It might seem a bit too early to start thinking about gift giving during the holiday season—but not if you want to give the greatest gift of all: a travel experience! It pays to start planning a winter escape now, so you and your family have the widest selection of accommodation options available.
I truly do think a vacation is the best gift your family can “unwrap” this holiday season. It instills the value of experiences over physical things, and it gives you all the most precious—and scarce—resource you have: time spent together. I don’t know about you, but I know my family’s closets are all bursting with “stuff,” but we could always use more quality time with one another!
If you’re thinking of wrapping up plane tickets instead of presents this year, here are three top ideas for a memory-making family holiday escape:
New York City
If your family likes to stay busy during your vacations, you’ll love a visit to the Big Apple—since there’s so much to see, do, taste, and explore! I think NYC is simply magical around the holidays, too; you can ice skate at Rockefeller Center in front of the soaring Christmas tree, take in a holiday show like the iconic Rockettes on Broadway, browse the stalls of Christmas markets while sipping hot chocolate, or go visit santa at the original FAO Schwartz toy store.
In fact, for a recent birthday, my daughter asked for a trip to NYC instead of any presents, and we had a blast roaming the city together. Yes, New York can get chilly during the wintertime, but since so many must-do activities take place inside, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to warm up before you get back outside to stroll the festive streets.
Dreams resorts in Mexico
Maybe instead of bundling up on a vacation, you’re looking to pack a bathing suit or two. For a relaxing family escape full of sunshine, I recommend the Dreams resorts in Mexico. These family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts make it easy to simply pack, hop on a plane, and arrive and unwind with your family—and the properties themselves are gorgeous!
I’ve had clients stay at several different Dreams resorts in Mexico, and they all have loved their stays. On the East Coast, consider Dreams Riviera Cancun with its stunning beachfront setting and crown jewel infinity pool. On the Pacific side, you can check into Dreams Bahia Mita for surfing, nearby golf courses, and a lush mountains-meet-sea setting. This Dreams property is also right next to its sister resort, the adults-only Secrets—if you wanted to enjoy a multigenerational family escape, kid-free grown ups could stay at Secrets while your family enjoys Dreams, and you all can enjoy time together!
Breckenridge, Colorado
For active, adventurous families, nothing beats a holiday ski vacation. Enjoy a winter wonderland of snow-draped slopes, and apres-ski time spent roasting marshmallows around a fire pit! A personal favorite ski region of mine is Breckenridge—the quaint town is super family friendly and you have plenty of ski in/ski out resorts to choose from. The town itself boasts a fascinating Gold Rush history, so when your family needs a break from the slopes you can tour a former gold mine, or stroll the picturesque old town that features gorgeous Victorian architecture.
Ready to start planning your own holiday escape? I’d love to help! You can learn more about my comprehensive travel design services right here, or fill out my trip inquiry form to get started now.
