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Avoid the Christmas craziness (and Covid) by embracing the sun
Words by Kaye Holland
Dreaming of a warm Christmas? You’re not alone. If ever there was a year that we deserved a sunny Yuletide, this is it. Bing Crosby may have yearned for a White Christmas but after a drab November stuck inside once more, we’d rather have some vitamin D.
International travel was banned during the second nationwide lockdown but Boris Johnson insisted on November 5 that it will finish on December 2, so as to give people “as normal a Christmas as possible”. Presuming the government doesn’t make another U-turn, there are a number of countries ready to welcome Brits. Here’s three feasible winter sun destinations, with very few Covid cases, for those who’d like their Christmas holiday to be hot, hot, hot.
Barbados
If 2020 is getting you down and you need to recharge your batteries, Barbados – where you’re guaranteed blue skies, sunshine and spoken English –- could be the answer. Most travellers head to the west coast –- often called the platinum coast given the staggering amount of swanky hotels, like the legendary Sandy Lane, that are found there. However, if you can survive a Christmas without bumping into Simon Cowell and co, head south and soak up the sun on Brownes beach, Miami beach and Accra beach before hitting lively St Lawrence Gap, known for its 1.3km stretch of bars and restaurants.
Should you need a break from Barbados’ beaches – maybe because you’re from Mars or something – make for the island’s equally enticing interior, home to magnificent plantation houses including St Nicholas Abbey. Reluctant to leave? You’re in luck: The Caribbean island has introduced the Barbados Welcome Stamp (fbarbadoswelcomestamp.bb; from £1,590 pp), which allows visitors to work remotely on the island for up to a year.
Covid need to know:
Test before departure. On arrival, UK visitors must stay at a government facility free of charge or an approved hotel (at their own cost), until they receive a second negative test result taken two/three days after arrival. Once given the second all-clear, you’re free to proceed with your holiday.
UAE
Sure the UAE, or United Arab Emirates to give the country its full name, may seem something of a ‘vanilla’ option. But let’s be honest: we could probably all do with a little bit of ‘boring’ after a tumultuous 2020. Dubai – with its self-proclaimed seven star hotels, skyscrapers and man-made islands – dominates the headlines but if bling is not your thing, check out the country’s capital. A short two hour drive south of Dubai, Abu Dhabi is another sun-kissed Arabian city but one that has substance as well as style. Abu Dhabi, after all, is where you'll find the world’s largest Guggenheim Gallery – and the only one in the Arab world. Meanwhile thrill seekers can get their kicks by scaling the Hajar Mountains in the northernmost emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) or snorkel and dive to their hearts’ content in the eastern emirate of Fujairah. Finally, for a more traditional Arabian experience seek out Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.
Covid need to know:
Travellers to Dubai must present a negative Covid-19 test, valid for 96 hours from the date of the test, before boarding or, they can take a test on arrival at Dubai airport. Visiting the other emirates? You’ll need to have obtained a negative result prior to departure and may be required to submit to a second test on arrival and quarantine for a short spell.
Chile
Pleasingly the South American nation, which is reopening to tourists, is red hot at this time of year – perfect for those of us who have had enough of winter. Chances are your first introduction to spindly Chile will be the country’s capital Santiago. With a bit of judicious planning, you can see most of Santiago’s sights – the Museum of Memory & Human Rights which exposes the terrifying human rights violations that occurred under Chile’s military government between the years of 1973 and 1990 and La Chascona, the secret hideaway of poet Pablo Neruda – in a few days.
Only an hour away from Santiago lies the port city of Valparaiso. The UNESCO World Heritage listed town is known for its 45 cerros (hills), overlooking the Pacific, dotted with pretty pastel-hued houses. From Valpairso, push up north to San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro itself is a dusty backwater town but it’s the gateway to explore northern Chile’s most spectacular scenery. Expect to see steaming geysers, salt flats, pre Columbian ruins, rock formations, larger -than-life lagunas and giant sand dunes.
Covid need to know:
Santiago International Airport opened to international visitors on November 23rd. Visitors must produce a negative Covid-19 result from a test performed within 72 hours of travelling, as well as filling out the new Health Passport (www.c19.cl) and taking out travel insurance with coronavirus cover.
How to travel without leaving home
Not ready to jet-off just yet, as Covid continues to impact our lives and livelihoods? It’s time to reflect and saviour past travels. Flick through your Instagram feed or an old photo album from a favourite trip to remind yourself how lucky our generation has been to have travelled so far and wide – for so long.
Elsewhere curl up with a classic travel writing book – perhaps Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence or Jack Kerouac’s On the Road – or watch a travel film. WOTC loves Wild (2014) – in which Reese Witherspoon stars as real-life Cheryl Strayed, a novice backpacker who hiked 1,100 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail in a bid to escape her demons – and Lion. The latter tells the true story of Saroo Brierle. Lost as a child in India, Saroo is adopted by a kind Australian couple before locating his Indian mother years later using Google Maps. Be warned: the film will rip to you pieces so keep the tissues close.
Alternatively, why not host a Jamaican-themed dinner – all you need is jerk chicken, rice and peas, plantain and plenty of Rum Punch – with your ‘bubble’ or, use the time to learn a language, so that you’ll be able to surprise your Spanish friends on your next visit? Duolingo (duolingo.com) is an excellent language app that’s free to download on iPhone and Android.
Lastly use this extended stint on the ground to take advantage of technology and reconnect with old travel buddies and expat friends, and share all those fabulous experiences.