4 Countries I Recommend Visiting For A Winter Vacation

Feather Charm

12 hours ago

5 min read

Hello Everyone!

It’s that time of the year again, where the weather is turning, the leaves are falling, and winter is coming (I’m not sure if the reference is intended…but we’ll go with it). Some of us love winter, some of us don’t, so I have a few suggestions. Today, I’ll be talking about the 4 countries I recommend visiting, in winter. Some of them will be far from the winter chill, and others will embrace it, so come with me around the world, to either escape the season or celebrate it.

1. Warm & Sunny Barbados

I’ve been to Barbados twice in my life, and one of those times was around Christmas. I remember walking across the street from our hotel, to check out the small outlets there, for a change in scenery, and Christmas decorations were already twinkling in the shop windows. Honestly, I’m glad we went when we did, because we didn’t have the summer crowds, and the beaches were much quieter. Yes, there were days when the waves were a little choppy, but who doesn’t love riding them, as they crash onto the beach?

I will say though, if you are going to the Caribbean for your winter getaway, you might want to think about booking an all-inclusive stay. While beach winter breaks are quieter, there might not be as much activity around, as there would be in summer. Or if you do want to experience the local culture, do your research first, before booking, to find out when certain events are on, and be prepared with back up plans, if things are cancelled last minute.

2. A Fairytale In Belgium

I love Belgium. I’ve been there three times, and I still want to go back. The streets of Belgium, and in particular Bruges are perfect for that fairytale Christmas holiday. From the hundreds of chocolate shops lining the streets to the light shows at night in the Grand Palace Square, in Brussels, the whole country lights up with magic, around Christmas. I loved wandering the many small streets and markets that literally stand on every corner, and in every park. Not to mention, there was a biscuit shop (I don’t remember the name, but I remember how it looked) close to the Grand Palace Square that I was obsessed with, for a year, until we went back. I really want to go back and see if it’s still there, althought I'm pretty sure it's been changed into a chocolate shop now.

Nevertheless, if you want to live the magic of Christmas, then come to Belgium, sit in one of the local hole-in-the wall cafes and sip on the most delicate hot chocolates you’ve ever tasted. Wander the streets and find those hidden gems that only the locals will know about and come home with your suitcase full of chocolate bars…you can always buy new clothes. In fact, I highly recommend you travel out to Bruges, the streets there are quieter than the capital, and they are so much more picturesque as well, as the city is proud of its heritage and history.

3. The Philippines Celebrations

For those of you who don’t know, my family is from The Philippines, although I was born in the UK, but when I was child, we’d travel to The Philippines, on occasion. It’s been a while, since we went back (the last trip we took there was when I was sixteen…almost…2 decades ago…geez!). However, I distinctly remember (because we also have home videos of it) when it was Christmas there. I remember how fun it was, since we were there with family, but even as a tourist, it’s a good place to go, if you want to experience Christmas and New Years there.

I remember just how loud it was, when New Years Day came. All the fireworks, all the sparklers and firecrackers were set up and set off. It was such a fun night. Yes, I was a child back then, but seeing those fireworks up close was really something else. Not only that, but you would also step out onto the street just to watch the entire neighbourhood light up. It’s worth going, just to experience what the celebrations are like there. Of course, I don’t want to discount the weather and the beauty of its natural world. If you’re not going to celebrate in the city, head to the countryside and experience the clean waters of its beaches. It really is a testament to its natural beauty, and if you can, take a snorkel with you, so you can see the life beneath its waters more clearly.

4. Have Some Bratwurst In Germany

I think I shouldn’t miss this one out, especially since most Christmas markets have some form of Bavarian culture intertwined in its makeup. If you love Christmas markets, then you’ll be very familiar with Bratwursts and Mulled Wine. Well, look no further than its birthplace. Did you know that the Christmas tradition of decorating a pine tree with baubles and lights came from Germany? Why not visit its origin and experience the history and culture that gave us our modern-day traditions? When I visited Berlin, it was with the whole family. All my cousins, aunts, uncles and even my grandpa, joined my family and I, in a grand trip to Germany.

It was so much fun, and a very rare occurrence, since it takes an entire army to plan for something like that, especially since people’s schedules could vary. We were lucky to have that one outing, and I’d be surprised if we ever do something like that again, but that’s a story for another time. Nevertheless, the trip was so much fun, and while we were visiting at the tail end of the Christmas market season, there were still plenty to explore and browse. In fact, we even came home with a few goodies from those stalls. So, it’s worth checking out, if you’re looking to experience the true Christmas Market tradition.

I Know, 4 Countries for a Winter Vacation Isn’t Enough

Honestly, I did want to include more countries onto this list of winter vacations, but I haven’t actually experienced enough myself. Most of my Christmas wanderings have been here in the UK, and who knows, I may do a post on that soon. As it stands, I haven’t actually been away from home at Christmas enough to make a full blog post about it, and I don’t want to lie to you guys. So, you’re going to get just 4 countries from me, for now. Who knows, with a little more time and a little more experience, I may be able to visit others, and tell you all about them.

Anyway, that’s it from me for today. I hope you guys are inspired to go visit these countries, if not for winter, then for any other season of the year. They are all worth checking out and experiencing. I know which ones I want to go back to, although, I’d need to save up first. For now, I’m just going to go back to the drawing board, and plan the next trip, if I can. While I go do that, please don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment, share and follow me, here on Feather’s Charm, on my YouTube channel, on my other social media channels (Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok), and on Patreon. Your support really does help me make more content like this, for you guys.