Thanksgiving is a holiday where we gather with our families to make memories, feel gratitude, and feast together. But who said you had to cook? What if this year you changed the location from grandma’s dining room to somewhere else in the world? Why not change up your traditional family gathering and instead connect over special memories made while on vacation.
This year, trade crowded kitchens, dry turkey, and hours of clean-up for sun-drenched beaches in Greece, ancient landmarks in Jordan, and wild natural scenes in Australia. Whether your family vibe is a cozy pub in a small Irish village, or floating serenely along the backwaters in Kerala, we’ve wrapped up the best Thanksgiving getaways with something for every family.
Ditch the stress of hosting and embrace new traditions this Thanksgiving. Choose to connect more deeply with your own family while discover new cultures and cuisine on some of the best Thanksgiving getaways around the world.
Seek gratitude in Greece
Hop, skip, and jump over to beautiful Greece, the cradle of Western civilization, to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. While November is edging towards winter, the time of year means fewer crowds (and distractions) as you connect with your family.
The Greeks are famous for their ability to gather together, celebrating family and culture every other week. Take a leaf out of their book when you join Trafalgar’s Best of Greece tour. You’ll explore ancient landmarks and feast like kings as you exploreAthens, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora over eight days.
A dash across Europe
Stop saying “We’ll explore Europe one day” and make plans to actually do it this Thanksgiving. It’s a long weekend, so you’ll only need to take a few extra days to join a whirlwind seven-day European adventure. Trafalgar’s European Highlights whisks you through four incredible European countries – Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France.
Discover the charm of Amsterdam’s canals, see the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, and cruise along the scenic Rhine River. This tour is the perfect way to experience the best of Europe in one action-packed Thanksgiving getaway.
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Family history in Ireland
It’s estimated that more than six million Irish people have emigrated to the US since 1820. At its peak, some two million emigrated in just one decade in the mid 1800s due to the Great Famine. What that means is that many Americans have Irish heritage.
One of the best ideas for Thanksgiving getaways is to bring your multigenerational family on a trip to the motherland to reconnect the family tree. Discover the cities, towns, and villages where your ancestors emigrated from and feel gratitude for their courage.
Wild side of coastal Australia
Of course, it’s a bit of a stretch to turn a Thanksgiving long weekend into a trip to Australia. But life is short, and the Thanksgiving holiday is about making memories with family being grateful for the people around you. So why not plan an adventure like no other together?
While Australia’s cities are fantastic, the real reason to go Down Under is for the nature. Discover the wild side of Australia on the seven-day Great Ocean Road & Kangaroo Island Escape, which treks from Melbourne to Adelaide following one of the world’s most scenic drives and popping out to Kangaroo Island for two nights.
Since you’re going so far, you could do that tour back-to-back with the nine-day Contrasts of Australia, which ticks off sunny Sydney, cool Melbourne and tropical Cairns, where you’ll cruise around the Great Barrier Reef.
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Get lost in the colors of Kerala
For the adventurous family, there’s nothing like the colors and cuisine of India. Leave the modern world behind and dive into the enchanting region of Kerala, where you’ll find vivid colours, tranquil waters, and the lingering aroma of spices.
Trafalgar’s Captivating Kerala goes deeper, connecting your family with the special and natural region over six amazing days.
Tick off Machu Picchu in Peru
Another great adventure for go-getter families would be the Highlights of Peru. Together you could explore the mysterious Inca empire, discover ancient legends, and see Peru’s wild landscapes. Best of all, you’ll tick off bucket list landmark Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Peru’s capital Lima has a reputation for its world-class food scene, and after a few classic Peruvian pisco sours you’ll wonder why you didn’t travel for Thanksgiving sooner.
Go early for the European Christmas markets
Turn your Thanksgiving holiday into an early Christmas trip with a family tour of Europe’s amazing Christmas markets. Many of the best markets open a full month ahead of the Santa Claus’ arrival, so you can experience the spirit of Christmas in late November.
Trafalgar’s Christmas Markets of Austria Germany and Switzerland tour dashes across these three cozy countries, exploring markets in Vienna, Munich and Lucerne. As a fun idea, you could draw names from a hat and with a $25 budget have to buy a gift for another family member!
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Explore Jordan
Our final suggestion for one of the best Thanksgiving getaways is Jordan. You can explore the best of this petite country in six days on Trafalgar’s Jordan Experience, traveling from Amaan to the “Rose City” of Petra and Wadi Rum.
With Trafalgar you’ll always connect with the locals at a Be My Guest experience. On this trip you’ll learn about Jordanian culture with the Khzoz family, have dinner with a Bedouin tribe and spend a soulful night gazing at the clear night’s sky.
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Those are the best Thanksgiving getaways. Which one would you choose for your family and why? Leave us a comment….