Twixmas Travel: The 10 Best Destinations for the Week Between Christmas and New Year's

Why the Week Between Christmas and New Year's Is Prime Travel Time

The week between Christmas and New Year's Eve occupies an odd pocket in the calendar. Children are off school, many offices are quiet or closed, and a large share of workers have the days off anyway. Lonely Planet has published a roundup of ten destinations it considers well-suited to this brief holiday lull, framing the period — nicknamed 'Twixmas' or 'feral week' — as an underused window for travel.

The selection spans very different climates and trip styles. French Polynesia offers tropical weather and lagoon scenery for those willing to fly further and carry a passport. Montreux, Switzerland, keeps its Christmas market running and pairs lake views with fondue. Cleveland, Ohio, pitches itself on arts and culture without the crowds of larger US cities. Danang, Vietnam, combines a long city beach with nearby UNESCO sites. Leadville, Colorado, delivers snow sports at a smaller, quieter mountain than Vail or Aspen.

Other entries include Salzburg, Austria, where the Christkindlmarkt stays open until January 1; Newport Beach, California, for mild temperatures and gray-whale watching; Victoria, British Columbia, for architecture and gardens; and Dunedin, New Zealand, for a quieter South Island summer. Each entry includes suggested activities, dining and accommodation, from the eco-chic Brando resort in French Polynesia to a floating bed-and-breakfast in Victoria's harbour.

The underlying pitch is practical: use days you already have off, avoid peak-season crowds, and return refreshed before the new year starts. For travellers weighing a short trip, the list functions as a menu rather than a single recommendation — the right pick depends on budget, flight tolerance and whether the goal is winter sun, snow or a last dose of holiday atmosphere.

What's Driving the Post-Festive Getaway Trend

A Quiet Window in the Travel Calendar

The week after Christmas sits in a gap that most of the travel industry treats as either peak or dead time, depending on the market. For airlines and hotels, the days around Christmas and New Year's are among the busiest of the year, but the days in between can be softer — especially for business travel, which all but stops. Lonely Planet's list effectively targets leisure travellers who can fill that gap, using already-granted time off rather than additional leave.

Two Distinct Traveler Profiles

The destinations split into two broad groups. The first is escape-from-winter: French Polynesia, Danang, Newport Beach and Dunedin, New Zealand, all offer warm or mild weather in late December. The second is embrace-the-season: Montreux, Leadville, Salzburg and Victoria lean into snow, markets and winter atmosphere. Cleveland sits in a third, smaller category — a domestic city break for travellers who want culture without long-haul flights or peak-season pricing.

Why the Timing Matters for Pricing

For context, the post-Christmas window often falls between two pricing peaks. Flights and hotels in the days immediately before Christmas and around New Year's Eve tend to be expensive and heavily booked, while the days in between can see more availability. Travellers with flexible dates may find better value in that gap, though the article does not cite specific fares or occupancy data.

What the List Says About Demand

The inclusion of less-obvious choices — Leadville over Vail, Dunedin over Queenstown, Cleveland over Chicago — suggests demand for alternatives to overcrowded marquee destinations. That aligns with a broader travel trend toward secondary cities and shoulder-season timing, though the article presents the picks as editorial recommendations rather than market data.