Travel question

[blinker]

Summer vacation is turning out to be way hard to schedule this year and Kelly's parents are ditching us for Christmas, so we are thinking about a big vacation at the end of December. We may do something within the US, but we're also thinking about non-US destinations.

The one thing I want to avoid is going someplace where everything is closed because of Christmas. So far, that has me thinking of Israel or possibly somewhere in Asia. I know that I have some fairly well-traveled readers. Any recommendations for where to go or where to definitely not go at the end of December?

Comments

a vote against edinburgh

[hfnuala.livejournal.com]

Loads of people come here for Xmas/New Year - it seems to be part of the 'year off' ritual and personally I really don't understand why. It's miserable here then, dark and wet and cold. That said there are a couple of good spectacles - but there's always the risk you'll get rained on while trying to see them. For me, around here is at it's most beuatiful in May and June and that's also when it's worth heading north and going walking into the incredibly long evening.

Re: a vote against edinburgh

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

I do want to visit Edinburgh, but it hadn't occurred to me to go in December.

One of the downsides of having married an educator is that vacation times other than mid-summer are heavily restricted. So when we go, it will probably be in July or August.

Re: a vote against edinburgh

[hfnuala.livejournal.com]

It's still good here in July and August, it's just slightly more likely to rain and busier with tourists - whereas May/June it's still relatively quiet.

My favourite Xmas when I was a kid was the one we spent in Goa. It was beautiful weather but not too hot and I don't think anywhere closed. But it is a long trip from the US and I dunno how much time you guys will have off.

[call-me-al.livejournal.com]

the winter holiday season's pretty fun in russia, and christmas is 2 weeks after everyone else has it (january 7) :)
but then of course it's very very cold and i might not be here for new year's and moscow's a lot more fun when you've got someone showing you around.