Palm trees and a warm breeze: that's what many people dream about when they're making holiday travel plans. But you don't have to run away from the cold. Embrace the snow and ice - and the hot drinks, too - at these five spectacular holiday travel destinations.

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danes have a word that doesn't exist in English: hygge, which can be translated as that warm and cozy feeling you get when you're enjoying yourself with loved ones. Add some hygge to your holiday travel plans by visiting Copenhagen in winter. Copenhagen's illuminated Tivoli Gardens is one of the world's best holiday destinations to see spectacular light displays, nightly fireworks from Dec. 26-30 and a traditional Christmas market. Warm up with glogg, a hot spiced wine drink, and splurge on dinner at Noma, considered by many to be the world's best restaurant.

2. Aspen, Colorado

If you're looking for a storybook-perfect holiday travel destination, head to Aspen. This town nestled in the Rocky Mountains offers plenty of scenery, shopping, fine food and, of course, skiing. Plan your holiday trips during the 12 Days of Aspen from December 20-31 so you can enjoy ice-skating shows, free cookies and cocoa, Victorian carolers and a visit with Santa and his reindeer.

3. Nagano, Japan

The site of the 1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano is a snowy paradise for skiers and snowboarders. But even if you're not a winter sports enthusiast, there are three unique attractions that make Nagano one of the world's best holiday destinations. One, a soak in the local hot springs, called onsen. Two, the Dosojin Fire Festival, celebrated every January 15 with a ritual torching of a log shrine. And three, the chance to visit the resident snow monkeys, who can be seen bathing in hot springs in Jigokudani National Park.

4. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

More than a place to spend the night, the Icehotel is a holiday destination itself, a glistening structure ornamented with work by artists from all over the world. Guests sleep in thermal sleeping bags on ice-block beds covered with reindeer skins. While the outside temperature may drop as low as -30 degrees Celsius, the interior never gets colder than -8 degrees. Cozy, right? In the morning, staff will bring you a cup of hot lingonberry juice, which you'll probably need.

5. Winter Carnival, Quebec City

The annual Winter Carnival in Quebec - the largest in the world - takes place at the beginning of February each year. While this event falls after the traditional time for holiday travel, there's no better way to keep the festive feeling going. The international ice sculpture competition is the best-known element of the winter carnival, but you'll also find ice-canoe races, ice bars, snow slides and dogsled rides. For a luxurious place to stay, consider the log-built Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, which is about an hour from Quebec City.