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The bar might have been bathed in neon turquoise light, but I still noticed Monica’s nails. Long, lovingly cared for, perfectly squared off, and resplendent in layer upon layer of cherry-red lacquer, topped with a few coats of red glitter.
Christmas nails. So festive, yet not garish or obvious. Her nails weren’t made to look like mini Santa hats or dotted with Christmas trees. Even red and green stripes were overlooked.
Just bright red, and red glitter. Classy Christmas nails. And it’s so strange, but looking at those nails made me realize the kind of Christmas that I wanted to have.
It’s hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit. I’m not a big Christmas person, I don’t like Christmas music, I’m not a fan of anything cutesy, and I don’t have many little kids in my life who get excited for Santa. I hate the rampant consumerism and I know what an emotionally difficult time the Christmas season can be for many people.
So perhaps because of that, I’ve spent the past few years seeking out nontraditional Christmases in different parts of the world.
There was my first Christmas abroad: Sihanoukville in 2010, where I took a costumed booze cruise to an island, frolicked on a beach in a bikini and Santa hat, shotgunned beers, made out with a random Israeli giant, then spent the night partying with new friends at JJ’s, the see-and-be-seen spot of Serendipity Beach.
It was wild, as was my first trip to Southeast Asia. But I’m still in touch with many of those friends from Christmas night and one of them, Chris, became one of my favorite travel companions ever.
There was Christmas in Koh Lanta in 2013, a much more mature day on the beach topped off by a tasting menu at one of the nicest beach restaurants and getting to know classy couples from all over the world. As wonderful as it was to be on my favorite island, it was also a stressful and difficult day.
Less memorable was Christmas in London in 2012, during which I did nothing. Honestly, I can’t remember a single thing about it because it was an ordinary day; I had only stayed in the UK for Christmas because I had to go to Scotland a few days later. I may have watched Django Unchained. Or maybe it was Home Alone.
There were also the Christmas markets I explored all over Europe, from Paris to Florence to Birmingham. It’s really a whole season more than just a day.
But New York is a different kind of Christmas. It is incredibly, indisputably traditional. Unbelievably, I had somehow never experienced Christmas in New York all this time, but my #BookingEpic campaign with Booking.com brought me to the Ace Hotel in the heart of December.
I’ve never seen a single destination get so swept up in the holiday.
And I was afraid that I’d hate it.
On my mind was an essay written by David Sedaris in which he describes a friend of a friend’s disastrous visit to New York. She was from a small town in the south and had come to New York afraid of bloody everything, assuming everyone was trying to pickpocket her, even accusing taxi drivers of trying to rip her off before they even got in the car.
She hated the food; she hated the markets. But as soon as she got to Rockefeller Center and saw the Christmas tree, she was at her happiest. A different writer might treat this turning point with beauty and grace, but this is David Sedaris we’re talking about. He wrote about how she was hysterical with happiness despite being crushed by the masses.
She was surrounded by people just like her who hated New York but loved all the cheesy Christmas stuff.
So between that and my general distaste for midtown Manhattan, my expectations for Christmas in New York were low.
But they shouldn’t have been.
There was always a crowd at Rockefeller Center, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t that bad. Not only did I go see the Christmas tree a few times, I went with longtime New Yorkers (including a native Manhattanite) and we took cheesy pictures of ourselves in front of the tree! We even stuck around to watch part of the show on the buildings! Who says there’s anything wrong with that?
And so what if it’s the “touristy” or stereotypical thing to do? It was fun! And more importantly, we were having a great time with each other.
Midtown was such a great place to explore the Christmas festivities. Giant balls in the middle of a fountain? Excellent! Store windows filled with winter wonderlands of high fashion I couldn’t afford? Most excellent!
And decorations? They were out of this world.
Like these giant Christmas lights.
…if those are, in fact, supposed to be Christmas lights.
Image: The Legendary Adventures of Anna
And there were Christmas parties! My friends and I dropped into Nomadic Matt‘s annual Christmas party, all dressed up, made up, and enjoying drinks with travel people. This is the closest thing I had to an office Christmas party. (Though it still didn’t top the office party when my boss passed out Viagra to all the guys, but that’s another story for another time…)
This year, I learned that I didn’t need to leave the country in order to have the kind of Christmas I wanted. Whether I wanted to have a nontraditional Christmas of shotgunned beers on the beach in Cambodia, a very traditional Christmas with the decorations of New York, or even my personal brand of classy-but-not-obvious-and-very-me Christmas, the Christmas of Monica’s glittery red nails, it didn’t matter.
Christmas, overall, was about sharing the holiday spirit with the people around me, whether they were close friends or complete strangers.
The #BookingEpic campaign is brought to you by iambassador and Booking.com to highlight unusual accommodation around the world. All opinions, as always, are my own.
New York is my favorite at Christmas. I’m so glad that you enjoyed it despite not loving Midtown or Christmas in general! This year, I actually saw the tree almost deserted, it was just before 7 am, gorgeous. Christmas is the only time to go to Rockefeller Center.
I’d love to be in New York for the holiday season too – it seems so classy and alive!
My most unusual Christmas was in AbuDhabi, UAE. Despite not being a Christian country, there were areas of the city that had decorations up. We feasted at a hotel for an epic brunch and then had the most delicious street shawarmas for dinner!
I don’t think I ever had an unusual Christmas! But I loved my first European Christmas-Market-Adjacent experience in Brussels, in late December, when the city was beginning to get decked out in lights and display its whimsy with a scent of mulled wine. And it snowed!
I’m not big into Christmas either – we never decorate and I’m always trying to plan travel so that we can skip the consumerism. But, there is something about New York and the traditional holiday decor that would be so cool to see. Last year we were on Koh Tao for Christmas, my favorite one yet! ๐
Great energy! You look fab! ) Next year come with me to Habana, Cuba for Christmas and New Years! This was my most unusual Christmas and New Years .. Because I said hello to 2015 in while in 50’s )
Ooh…a Cuban Christmas sounds amazing!
Christmas in New York looks epic. Probably the most Christmassy place I have been was London, I loved the outdoor iceskating, Streets and Department Stores with lots of decorations and Christmas Markets. It’s just not the same in Sydney
I am such a sucker for the holiday season and have always wanted to visit NYC after Thanksgiving. But for now, living vicariously through you with this post is fine with me ๐ Thanks for sharing!
Happy travels ๐
New York does Christmas so very well – I’m glad you got to experience it! My least traditional Christmas was spent in Miami and was loads of fun, but give me a New York Christmas any day.
I think you almost have it easier travelling and being overseas for Christmas if you usually don’t have a lot of christmas spirit. Christmas has always been a huge thing in my family especially for my Mum and Nana (I swear she spends the other 11 months of the year organising christmas day for all 40 of us). So it is super, heartbreakingly hard for me to be away from my family on Christmas. And I’m not going to be home for the next 3 of them! One of which will hopefully be in New York after reading this post!!
I’ve heard that from lots of people, Britt. The more traditions you have, the harder it is. ๐
Kate! You are so funny with the picture of the HUGE Christmas lights. I just love your writing. You are so down to earth and willing to learn and explore. Thanks so much for sharing a dream to so many readers. Christmas in New York! You did it.
Julie
Thank you very much, Julie! You made my day.
shotguunnn!!!!! Love that picture.
You’ve had unusual Christmases! Sounds awesome in New York! Perhaps this year I should try to have Christmas in a different country!
I celebrated my first Christmas overseas in 2013 in NYC and it was the most surreal experience ever! Still to this day can’t stop reminiscing!
Oooh, I wish that was me in New York for Christmas.
It looks so amazing and reminds me of all the Christmas movies I’ve seen.
London did pretty well with their Winter Wonderland last Christmas, though ๐
Riding by motorcycle to the northern beaches on the island of Florianopolis (Brazil) setting up a tent, and partying with random people on the beach until sunrise. Aside from the clothes on my back, all I had with me was a handle of vodka and my swimsuit.
I’ll never forget Christmas 2010 in New York City. It was one of the best Christmases I’ve ever had. The lights, the skating, the sweets, the decorations, and so on. The city was alive and there was something in the air like a contagious gas of childish giddiness. I enjoyed it with friends and we had a good time. Sometimes it’s okay to get wrapped up in all the tradition and cheesiness.
You look super gorgeous in the last pic, and I love your friend’s green sparkly dress – the perfect Christmas outfit!
Thank you! She bought that dress right before the party — we went with her to Nordstrom Rack. ๐
I’m not a huge Christmas person either. As an adult it’s just not as fun as when I was a kid! This Christmas I’m heading to Central America! Got to use my holiday and vacation time wisely, aka travel! ๐
I was never a very festive Christmas person until I lived with one of the biggest Christmas fanatics on earth. She’d sleep with Xmas music on, decorate the house with candy canes. When you can’t beat them, join them. I had to embrace the Christmas spirit to not lose my mind, but the spirit stuck. I love Christmas now.