Sparkling lights, beautiful decorations on the Christmas tree and a jolly good cheer. Christmas season is in the air, and to many, it is the most wonderful time of year. Preparing for the holiday can also pass at the blink of an eye. One minute you're trimming the tree, watching the festive advertisements on the telly showcasing the best toys and greatest gifts; the next, you're counting down the New Year. And so it goes, one merry year after the next. The truth is, there is so much more to Christmas than that.
Christmas is also about family, travelling and taking a holiday. Last year, 3,630 eDreams customers travelled on December 19 and 20, marking the two busiest travel days for Christmas. Some were travelling home to the familiar aroma of mum's home-cooked meals, family time and the sensation of being transported to yesteryear when as a child, they were sleepless thinking about the gifts waiting to be opened the next morning. Christmas is also a great time to take an adventure, to treat yourself for a year of great work and to go on holiday to one of your most dreamed of destinations. Whichever type of holiday traveller you may be, eDreams has compiled a study detailing your top destinations during the Christmas season. Find out which locations were most visited during the Christmas holiday and be inspired for this year's journey!
Sometimes, there really is no place like home. In 2016, more than 1,500 UK residents travelled throughout the 10 most popular UK destinations, and made London the top visited domestic destination. Could the reason for staying in UK for the holidays be the spectacular display of Christmas lights the city is famous for, that adorn the most prestigious shops? Or perhaps the London Christmas markets and the magic of Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, with its more than 200 wooden chalets, Santa Land and ice rink are so enchanting, a visit is essential? Christmas in London truly is a splendid occasion, but not to be dismissed, are the other top domestic travel destinations for holiday, which include Belfast in the number two spot for most visited in 2016, and Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester, following.
| #1 | London | #6 | Bristol |
| #2 | Belfast | #7 | Jersey |
| #3 | Edinburgh | #8 | Cardiff |
| #4 | Glasgow | #9 | Inverness |
| #5 | Manchester | #10 | Liverpool |
Inspired to spend the holiday at the most popular travelling destination? Well, then say cheers to the Christmas holiday in Helsinki, very near to Santa Claus' home! eDreams study reveals that although flights to Helsinki are a very popular destination throughout the year, the city comes to life during the Christmas season with bright lights that shine through the city’s centre. The second most visited destination is Amsterdam, with passengers travelling to enjoy the city’s sights and canals. Rounding up the top 5 international holiday destinations are Paris, Reykjavik and Madrid.
| #1 | Helsinki | #6 | Berlin |
| #2 | Amsterdam | #7 | Dublin |
| #3 | Paris | #8 | Lisboa |
| #4 | Reykjavik | #9 | New York , NY |
| #5 | Madrid | #10 | Malaga |
Which low cost airline did travellers pick for their Christmas journey? UK travellers chose easyJet as their preferred choice with more than 1,000 bookings during the season. In at second place but also at the top of the list is Ryanair and rounding the top 3, British Airways.