Ten best places to spend Christmas

The old song says that there is “no place like home for the holidays”, but for many the holiday season is a rare chance to travel or explore areas that are normally busy, crowded or outside of a standard budget.

There are some great opportunities for travelling both near and far during the holiday season, including:

Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is home to history, cozy streets covered with snow and holiday lights, and some of the finest street and market shopping in the world. Visitors can enjoy an old-fashioned New England Holiday in the middle of a cosmopolitan area full of great hotels and fine dining.

Orlando, Florida
Orland sees an increased number of guests over the traditional holiday season, especially during the week between Christmas and the New Year, but it also offers some of its best deals and bargains on hotels, car rentals, airfare and dining during this time as well.

Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is a very popular destination year round, but the entire city is transformed into a “winter wonderland” from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Many guests choose to stay right in the heart of the city at the Gaylord Opryland with its acres of enclosed gardens and millions of lights and ornaments.

San Antonio, Texas
San Antonia enjoys fine weather throughout the holidays, and millions of visitors come to enjoy the highly decorative Riverwalk and the city's multi-cultural celebrations, including traditional Mexican meals and several Catholic midnight mass events.

New York City, New York
New York can hardly be matched by any other city in the world, and though the cost of a visit over the holidays will not offer any bargains, there is plenty of “free” enjoyment simply strolling the streets, enjoying the window dressings and many holiday activities all around.

London, England
London is always a popular destination, but even more so during the holidays, when the city is significantly less crowded and many hotels offer discounts.

Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh hosts remarkable holiday celebrations, particularly on New Year's Eve, and the city is becoming quite a holiday hotspot!

Malmo, Sweden 
Malmo, Sweden is as cozy a Christmas or holiday setting as possible. Sixteenth century buildings and squares, incredible food, enormous fireplaces and the peaceful quiet of the winter all add up to a refreshing and soothing seasonal celebration.

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico celebrates the holidays with colorful and delicious events, gorgeous lights and family-style meals. Visitors enjoy an extra-warm welcome from the Puerto Rican people during the holiday season.

Southern Germany
Southern Germany boasts some of the most “old-fashioned” Christmas scenery, decorations and traditional foods in the world and will really create a holiday vacation to remember.