‘We ditch Christmas in the UK and go abroad instead – it’s more relaxing’ | Travel News | Travel

A couple have thrown out the conventional  Christmas playbook, opting to travel the globe rather than partake in the customary UK festivities.

Cathy Skelton, 28, from Liverpool, has shunned the festive frenzy since 2022 for adventures with her partner.

Amid the Christmas countdown, many brave the high street battles, icy chills and domestic dilemmas – but Cathy and her partner chart a different course.

Explaining their winter wanderlust, Cathy disclosed: “Having a trip booked gives you something to look forward to throughout the winter months and it meant we got to spend quality time together, whilst also doing what we love exploring and travelling.”

Their latest festive voyage saw them jet off to the enchanting terrains of Iceland. Cathy added: “I’ve always dreamed of going to a winter wonderland over the Christmas period.”

The passion for both travel and the great outdoors runs deep for the duo, leading them to Iceland’s majestic landscapes, as Cathy explained: “Both myself and my partner love to travel and experience new things, plus we are both outdoors-ey people, so figured where better to visit than Iceland.”

Their December jaunt was marked by an unprecedented ease, Cathy notes, contrasting this serenity with typical yuletide commotion: “With both of our families based at different ends of the country, Christmas is usually a little chaotic, travelling backwards and forwards with lots of people to see.

“Usually, I’m packing up presents and rushing around the shops, but last year was filled with planning excursions and exchanging currency. It was just what we needed after a busy period at work before starting the new year and doing it all over again.”

For Cathy and her partner, Christmas took a thrilling detour from the usual festive frenzy back home: “We stayed in Reykjavik, as most tourists do, and travelled out of the city each day on excursions. This also meant we got to explore the Christmas markets which were spread across the city centre and are named as one of the best in Europe.”

Describing a particularly enchanting spot, she added: “We visited a natural lagoon which had been developed into a luxury spa. It had hot spring infinity pools, outside ice plunge pools and a sauna looking over an iceberg and it was the perfect way to round off the year.”

Amidst a growing trend for Yuletide wanderlust, research from Scott Dunn, a luxury travel provider, reveals a burgeoning appetite among Brits for festive holidays. As many as 37% are now choosing to celebrate Christmas abroad, dwarfing the mere 11% from 2023.

Scott Dunn has noted sky-high booking rates for December getaways, with Finland basking in a 34% leap in interest. Meanwhile, Switzerland has become a magnet for winter wonder, boasting a robust 65% growth in demand, and Austria charms with its 35% uptick in Christmas holidaymakers.