Family traveling over the Christmas holidays can be a wonderful experience, but it does bring up a few questions. What will you do about Christmas Day gift-opening traditions? What about Santa? Will everything be closed? Or too crowded?
How you observe the holidays will depend largely on the ages of your children. With young children, the question of how Santa will find them if they’re not home in their beds is sure to arise. Be prepared. Older children may be invested in your family traditions, so make clear to kids ahead that this Christmas will be different, and they shouldn’t expect all the usual activities. Present it as an opportunity to add some new traditions.
Exchange Gifts Before Your Trip
One option, of course, is to have your Christmas gift exchange early, before leaving. But you will still want some way to celebrate Christmas Day, especially if you’re traveling in countries where it is celebrated. You’ll find very little open on Christmas Day, and in some cultures Christmas Eve and the following day. Be aware of these local closing days and plan activities with them in mind.
Take Part in Christmas Traditions of Your Destinations
If you’re traveling where Christmas is celebrated, immerse yourself in learning how locals celebrate, and join them wherever you can. Watch parades, visit live nativity scenes, marvel at light displays in parks and public places, and shop in the Christmas markets. Take easy-to-carry tissue paper for wrapping and encourage innovative wrapping, such as a scarf tied around a gift.
Throughout Europe and Latin America, Christmas markets are common and will be filled with small items, such as nativity figures, Christmas tree ornaments and other small decorations to add to your own Christmases back home. Perhaps each child could choose a Christmas tree ornament as a trip souvenir to enjoy for future Christmases.
Make Travel Experiences the Gift
Make the trip itself a gift by giving experiences in the form of “tickets” easily made on cards or folded paper. Make “coupons” for gelato in Rome, or gingerbread in Germany; these could also be “tickets” for a ride on a mountain train or cable car, ice skating at a Christmas market pop-up rink, or for a trip to a castle decorated for Christmas. Do a little research to find special activities to appeal to each child.
If you are traveling to places where Christmas is not a local holiday, be sure you know what they do celebrate in December. Many other cultures have winter holidays that may close attractions, restaurants and facilities. If you learn of local holidays, find out how they are celebrated and whether any of the activities are ones your family can join, such as watching parades or bonfires or light displays or attending festivals.
Check Ahead of Time for Dining
Dining on Christmas Day may be tricky in places where it is a holiday, so before you go, research the dining scene for wherever you’ll be Dec 24–26. If you can, make reservations online for dinners each night. Find out if your hotel’s restaurant will be open and make a reservation as “insurance” in case other places are closed. You can always cancel it if you find somewhere else open.
However you celebrate during your holiday trip, it will be a Christmas your kids will never forget.
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