Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary
Christmas and New Year’s Trips Loved By Your Fellow Travelers
These creative and rewarding holiday-time trips have been some of our readers’ favorites…with a little help from our WOW List of top travel specialists. Read on for inspiration for your next holiday getaway. Here’s how to get your own WOW trip.
British Virgin Islands Charter: “We were well cared for by the captain, who maneuvered our boat into every little nook and cranny in the BVIs.”
“On Christmas Eve, our captain found a private cove for us to anchor for the night!”
“We spent the week of Christmas on a 52-foot catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. Our family of 5 (including 3 teens) and my mom (who’s in her 70s) had one of our most memorable vacations. And it was truly a vacation—we all came back rested!
We were well cared for by the captain, Pieter, who maneuvered our boat into every little nook and cranny in the BVIs. On Christmas Eve, our captain found a private cove for us to anchor for the night! It was incredible to have the entire cove to ourselves. After some swimming and snorkeling, Pieter took our teens tubing. What a sight to see—the sun setting on a private cove, and the only ones around are your kids tubing and laughing as loud as they can. After an amazing dinner prepared by our chef, we sat on the bow of the catamaran and watched the stars and constellations appear. It was so peaceful and private.
We sailed into Jost Van Dyke midday on Christmas Day. The cove was filled with boats and swimmers enjoying the sunny, warm holiday. Our captain steered our boat in between all the other yachts and anchored us nearly on the beach. As we swam for shore to get a drink at Soggy Dollar Bar, we noticed that many of the swimmers were wearing Santa hats! When we returned to the boat, my daughter and I were not ready to get out of the gorgeous water, so our chef gave us appetizers in the water!” —Meghan Schubert
Read more reviews of yacht-charter trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
London: “There was even a small Christmas tree in our room…”
Christmas in London. Photo: visitlondon.com
“It has become our practice to consult Wendy Perrin’s WOW List whenever we plan a trip. This time our goal was to spend Christmas in London. Although we had been to London several times, we know that the holidays can be a challenge due to closures on the holiday. We spoke with Jonathan about our previous visits to London and our desire to see and do something new. We had a hotel in mind that we had stayed in before, but Jonathan strongly advised us to select another hotel, The Stafford, and we are so happy we took his advice. It is a much smaller hotel than the one we were thinking of, and that proved to be a big factor in feeling like we were ‘going home’ at the end of each day of touring London. The hotel staff treated us royally, and the hotel was decorated beautifully for the holidays; there was even a small Christmas tree in our room.
As we had already seen most of the highlights of London on previous visits, Jonathan suggested other tours we would not have thought of. One was a Charles Dickens walking tour; our guide was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining, and we now understand how London during Dickens’ time influenced his writing. Another highlight was a private “Behind the Glass” after-hours tour of the Churchill War Rooms. We had seen the War Rooms before, but nothing can compare with going there in the evening when it’s closed and actually going into the rooms that are not accessible to the public. These are experiences we would not have discovered on our own. Jonathan also executed a surprise ‘Wendy WOW Moment for us during our stay. It was a private tour and tasting in The Stafford’s amazing wine cellar, which was built in the 17th century and used as an air raid shelter during WWII! The master sommelier, Gino, gave us the tour and made the experience very special!
Jonathan certainly added value to our holiday, and, given the short time frame of the trip, planned the perfect amount of activity while also allowing us plenty of time to explore London on our own and walk about enjoying the beauty of the lights and the amazing window displays and decorations everywhere.” —Susan Ketchum Philbrick
Read more reviews of England trips. Learn how to get your own WOW Moment. Or use our trip questionnaire (reached via the black button below) to start a WOW trip.
Andalusia, Spain: “Highlights included a hike on the Caminito del Rey, the Alhambra, tapas tours…”
The Alhambra Palace in Granada, Andalusia. Photo: Shutterstock
“Iván organized an 8-day family trip over the Christmas holiday. We were based in two exquisite hotels, Club Seta Hotel in Granada and Alfonso XIII in Seville. Highlights included a hike on the Caminito del Rey, the Alhambra, tapas tours, and a performance of the Royal Equestrian School in Jerez (ie, horse ballet). In designing the trip, Iván was very responsive to our needs in landing on just the right balance of doing and down time. We are very grateful for his excellence and would highly recommend using his services if you are planning a trip to the Andalusia region.” —Robert Berman
Read more reviews of Spain trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Mexico: “We were upgraded to their Tower Suite, which not only came with an enormous amount of space on two levels, but its own private elevator…”
Colorful buildings in San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. Photo: Shutterstock
“When we decided on a family vacation in Mexico for three generations, plus a pre-vacation vacation for my husband and me, we wanted to make sure we navigated all the ins and outs while feeling safe and still having fun. Zach and his colleagues came through on both counts.
The first stop for my husband and me was San Miguel de Allende. While we had initially hesitated to stay at the Rosewood because it was not in the center of town, Zach convinced us this hotel would be excellent, and he was correct. Thanks to him we were upgraded to their Tower Suite, which not only came with an enormous amount of space on two levels, but its own private elevator, three outdoor patios, and two butlers! Everything about this hotel was magical, and we cannot wait to return. The tours Zach arranged in San Miguel were excellent and included a market tour and cooking class with a chef, and an in-depth tour of San Miguel and Guanajuato. (Zach had difficulty convincing us to spend the time on the day tour of Guanajuato, but we are so glad he did; it is a lovely, interesting city, and we were sorry we had not allocated an extra day or two to explore there.)
The remainder of our trip was spent in Puerto Vallarta with the entire family. We had mentioned to Zach that we wanted a private villa: directly on the water, large enough so we would all have our own space, fully staffed, close to activities, and located an easy distance from the center of Puerto Vallarta. Our villa, Casa Demae II, is in a gated complex, and was exquisite and outstanding in every way: spacious bedrooms (all ensuite, and most with balconies) with views of the pool and Banderas Bay, incredible common areas, infinity pool with a swim-up bar, jacuzzi, outdoor dining areas (from where we saw whales most days), streaming services—you name it, it was there! Our chef was fantastic—we actually cancelled two dinner reservations because the food at the villa was so wonderful. This was like having our own private hotel…but better.
As in San Miguel, the activities planned were second to none. Everyone is still talking about the whale watching tour and the day on the private catamaran around Banderas Bay with complete crew and a chef. Also, because we had the benefit of entry to the Beach Club, the staff arranged for us to jet ski, paddleboard, and snorkel only a short distance away. There is no way we could have put together this trip on our own. From the moment my husband and I landed in Guanajuato until the entire family boarded our flight home, absolutely everything was handled efficiently and worked smoothly.” —Vanessa Hulme
Read more reviews of Mexico trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Norway & Copenhagen: “We got to see the Christmas lights in Tivoli Gardens and took a ride on a wild roller coaster, wandered with some hot drinks…”
Kate Ogg and son Will see the northern lights just outside their lodge in Alta, Norway. Photo: Traveler Ryan Ogg
“My husband, Ryan Ogg and I (Kate Ogg), and our three children, Will (17), Charlotte (15), and Wyatt (12), went to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo and Alta, Norway, from December 28 through January 6. Will is graduating from high school this spring, and so we let him choose the destination for a family vacation this year. He wanted to go someplace cold, snowy and dark, where we could do some fun outdoor adventures, and hopefully see the Northern Lights (which we had tried and failed to do in Iceland a couple of years ago).
It was a fantastic trip. Copenhagen was still pretty magical the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and we found some good restaurants despite a few of the ones we had hoped for being closed. We got to see the Christmas lights in Tivoli Gardens and took a ride on a wild roller coaster, wandered with some hot drinks, shopped and just enjoyed the festive vibe. The next day we started the day with a boat ride through the harbor and some of the bigger canals, which gave us a sense of the city’s geography as well as a lot of the architecture.
Oslo was all closed while we were there because it was both Sunday and New Year’s Eve, but a walk through the sculpture garden, to the Fram museum to see a polar expedition ship, and a chance to see the Nobel buildings and then along the harbor was a nice way to spend the day before a fancy dinner at our hotel (The Thief) and a midnight toast on the roof. On New Year’s morning in a snowstorm, we made it to Oslo airport and up to dark Alta. The Sorrisniva Hotel was fully booked by the time we planned our trip (August), so we stayed in a little fishing lodge in the woods, down the driveway from Tristin and Trine Restaurant and past some sled dogs.
It was absolutely charming, and best of all, the very first night as we walked out of our lodge to dinner, the sky lit up with northern lights that continued to brighten and dance until we gave up and went to bed. I credit our very dark spot in the woods for the fantastic viewing. Our adventures in snowmobiling, reindeer sledding, snowshoeing, and king crab fishing all showed us different parts of the landscape and culture in northern Norway, and it was just…magical. We truly loved it.” —Kate Ogg
Read more reviews of Scandinavia trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Colombia: “On our final day, we visited the very vibrant, and exciting, Comuna 13, where urban art and music are thriving.”
Lynn Herrick’s son tries out a slide in Medellin’s hilly Comuna 13 neighborhood. Photo: Traveler Lynn Herrick
“This was a family trip with my three college-aged kids and my husband. So, we wanted a bit of history, a bit of adventure, a bit of culture and a lot of fun. Our trip started in Cartagena with the best tour guide ever, Will. Not only was Will’s dad the mayor of Cartagena, so we got to visit town hall, but he quickly got to know each of us and tailored our tours to our personalities. The kids even scheduled a secret outing with him to surprise me with emerald earrings for my birthday!
In Cartagena we ate street food we would have never tried, learned salsa dancing, took a cooking class with a cantankerous French chef and made the best ceviche ever, went canoeing in the mangroves, learned to drum with a local group, and participated in a rum and cacao tasting. We also fell in love with this hot, romantic, beautiful Caribbean town.
Next on the itinerary was the coffee region. We visited the Wax Palm trees, zip-lined, rafted, and spent a special morning at a coffee plantation. We all loved learning about the coffee industry in Colombia, enjoyed the delicious lunch that was served, and agreed the organic coffee was special.
We spent our last three nights in Medellin. While we learned about Colombia’s violent history throughout the trip, this was our opportunity to visit the countryside and hear from farmers how both the left-wing guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries imposed themselves on the farming communities and how many fled to Medellin during this time. The next day in Medellin, we took the cable cars to visit the barrio and see how those who escaped the civil war in the countryside built homes into the hills and created new communities. On our final day, we visited the very vibrant, and exciting, Comuna 13, where urban art and music are thriving. Throughout Colombia we ate the most delicious food, fruits and drinks. We will be craving coconut lemonade for a long time!” —Lynn Herrick
Read more reviews of Colombia trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Malta: “The island itself was gorgeous, with dramatic views, romantic vistas and stunning architecture.”
Valletta, Malta. Photo: Shutterstock
“My girlfriend and I travelled to Malta for eight days from after Christmas through the New Year. Quite simply the trip was extraordinary, and we cannot recommend Malta, and Damon and his team, more highly. Malta is an extraordinary place, with magnificent history, art, culture, food, scenery and people. To start with, Damon spent a significant amount of time prior to the trip working iteratively with us to plan the itinerary based on various ideas he proposed and what we wanted to do. He really distinguished himself with his ability to figure out from our conversations exactly the kind of experiences and touring we wanted to do. He gave equal time, thought and care to the choice of lodging and restaurants.
Our guide executed the plan wonderfully, making it even better as we got to know one another. Her knowledge of the history and culture of Malta gave us a real window into the lives of the Maltese people past and present. We had a number of truly extraordinary experiences, such as making a local delicacy and having lunch at an olive grove, a private tour of St. John’s Cathedral including viewing the stunning Caravaggio by ourselves, meeting a restorer of 18th-century organs and 16th-century art and seeing their work, dinner with some of the current Knights of Malta, touring a private home in the magical walled city of Mdina and an ATV tour followed by a private seaside picnic in Gozo. The highlight of the trip for me was exploring World War II in Malta, including a private visit with a remarkable local collector of World War II artifacts, a private tour of the Lascaris War Rooms and seeing the tunnels and chambers in which the Maltese sheltered during the Axis bombings.
Our guide also spent time showing us and providing us with valuable perspective on other Maltese sights such as the Hypogeum and megalithic temples, which are older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids. The island itself was gorgeous, with dramatic views, romantic vistas and stunning architecture. We were particularly glad to be there during the bustling holiday season where many Maltese were celebrating and even saw the local Eurovision winner perform on New Year’s Eve.” —Larry Neubauer
Read more reviews of Malta trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Belize: “We were looking for a Christmas-week alternative to our typical beach-resort experience where we stay at the hotel and rarely venture out.”
The Caribbean island of Caye Caulker, Belize. Photo: Shutterstock
“Just back from a wonderful week in Belize with our adult daughters (23 and 25). Patricia, Rachael and their team did a great job. They exemplify why I use your planners—they really listened and planned accordingly, were easy to communicate with, have in-country expertise and contacts (Rachael met us at the airport!), and were able to adjust on the fly.
Everything they planned was just what we asked for. We were looking for a Christmas-week alternative to our typical beach-resort experience where we stay at the hotel and rarely venture out. Instead, we had a 2-bedroom villa in a small hotel right on the lagoon, with day trips tailored to our desires. That first morning when I opened my door and walked 20 steps in my PJs to the completely quiet beach and into the still, clear waters was magical. All alone in paradise.
We snorkeled, zip lined, floated on the river, visited a spice farm and learned all about cacao and chocolate. We also relaxed on the beach, ate lots of ceviche, and discovered a new taste for rum.
Rachael planned a lovely WOW Moment—a private concert with up-and-coming Belizian vocalist Kylon Eiley on our villa patio, complete with margaritas.
The snorkeling guides were really great and considerate, especially to those who were bit anxious. The guide made sure we saw the sharks and turtles. On our second snorkel day, we saw a jeweled damselfish, and that alone was worth the trip. How that can exist in nature is amazing. And the corals were spectacular. Rachael had insisted that we add that second half-day snorkel to our trip, and I was glad she did.
As Belize is an English-speaking country, that made it very easy to communicate with everyone. We also enjoyed learning from our guides and drivers about the different cultures. Everyone we interacted with was kind and keen to make sure we were happy.” —Kathryn Barden
Read more reviews of Belize trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Italy: “In Florence we visited a noble family estate and cooked a five-course meal…”
The Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. Photo: Shutterstock
“Italy can be overwhelming because there is so much to do, see, and eat, but Maria planned a spectacular trip to Florence, Bologna, and Rome for me, my teenagers, and my fiancé over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday.
In Florence we visited a noble family estate and cooked a five-course meal (and learned how to make tortelloni) with the family chef, had a tour of the wine cellar, and joined one of the family members for lunch. We learned of the family’s wing of art at the Uffizi, which we visited the next day. Meeting people who have a direct hand in the life and culture of Italy was special. In Rome, our food lovers’ adventure on Vespas with Toni was a complete standout. My 6′ 4″ son was mortified to ride on the Vespa—and got over that fear in one minute. We were a team of five Vespas! Don’t mess with us! As for Bologna, I am a dental surgeon and am really glad Maria recommended visiting the Teatro Medica at the University of Bologna with my kids. I am sure there is no way I could’ve arranged such a trip.” —Wendy Halpern
Read more reviews of Italy trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Galapagos, Andes, Amazon: “Allie even arranged for a private family photo shoot on the most beautiful beach!”
Lauren Schor and family catch up with a giant tortoise in the Galapagos.
“Allie did an amazing job planning our 13-day multi-generational family trip to Ecuador for Christmas 2023. We started planning almost a year in advance. Most accommodations are smaller, with about 20 rooms total, and I would definitely suggest planning this trip well in advance, as availability dictated the outline of our trip from the beginning of the planning process. And we LOVED all of the places we stayed!
Allie suggested destinations she thought were right for us, based on our travel style and age range. In the Galapagos Islands we opted for a land-based trip rather than a cruise, and although we didn’t get to see as many islands as we would have if we’d stayed on a boat, we were very happy with our choice. We spent four days in the Galapagos (two on land exploring Santa Cruz Island—so much to see and do) and two at sea exploring multiple islands in the archipelago. Allie even arranged for a private family photo shoot on the most beautiful beach!
Next stop was in the Andes mountains back on the mainland at an amazing hacienda where we really got a feel for the culture of the country. After a couple of days here, it was time for the grand finale, the Amazon rainforest. We all thought the Galapagos would be the main highlight of a trip to Ecuador, but the Amazon was just mind-blowing. Allie sent us to the most amazing eco-lodge in a very remote location where we spent three nights. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Ecuador was very unique in that we were able to spend time in the Galapagos, the Andes Mountains and the Amazon all in one trip! Just be aware, we had a lot of very early mornings and very little downtime (naps during transit were common). Some of the excursions can be physically challenging if you don’t have great balance or stamina, especially combined with the strong equator sun. And there is a lot of moving around and time spent traveling from one place to another. However, it was all 100% worth it! Allie planned the trip of a lifetime for our family of eight!” —Lauren Schor
Read more reviews of Galapagos and Amazon trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
UAE: “We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas in a nature conservancy complete with animals walking around the grounds.”
Holiday activities: “It was a treat to climb a few dunes, ride camels and put our toes in the sand.”
“My family and I were very happy with our destination choices, which were all suggested by Nick. We spent three days on the beach in Oman, two days in the desert area of Ras Al Khaimah, and four days exploring Dubai—a great introduction to this part of the Middle East which also appealed to our teens, who can get tired of museums, etc., pretty quickly.
Six Senses’ property at Zighy Bay stood out in terms of its uniqueness, luxury and physical plant/location. The resort only offers pool villas, which are incredibly well-designed/thought-out, and once you step out the door of each and every one of them, your toes are in the sand. The services and activities, including a world-class spa with hammam and microlights/paragliders which the whole family flew on, shine as well. There may not be a more ‘Instagram-able’ resort in the world.
Next we traveled into the desert and stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, where we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas, in a nature conservancy complete with animals walking around the grounds. It was a treat to climb a few dunes, ride camels and put our toes in the sand. On our way to Dubai we rented dune buggies and sandboarded in the dunes of Sharjah for a few hours, which was also a blast.
Dubai was fantastic and interesting. At Nick’s suggestion, we did a full-day tour of the city including visiting the spice and gold souks, riding a ferry across the ‘creek,’ touring through old Dubai, and a trip to the top of the Burj Khalifa. Nick suggested staying at the Ritz-Carlton JBR, which I would also strongly recommend if you have teens, as it is located right along the JBR walk with shops and restaurants they can explore on their own in this very safe city. The trip was amazing; I am so sad it is over because I thought about it for nine months before going!” —John Beveridge
Read more reviews of U.A.E. trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Panama: “We stayed in the old part of Panama City—very charming and beautifully decorated for the holidays.”
Casco Viejo of Panama City. Photo: Shutterstock
“My husband, 21-year-old son, and I had a fabulous time in Panama, organized by Pierre and his team. We were late in planning the trip for the week after Christmas, but Pierre was able to help us with the right recommendations and accommodations. We stayed in the old part of Panama City—very charming and beautifully decorated for the holidays. Seeing the Panama Canal was the highlight of the trip for us—an absolute must-do for anyone visiting. We also visited monkey island (taking a boat next to big ships in the canal was awesome) and the sloth sanctuary.
We visited Boquete in the mountains for 3 nights and absolutely loved it. It still retains the charm of cloud forests without the commercialization of Costa Rica’s Monteverde. Highlights there included an adventurous 4×4 jeep ride to the top of Baru Volcano for sunrise and seeing both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, a fun cooking experience with the chef of Ngadri restaurant, hanging bridges, and tour of a coffee plantation.
We celebrated New Year’s in Panama City at one of the rooftop restaurants with great music and an excellent multi-course dinner and Champagne. Very memorable. All 3 of us really enjoyed Panama and look forward to going back again.” —Tina Hunt
Read more reviews of Panama trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Paris: “A trip fit for royalty…”
The Palace of Versailles. Photo: Shutterstock
“We had three weeks to plan a Paris trip with our adult children after our Israel trip was canceled. Jennifer, a WOW planner through Wendy Perrin, created a trip fit for royalty. We stayed in a gorgeous, boutique hotel in the Marais district and had private car and tour guides for the Louvre, Versailles, Chateau, Jewish and History Tours. We saw the Eiffel Tower with a private tour, the Dior Exhibit at the Foundation, and we had an amazing time.
Our WOW Moment started with a car picking us up at noon, taking us to an unknown destination which was a fabulous restaurant, Shabour. The owner told us that since we couldn’t go to Israel, this was a Jerusalem-Paris dining experience. We sat at the bar to watch the chefs prepare a delicious, fun, memorable lunch. ” —Adrienne, Phil, Lindsey, Billy Goldberg
Read more reviews of Paris trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Sri Lanka: “We saw beautiful Buddha temples…hiked mountains with spectacular views, went on a jeep safari…”
Pam Greenstein and family saw elephants on their Sri Lanka safari.
“We had an incredible vacation to Sri Lanka over the Christmas holidays with our two daughters, ages 21 and 18. We had just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and wanted to do something special with them. We were there for 2.5 weeks and stayed in 9 different boutique hotels. They were all fantastic! Our guide was absolutely outstanding. He added so much to the trip by getting us into various cultural events, restaurants, markets, and experiences. We never had to wait in line! He was also very caring with our girls when they were tired and needed a break. His passion for the country was instrumental in our learning about the culture and history, and eating incredible food.
We saw beautiful Buddha temples, rode the famous train to see the incredible topography, learned all about tea country, hiked mountains with spectacular views, went on a jeep safari and got up close elephants, leopards and water buffalos; rode bikes through rice paddies, had a wonderful massage and sauna, toured a gem mine to see how they make beautiful jewelry, and swam with the sea turtles. The highlight was our farm-to-table cooking class, picking fresh vegetables at the market and then making Sri Lankan rice and curry dishes with local chefs. It was fun and delicious.” —Pam Greenstein
Read more reviews of Sri Lanka trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Peru: “Our 2024 holiday trip did not disappoint! We selected Peru due to the warm weather, direct flight, and time zone…”
Doug, Kate and Will Nury help with planting crops. Photo: Traveler Beth Nury.
“Our 2024 holiday trip did not disappoint! We selected Peru as our destination due to the warm weather, direct flight, and time zone consistent with EST. Mark and his travel company did a great job of getting us acclimated to Peru’s higher altitude by starting our trip in Lima, then moving to higher elevated locations (Cusco) in preparation for our climb at Palcoyo, a lesser-known rainbow mountain with few visitors.
One trip highlight included hiking the one-day Inca Trail with our guide Johann. As with other trips booked with Wendy’s WOW List planners, the tour guides make the trip. Johann was patient with all of us (two teens and two adults that hike at different speeds!), knowledgeable about the plethora of relics we encountered, and willing to share the names of local restaurants in Cusco which were outstanding and affordable!
Another trip highlight was the Tambopata Research Center. Wildlife sightings were plentiful and the staff educated on the conservation efforts of the lodge. Temperatures are high, but the guides set a reasonable pace and planned hikes in the early morning, to avoid the afternoon oppressive heat.” —Beth Nury
Read more reviews of Peru trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Uruguay: “An outstanding, diverse, and well-paced 12-day trip for me over the Christmas holidays…”
Traveler Jeannie Mullen riding the trusty steed Indio on the beach in “unforgettable” Jose Ignacio.
“Uruguay is a SLEEPER! … while it may fly under the radar with most Americans, in-the-know South Americans spend their vacations in this small country that packs a really big punch. Brazilians and Argentinians also apparently invest there because the Uruguayan economy is so strong. Paul and Lucinda planned an outstanding, diverse, and well-paced 12-day trip for me over the Christmas holidays, and coordinated a smooth transition with a separately planned cruise to Antarctica which followed immediately thereafter.
Universally described as “muy tranquilo”… Uruguay boasts fantastic family-owned wineries, distinctive restaurants with world-renowned chefs, unique and interesting hotels and resorts, beautiful boho chic beach towns, sprawling estancias with an authentic gaucho culture, rolling farm country, the second largest river on the continent, a penchant for all things vintage, and history, art and architecture. After spending time in Carmelo, historic Colonia del Sacramento, Montevideo, Punta del Este and the unforgettable Jose Ignacio, I’ve decided that if I ever decide to live outside the United States, I’m heading to Uruguay.” —Jeannie Mullen
Read more reviews of Uruguay trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Morocco: “We felt truly immersed in the culture of this incredible place and know we would not have had these experiences without our travel planner.”
“Glamping” in the Sahara Desert in Morocco
“Our group of ten travelers, including 5 adults and 5 teens, had a fabulous time in Morocco over winter break 2024. The company did an excellent job with both the planning and the execution of our adventure, which included a hot air balloon ride, a side-car tour, a cooking class, a private henna ceremony for the ladies, “glamping” in the desert, among many other things.
We felt truly immersed in the culture of this incredible place and know that we would not have had these experiences without our travel planner. For example, we had tea with a local berber family, visited a nomad camp, and stopped in lesser known places to learn about rug weaving, leather tanning and mosaic design. During our ten night-stay, we visited Marrakech, Dades, the Sahara Desert and Fes, with a few hours in Casablanca upon landing to visit the Hassan II Mosque..” —Melissa Squire
Read more reviews of Morocco trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Chile: “Patagonia… not sure I have the adjectives to describe what is possibly the most majestically beautiful place on Earth.”
“Patagonia gets in your soul.” Photo: Southwind Adventures
“My husband and I just returned from an incredible almost 2 week adventure (12/28/24-1/10/25) in Chile where our visit took us to two extraordinary locations: Atacama and Patagonia… with much thanks to Tom, who planned a wonderful hassle-free itinerary with many moving parts.
In Atacama, Tom’s itinerary kept us on the move with our wonderful indefatigable guide Abelina ‘Abby’ who led us on challenging treks, brought us to the stunning Moon Valley and Rainbow Valley and other spots as we acclimated to the altitude, and even took my husband shopping for new hiking boots. Our stay at Noi Atacama was nice, comfortable, and well-located and the local town of San Pedro was buzzing around New Year’s. Highlights: AMAZING star gazing experience where we saw four planets including the rings of Saturn, the final magnificent sunset of the year overlooking Moon Valley, and the El Tatio Geyser field at sunrise, followed by a delicious tailgate breakfast.
Patagonia… not sure I have the adjectives to describe what is possibly the most stunning, majestically beautiful place on Earth. Our five day/six night stay in Patagonia began with two nights at the fabulous Singular Hotel — a 19th -20th century sheep processing facility re-imagined as a luxury hotel. This very special property begins with history, and the way in which it is honored, respected and incorporated into a 21st century hotel; then, the food and spa — both wonderful, and finally, a day-long boat excursion through the fjord surrounded by glaciers, with lunch at an estancia with a full barbecue, horse-back riding and hiking. Fantastic!
The hour long drive from The Singular to Patagonia Camp gave us a wonderful introduction to the region, and from the moment we arrived at Patagonia Camp it felt pretty close to perfect: warm, welcoming and gracious, excellent food and drink, and the yurts… cozy, private, fully appointed, comfortable treehouses tucked into the trees. And Patagonia Camp attracts wonderful guests from all over the world — an extra unexpected treat — who you get to know while hiking. New best friends in 8 hours! Talk about being sad to leave — Patagonia gets in your soul.” —Barbara Gross
Read more reviews of Chile trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Egypt: “On our last night of the cruise, we went sand surfing in Aswan. It was a blast!”
Ashley Point and her family on a camel ride near the Pyramids of Giza.
“We just returned from Egypt. Jim, Glenda, and their team did an extraordinary job planning our 2-week trip. Our family of 5, including 3 kids aged 6-11 years old, started in Cairo with the Pyramids of Giza (including camel and ATV rides around the pyramids). Our guide, Eman Shawky Mahmoud, was wonderful. She is pursuing her PhD in archaeology and knows everything about Egypt. Our 11-year-old had just completed ancient history and he asked so many questions and she answered them all. For three days we toured pyramids, museums, etc. We all enjoyed climbing into two pyramids. We also did a Bellies en Route walking food tour. It was wonderful to see and taste the city with the help of a local. We stayed in connecting rooms at the Four Seasons. The food, service and rooms were top-notch.
After 4 days we flew to Luxor and met with our second guide, Bishoy George. He has two children and knew how to accommodate our needs when the kids were tired. He too is an expert on the history and culture of Egypt. We stayed at the Winter Palace. It was beautiful. The kids woke up Christmas morning to stockings filled with candy and gifts from the hotel!
After two nights, we boarded the M/S Farah and cruised the Nile. This smaller boat (120 passengers) was perfect for our family. The pool was a nice distraction after a long day of touring. They offered to make special meals for the kids, but they weren’t needed because the kids loved all of the dishes served. The staff on the Farah were the best, with their towel creations each night, ice cream every afternoon, and very clean accommodations. George met us at each port and showed us around each city. He answered all of our questions about the history, culture, politics, and people of Egypt. On our last night of the cruise, we went sand surfing in Aswan. It was a blast! The next day we flew to Abu Simbel, then back to Cairo to enjoy two more days with Eman at the GEM and Islamic Cairo.
Jim addressed all of our safety concerns, but we trusted that he knew Egypt best, and he did. We never felt unsafe. The Egyptians were kind and friendly and happy to share their beautiful country with us. We are already booking our next trip with a WOW planner!” —Ashley Point
Read more reviews of Egypt trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Australia & New Zealand: “A helicopter tour, kayaking, a day at a sheep station (including an elegant lunch with the owners)…”
Wilson Island, Great Barrier Reef.
“Our family of four, parents and two daughters in their 20s, traveled to Australia and New Zealand for 3+ weeks. Quite frankly, it would have been impossible to put together such a wonderful trip without the guidance, counseling, and bookings of our travel consultants. Everything went without a hitch, which is saying a lot for an almost-four-week itinerary.
We had initially thought we would only visit Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, but Stuart and Jacki persuaded us to tour Queensland and the rain forests, snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, fly to Uluru to ride camels and experience the deep Outback, and take tours out of the cities to spots we know most tourists miss. The same held true in New Zealand, where Sarah and Sara staged a helicopter tour, kayaking, a day at a 36,000-hectare sheep station (including an elegant lunch with the owners at their home on the station), and a three-night stay at a beautiful two-bedroom cottage on a private estate winery on the North Island. We are most appreciative.” —Nancy Brooks
Read more reviews of Australia trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Portugal & Spain: “A Christmas to remember forever and ever!”
Sao Pedro do Corval, Portugal. Photo: Traveler Michelle Bodine
“Our family just returned from the most magical and well-planned trip to Portugal and Spain for Christmas and New Year’s! We were thrilled to have traveled at this time of year, and especially in Europe where the Christmas lights, trees and markets made it even better. We took our four children and their spouses and four grandchildren, so fourteen all together. Wendy lined us up with the perfect people to help us plan and then succeed on a 14-day excursion with 14 people, big and small, in Portugal and Spain. Gonçalo and Patrícia were phenomenal with their hotel accommodations, food and restaurant recommendations, tour guides that fit our needs of grandchildren ages 6, 3, 1 1/2 and 3 months, and activities that enriched our trip.
The itinerary was just what we wanted! It truly was perfect in every way. There was even flexibility, so if we needed to cancel a restaurant because we were going on a food tour and would not be hungry, we could. The amount of scheduled activities and free time to explore more was perfect. Gonçalo and Patricia are experts in what they do, and I would trust them again to plan the most satisfying travel experience for my family! We could not have done this trip without them. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for planning a Christmas to remember forever and ever!” —Michelle Bodine
Read more reviews of Portugal and Spain trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Japan: “A beautiful walk through the snowy town to our ryokan, where I enjoyed our room’s private balcony onsen…”
The Cheng family were tutored in the fine art of sushi-making.
“My two teens and pre-teen told me they wanted to visit Tokyo and go snowboarding in Japan,. Andrea told me that when my family went snowboarding, I had to see the snow monkeys, and he was right! My day with the snow monkeys was magical, a highlight of my trip. I loved seeing my family off on the slopes and then making my way by bus and then through the woods to the Snow Monkey Park where the snow monkeys were enjoying the hot springs while the snow fell, ending my visit with a yummy ramen and matcha latte. I then had a beautiful walk through the snowy town to our ryokan, where I enjoyed our room’s private balcony onsen.
The first and last legs of our trip were in two locations in Tokyo, the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel in Shibuya and the Tsuki Tokyo in Ginza, both great for families and very well-located. We loved our guide Juliana at the beginning of the trip, as she was a delightful addition to our family, like the best fun auntie. After our two days with Juliana, the kids missed her the rest of the trip. She taught us how to navigate the trains and helped us pick places to eat and shop and find some face wash the girls forgot! Having all the tips and transportation details sorted helped tremendously and eliminated frustration for sure. I cannot imagine navigating Tokyo station with all five of us and all our luggage without our helpers. During the trip, I marveled at all the moving parts and was so thankful for all the planning from Andrea and the team. As the kids say, it was epic!” —Jennifer Cheng
Read more reviews of Japan trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Argentina: “We saw such varied things, from the sun-kissed vineyards of Mendoza to the grand colonial architecture in Salta…”
The Andes and vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina. Photo: Shutterstock
“Maita and Florencia gave us a truly memorable week in Argentina that began 4 hours after the World Cup-winning soccer team arrived home at EZE airport! I had many concerns about traveling over the Christmas holiday. Despite obstacles, we had 5 terrific hotels and our guides were superlative. We saw such varied things, from the sun-kissed vineyards of Mendoza to the grand colonial architecture in Salta to the whole area around Purmamarca, a real discovery area for us. Ending at Iguassu falls was just perfect. We had to throw Maita and team some curve balls at the last minute: such as securing my husband and his 80-year-old mother last-minute back-up plane reservations and transfers from Ushuaia to meet me in BA on 12/20. They were able to help them on the run. We just loved our trip and we can’t wait to go back and discover more of remarkable Argentina! Next time: Lake district, glaciers and Patagonia! And maybe even more Purmamarca!
Travelers really should book all the internal air through Maita. The Aerolineas site does not work from the USA. Also, the private driver for crossing over to the Brazil side of Iguassu Falls is a must, the crowds were crazy there and we could not wait to get back to the relative calm of the Argentina side. Our driver Alex did a great job in tough conditions. Staying at the Melia right there is worth the extra money times 10!” —Mary Laronge
Read more reviews of Argentina trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
African safari: “We learned so much about nature and the wild from all our guides…”
A cheetah in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Photo: Wilderness Safaris/Dana Allen
“We did an absolutely incredible three-week trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana from late December through mid-January. Julian listened to what we wanted and curated a wonderful itinerary with beautiful lodges, stunning game drives, very knowledgeable guides, impeccable service, and delicious food and drinks. And of course the stars of the trip were all the amazing animals.
We started in South Africa at Makweti Lodge, which is stunning and has just five suites. The staff couldn’t have been more warm and welcoming, always making sure we were having a great time. We also spent a few days in Cape Town and the neighboring wine region—gorgeous, with so much history and beauty! Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe was so majestic even at a fraction of its full flow.
We visited three camps in Botswana, each unique and amazing. Seeing elephants, hippos and all kinds of antelope right next to the lodges was super cool. The Okavango Delta is not to be missed, even during the rainy season. Camp Shinde was another one of our favorite camps, with top-notch service and gem viewing. The Desert and Delta Safari went above and beyond, flying us from one camp to another via helicopter twice because the bush planes couldn’t reach some locations because of the heavy rains. It was an unexpected and very special treat—twice!” —Tina Hunt
Read more reviews of African Safari trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Antarctica: “This was the perfect way to tick off our 7th continent!”
Penguins, whales, and seals were both the setting and companions for holiday activities like snowshoeing, kayaking, and camping. Photo: Ryan Damm
“What a trip! For adventurous and sporty wildlife lovers, a cruise with Oceanwide Expeditions to Antarctica is not to be missed! A friend and I spent 12 days aboard the MV Plancius on the hunt for penguins, whales and seals and we were not disappointed.
It’s important to understand that only boats with less than 500 people are allowed to take clients ashore (100 people at a time) and the MV Plancius had only 100 passengers, meaning that it’s the perfect ship for people looking to maximize their time on the continent. Plus, Oceanwide’s base camp concept allows you to do all the activities—snowshoeing, kayaking, and camping overnight—which means you leave feeling like you’ve covered all the must-dos!
The ship’s guiding staff is spectacular and many are accomplished outdoorsmen pursuing advanced degrees in marine life and glaciology. The onboard staff are so kind and diligent and food was shockingly varied for a trip that took us so far from places to restock.
It was incredibly special to spend New Year’s Eve dancing with our fellow passengers near the Antarctic Circle. This was the perfect way to tick off our 7th continent!” —Katie Stiner
Read more reviews of Antarctica trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
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