Christmas Islands

Stuck for ideas for a Christmas getaway? Philip Dodd & Ben Donald, co-authors of the new Book of Islands have some ideas for finding the perfect escape from the Brussels sprouts and paper hats. And why not leave a copy of the book behind, wrapped up underneath the tree just to make them green with envy? Ho, ho, ho…

Christmas Island was named after the day it was discovered and while eerily idyllic and aptly named, it lies north west of Australia so might be a bit far away for a short Yuletide break. So if you’re looking for a white Christmas with a difference, why not discover some other festive islands closer to home.

Upload your iPod with some seasonal tunes and head off to newly cool-again Lanzarote, of which it has been said“if Apple did islands they would look like this. Lanzarote is an island of iLandscapes of white villages set against black lava.” Liberated from its lager-lout image and with its perfectly preserved high-rise-free architecture, this favourite Canary is now an island of boutique villas, gourmet restaurants and good wine.

For something more rugged, head further out to sea and the island of Madeira, one of the Portuguese Azores, birthplace of Premiership Christmas cracker, Ronaldo, and home to a pink hydrangea-covered corner of Kent. Set in the middle of the Atlantic, it comes complete with lush vales and emerald lakes, perfect for a Boxing Day walk in case you’ve overdone it on the famous local tipple.

Alternatively, if it’s white sand you want instead of white snow, and palms instead of firs, head for Jamaica, where you can load up reggae carol covers such as the timeless classic‘Jamaica Jamaica, we don’t’gat no snow’ to the tune of Jingle Bells. Or instead of chestnuts, roast breadfruit on an open fire while sipping a cool Carib beer under guaranteed sunshine, with your toes dipped into the turquoise surf.

If you like the idea of a festive season away from the British weather, but without completely abandoning all traces of home, head for the tiny islands of Malta. An international crossroads throughout its history,Malta has been described as having “the culture of South London in a landscape like Lebanon”.The badges of its colonial history litter the island – like incongruous red post-boxes standing out in narrow, unmistakably Mediterranean streets.

Beneath the post-imperial veneer lies a fascinating cultural tapestry, interweaving Arabic, Italian and Sicilian, in a in a language that contains many unique letters. The fusion of cultures also infuses the local cuisine, a melting pot of such oddities as dolphin fish pie and torta-tal-lampuki, another seafood dish, in case you can’t find anywhere serving turkey and sprouts!

Travel to the east from Malta and you’ll alight on the island Cyprus, an land apart – geographically close to the other Greek islands and sharing their forgiving‘winter’ climate, but with a character all its own. In this quieter season, freed from the swarms of summer tourists, you get to see more of the true nature of the place and its people. Enjoy lashings of the local ‘meze’or ‘zivania’ firewater with the locals’hospitality, a great way to dodge the weather at home.