Winter is the season of festivities and fun. It is the most welcomed break from our routine at the end of the year, with Christmas and New Year just around the corner. It is time with family and friends. Some like to spend this precious quality time at home, and some like to have an exciting vacation. For those looking for a vacation, here are a few places you should not miss during this fabulous Winter in the last calendar month.

To start with, one of the best places to travel in winter is Goa. Goa is the land of beaches and shores. With its beautiful, vast seas and pristine water, Goa is one of the best destinations in India for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. During Winter, Asia’s largest music festival, the famous Sunburn Festival happens here. Sunburn is an electronic dance music festival that is held on the beach on multiple stages, with artists playing simultaneously. You can welcome the New Year in a party style here.

To beat the winter chill you can escape to Rio de Janeiro. The mighty Copacabana Beach has the best party for New Year in Rio. Many pack their bags to this party-crazy destination. If you want to stay away from the crowd, there are serene beaches to spend some time for yourself or the enchanting fireworks display to keep you entertained.

Australia, famous for its Sydney Opera House looks spectacular during the Christmas season. There are some stunning fireworks displays across the Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve which can not be missed no matter where you are in the city. For the foodies, you can hop to Tasmania which has a Taste Festival. There is also the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland which is Australia’s biggest cultural festival.

Cruising around Hawaii and Mexico is fantastic during Winter. It is the best family vacation one can look forward to. The weather is excellent around this time of the year. To add to it the Christmas glitter and pomp is a big bonus for all and there are many things to do on a cruise. Spending time in Cancun, Mexico in a beautiful resort is very relaxing with very nice weather. They have white sand beaches that are a visual treat.

Phuket in Thailand has the most popular regatta during Winter to celebrate the King of Thailand’s birthday. It is an island with many beach towns, each of these being unique in its own way. If you travel a little further you can go to the best diving destination, Similan Islands. This place is mostly done with rains by the end of the Monsoon and has clear skies and calm seas and is very inviting for adventurous divers.

If you want to ski in the snow then head to Colorado. Some of the best ski resorts are present in Colorado which has powder snow. By December it would get sufficient snow for skiing. You can go to Vail, Squaw Valley, or Jackson Hole. Also, there are breathtaking hot springs in Glenwood Springs.

Last but not least and if you do not mind the chillness, getaway to New York. With Christmas and New Year in the season, the whole city is brightly decked up with exquisite lights and decorations. The ice skating in Rockefeller Center is a must during this season.