Warming Up For Christmas

Trade dull, grey skies and woollies for mimosas on the beach, in breezy dresses. Here are some destinations where sunny days set the mood for the holidays

- Shilpa Nair Anand and Anasuya Menon

How about lazing on a beach this Christmas? From beaches and water sports to safaris, carnivals and shopping, Christmas is an exciting time for travellers. The number of Indians travelling abroad is pegged at around 50 million in 2019, according to an estimate by the UN World Tourism Organisation. And choices are veering towards coffee plantation visits, adventure sports and leisurely walks through vineyards.

Comfortable in Costa Brava

With temperatures hovering around 15 degree C, Costa Brava is warmer, compared to other European destinations. Blending history and luxury effortlessly, the land has much to offer the new-age traveller. The Empuriabrava, the little Venice of Costa Brava, home to the ‘Peralada’, a 13th-century castle converted into a luxury hotel, is a must-visit. “Christmas in Girona, a province in Catalonia, lasts for two weeks with plenty of things to do. At Plaça Independència, a Christmas market runs throughout December, where one can find handmade products and typical festive sweets,” says Namrata Malu, CEO of VR Costa Brava, a destination management company.

Artist Salvador Dali was born in Figueres, in the region, and Girona was one of the locations where Game of Thrones was filmed, too.

The Christmas market at Rambla Llibertat displays Christmas-related goodies. “In Catalonia, many villages put on live cribs that have villagers dressing up as characters from the Nativity scene,” she adds.

Sun-soaked South Africa

When Christmas arrives in South Africa, they say, one can feel it in the air. The streets of Cape Town are infused with the aroma of braai, a barbecue with yellow rice, raisins and vegetables, the local traditional Christmas meal. Follow it up with malva pudding, a South African dessert.