Christmas 2018 is on the employee's side. By taking just a few days of holiday, you can have a long holiday, which is perfect for travelling somewhere, for example. But where should you go? We tell you about our (unfinished) plans, and we're curious about yours!
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Maximising holiday time this Christmas
If you work, and don't have a job that requires you to work holidays, you have a good chance of having a long holiday this Christmas. Both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on Mondays, which means you will automatically have many days off.
You can either take two days of holiday (27 and 28 December) and get a total of 11 days of leave or take five days of holiday (27 and 28 December and 2-4 January) and get a total of 16 days of leave. The only question is what to do with the leave? We haven't decided yet and are considering several different options ...
Travelling to the heat
Travelling to the warmth would be great! We've looked at destinations like Philippines, Cape Verde, Borneo, Sri Lanka and Tel Aviv in Israel. There are plenty of exciting and inspiring destinations, but unfortunately, travelling over Christmas is expensive.
Travelling elsewhere
We have also thought about travelling somewhere else, where it is not hot. Maybe you can get a much cheaper trip, but still an interesting experience? For example, one winter we travelled to Budapestand it was a great experience even though it was cold.
Staying at home in Sweden
Another option, of course, is to stay in Sweden. You can stay at home and enjoy the snow (hopefully) and socialise with family and friends, or perhaps travel within the country and stay in a comfortable hotel. As you can hear, we simply haven't decided yet...
What will you do for Christmas?
Now we're curious... What are your plans for Christmas? Are you planning to stay at home or go away? If so, where are you travelling to, and have you booked your trip yet?
And if you are wintering with a motorhome in southern Europe, what are your plans for Christmas? Are you flying home for the holidays or staying in southern Europe, and if so, in which country?
You might also like:
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Christmas presents - Christmas gift tips and 15 interesting facts
Christmas markets in Sweden - 12 Christmas markets
Christmas rhymes - 25 tips for Christmas presents with rhymes
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Reiselinda says:
It will be nice to have a long holiday over Christmas. Probably take time off in the middle days. But as it looks, there will be Christmas celebrations with us, and then we will be dog guards over New Year, so there will be no trip this year. Merry Christmas!
16 September 2018 - 7:52
Helena says:
It sounds like you will be able to have a long nice Christmas holiday at home! 🙂
16 September 2018 - 9:14
Lennartt says:
Hope to celebrate Christmas in the south.
16 September 2018 - 8:30
Helena says:
Sounds great!
16 September 2018 - 9:15
Backe says:
Good Christmas to be free. We leave on Christmas Day for the Harz National Park in Germany to hike for about 10 days. Then it is also good to stock up on supplies (drinkable) in Germany. Hope you also find something nice.
16 September 2018 - 8:42
Helena says:
Great! I was in the Harz when I was 11 or so, haven't been there since ?
18 September 2018 - 19:32
Rolle o Carina says:
Sending over a simple answer: Florida, can't wait to go there again 🙂.
Have a good time and dream on...
16 September 2018 - 9:05
Helena says:
Yes, Florida you usually talk warmly about! Thanks for the tips 🙂
16 September 2018 - 9:16
4000mil says:
As an every-other-week parent, you have either Christmas or New Year free for travelling. Not both. When the other two parents have their own plans that do not synchronise, there is not much left...
We travel this year 14-24/12 because Christofer has promised to be home until the 25th when his children's mother leaves. We are travelling to the Maldives and Kerala in southern India.
Then this week we received an invitation to a wedding in Sri Lanka on 29 December, which we unfortunately have to decline.
16 September 2018 - 9:08
Helena says:
Not easy to get the puzzle together, I understand that!!! Wow, how exciting with the Maldives and Kerala, sounds fantastic! And oh, how it hurts me when I hear that you had to decline the wedding in Sri Lanka...! But sometimes it really isn't possible.
16 September 2018 - 9:17
Emilie - Travels by Knutte says:
There will be 16 days off for me but probably no travel. Have not really decided yet. I do not know if I can go home and be free for so long while the family probably wants to meet one around Christmas. In addition, the trips are so expensive! I have looked at Sri Lanka and have not given up that dream completely yet.
16 September 2018 - 9:15
Helena says:
Sri Lanka sounds exciting! As always, it is cheaper to travel any other time than during Christmas, but it is easiest to get time off then ...
16 September 2018 - 9:18
Sara says:
We are travelling back to Kenya, the son's birth country ? the first time back there since we had him. Will spend time in Nairobi, on safari and on the coast. A wonderful country to travel in!
16 September 2018 - 9:19
Helena says:
But oh how exciting! What an amazing trip you have to look forward to! We have been to Kenya twice and like the country a lot. Unfortunately, we have not been on safari yet because both trips were a bit special (the first time there was unrest in the country and the second time we were there for a wedding), but it may be another time sometime in the future 😉 Wish you a nice trip!
16 September 2018 - 9:27
Sara says:
We lived there for eleven months and did many safaris! But I don't think I'll ever get tired of safaris!
16 September 2018 - 9:45
Helena says:
Interesting to spend so much time there! Hope we also get to experience the safari at some point 🙂 ðŸ™'
16 September 2018 - 19:53
Lisa / livetfrandenljusasidan.se says:
There will be full focus on winter and a long stay in Åre. Drove the same last year and had intended to go to the heat this year - but it was so lovely in Åre so will be the same again this year. But next year, then it will be Zanzibar I think!
16 September 2018 - 9:22
Helena says:
It sounds like you have a great time in Åre, so you will surely have a great time! And Zanzibar is still there for another year 🙂 🙂
16 September 2018 - 9:27
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
I will probably work the two days in between to give others the chance to be free. We have no special plans for Christmas, but a trip in November, Mexico and in March, a month in Spain (as a newly retired person).
16 September 2018 - 10:06
Helena says:
Oh you have many trips to look forward to! Wonderful!
16 September 2018 - 19:51
Ama de casa says:
No plans yet, first it is important to see how "whole" I am when Christmas is approaching. We have spent most Christmases in the last 12 years here in Torrevieja - it is usually nice here then. Then we are not referred to the holidays for the holidays, so it feels unnecessary to pay overpriced prices.
But one thing I feel - I probably have to go back to Prague sometime. Was soooo eager to buy those beautiful Christmas baubles when we were there. However, Anders managed to convince me that we would never get them home in full condition. I was more gullible in the past 😉.
16 September 2018 - 10:33
Helena says:
Understand that you have a great time in Torrevieja over Christmas! And most importantly with health!!! Then I am extremely impressed that you remember that the Christmas baubles are photographed in Prague!!!!
16 September 2018 - 19:54
Steve says:
Already making Christmas plans. No, I'm keeping all the Christmas thoughts away from me for a while longer. That's what I can do when I have all the time in the world and also use the time completely according to my own head.
However, I already know where I will be travelling. Nowhere.
16 September 2018 - 11:21
Helena says:
I understand you!!! Especially if you are going to travel far, you have to start thinking well in advance. Otherwise I would not plan Christmas yet either!!!
16 September 2018 - 19:55
Ditte says:
There are so many things. We haven't decided at all. As for Cape Verde, it was nothing at all for us. I will not sunbathe and other options there were few. Yes, swimming but it is not enough. Sri Lanka offers everything. Our daughters were born there and we have been there several times. For the next trip, we are waiting for the grandchildren to be a year older and have more benefit from a trip there again. We have visited the Philippines and Borneo and like them both. Borneo offers many fantastic animals and nature experiences along with beaches.
Great to see what you choose.
16 September 2018 - 13:00
Helena says:
If you are not going to sunbathe, Cape Verde may not be the right destination, I can understand that! And yes, your daughters were born in Sri Lanka! We are very keen to travel there, sounds exciting!
16 September 2018 - 19:56
Ann-Louise says:
Unfortunately, my partner can't take time off from work during the Christmas and New Year's weeks, which is a shame because otherwise I would have liked to go away right after Christmas and be away for the rest of the Christmas holidays. In that case, I would probably have liked to go to somewhere warmer. Maybe the son and I will go somewhere for a few days during the Christmas holidays on our own if we find some reasonably cheap tickets.
16 September 2018 - 13:32
Helena says:
Not everyone can be free, I understand that! Interesting to hear if there will be a trip for you!
16 September 2018 - 19:57
Backe says:
Good Christmas to take time off. We will be going on Christmas Day to the Harz National Park and hiking as well as stocking up (drinking) in Germany. Hope you have a good weekend yourselves.
16 September 2018 - 14:04
Helena says:
Lovely! I was in the Harz when I was 11 years old or so, haven't been there since 😉.
17 September 2018 - 21:26
Husisblogg says:
The owners only get everything at home over Christmas and New Year, as it's their turn to have the New Year party. No planned holidays and, above all, my male owner usually works these days because then he has time to get rid of a lot on the desk that does not have time in everyday life.
If you are travelling and want to have a peaceful and relaxing time, the owners can recommend Cape Verde, which they visited last winter.
16 September 2018 - 15:44
Helena says:
Cape Verde seems nice, and thanks for the tips! We will see what it ends up with for us!
16 September 2018 - 19:58
Petra says:
Haven't had time to plan anything yet, depends a bit on my "colleagues" if I get time off or not 🙂 🙂
But it really is a good Christmas in terms of holidays this year....
/Petra
16 September 2018 - 17:07
Helena says:
I understand! Hope you get some time off, if you want!
16 September 2018 - 20:03
marina says:
That remains to be seen. First of all, I'll try to get as many of those days off as possible, and then we'll see what happens....
16 September 2018 - 18:43
Helena says:
Good start 🙂
16 September 2018 - 20:04
BP says:
Wow, you are in good time! We never plan that far in advance. Well, we didn't when we were still working either. So in other words, we haven't planned what to do over Christmas and New Year.
PS. The only thing I know for sure is that I absolutely do not want to go to a "cold" country;-) DS.
16 September 2018 - 18:54
Helena says:
I understand you! I don't usually plan far in advance either. But now we're thinking of travelling further away, together with friends, and then it's obviously important to be out in good time 😉.
16 September 2018 - 20:08
Veiken says:
We will be at home in our winter paradise. Warm, cosy and relaxed.
16 September 2018 - 21:35
Helena says:
Great! 🙂
17 September 2018 - 21:27
Marianne - Glimt av verden says:
So many exciting and different options! It will be interesting to see what you decide on.
At my work, we always have Christmas Day and Boxing Day off, but half a working day on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Luckily, I just found out that I will have both days off this year. I will spend Christmas Eve at home with my parents. On Thursday and Friday of Boxing Day, I'll be working before going on holiday with two friends. We land in Singapore on New Year's Eve and will celebrate New Year's Eve there before travelling on to Malaysia and Thailand. I think it will be a good start to the new year.
16 September 2018 - 22:46
Helena says:
Ah, lovely! What an exciting journey you have ahead of you in Asia! 🙂 I will return about what it will be for our part 😉.
17 September 2018 - 21:28
Susjos says:
Both my husband and I work inconvenient hours, but I'm lucky and can at least wish for my schedule, but you have to work either 23/12, 24/12 or 31/12 when you work nights. I worked on 24/12 last year, so hope to get the 23/12 this year! So there will be no travel over the Christmas holidays. The Christmas tree balls look adorable, from Prague I saw Ama had written! Fun!
16 September 2018 - 23:26
Helena says:
I understand that some people have to work those days, and it is of course lucky that someone does it!!! Yes, exactly, the Christmas baubles are from Prague and I am very impressed that Ama remembered that 😉.
17 September 2018 - 21:29
Lena - gott för själen says:
Lovely to have a long holiday! I wish I could take every day off, but after New Year's I can't take any time off. Being off 11 days on two days of holiday is not bad either. It will probably be home dust those days.
Hug Lena
17 September 2018 - 5:48
Helena says:
Ah, I see! Two days of holiday and 11 days off, isn't that amazing?
17 September 2018 - 21:29
Anna | Boihusbil says:
We have chosen a life we do not need a holiday from, so do not think at all like that 🙂 We are not guided by holidays but by customer needs, weather and our will. But we get a visit from the daughter who flies to Malaga where we pick her up and then we do not know what we will do. On Christmas Eve we are alone and we don't even have a Santa Claus in the motorhome, so there will be no Christmas celebrations. However, we will experience how Spaniards and Portuguese celebrate Christmas, because we will be in those areas when cold December arrives.
17 September 2018 - 11:29
Helena says:
It's nice not to have to comply with fixed working and holiday days! 😉 You will surely have a great time in the south!
17 September 2018 - 21:30
Kors och Tvärs says:
Yes, we have nothing to take a holiday from ...... But on the other hand, we will probably be in Torre Del Mar, Spain, from 1/12 We have a place booked there, but if we do not like it, we will go somewhere else. It is a bit difficult to know when we have not visited that campsite before. Spain (or Portugal) it will be anyway 🙂 🙂
17 September 2018 - 20:21
Helena says:
You will surely have a great time in the south, no matter where you are! 🙂
17 September 2018 - 21:31
Titti/Umeå/Huay Yang. says:
We are travelling back to our little house in Thailand in mid-December.
Avoid a few months of winter.
Will be the first Christmas Eve in the house.
In some previous years it has been celebrated in Bangkok or in the air.
Titti
17 September 2018 - 23:16
Helena says:
Great to come back to Thailand! 🙂
18 September 2018 - 19:32
Helena - Oh darling, let's be adventurers (en svensk reseblogg) says:
So many different options and I think it will be good no matter which destination you decide on! 🙂 I myself spend Christmas and New Year in northern Sweden again.
19 September 2018 - 16:37
Helena says:
Christmas and New Year are certainly nice in northern Sweden! We have now decided, and it will be Sri Lanka! 🙂
20 September 2018 - 6:59