suitcase is already packed. It's quite strange, walking around in your bikini with ‘White Christmas’ playing somewhere on the radio and palm trees adorned with Christmas ornaments and garlands, but traveling during the Christmas holidays is definitely recommended. You might have found our former colleague Liesbeth in Rio de Janeiro, Sri Lanka or Thailand, but here are a few more tips, in case you want to make a last-minute escape to the sun.

Aruba

This is that tropical island I just mentioned. My parents lived here for three years, making Christmas in the tropics the most normal thing in the world. And if you've never taken a New Year's dive in your life (because it's cold in the Netherlands), you can catch up here, including a bowl of pea soup from Unox. Maybe it's time I come up with a list of insider tips for the island(s)?

Maui

Okay, I'm not exactly choosing the cheapest places, but this is definitely worth a trip someday. Take Maui for example, an island in Hawaii, where you find the most beautiful rainforest and the most stunning waterfalls, but also one of the largest inactive volcanoes and the black beach of Wai’anapanapa State Park. It's quite different from a white Christmas.

Turks and Caicos Islands

So I have this lucky bastard of a friend who celebrates Christmas here every year with her family. This is an island not far from the Dominican Republic that is popular among the Dutch. It's not comparable to Aruba in terms of the island, but in terms of activities, it is. Relaxing on the beach, kiting, and snorkeling at the third largest reef in the world.

Cancun

I used to always associate this with those crazy Spring Break parties where everyone from America went during their spring break to drink their own weight in alcohol. Go here in the winter and believe me: it's nothing like I just described. By the way, have you heard about the new Disney movie set in Mexico? Go there, go there.

Dubai

Kiek can tell you everything about it soon, because she's jumping on a plane that way on Monday.

Los Angeles

Ha, this one is still high on the list of most Instagrammed places of 2017. Here, maybe not tropical beaches, but definitely nicer weather than in our little cold frog country. And for a Hollywood movie buff like me, this is of course number one if I could step onto a plane right now.

If you have no trouble with the temperature in our country (maybe this is even your favorite time of year?), then you definitely recognize yourself in all these benefits that winter offers.