Caribbean

Why You Should Spend Christmas in the Tropics this Year!



Here are all the reasons why You Should Spend Christmas in the Tropics this Year! Forget all those materialistic gifts this year and spend your money on a memorable Christmas vacation to a tropical island! Escape for the holidays on a solo trip, with friends, your family and/or significant other. 

My family and I have been doing this for years now and all I wish is that we started doing it sooner. 

Christmas spent on a tropical island is so special. You will have new experiences in absolutely beautiful places where youโ€™ll make memories you will never forget. 

I am a huge advocate for spending Christmas this untraditional way, here are the reasons why and the best islands to escape to for the holidays-


Why You Should Spend Christmas in the Tropics this Year


Yellow umbrellas on the beach with bright blue water in Turks and Caicos


Forget the excessive gift giving, keep it simple

I donโ€™t know about your family but when Christmas comes around some of us go overboard with the gift giving craze. Itโ€™s fun on Christmas day to give everyone you love things they all wanted but once itโ€™s passed, was it really necessary to spend all that money on material things? Instead of going crazy with the Christmas gifts, keep it simple! Make a rule that you are just going to do stockings. Have fun with this, sticking to just stockings doesnโ€™t let it get out of hand. 

You can have everyone pack their own stocking in their suitcase, then open them on Christmas day on the Island. Or you can just celebrate the day before you leave for vacation. Thatโ€™s what we usually do and itโ€™s still just as fun! 

If you have young kids and want them to have a โ€œnormal Christmasโ€ but still travel, pack some small gifts in your suitcase. On Christmas morning take them out and celebrate on vacation. 


Smiling for a picture in the ocean in Turks and Caicos.


Adventures + experiences vs. material things

Once you go on a trip for Christmas instead of doing it the traditional way you will see how much better it is!

If you love travel and adventure you are going to be hookedโ€ฆbelieve me it will be the only way you want to celebrate Christmas from now on. 


Palms in St. Croix.


Imagineโ€ฆ

Itโ€™s Christmas morning, you wake up to the sound of the waves crashing, itโ€™s 85 degrees out and you grab your morning coffee. You look out at the tropical blue/green tones of the ocean from your hotel or Airbnb. A delicious Christmas morning breakfast with fresh island fruit awaits you.

You spend the day with your loved ones searching for seashells on the beach, swimming in the clear blue water, driving around the Island and exploring. Local Islanders smile when you pass, wishing you a โ€œMerry Christmasโ€.

Everything is low key, you are in a bathing suit all day, in and out of the ocean. Sandy toes, cold island beer and the best memoriesโ€ฆI urge you to try spending Christmas this way instead of the traditional way at least once in your life.


Enjoying a remote beach in St. Croix.


Now that I have felt thatโ€ฆI no longer have any interest in the โ€œnormalโ€ idea of Christmas. I long for the tropical Christmas experiences with my loved ones, I cannot think of a better way to spend the holiday.


Walkway down to the ocean in Turks and Caicos.


The memories

My family and I often think back on our memories from Christmases spent in the Islands. Weโ€™ve made memories that will last a lifetime. 


Family selfie on the beach.


Instead of having to travel to multiple family members’ houses and rush from one Christmas party to another and feel the stress of the holidaysโ€ฆmake tropical Christmas memories instead. Iโ€™m telling you itโ€™s so much more enjoyable and relaxing. 

You and your significant other, your family or even if you are solo, you will make amazing memories. The adventure options are endless on the tropical islands. Head off on a snorkeling excursion, go jet skiing, rent bikes and explore the island that way, go parasailing, search for seashells, relax by the ocean, rent a boat for the day, etc. You will not be bored.


Getting ready to snorkel in St. Lucia.


Christmas vibes on a tropical island

There is always Christmas spirit on the islands! You will see some decorations, nothing as crazy as it gets in the US but some Islanders decorate. Sometimes on the Islands there will be events right around the holiday. If you stay at a resort there will most likely be some sort of Christmas dinner you can attend. 

Locals are often friendly and on the 25th will wish you a โ€˜Merry Christmasโ€. Christmas on the Islands is just perfect, the decorations are beautiful but not over the top. 


Amazing blue ocean water in Turks and Caicos.


My favorite islands to spend Christmas on

Check out my posts on each Island to help see if any of these would be the one you want to spend Christmas on! I cannot say enough good things about my experiences at theses amazing destinations.



How to find holiday travel deals

Christmas can be an expensive time of the year to travel. There is ways to get around it though!

What Iโ€™ve found is the earlier you buy your plane tickets, the better. As early as possible buy your flights for your Christmas Island getaway. There are great deals out there if you can do a little digging. If you wait, flight prices will go up. 

Do a little research for the hotel or Airbnb. You can find some really affordable prices at some Islands where others are much higher. If you look around at a few different options you should be able to find an Island in your price range.

Some sites I recommend using when looking for hotels/Airbnbs:

Be sure to ALWAYS read the reviews and do your searches in private browsing mode!


Views of the Island of St. Lucia from the airplane.


Stay on the island into the New Year

Depending on how long of a vacation you can take and if you can swing it, stay on the island for the New Year!

Stay until the 1st or 2nd of January, that way you can celebrate New Years Eve on the island! The resorts often have NYE parties. If you stay in an Airbnb go downtown and ask the locals, there is almost always some sort of fun party to attend!

I recommend doing this rather than trying to rush back home for the New Year. Just stay on the Island a little longer, celebrate then head home after both holidays pass.


Celebrating New Years Eve on the Island of St. Croix.


Christmas travel tips

  • Flying on 12/25 is often very quiet and cheap 
  • You will be able to find transportation on the Islands on Christmas day 
  • Bring $5+ Starbucks gift cards for the flight attendants to thank them for working on the holiday
  • Book your rental car and any excursions you really want to do ahead of time- high chances everything is sold out if you wait
  • If you travel a day or so before 12/25 airports will most likely be very busy- give yourself extra time
  • Bring cash for tips
  • Check the weather of the islands before you book your trip- the islands up by Florida like the Bahamas don’g get as hot in December as others further down like St. Lucia


Taking in the views on a beach at sunset in Turks and Caicos.


I hope this post, Why You Should Spend Christmas in the Tropics this Year has helped inspire you to consider spending Christmas this untraditional way in the coming years! As long as you and whoever you travel with have a love for adventure and travel…you will have a blast!

Have you spent Christmas on a tropical island before? If so which one and how was your trip? Tell me in the comments below! I would love to hear about your Christmas travels.

Thanks for being here, happy and safe travels!


Sunny day on the beach in Turks and Caicos.

Hello there! It's wonderful to have you here. I'm Sierra, a NH native with a love for travel and adventure. I have a constant desire to explore beautiful places around the world and go on awesome adventures! I seek to inspire others to travel to see all the beauty and culture the world has to offer! ๐ŸŒžโ›ฐ๏ธ๐ŸŒผ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿฆ‹๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿ“ธ๐Ÿฅพ๐Ÿ’›

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