The holiday season is here, and it comes complete with all the blinking lights, the feasting, and an irresistible desire to evade somewhere enchanted. Celebrities and billionaires are making a holiday journey out of our pal, when most of us are on the way to make plans for comfortable get-togethers or a last-minute shopping spree. Imagine private islands, snow-dusted chalets, superyachts surrounded by fairy lights, places so exclusive that you feel like you are in a movie.

The festive getaways of this year are larger, more daring, and dreamier than ever. From beaches in the sun to winter wonderlands of storybook, it’s a glimpse of how the ultra-rich of the world are celebrating – and why such destinations continue to remain on top of the lists of the best places to spend Christmas.

Aspen: Where Sparkle Meets Billionaire Chic at Christmas

Aspen is an unconquerable classic as far as festal luxury is concerned. This Colorado ski resort is turned into a holiday resort every December, where the streets are filled with snow, glowing windows, and crackling fireplaces. No wonder tech founders, hedge fund managers, and Hollywood A-listers swarm the town every year.

Aspen is noted to have sold out its private chalets this season, with some of the nightly rates being equal to that of a small automobile. The mixture of skiing at the world level by day and dinners with holiday invites by night is appealing to the celebrities. Imagine fine dining, where a personal chef is making dinner, and it is topped off with hot cocoa by the stars- served naturally, of course, in a heated outdoor pool.

Aspen is beautiful because it is not too much or too little, glamorous but not showy, celebratory but not obtrusive. It is not a vacation but a tradition to many elites, and not only is it one of the best places to spend Christmas when you love snow and sophistication side by side, but it is also a tradition.

St. Barts: Christmas in Flip-Flops

On the other extreme is the Caribbean island of St. Barts, which has made Christmas a sun-drenched luxury festival. There is no use for ugly sweaters here: festive fashion implies linen clothes, designer frames, and walking on powdery beaches barefoot.

The St. Barts of this year are swarmed with the superyachts anchored close to the shore and all decorated with mixed Christmas decorations and staffed with full crews eager to hold lavish feasts over the holidays. The reason why celebrities like the island is owing to its privacy, low-key atmosphere, and being in a position to feel exclusive yet not rigid.

Beachfront restaurants offer Christmas Eve dinners that are followed by New Year’s parties that last until sunrise; a factor that makes St. Barts a favorable destination for those who are more than familiar with wool. It is also an eye-opener that the best places to spend Christmas are not necessarily those with snow; sometimes sunshine triumphs.

Lapland, Finland: Fairytale of the Wealthy Ultra-Rich

There is no better festive fantasy than Lapland for people who are keen to embrace the magic of the season fully. It is a winter fairy tale in Finland that has attracted more and more celebrities wanting a more fun, family-friendly retreat.

Think of being in a glass igloo, with the dazzling Northern lights in the sky outside as the snow falls quietly in the snow. Include individual reindeer sleigh rides, husky excursions, and personal encounters with Santa Claus (at least the one they suggest in Lapland), and you have a Christmas of the storybook.

Billionaires are also known to rent out the whole luxury lodges where they bring along their families and friends, including personal guides and cooks. It is calm, beautiful, and highly celebratory, a reminder that it is not always about spending, but rather enjoying. It is no surprise that Lapland frequently appears in the list of the top places to enjoy Christmas, in case you want to experience the magic of the pure holidays.

Dubai: Meet Festive Season meets Future-glamour

Dubai is not doing half-baked things, and not even Christmas. Although it might not be snowy, the city makes up for the mouth-gaping decorations, extravagant brunches, and excessive celebrations in five-star hotels.

Celebrities and billionaires are opting to spend their year in Dubai due to its guaranteed sunshine, unparalleled shopping, and its capability to merge the holiday customs with the futuristic sophistication. The hotel lobby is topped with Christmas trees, and the desert camps have candlelit holiday dinners under the stars.

Whether it is penthouses with a view of the Burj Khalifa or individual villas of the Palm Jumeirah, space, privacy, and indulgence are all equal in Dubai. To people who wish that the holidays had a bit of a modern twist, it is fast becoming one of the most appealing places to enjoy Christmas, particularly when your notion of fun during the holidays involves views of the skyline and golden leaf desserts.

Crystal Skies and Silent Nights in the Maldives

When we think of finding an escape, the Maldives always seems like a picture-perfect option. The island country still welcomes celebrities who intend to vanish at least for a week or two during this festive season.

Christmas is seriously practiced in the luxury resorts of the area with underwater dining, caroling performances on the beach, and even personalized holiday surprises by boat. Billionaires usually rent whole islands, which means that their celebrations remain undisturbed.

The Maldives provide a type of festive solace that is hard to come by, with crowds, noise, turquoise waters, and star-filled skies. It is an ideal place to go and reminisce, rejuvenate, and enjoy the festivities without making a big scene, which is evidence that the best places to spend Christmas need not be as loud as they are lavish.

Why We’re All Watching

Celebrity and billionaire holiday retreats always have something endlessly intriguing to them. Perhaps it is the fantasy, the escapism, or it is just the pleasure of knowing how the festive season can be celebrated in such different ways. But it is not just the glamour; these trips also affect the trend of travel amongst others.

Places popular among the hyper-wealthy tend to become aspirational destinations, giving future trips and bucket-list fantasies. It reminds us that Christmas isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s a whole experience. An experience that can be had in snowy mountain tops as well as calm sunny beaches.

Final Thoughts

With the festive season making a full comeback, celebrity and billionaire getaways promise a sparkling preview of a world of unending possibilities. It may be skiing in Aspen, sailing in the St.Barts, hunting the Northern Lights in Lapland, or just resting in the Maldives, and these getaways reinvent the image of the holiday celebrations.

Although the majority of us are not going to board the private jets any time soon, there is one universal thing, and that is the happiness of travelling, being together, and having a different scenery. And who knows? Or perhaps, you will find your own list of the best places to spend Christmas this year, without the need to spend money on a superyacht like the rich and famous.