Readers' tips: Christmas abroad

WINNING TIP: Venice, Italy The rest of the year Venice is overflowing with tourists, but at Christmas it's a joy: little Christmas markets, Murano glass baubles in shop windows, and beautiful fresh foods near the Rialto. There are no queues for the Accademia or St Mark's, and we've even been in the Doge's Palace with just us and the security guard. It's cold, but often with blue skies. Then, by a tick of the Torre dell'Orologio clock, it's time to ring in the New Year with a party in St Mark's Square. jonkempner Europe White villages of Andalucía, Spain The pueblos blancos of southern Spain follow many religious traditions at Christmas. In the many belens (cribs) you may spot the caganer figure squatting with his trousers down! In the bars, you may see a travelling group of shepherd musicians. On Christmas Eve oil lamps sparkle in the windows. And on 6 January children leave out shoes for the three kings to fill with sweets and gifts. Best of all, the weather is warm and you could spend 25 December on a sandy beach. andalucia.com/province/cadiz/cadiz-pueblos.htm Bowbank Cappadocia, Turkey For Christmas 1991, I found myself high in the Cappodocian mountains sitting down to a delicious meal at the Köse Pension with my best friend, my two-year-old son and backpackers from the four corners of the world. We shared stories, sang songs and went on a group walk among the magical snow-covered fairy turrets. The Köse family provide hospitality and a comfortable home from which to explore this beautiful place. My Turkish Christmas left me with a warm glow and a present to myself, a kilim made by nomads depicting the tree of life. +90 384 271 2294, kosepension.com TashaFrome Pitsidia, Crete Chance upon an isolated home and at the very least that means a friendly " Kalimera!" ("Good morning") and a wave – sometimes an invitation to come inside and drink tea. Climb the hill that overlooks this very unspoilt village and listen to a chorus of sheep bleating, cattle lowing and instantly be transported to a time two thousand years ago. Bars in Pitsidia reflect a true Christmas spirit: always friendly, and if the owner is not there, customers help themselves and are trusted to pay their bill later. Fresh local fish, grilled halloumi, crisp vegetables and Cretan music make a refreshing change from turkey and carols. crete-guide.info/Pitsidia.htm Samj11 Africa Nature's Valley, South Africa Nature's Valley on the Garden Route in South Africa is a wild and remote area between the Tsitsikamma mountains and the ocean. On Christmas Eve we had dinner in a log cabin overlooking the forest in a backpackers' lodge called Wild Spirit, then drank beer round the camp fire. On Christmas Day, we went hiking then drove to Jeffrey's Bay for surfing and parties. natures-valley.com . Wild Spirit Lodge (+27 44 534 8888, wildspiritlodge.co.za ) has doubles from £27 room only neveradullday Mahdia and Tunis, Tunisia Needing to get away from the UK Christmas but eschewing airports, my daughter hit the search engines. On 18 December we headed to Marseille by train in time for a late fish supper on the port. Then – along with 2,000 Tunisians going home for the holidays – we boarded a ferry for the 19-hour crossing to Tunis. We had rented a beautiful flat in the coastal town of Mahdia, very cheaply, for three nights. Then we caught the train to Tunis and the Dar El Medina hotel in the old city, where the fantastic staff ensured we had a non-Christmas to remember. Ferries to Tunis, sncm.fr . A two-bedroom apartment at Villa Zouila Mahdia ( closetothelocals.com ) is €40 a night. Hotel Dar El Medina (+216 71 563022, darelmedina.com ) has rooms from €148 Annietraveller Jebel Sahro, Morocco In Marrakech the dust, donkeys and palm trees reminded us of the nativity story. On Christmas Day we zigzagged over the High Atlas and through Ouarzazate, with its flat-roofed Bethlehem-looking houses. Staying in a Berber house in a village with no streetlights, we dined on traditional Moroccan food under a bright starlit sky. Aware that for most of us this was Christmas Day, our Muslim hosts had prepared some delicious pastries. Exodus ( exodus.co.uk ) has an eight-day trekking holiday in Morocco from £679 katy19 Asia Jodhpur, India We went to Rajasthan for Christmas to get away from the festivities, but our hosts at Fort Chanwa had trimmed a tree and there were crackers and party hats. On New Year's Eve the Maharaja threw a party, and my boyfriend and I dressed in Rajasthani costume. At the end of every evening we watched the bright north star from the rooftop – what could be more Christmassy? Fort Chanwa Heritage Hotel (+91 2931 284216, fortchanwa.com ) Troutiemcfish Cochin, India The port of Cochin in Kerala is home to one of India's largest communities of Christians. The first European church to be built in India still stands amid the banyan trees and cricket greens of Fort Cochin. In the Yuletide run-up Cochin buzzes with Christmas shopping euphoria. From 24 December Fort Cochin ratchets up the party with a seven-day carnival. Expect fireworks, elephants, dancing, games, food, general revelry and more fireworks. Lizcleere Caribbean Grenada The Christmas market in Grenada's capital, St George's, smells of cloves, allspice and nutmeg. The locals are so enthusiastic about Christmas baking that when we visited the shops had sold out of flour. Both Grenada and smaller Carriacou resound to Latin-inspired festive parang music. Locals flock to midnight mass then feast on baked ham, sorrel punch, black cake and spiced rum. All this and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. carriacouparangfestival.com dorival North America Panorama mountain village, Canada Christmas at the Panorama ski resort in British Columbia where I worked for a season was spectacular. Snow, more snow, Christmas lights, skiing, Christmas dinner during a break between shifts. My employers had me, the only Brit, don white beard and red hat, and spend half the day ho-ho-ho-ing around the resort. skipanorama.com . For work placements see ccusa.com chrischil