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It's November, which means stores are already stocking their shelves with deck-the-hall decor, carols are playing on the radio, and gift catalogs are overflowing in your mailbox. If you're like us, you might come down with a severe case of holiday overload long before the big day arrives. What's the only surefire cure? Get away from it all—so far away, in fact, that we're highlighting a few faves on the flip side of the globe from Santa's North Pole digs.
Below, we unwrap our Top 7 Santa-Free Holiday Escapes. These "polar-opposite" vacation spots are places near or below the equator, where you can avoid or recover from holiday overload.
 7. The Sarojin (Thailand): No Rudolph here, but you can give yourself unforgettable gifts, like riding an elephant in one of five neighboring national parks filled with spectacular rain forest, lagoons, and mangroves; enjoying a pristine, seven-mile-long stretch of white-sand beach; and indulging in a sybaritic spa treatment at this gracious and modern Asian oasis.
6. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort (Argentina): Set on a rise between the glacial lakes of Nahuel Huapi and Moreno, and surrounded by three majestic Andean mountains, this masterpiece delivers a 360-degree panorama of Argentina's most breathtaking vistas. And, in this part of the world, December is a summer month, so instead of bundling up in your warmest coat, you can throw on the sunscreen and hit the golf links or go boating (even Santa will be jealous).
5. Mount Nelson Hotel (South Africa): This urban sanctuary is set in tranquil gardens in the heart of the historic city center within close proximity to Cape Town's best beaches and other attractions. Here, you might not remember it's the holiday season until you enter one of the hotel's sublime restaurants for a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner; you can even choose a festive five-course feast at their Planet Restaurant, where only those over the age of 12—and not on Santa's "naughty" list—are welcome.
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