• It's not the most popular take, but I don't like celebrating the holiday season.
• Instead, I book long, international trips to places I've always wanted to visit but never had time.
• I love getting to see a new part of the world and give that priceless experience to my kids.

When my children were little, I felt the magic of the holidays deep in my bones.

Nearly every weekend, we dashed to see a light display or rode the Polar Express while drinking cups of rich hot chocolate.

Then, my kids got older.

As tweens and teens, they became hard to please. They seemed impervious to the joyful spirit of the holidays, grumbling when I booked holiday events and complaining about the gifts I chose for them.

I know this is developmentally appropriate, but it hurts. Last year, I decided to opt out of Christmas in favor of something I love: travel.

Instead of spending time and money on creating an extravagant day that would be stressful and (likely) unappreciated, I took my family on a trip to Morocco.

It was such a great experience that I've made international travel our new holiday tradition.

December happens to work for all our schedules

There's no substitute for seeing the world and getting an up-close look at different cultures and ways of life. I also think it's the best way to raise empathetic, open-minded children, and I'm very fortunate to be able to provide them with these experiences.

However, my kids' school schedules make it hard to go anywhere for more than a few days. I try to make the most of our summers, but that's when it's hot and crowded in many parts of the world.

Luckily, the kids reliably have an extended school break around Christmas each year, making the holidays an ideal time for our family to travel.

It's refreshing to visit parts of the world where Christmas is just like any other day

Another big reason I travel during the holidays is to escape the stress of them, so I like to pick destinations where Christmas isn't widely celebrated.

In many parts of the world, it's just an ordinary day, so attractions aren't closed — aka, we don't sacrifice any vacation time.

Last year, in Morocco, I saw a smattering of holiday lights and small Christmas trees, mostly in hotels. That was perfect for me because I felt very little pressure to make Christmas Day magical.

I've figured out how to make holiday travel as easy as possible

In order to make holiday travel easier, I book group tours.

Although I didn't originally intend to travel this way, I planned last year's trip in a rush, so it was the easiest and fastest way to make sure we could cover a lot of ground in the time we had.

It turns out that not having to worry about booking hotels or planning the logistics of getting from place to place was a welcome reprieve.

Even though I had more time this year, I decided to skip the stress and use the same tour company as a gift to myself.

I may not like Christmas, but I'm not a complete Scrooge

Skipping the holidays isn't for everyone, but it works for me.

Even though I no longer have the will to create an elaborate Christmas at home, I don't want my children to miss out completely.

Every year since my kids were little, I've taken them to the over-the-top Christmas displays at Gaylord National Resort in Maryland, and that has continued. We do all the Christmas things in a single day, from building gingerbread houses to seeing Santa.

It's the perfect way to continue a holiday tradition without any pressure to be perfect — and minimal whining from my kids.

Additionally, I've always believed that experiences are better than physical gifts, and now that we travel, I keep presents to a minimum. However, on Christmas Day, I let my kids choose a special souvenir to commemorate the holiday.

• Hong Kong-Taipei was the busiest international flight route in 2024, with 6.8 million seats.
• OAG's report shows Asia-Pacific dominates the busiest international routes post-pandemic.
• The busiest domestic route was between the South Korean island of Jeju and its capital, Seoul.

Hong Kong to Taipei is the world's busiest international flight route, according to a report published on Tuesday by air travel intelligence provider OAG.

The route has topped the list in 2024, with a total of 6.8 million seats — 48% higher than last year but 15% below 2019 levels, when it last appeared at the top of the list.

OAG's annual report, which examines global airline schedule data spanning from January to December 2024 and compares it to 2019 — before the COVID-19 pandemic — found that most of the busiest international routes are in the Asia-Pacific region.

The second most popular, with 5.5 million seats, was from Cairo to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The only route on the list in North America and Europe was between New York JFK and London Heathrow, which was ranked number 10 with 4 million seats, a 5% increase compared to 2019.

Here's the full top 10 list:

1. Hong Kong to Taipei: 6.78 million seats
2. Cairo to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 5.47 million seats
3. Seoul to Tokyo: 5.41 million seats
4. Kuala Lumpur to Singapore: 5.38 million seats
5. Seoul to Osaka: 4.98 million seats
6. Dubai to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 4.31 million seats
7. Bangkok to Hong Kong: 4.20 million seats
8. Jakarta to Singapore: 4.07 million seats
9. Bangkok to Singapore: 4.03 million seats
10. New York JFK to London Heathrow: 4.01 million seats

Domestic airline routes were significantly busier than international ones.

The busiest route overall is in South Korea, a roughly 280-mile journey between the island of Jeju and Seoul's Gimpo airport. The route provided over 14 million seats in 2024, which, despite being the world's busiest, was a 19% fall compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

Per the OAG report, eight of the 10 busiest domestic flight routes were in Asia, including flights in Japan, China, India, and Vietnam.

No routes in North America or Europe were ranked in the top 10. The most popular route in North America connected Vancouver to Toronto, with 3.5 million seats.

The busiest domestic route in the United States was Atlanta-Orlando, which trailed slightly behind the Canadian route with just under 3.5 million seats in 2024.

Honolulu-Kahului ranked third in North America with 3.4 million seats. It was followed by Las Vegas-Los Angeles and a route connecting Denver to Phoenix.

In Europe, the top route was Barcelona to Palma in Spain, which had nearly 3 million seats. Half of Europe's busiest 10 routes were in Spain, OAG said.

• I've been skiing and snowboarding for decades and taught my children how to do the winter sports.
• Make sure your layers are keeping you dry, and pay extra attention to your hands.
• Start on the bunny hill and work your way up — don't ski or board above your level.

I've been skiing and snowboarding my whole life and even taught my children how.

Every so often, while riding the chairlift, I look down upon some out-of-control skier in soaked-through jeans, a snow-flecked sweatshirt, and cotton gloves. A few moments later, they crash into some obstacle and tangle themselves among their skis and poles.

The sports are fun winter activities, but if you're not properly dressed or prepared, you're putting yourself and others at risk.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, here are a few tips for staying safe on the mountain.

Make sure you're packing the proper equipment

Slope safety begins at home. Before you leave, consider your outfit.

You'll definitely want waterproof snow pants and a jacket that will keep off the wind and rain, but your layers don't have to be anything fancy.

To start, you may be able to cobble together something warm from what you already own. Try wool sweaters, synthetic running shirts, and that random fleece vest that you own but never wear.

I think it's pointless for a new skier to drop hundreds of dollars on gear, but there are a few body parts worth investing in (hand, feet, head). If you're going to spend money on anything, invest in good gloves.

Beyond that, ski socks are priceless in keeping toes warm. A good neck gaiter and a basic pair of goggles can prevent nose and eyes, respectively, from dripping icicles, too.

Staying dry is of the utmost importance

Keeping your body warm and dry is necessary on the slopes.

Rule No. 1: Anything made of cotton has no place on the mountain.

When cotton gets wet — an inevitability for first-time skiers and snowboarders who spend a lot of time on the ground or anyone who's prone to sweating — the material absorbs the moisture, remains wet, and makes you cold.

Choose synthetic materials or natural fibers like wool that help to wick away water from the body and keep you warm.

The boots you pick can make or break your day on the slopes

Whether you're renting or investing in your first pair of ski or snowboard boots, know that they're supposed to be snug.

The boots are meant to react to your feet's movements, so they have to be a little tight. However, they shouldn't be cutting off your circulation.

If they're uncomfortable in the rental shop, they're going to feel terrible on the mountain.

Do yourself a favor and make sure they feel as close to perfect as possible before you hit the chairlift. The employees in ski shops should be experts who are able to help.

Take it slow — especially if you're a beginner

Once you arrive at the mountain, don't look to tackle anything above your level.

If you're a beginner, head straight for the bunny slopes. There's no shame in learning to turn, stop, and not kill yourself or someone else on the mountain's gentlest run.

The fastest way to get off the bunny hill is to take a one-hour lesson to help you acquire the basic skills to become a more competent rider.

After you gain the fundamentals, progress in order. Conquering the bunny hill doesn't mean you're ready for black diamonds. Head to green-circle beginner trails to practice your turns and technique. After getting comfortable with those skills on that terrain, try the blue-square intermediate trails.

Pro tip: Keep in mind that trail markings are not universal from mountain to mountain. A black diamond in the Poconos usually isn't as difficult as a black diamond in Colorado.

You're not too cool for a helmet

We're heading into 2025 and not the aughts — a time when people didn't seem to truly understand that speed, hard surfaces, and bare skulls made for dangerous combinations on the slopes.

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you'll want a helmet. You can usually rent these if needed.

Learn the 'basic food groups' for skiers

I think taking a lesson is the best way to really get the hang of skiing, but there are a few tips and stances to get you started.

First-time skiers need to remember two foods: pizza and french fries.

Keep a gentle bend in your knees and shape your skis like a piece of pie to give yourself a more controlled stance and proceed down the mountain at reduced speed. Thinner pizza slices make you go faster, and wider ones slow you down.

When you're ready to go faster, shaping your skis like french fries will send you straight down.

Keep your knees bent when you're on a board

Snowboarders have fewer food terms to remember, but you'll want to loosely bend your knees and carve back and forth across the mountain to limit your speed.

The trickiest part of snowboarding is shifting from your heel to toe to change directions.

My best advice is to start slow, commit to every turn, and look where you want to go (not backward).