How to Celebrate Christmas While Traveling: 44 Bright Tips
Are you looking for ideas of how to celebrate Christmas when you’re traveling?
The Christmas season is a time of togetherness and joy, when we treasure traditions and create wonderful memories with our loved ones.
But what if this year you’ll be spending Christmas away from home?
What if you’ll be spending Christmas surrounded by new landscapes and different traditions?
If you’re away from home at Christmas, you’ll still want Christmas Eve and Christmas morning to feel special!
Embracing the magic of Christmas while traveling away from home is an incredible experience. Traveling at Christmas can enrich your holiday spirit more than you might ever expect.
Why travel at Christmas? Winter break is a wonderful time to take a vacation. It’s a great opportunity to avoid crowds of tourists. If you plan ahead, you can find some great deals on airfares.
If you have young kids, teens, or college-aged kids, winter break might be one of the few times you know everyone will be off school, not working, and participating in extracurriculars and sports.
On the other hand, if you’re traveling alone during the holidays or are in a situation where you just can’t make it home, you might be worried about being lonely or homesick on Christmas. Celebrating your first Christmas away from home can be a tricky endeavor.
No matter why you’re traveling during the holiday season, being away from home at Christmas will probably mean that Christmas Eve and Christmas day look very different from what you’re used to.
However, even if you don’t celebrate Christmas in your traditional way, you can still have a great experience that you’ll remember forever!
Here are 44 heartfelt ways to celebrate Christmas when you’re traveling away from home.
Tips for Celebrating Christmas while Traveling
1. Celebrate before you go
If you typically celebrate Christmas with extended family, see if you can move the date of your Christmas celebrations from Christmas day to a date before your trip.
This way you can still enjoy spending time with your family members and participating in holiday traditions.
This is a nice way to share in the joy of gift-giving if you’ll be celebrating Christmas without presents when you travel. And it’s a great option if you want to give your kids and teens travel-related gifts.
2. Make decorations at your destination
Bring construction paper and colored pencils with you to make decorations for your lodging.
You can make pictures, placemats, paper loop garlands, wreaths, or anything else you’d like!
3. Bring holiday essentials with you
Just because you’re on vacation at Christmastime doesn’t mean you can’t bring some traditions with you.
If there are special Christmas cookies your family eats every year on Christmas Eve, bake them in advance and pack them for your trip!
If you have a small felt Christmas tree or a tapestry of a Christmas tree that won’t take up much space in your suitcase, bring that! A traveling Christmas tree could become part of a new family tradition.
4. Talk about traditions
Celebrating Christmas when traveling can be the perfect time to focus on the holiday traditions that matter most.
Ask your family what traditions they’d like to honor or participate in while they’re away from home at Christmas.
Maybe they’d like to go ice skating or browse fancy store window displays. Maybe they’d like to sing carols.
If you plan to continue to travel at christmas, talk about what new traditions you’d like to start.
5. Exchange letters
Tell your family that instead of exchanging Christmas gifts, you’ll be exchanging letters. Give everyone plenty of time to think about and write notes to each other.
Make the experience more memorable by shopping for nice stationery and spending the afternoon at a cafe to write the letters.
Give each other the letters on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, when you would normally exchange gifts.
6. Complement each other
Make compliment jars (or envelopes, since that’s easier to travel with).
Have everyone write down compliments, memories, things they admire, or other nice things about each person. Aim for two or three from each person to everyone else.
On Christmas morning, everyone gets their compliment envelope. Have someone read the compliments aloud, and the recipient guesses who wrote each nice thing.
Bring colorful envelopes and some paper from home for this activity, or buy supplies on the road.
7. Wear festive pajamas
Pack Christmas PJs for everyone. Enjoy wearing them for the whole trip, not just Christmas Eve.
8. Go to special holiday events at your destination
Look up special events that will be happening where you’ll be traveling over the holidays.
Historic homes and chateaux often decorate for Christmas. Cities host light shows, winter wonderland displays, gingerbread house displays, and other holiday events.
9. Embrace non-traditional Christmas Fun
Do something completely different that you’d never normally do during the holidays.
Being in a new place gives you the freedom to do Christmas differently! Find your Christmas spirit as you view the Northern Lights, hike to the summit of a high mountain, or go to a spa.
10. Hang out with the locals
Don’t assume everyone will be inside with their families all day on Christmas day.
When I was in Italy on Christmas day, I was surprised by how many people were out walking around all day. Get out there and enjoy the day, too!
11. Buy goodies from a local bakery
Enjoy trying the Christmas foods of whichever country you’re traveling in.
12. Go shopping at your vacation destination
Buy small gifts that take up almost no room and double as vacation souvenirs.
Jewelry, scarves, socks, t-shirts, small bags, or ornaments would fit the bill. You’ll find wrapping paper at stationery stores.
13. Do a photo challenge
Ask everyone to take photos of things they see that mean Christmas to them.
Then, share the photos with each other. A photo with special Christmas meaning could be a display of Christmas trees or a more personal, less obvious encounter.
14. Put the star on the tree
If your family always hangs a star on the Christmas tree, this game will be a fun twist on tradition.
Print out a picture of a Christmas tree before you leave home and pack a roll of tape.
Take turns flipping a bottle to see who can land it closest to the top of the tree, where the star should be.
Have prizes for the winners. Prizes could be cash, postcards, or small souvenirs.
15. Open Christmas stockings
Just because you don’t have room to pack big gifts doesn’t mean you have to forgo stockings.
You can open stockings on Christmas morning, or you can hand them out when you board the plane. Include snacks, gum, lip balm, holiday socks, a charging cable, airPods, a wallet or card holder, a mini flashlight, and other tiny gifts.
Bring special stockings from home, or buy everyone red socks and stuff them with goodies!
16. Give Coffee gift cards for the return home
If you’re traveling with teens or young adults, bring gift cards from a local coffee shop for them to get a coffee once they’re on their way back home. Think of it as a jet-lag recovery gift.
Celebrating Christmas on vacation will be even sweeter if the treats continue on the trip back home.
17. Go to the theater, a concert, or the ballet
In many cities, you’ll find productions of the Nutcracker, concerts of Christmas music, or plays with a Christmas theme.
You can reserve tickets in advance, or, if you’re traveling on a tight budget, look for last-minute discounts on tickets.
18. Choose the right place to stay
Think about what kind of accommodations will make the holiday special for you.
Hotel for Christmas
If spending Christmas in a hotel sounds ideal to you, book a beautiful hotel with amazing Christmas decorations. Spending Christmas Eve and Christmas day at a swanky hotel or resort where all your needs are taken care of sounds pretty amazing and relaxing.
AirBnb or VRBO at Christmas
If you’d like more space to spread out, you might want to stay at an AirBnb or VRBO for Christmas. You’ll have a kitchen to bake your own gingerbread cookies or favorite Christmas meal. You can even request that the rental will be decorated with a tree and twinkly lights.
Hostel at Christmas
If you’re traveling on a budget, you might be staying at a hostel for Christmas. While the amenities might be sparse, there’s sure to be lots of other travelers celebrating Christmas in the hostel too. Hostels are an ideal place to meet new people, so organize a big Christmas dinner and celebrate with your new friends!
19. Plan ahead for your Christmas Eve and Christmas day meals
Find out if restaurants and stores will be open or if you’ll need to buy food from a grocery or bakery in advance.
You don’t want to end up hungry on Christmas morning! (Obviously, if you’re at a resort, this won’t be a concern!)
20. Treat yourself to a special meal
If restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, treat yourself to a special Christmas dinner. Enjoy the local Christmas specialties of the country where you’re traveling!
If you’ll need to cook for yourself, plan to make special festive meals that capture your own holiday meal traditions and/or the local specialties.
21. Find out what activities will be open on Christmas day
If you’re in a country with a large Christian population, you might find that many museums or sites are closed. In this case, a day spent hiking or at the beach would be a great option.
If you’re in a country that doesn’t have a lot of Christmas celebrations, most tourist destinations will be open.
22. Spend Christmas having fun together
If your family likes to celebrate Christmas day as a lazy family day, pack some card games and spend Christmas day playing cards together. Sussed?, Farting Frenchies,and Slapburger would be great choices.
If your family likes doing puzzles, bring one with you. Choose one with a picture of your destination. You can leave it behind when you go home.
23. Go for a walk
You may be surprised by how many people are also out and about on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.
Whether you’re walking down main street in a small town in the United States or strolling with crowds taking in Christmas lights in a big European city, enjoy mingling with the crowds!
24. Open photos of gifts waiting at home
If you’ve purchased gifts for your family to open at home, take a picture of the gifts and put the photos in an envelope. Let them open the envelope to “open” their Christmas gift on vacation.
Draw out the experience of opening these gifts by hiding them in your hotel room, making a scavenger hunt, or just spacing out the delivery of the envelopes.
25. Go to a church service
See how other cultures do church and experience a traditional religious service in the place where you’re traveling.
Many churches offer musical performances or Christmas Eve midnight mass or a candlelight church service. You’ll probably see signs when you’re walking around, but you can also ask at the hotel front desk for guidance.
26. Donate to charity
You could either do a donation and tell each family member about it on Christmas Day, instead of handing out presents.
Or you could give each family member a budget and let them choose a charity for you to donate to in their name.
Share with each other why everyone chose their organization and how it’s important to them.
27. Give back
Find out if you can volunteer where you’re traveling.
This is a great idea for anyone who is traveling slow and wants to get to know a local community. Reach out to a community organization or an online expat community for ideas.
If you happen to get a meal or a coffee from a cafe that offers suspended meals or coffee, buy a few for people who can’t afford them.
28. Give amazing experiences
Surprise your family with special experience gifts, like concert tickets, amusement park tickets, sports tickets, or a special tour.
A great choice would be an amazing experience off your travel bucket list, tickets to a sold out event, or admission to something everyone really wanted to do, but that’s a splurge.
When you gift an experience when traveling for the holidays, you’ll be creating another memory together!
29. Give everyone a book for Christmas
You can choose a paperback book or send a Kindle version. Reading together is a nice way to unwind after long days spent sight-seeing.
30. Include others
Be friendly to the people you meet while traveling. Consider inviting another group of travelers to go out for a meal with you.
If you meet any students traveling at Christmas, ask them about their experiences. Connecting with others is an essential part of traveling and of Christmas.
31. Enjoy a Christmas tree
Find a public space or special site with gorgeous decorated Christmas trees and take a group photo.
If you’re staying in a rental, ask if it’s possible to have a Christmas tree set up when you arrive.
If you’re staying in a hotel, spend some time at the tree in the lobby.
32. Watch your favorite Christmas movies together
You can probably stream loads of Christmas movies wherever you go.
If you think your streaming service might not work at your destination, download your favorite Christmas movie to a device before you leave home.
33. Make a Christmas playlist
Create a unique playlist of your favorite holiday music.
If your wifi might be sketchy, download your playlist to your phone or computer. Being able to listen to your favorite Christmas songs will set the right mood!
If you are traveling with kids or teens, give them this job!
34. Visit Christmas Markets
Christmas markets are huge in Europe! German Christmas Markets might be the most famous, but you’ll find amazing markets in Spain, France, Italy, and basically any other European country!
You can find special gifts at the markets and also sample the good food and drink of the city you’re in.
I’ll never forget sharing hot chocolate and churros at Christmas in Spain with my teenagers or having spiced wine at the German Christmas markets with my husband and our friends.
35. Facetime friends and family
Set aside some time to video chat or call friends and family back home.
Getting to wish your loved ones a Merry Christmas will certainly fill you with Christmas cheer.
36. Send gifts in advance
If you’ll be traveling to see friends or family over the holidays, and you don’t want to deal with hauling gifts on a flight, consider ordering your gifts online and shipping gifts directly to the location you’ll be staying. (Amazon makes it easy.)
Order some gift wrap, gift bags, tissue paper, tape, and gift tags too, so you’re prepared to wrap when you arrive.
You don’t want to need to go shopping once you arrive, rather than spend time with the people you’re there to see. And you may not want or have room to lug all the gifts with you.
37. Let Santa Know
If you have small children, they might worry about how Santa Claus will find them.
You can have them write a letter to Santa explaining where you’re going. If you get to do a visit with Santa, your child can tell him directly.
Then reassure your young children that their presents will be delivered to your house or that Santa will know where to find them on Christmas Eve–however you plan to make the magic happen.
38. Talk about past Christmases
Share your favorite memories of Christmases over the years.
This is a good chance to remember people who are no longer with you or talk about any family traditions you might be missing.
39. Reflect on this Christmas
Talk about favorite memories you’ve made so far on this trip.
Also reflect on the memories you’ve made on other family vacations over the years. Being grateful for time together is a wonderful part of Christmas.
40. Use the right mantra
If you just keep thinking, “There’s no place like home for the holidays,” or singing, “I’ll be home for Christmas,” you’ll probably feel sad and homesick.
Tell yourself, “Home is where the heart is,” and remember that the magic of Christmas doesn’t come from always celebrating it in the same place or the same way, year after year.
41. Ring in the New Year
If you’ll still be traveling on December 31, find out what New Year’s Eve celebrations will be happening where you are. Go participate in the festivities!
42. Be gentle with yourself
If you’ve changed up your Christmas plans because of difficult things that happened this last year, and you didn’t want to spend Christmas holidays at home, find a way to honor your challenges or losses.
Perhaps light a special candle, say a prayer, or send a message to the universe–whatever feels right to you.
Even if you’re thrilled to be traveling at Christmas for a much-needed vacation, you might find yourself suddenly a little homesick. Take a feel all the feelings that come with the season.
43. Allow extra time
Remember that holiday travel can be stressful and travel plans don’t always go smoothly.
Your whole family will have an easier time traveling if you allow plenty of time for getting to the airport and checking in, or driving to your destination. Try to be patient with your fellow travelers.
44. Make a photo book
Make a photo book of your Christmas travels after you return home. Document your Christmas away from home by taking lots of photos while you’re traveling.
Then compile a great photo book to remember the experience. Order one for each member of the family, so that when your kids are older, they each have their own copy.
Remember to give an advent calendar to your favorite traveler!
Amazing Christmas Travel Destinations
Where to travel for Christmas? There are so many choices!
There are so many amazing places to travel to at Christmastime. Wherever you go, take your festive spirit with you!
Here are ten suggestions for the best places to vacation at Christmas:
1. Rovaniemi, Finland
Did you know Santa Claus is actually from Finland? Venture up to Lappland to visit Santa Claus Village for an Arctic experience. Ride a snowmobile and a reindeer sleigh! If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the Northern Lights.
This is as close to the North Pole as you’re likely to ever be! If you’re looking for the most epic Christmas experience, I recommend Finland!
2. New York City, uSA
Head to New York to see the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, go ice-skating in Central Park, browse window displays along Fifth Avenue, and see the famous Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
3. Quebec City, Canada
Go to Quebec City for a white Christmas. Stay at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, perhaps the ultimate Christmas hotel. Take a Christmas tour of Quebec City, experience a winter wonderland, and go tobogganing.
4. Berlin, Germany
Experience some of Berlin’s more than 50 different Christmas markets! Enjoy a day shopping, food tastings, mulled wine, and more, surrounded by twinkling lights.
5. Paris, France
Explore Paris without the crowds of summer and enjoy French Christmas traditions and special French Christmas foods. Take a tour to explore the most magical Christmas spots in Paris.
6. Rome, Italy
Where better to experience midnight mass, nativity scenes, and Christmas cakes? Take a guided walking tour to experience some lesser known sites.
7. Zurich, Switzerland
Experience amazing Christmas markets plus the world’s best chocolate and a hike through the snow.
8. Vienna, Austria
Charming Vienna is yet another amazing option for spectacular Christmas markets. Where better to listen to concerts of classical Christmas music? Be sure to try the Sachertorte!
9. London, England
London is certainly charming during this time of year! Enjoy cozy pubs, afternoon tea, lots of shopping, and plenty of Christmas decorations! See the lights of London on a walking tour or on a private Black Cab tour.
10. Sydney, Australia
Trade the Northern Hemisphere’s cold weather for sunny Australia and spend Christmas day on the beach and take a Christmas Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour! Don’t miss Sydney’s famous Christmas light displays!
Final thoughts on celebrating christmas on vacation
Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to step outside of your normal family routines. Going on a vacation at Christmas or living abroad at Christmas might feel challenging, because the holiday is a time of tradition and ritual.
But with a little planning, you can capture the essential elements of Christmas and have a lot of fun wherever you are!
It’s okay if you feel a little sad or anxious about traveling, or if you’re homesick at Christmas. If you decided to travel at Christmas because you’ve had a rough past year, go ahead and mourn what you’ve lost.
If you’re away from home because you aren’t able to travel back home or you’re in the middle of a family gap year, embrace a new tradition or two this Christmas season.
When you’re traveling for the holidays, don’t be afraid to make new Christmas traditions or put a fresh spin on the special things you’ve always done!
These tips for celebrating Christmas away from home will help you enjoy the Christmas season wherever you are!
When you’re traveling, you might choose to celebrate Christmas without gifts, or at least with fewer gifts than you normally give and receive. After all, the best gift is time together.
The constraint of having to fit everything into your luggage might actually be the secret to focusing on the non-materialistic aspects of the holiday.
Whether your Christmas travels mean a road trip or an international flight, a solo jaunt adventuring with your whole family, have a great time celebrating Christmas wherever you go!
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and you can experience the holiday spirit even if you’re not home for the holidays!
If you liked this article, check out some of my best mom hacks for traveling with kids!
