{"id":18649,"date":"2022-11-11T20:02:13","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T20:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/?p=18649"},"modified":"2025-09-23T19:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T19:43:09","slug":"unique-destinations-holiday-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/travel\/unique-destinations-holiday-travel","title":{"rendered":"Unique Destinations for Holiday Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spend a magical <\/b>time in Belize<\/b>, dive with <\/b>Great Barrier Reef turtles<\/b>, and more!<\/b><\/p>\n

Germany<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Scandinavia<\/span><\/a> often make it to the top of so many holiday bucket lists. And while they and <\/span>many other places<\/span><\/a> have earned their festive reputations, plenty of other <\/span>unique travel destinations<\/span> that also deserve the holiday spotlight.
\n<\/span>
\nFrom jungle explorations in <\/span>Belize<\/span><\/a> to scuba diving in Australia, we\u2019ll show you places packed with incredible culture, food, and attractions for a truly unforgettable holiday vacation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cave
Ever tried cave tubing instead of stocking stuffing?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Belize<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Love the Christmas season, but don\u2019t love cold weather? Then sink your toes into the golden sands of Belize for the holidays! <\/span>With a huge variety of activities<\/span><\/a> to choose from, it\u2019s a dream for adventure and relaxation seekers alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make it a truly tropical holiday by exploring Mayflower Bocawina National Park, a 7000-acre rainforest with ziplining, hikes, and waterfall rappelling! After that, take to the streets to see how the locals do the holidays. Throughout Christmas week, costumed dancers called <\/span>Jankunu<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Charikanari <\/span><\/i>parade the streets to the beat of Caribbean drums!
\n<\/span>
\nAnd what holiday is complete without tasty meals? <\/span>Belize has that<\/span><\/a>, too. Be sure to try some <\/span>rumpopo<\/span><\/i>, the Belizean version of eggnog featuring the country\u2019s own Caribbean White Rum!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Aerial
In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated for almost an entire month!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Merida, Mexico<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Merida is the crown jewel of the <\/span>Yucat\u00e1n<\/span><\/a>, and with good reason. Why not end the year at a destination that was named one of the <\/span>top places to visit<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A big part of the holidays is about honoring traditions and history\u2013and this colonial city is <\/span>rich<\/span><\/i> with both. Take scenic tours to view the city\u2019s highlights, like the Monument to the Country, a stone carving depicting the history of Mexico. You\u2019ll also be able to visit a historic hacienda that produces Xtabent\u00fan, a Mayan liqueur exclusive to the Yucat\u00e1n.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to travel farther back in time? You can <\/span>explore ancient Mayan ruins<\/span><\/a>, like the Temple of Kukulkan. It\u2019s one of the seven man-made wonders of the world!<\/span><\/p>\n

And if you like driving through neighborhoods to see Christmas lights, you\u2019ll love Merida. From November to December, the entire city is decorated with towering Christmas trees!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Aerial
Explore the cultural and natural wonders of New Zealand for the holidays.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New Zealand<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

For Kiwis <\/span>(New Zealanders)<\/span><\/i>, the Christmas season is all about spending time outdoors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Locals often enjoy Christmas barbecues on the beach! You\u2019re welcome to have your own BBQ feast as you kick back in the beaches, Polynesian spas, or hot water springs of <\/span>Auckland<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s one of the<\/span> top cities to visit<\/span>, and even has a beach called <\/span>Christmas Beach<\/span><\/i>! What\u2019s more festive than that?<\/span><\/p>\n

A unique holiday destination wouldn\u2019t be complete without special sights. In New Zealand, the traditional Christmas trees aren\u2019t pines, but <\/span>pohutukawas<\/span><\/i>, large trees filled with striking red flowers and found on many holiday cards. Be sure to take a card home to remember your trip!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Two
Sun, surf, AND scuba diving for the holidays? Count us in!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Australia<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Just across the Tasman Sea lies another holiday-travel gem\u2026 Australia! Whether you plan to go to New Zealand, The Land Down Under, <\/span>or <\/span>both<\/span><\/i><\/a>,<\/span> you\u2019ll be <\/span>spoiled for options<\/span><\/a> for off-beat holiday experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n

Try <\/span>Cairns, Queensland<\/span><\/a>, to explore the <\/span>natural wonders<\/span><\/a> of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. You won\u2019t find reindeer here, but you <\/span>will<\/span><\/i> be among nearly 10,000 species of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife!
\n<\/span>
\nJust one hour away is <\/span>Port Douglas<\/span><\/a>, where you can have a white Christmas\u2013not in the snow, but in <\/span>white-sand<\/span><\/i> beaches! It has a private-island vibe, so you can chill on the beach, take a leisurely swim through Mossman Gorge, or go on a Low Isles snorkeling tour for a truly relaxing holiday escape.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Spend a magical time in Belize, dive with Great Barrier Reef turtles, and more! Germany and Scandinavia often make it … read more<\/a>","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":18669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,69,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","category-mexico","category-travel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUnique Destinations for Holiday Travel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/travel\/unique-destinations-holiday-travel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Unique Destinations for Holiday Travel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Spend a magical time in Belize, dive with Great Barrier Reef turtles, and more! 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