Destinations of the World News - December 2025

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The gentle chirping of exotic birds and the constant din of noisy (and uncomfortably large) insects are my morning alarm clock as I while away the weekend in Bali. Surrounding me is a tapestry of colour. Vibrant pink, yellow, red and white petals take pride of place in the verdant greenery that envelope my bolthole, while my horizon showcases the never-ending blue of the Indian Ocean. Days are marked by lazing underneath the generous sun and moving infrequently between the swimming pool and the dining table. Life is perfect!
And yet, as the calendar ticks into December, my hardwiring has me longing for the kind of bitingly cold Irish morning that is synonymous with home at this time of the year. Like a strange homing instinct, it still feels foreign to me to be wrapped up in endless warmth and sunshine as we enter that last month of the year. Even though I have called the desert home for the last five years, deep down, the hope of a white one this festive season remains eternal, regardless of how unlikely this Christmas miracle might be.
In keeping with the winter theme, we offer up some inspiration to embrace those snowy, cold days. In Milan, Harriet Shepherd combines the city delights of ‘La Madunina’ with the snow-covered pistes of Piani di Bobbio. Robert La Bua wanders the streets of Prague in search of beautiful architecture and cultural heritage before enjoying a short detour to Dresden, while Matthew McQueen experiences the bright lights of the British capital during his stay at Como Metropolitan London. There’s even a culinary tour of Azerbaijan, packed with hearty and delicious cuisine to warm ourselves up from the destination’s gorgeous landscapes. The year is coming to a close and it has been a special one. On behalf of the DOTW News team, I wish all of you a happy festive season and a prosperous New Year.