Yahoo Finance Start planning your winter vacation now to check out these must-see hot spots
As summer fades and snowflakes drift into our thoughts, it’s time to prepare for the onslaught of winter by planning our escape today.
Nothings says ‘getaway’ quite like a winter holiday, and what better way to beat the biting cold, slush and ice than with the turquoise waters of a tropical destination? But given the many choices for fun in the sun, travellers might be feeling indecisive. We’ve compiled a helpful list of holiday hot spots this year, perfect for winter escapes:
Panama
Panama is ticking with excitement this year as travel destinations in Central and South America really grow in popularity. A small and safe Central American country that offers many activities for families, couples or the solo vacationer, Panama is known for its immaculate beaches, wide assortment of recreational activities – from rafting and kayaking to rappelling and surfing – and don’t forget the vibrant nightlife.
The beauty of Panama is that for such a tiny country, its landscape varies immensely. Want mountains? They have them. Beaches? It’s got those galore. Looking for a cosmopolitan metropolis? There’s Panama City. Tropical rain forests? Those, too.
“It’s a paradise on water and land,” says Debbie Cabana, public relations director for Transat Tours Canada.
To accommodate the growing interest in Panama, Air Transat recently upped its roster of flights there, adding new flights to Playa Blanca, Panama in addition to Panama City airport. And Copa Airlines and the Panama Tourism Authority are offering visitors a free stopover in Panama City without paying an extra airline fee for the second destination.
If Panama’s bird watching, eco-tourism, historical sites, Indian cultures and all else aren’t enough to grab your tourist dollar, maybe a trip that combines meditation and sport will. The Travel Society in Toronto is currently finalizing retreats that combine yoga and surfing in Panama. The cost is US$2895 per person based on double occupancy and it includes meals, luxury accommodations, surf lessons and daily yoga classes. Your flight is extra. Similar retreats are also available for El Salvador, Nicaragua and Maui.
Costa Rica
Right next to Panama is Costa Rica, another Central American destination that offers an abundance of natural beauty, adventure and activities. For a country blessed with incomparable geography, Costa Rica will suit both thrill seekers and the lazy, unadventurous sightseer. Enjoy canopy tours that let you traverse the jungle like a monkey as well as zip lining, white-water rafting and scuba diving. With almost 1,000 miles of coastline, it’s easy to admire the country’s impeccable beaches that range in ambience from quiet to lively. Rainforests, volcanoes, wildlife, bird watching and eco-tourism continue to be popular reasons why tourists keep returning to the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica.
Curaçao
One of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, the Dutch island of Curaçao (pronounced ker-a-sow) has seen a recent increase in tourism from Canada, making it the fastest-growing Caribbean destination for Canadians, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
According to Cabana, Curaçao’s more than 35 beaches are among the finest in the world. Blessed with crystal-clear waters, the island offers travellers a host of intimate beaches and secluded inlets. Curaçao is also home to over 55 different cultures and offers an eclectic mix of eye-catching architecture, diverse cuisine, world-renowned diving and snorkelling, UNESCO World Heritage sites, shopping and nightlife.
Cuba
If you’re looking for a budget holiday this winter, look no further than Cuba, says Dian Emery, managing editor of Girlsgetaway.com, an online travel publication geared to female travellers. Whether you love Cuba or have never visited, go now, says Emery, before Americans turn it into an overbuilt, commercialized playground. The U.S. has eased travel and trade restrictions against Cuba in an effort to re-establish diplomatic ties with the island’s communist government so change is likely imminent in the not-too-distant future.
“The Cuba we know will change in many ways for the better and, in some ways, for the worse,” says Emery. “This is the destination for Canadians this year. There are so many things about Cuba I love – the people are well educated and great to talk to and discuss politics with. Cuba is still unspoiled. Some beaches are totally deserted. It’s a really quiet and laid back vacation and very safe.”
Banff
If surf and sand aren’t part of your holiday vocabulary, you may want to consider a ski resort getaway to Banff. With the Canadian dollar so low, you get more bang for your vacation buck when taking to the powder within Canada. For $1,700, you get one week’s accommodations, air fare and skiing on three massive hills, Lake Louise, Sunshine and Mount Norquay.
Accommodations in Banff run from five-star luxury resorts to budget hotels. The ski town offers a huge variety of restaurants, great shopping plus other winter sports and activities such as skating, hiking and cross-country skiing.
“The numbers of people who typically go to the U.S. for ski vacations are staying home,” says Julia Atkinson, director of operations for Skican.com, a ski tour operator. “The dollar has prompted a massive change in way people plan trips. And lots of Americans are coming here.”
Switzerland
As an alternative to Aspen and Vail, Canadians might want to try Zermatt, Switzerland, a charming pedestrian-only mountain resort town known for skiing and its location just below the famous Matterhorn peak.
Getting there from the airport in Zurich is part of the “awesome cultural experience,” says Atkinson, who speaks highly of the beautiful alpine scenery you witness on the three-hour train ride through the mountains. Zermatt offers skiers the highest destination in Switzerland and a view of the Austrian, French and Italian Alps. Skiers, if they choose, can ski into Italy for a lunch of pizza or pasta.
“Zermatt is a bit of a bucket-list destination,” says Atkinson. “It’s right on top of the mountain; the village is stunning with buildings made of stone or wood and teeny little shops. You can see the Matterhorn, the Dolomites and Mont Blanc in France. It’s quite amazing.”
Enjoying the cold Swiss air for one week this winter will set you back about $3,200 for a full package, including air fare, hotel, skiing and transfers.
