If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ve probably started to realise that it’s really dang hot! This whole ‘summer’ thing is kicking into gear and it’s getting hotter and hotter by the day. As any Australian will tell you, hot weather in our country culminates to two very important times of year. The first is Australia day, where we all insist on spending as much time as possible either directly in the scorching sun or sitting under a tin roof trying to hide from it but inevitably getting heat stroke anyway. The second is Christmas!
While our friends in the Northern Hemisphere are busy running around buying gloves and beanies, we’re flat out trying to find ways to be let into the pub while wearing as little as possible. It’s a real problem, guys. Don’t judge us. With days so hot you can’t touch your own steering wheel and risk being branded by a searing hot seatbelt buckle, it’s no wonder we often dream of having a white Christmas. Sadly, our current definition of a white Christmas is going to Bondi and standing in the middle of a group of English tourists.
So, for all your Southern Hemi’s out there, here’s a look at three of the best places to have a white Christmas.
Banff, Canada
Say ‘ta-ta’ to your tata’s because they are definitely going to freeze off in Banff. That said, you’ll have a very beautiful view while they do. Banff is a ridiculously good-looking mountain town within Banff National Park in Alberta. If you’ve ever looked at photos of the Candian Rockies (no, not Rocky Balboa) and thought they looked amazing, you were probably looking at a picture of Banff!
Banff is famous for its incredibly beautiful scenery, we’re talking the kind of stuff a photograph just can’t capture! Known for its hot springs, it’s also a destination for outdoor and adventure sports like hiking, biking and skiing. Spend your days learning how to ski or snowboard then head down to the town in the evening for a delicious dinner or stroll around the shops. It’s one of the most quaint, picturesque, straight-out-of-your-dreams places I’ve visited and the perfect spot for a guaranteed white Christmas.
Stay at the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a castle set among pristine white snow.
New York, USA
Okay, okay, so there’s no guarantee that spending Christmas in New York City will net you a white Christmas, but it’s worth a try, right? Imagine waking up on Christmas day, looking out your hotel window and seeing Central Park covered in a blanket of perfect white snow, it’s the stuff dreams are made of.
Even if it doesn’t snow, the experience would still be amazing. Stroll arm in arm with your sweetheart in Central Park, go ice skating at the famed rink at Rockefeller centre, visit the holiday markets village set up at Bryant Park, walk past the incredible window displays of high-end shops and go to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! Nobody does Christmas quite like Americans. My personal recommendation would be to recreate as many scenes as possible from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Sell some of your kids on eBay and Stay at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton New York for a once in a lifetime holiday experience.
Munich, Germany
Prost, mother jammers! Imagine spending your Christmas day in one of the great German beer halls like Hofbräuhaus, as their slogan says ‘Das original und das beste’. I don’t speak German, but I’m pretty sure I know what they’re getting at. They have a ridiculous selection of beers on tap and a litre sets you back about $20. Bargain. Drink all day, have a Christmas feast of pork knuckle and half chicken followed by strudel while the Oompa Band belts out songs you don’t know in the background. To blend in, just yell out Prost every now and then.
In the days leading up to Christmas, check out the incredible Christmas Markets. The original markets started back in 1642! They’re a great place to get a feel for the German culture and try different kinds of delicious food on offer, followed with a mulled wine or cider to warm you up. You can buy some beautiful one of a kind gifts from the market too that will really set the bar for family and friends in terms of awesome Chrissy presents.
Stay at one of the H’Otello Hotels, modern, sleek and uncluttered they’re perfect for minimalists.
Honourable mentions:
Get high on the hill with a lonely goatherd in Austria. Bad Hofgastein/Sportgastein is a cosy place with incredible mountain scenery, suited to those who love to ski and those who have no idea how. Stay in one of the incredible alpine huts straight out of your imagination and drink hot chocolate all day.
Get all up in the Matterhorn’s grill in Switzerland. Head to Zermatt, the top winter resort worldwide to enjoy incredible views of Ol’ Matty D Horn. The village is totally car-free, making it a very cool little haven. You can also rest assured a white Christmas is guaranteed in Zermatt.
Carb up in Italy, because being really cold in snow is a great excuse to order a second pizza. If you really liked the Swiss side of the Matterhorn and want to check out the other half of him, head to Breuil/Cervinia. Otherwise, visit Castellrotto, a tradition-conscious village located in Seiser Alm. It’s a great spot for anyone, regardless of skiing ability. The town has a rich history and slew of brilliant restaurants.
