Where to go when

It’s possible to avoid the tourist traps in Phuket and explore this beautiful island in style. Pristine beaches, incredible food and a collection of luxury properties (including family villas) are reasons why we love this Thai island. Come December, the weather is a dream - blue and sunny skies!

Though the turquoise waters surrounding its 7,000 islands are the country’s main draw, the Philippines is also home to spectacular rice terraces, quaint colonial villages, towering volcanoes and slow-lane living. Beach and diving aficionados will be spoilt for choice with Boracay, Palawan and Siargao Island all within reach.

For the ultimate beach holiday, you can’t do better than the Maldives: stunning hotels, white sandy beaches and an amazing underwater world await. Whoever you’re holidaying with, Lightfoot Travel can recommend the perfect resort and a holiday schedule that’s as full or as free as you desire.

For a picture-postcard festive scene, step into the world of Chamonix. Flanked by Mount Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, it’s the perfect winter playground for avid skiers and beginners alike. Nothing beats taking a break in the numerous restaurants with staggering views after a day on the slopes.

Rajasthan - The Land of the Maharajas - with all its palaces and forts, is a feast for the senses. Opulent, vibrant and buzzy, you can live like royalty in former palaces that are now gorgeous hotels. Include the pink painted city of Jaipur and the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra  in your itinerary.

End the year with a bang and sail to Antarctica aboard an ice-breaking luxury vessel. Explore haunting expanses of ice-scapes, spot fur seals rolling on the white-blue shores, get close to Emperor penguins and humpback whales, and take a dip in geothermal lagoons.

For the ultimate Christmas adventure, head to Sweden. From the Nordic cool of Stockholm and Gothenburg, to the dense forests of the mainland, it’s nothing short of incredible. In December, Lapland is where it’s at. Visit the Sami reindeer herders, and watch for the Northern Lights dancing across the sky.

Pretty, charming, romantic, steeped in history and perfumed with cherry blossom, Luang Prabang is a place to totally switch off. Wander the glistening temples, float down the gentle Mekong River, peruse the markets, indulge in a massage treatment, and stop off at the boutique cafes and bars to replenish.

See out December with the ultimate all-in-one holiday to Sri Lanka. Start in the Cultural Triangle before taking one of the most scenic train journeys in the world through the Hill Country. Enjoy a leopard safari in Yala National Park, then retreat to your private beach-front villa on the southern beaches.

In winter, the lakes of Finnish Lapland freeze and pine trees are blanketed in snow. Now’s the time to indulge in saunas, stay in an ice hotel, and watch the Northern Lights from within a glass igloo. Active travellers can enjoy cross-country skiing or join husky dogs or reindeer to fly through the snow.

Lose yourself in the magic that only New York can offer in December. Away from the city sights, exceptional shopping and infectious atmosphere, see Central Park in all its wintery glory: stroll among the snow dappled trees, go ice-skating, and enjoy a ride in a horse-driven carriage. Cosy up in luxurious accommodation.

Cambodia in December offers a cultural Christmas. Explore Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, visit the floating villages on Tonle Lake, relax on the sweeping beaches and meet friendly Khmer people. Want a party? Capital city Phnom Penh boasts fabulous nightlife and luxury hotels that are designed to make sure you see in 2019 in style.