It’s coming up to that time of year again when shops play an endless array of tracks like “Jingle Bells” and ‘Silent Night”, Christmas trees become laden with gifts thanks to your own cold hard cash, you still haven’t stuffed the turkey or sent your cards, shopping is a nightmare and you still haven’t made your New Year’s resolutions for 2012.

It’s a crazy time of year and if the idea of simply escaping it all springs to mind, you wouldn’t be the first. And after all, why not? The New Year’s resolutions can wait until you return and someone else can deal with Christmas dinner.

Well, ILibrary Is Facing The Winters And Enjoying...

We have chosen five very different winter vacations destinations that should cater for just about every taste, ranging from desert adventure to beachside bliss. These are places you can truly have a winter holiday, whether that be by embracing all that cold and snow on the icy slopes of Vancouver, getting into the Christmas spirit in New York, or surfing your Christmas Day away on Bondi Beach. 

If you fancy the idea of a summer of fun rather than a winter of discontent, Sydney is perfect for a vacation at this time of year. Pack your shorts and bikinis for this trip, you will definitely be able to thaw out your winter body.

If you make it in time for Christmas consider heading to Bondi Beach on December 25 for what has become the quintessential way to spend Christmas Down Under. The iconic beach becomes awash with sweating Santas in board shorts and international holidaymakers who come for the communal celebrations complete with the ocean dip and plenty of fun and sun.

There are so many things to see and do in Sydney so don’t just get stuck at one of the city’s great beaches, although a trip across the harbour to Manly should be done at some point. Most tourists make for beautiful Sydney Harbour to see the bridge, opera house and the historic Rocks district. Certainly don’t miss them but there’s a lot more to Sydney than this – you can eat out on varied cuisine in Newtown, shop at the eclectic Paddington markets, experience pumping pub and bar action in King’s Cross, day trip to the beautiful Blue Mountains, or even wine taste in the Hunter Valley.

If all this activity keeps you busy right until New Year’s Eve then the best location for this is waterside in Sydney Harbour for the famous annual firework display.

Sydney has an array of accommodation available in areas across the city ranging from basic backpacker to high-end luxury. If you want to base at the beach you might like to try options in Manly, Bondi or Cronulla, or the fabulous Kims Beach Hideaway just out of the city at Toowoon Bay. In the city centre there are the usual options like the Hilton, Sofitel or The Westin.

If you fancy going somewhere away from all the usual commercial trappings then the palm-fringed, warm and welcoming beaches of Phuket in southern Thailand might be the answer.

Thailand is a Buddhist country so Christmas celebrations are generally fairly toned down in comparison to the Western world, but the friendly Thais will still make an effort on your behalf. So if you want a Christmas dinner without having to organize it, simply book into a local restaurant and have them take care of it for you.

For the sun-seekers out there you’ll be pleased to know that there’s plenty of sunshine to enjoy at this time of year. It’s a fabulous place also to get in some shopping, massage therapy and some serious chill-out time.

Phuket is awash with resorts, hotels and guesthouses. It has developed a lot in recent years but, if you look hard enough, you will still find your quintessential Thai beach hut for a few dollars a night. At the other end are five-star resorts costing hundreds of dollars a night, and there is something for every budget in between. For real peace and quiet check out some of the smaller islands near Phuket. For a completely unique stay consider a sojourn at the fabulous Racha resort on Racha Yai Island, 35 minutes by boat from Phuket. You’ll feel a million miles away from everything at the Racha with white sands and turquoise waters to enjoy at the villas overlooking Batok Bay. Walk, bike, snorkel, swim or simply relax and take advantage of the holistic treatments on offer.

We’ve gone out on a limb with the idea of promoting a rather obscure destination in our list of five winter getaways, but Abu Dhabi rarely gets a good tourism plug so here goes. For those seeking an escape from the Christmas hype, you will get this here – there will be no jingle bell choruses in the shopping malls here thank you very much.

The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim nation and while you will find churches here celebrating Christmas, they obviously don’t advertise themselves as flagrantly as in Christian countries.

Abu Dhabi is the capital and is actually located mostly on an island on the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Peninsula. While it is a hot place most of the year, it is coolest between November and March with 20-30 degree temperatures, perfect for those who prefer a warm, but-not-too-warm, climate.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Abu Dhabi with 400km of coastline including 10 public beaches, 20 parks and gardens, an array of architecture to admire including 382m high skyscrapers, old mosques, dhow sailing, museums and islands to explore. 

You could stay at the Emirates Palace while you’re in Abu Dhabi, the second most expensive hotel ever built. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to US $800 plus per night, then perhaps consider the Desert Islands Resort and Spa located on Sir Bani Yas island where you can enjoy spacious suites and rooms, relax in the infinity pool or even take a game drive through the wildlife sanctuary located on the resort’s doorstep.