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2020 Christmas is not the same Christmas that you celebrated before. To make Christmas happy and safe, Airbnb has come up with a virtual program. This a new way for home-bound travelers to connect and enjoy Christmas destinations all over the world. Well, travelers can book their live interactive expeditions with the local guides to learn about Jerusalem and its religious significance along with that they can enjoy the displays in the department store of New York City.
During this pandemic (COVID-19), Airbnb has launched this virtual program to connect people, tour virtually, and gain income. These sessions are conducted live, interactive, and limited within a small group. In the last spring, after the closure of the international borders due to COVID-19, a Canadian tour company named ToursByLocals has started live virtual tours for all the travel lovers. Almost they conducted 30,000 tours among which 150 are virtual.
Paul Melhus, CEO and co-founder of the firm exclaimed “The idea was to provide our avid travelers with an opportunity to take their mind on a journey while remaining safe and socially distanced at home”.
Christmas tour of an iconic city Stockholm
Without braving the temperature of the winter nights, homebound travelers can enjoy the beauty of the Scandinavian winter of Stockholm. Sitting on the armchair at home, virtual travelers can enjoy a one-hour evening tour of the Christmas lights of Sweden’s capital. People can also enjoy the exquisiteness of Stockholm’s Old Town and eminent historical buildings, like the Royal Palace and Parliament House.
By paying $120, only 10 people can join through the tour booking link. This will allow your friends and family members to explore the beauty of Stockholm by maintaining safety and social distancing at home.
Christmas tour of “Big city that never sleeps” New York
The beauty of the Big Apple is the center of attraction of NYC. Within 90-minutes virtual tour, homebound travelers can enjoy sightseeing of the most attractive and famous holiday sites in the city. Some of the famous places that will be covered are-
- The window displays of Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue
- The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- The Winter Village at Bryant Park
- The lights of the Empire State Building
- Macy’s department store window displays
- The window displays of the stores on 34th Street and Broadway
- Hudson Yard’s Christmas lights
Christmas celebration of Vienna
In every Christmas, Vienna turns into a wonderful Christmas fairytale tour for travelers across the world. In this virtual tour, you can enjoy the beautifully-lit historical building of Vienna. During the tour of the Vienna store Opera, Imperial Palace, and shopping streets of Graben and Kohlmarkt, guides will elucidate the Christmas tradition followed by the Austrians. Also, you will come to know about the annual visit of “Christkind” who brings gifts for the children on this day. In Austria, Santa Claus is just a controversial figure. The whole cost of the tour will be $88 and it can be shared with Six people.
Christmas in Salzburg
For those who love to know more and more about Salzburg, this live stream video will be for them. Travelers will get the chance to know about the Austrian history, Christmas traditions, market, and the significance of the song “Silent Night Holy Night” from a guide who was in Salzburg for 20years.
This tour package will include photographs, videos, and live music which will cost around $190 and can be shared with five people.
Jewish Quarter at Jerusalem
This $39 virtual package involves a tour of the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem and then Zion Gate which is the ancient gates in the old city. The expedition starts from the Jewish Quarter and comes to an end in Western Wall. Here, the tour guide can put a message on the stones on behalf of you, this a prayer custom followed years after years. In the crevices of the Western Wall, it is assumed that there are almost 1 million notes.
The tour will be 1hr-1.5hr long that involves stopping at the Sephardic Synagogues and Cardo.
Watch the virtual footsteps of Christ
From the Mount of Olives, you can take a tour of the panoramic view of Jerusalem. Through Zoom, the live tour of the mountain, various churches, religious sites, and the Garden of Gethsemane. Garden of Gethsemane is a place where Jesus Christ prayed before his arrest and crucifixion.
This tour package may cost you around $39.
Santa’s story in Lapland
Now, gather the small ones in your home and get them ready for a chat with Santa from his Lapland Home in Finland. The kid will get the opportunity to ask a question and listen to his stories of elves. The kids must tune into a live stream of Rovaniemi’s known as “Santa Claus Village” for free of cost. Private and group bookings can be done, you need to book it quickly because the time slots selling out faster.
