It's not too late to book the ultimate Christmas holiday, where the treetops glisten and children can hear sleigh bells in the snow!

A Canadian journey

Enjoy a white Christmas in 'the land of a million Christmas trees' on a magical Rocky Mountaineer Christmas-themed train journey from Vancouver, British Columbia, through the Rockies to Banff.
Picture valleys of ponderosa pines dusted with white among snow-capped peaks as staff offer commentary on the landscape. The kids will love it when the train meets Santa's broken-down sleigh mid-route. There's also a coach with a children's entertainer. Those travelling in the luxury of GoldLeaf Service will dine on sumptuous regional cuisine and seasonal dishes, including turkey. The trip culminates at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge with the Festival of Christmas. Guests can enjoy a Christmas Eve buffet, a Christmas brunch and dinner, and can participate in skating parties, wagon rides, fireside bedtime stories, holiday cookie baking and caroling.

TO GO: For more information or to book a Rocky Mountaineer Vacation, see your travel agent or Asia Pacific Travel Marketing Services on (02) 9319 6624 or 1300 300 713. You can also visit
www.winterrailvacations.com

European Christmas markets

Experience the yuletide spirit of Alpine Europe by visiting the Christmas markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. On this eight-day tour you'll take in the festive Christmas markets of Vienna and enjoy classical concerts of holiday music in Salzburg.
In Innsbruck, the Old Town's Christmas Bazaar has a live action nativity scene. You'll experience the biggest Christmas market in the country in Zurich, Switzerland. Every year its breathtaking centrepiece, a huge Christmas tree dazzles, with more than 5000 Swarovski crystal ornaments. On this tour, expect children singing carols, nativity scenes in cobbled streets, gourmet foodstalls selling Christmas shortbread and pastries, and at the
end of the day, hot cocoa or mulled wine to warm the soul. The trip includes two nights in Vienna, Munich and Lucerne, and an overnight stay in Innsbruck.

TO GO: The Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland tour is priced from $1475 per person, twin share (land only) and includes first-class hotel accommodation, luxury coach tour, sightseeing, multi-lingual tour director, hot buffet breakfast, welcome dinner with wine in Vienna, three-course dinners and airport transfers. Visit your travel agent or www.trafalgar.net.au/WinterEurope for details.

Boston beckons

Celebrate Christmas among the old-world ambience of Boston in the US. Stroll the cobble-stoned, gas-lit streets of Beacon Hill. The trees of nearby Commonwealth Avenue are wrapped in small-bulb white lights, creating a visual wonderland. Lace up your rented iceskates and skate the 'frog pond' at nearby Boston Common - America's oldest park - and then cosy up at the famed Cheers bar across the road. In Boston, locals celebrate Christmas with roasted lobster instead of Christmas turkey. Celebrate festivities of old with the Christmas Revels at Harvard University. The troupe chooses a historical era and recreates its festivities in front of thousands of families in an evening of music, dance and theatre. Christmas shopping in Boston is made easy with the Christmas Festival held at Boston's World Trade Center. Here you'll find more than 350 of America's finest artists and traditional and contemporary craftsmen all offering great holiday shopping. This event also offers visitors gourmet foods to sample plus the chance to view a spectacular gingerbread house competition.

TO GO: When in Boston stay at the Langham Hotel, which combines history and modern luxury. Creative Holidays has great rates. Standard rooms are priced from $155 per person, per night, twin share, land only. Valid from November 20, 2007, to March 31, 2008. Fly to the US with Air Tahiti Nui via Tahiti, visit www.airtahitinui.com.au. Book through travel agents - see www.creativeholidays.com for details.

The Ultimate Christmas Experience

Visit Santa Claus himself in the North Pole, Alaska. As the official 'home of Santa Claus', this is where all the mail addressed to Father Christmas gets sent. Stop by the Santa Claus House, a huge gift shop, fittingly located on St Nicholas Drive. You can't miss it - there's a two-metre Santa outside. Other streets in the town that are always lit include Kris Kringle Drive and Mistletoe Lane.

TO GO: For more info, visit www.northpolealaska.com and www.santaclaushouse.com