Celebrating Thanksgiving Abroad

Traveling around the holidays can wind up being a slog. Depending on where you are going, there is poor weather, huge upticks in passenger volume and the added stresses of celebrating a holiday away from home to consider.

Thanksgiving is easier than the gift-giving holidays, like Christmas and Hanukah, in some ways. Travel abroad does not need to wreak havoc on your holiday plans.

The obvious point to make when different countries celebrate similar holidays at different times is restaurants will typically be wide open. Back home, it might be tough to find dinner reservations for your family on Thanksgiving. What restaurants are open on the date surely book up months in advance. When you are out of the country, it should be much easier to find a reservation to accommodate the entire group. This also provides a great opportunity to sample different cuisines instead of the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

The kinds of food and deals available will vary wildly depending on where you venture for the holiday. For instance, Canada will likely have some kinds of food similar to traditional American Thanksgiving offerings. Europe, Latin America and Asia will probably stray a little further from the norm, and these offer great alternatives.

There is another option available to families who don’t easily shy away from a little bit of a work. Many hotels offering full suites include kitchen areas. With a little local research, it is possible to source everything you need from the local markets. Turn it into a fun activity and host Thanksgiving in your hotel suite for your travel companions.

It can be tough to step away from the family at home for a major holiday, but the rewards, like uncrowded restaurants and one-of-a-kind memories, might just outweigh them all.