How To Visit Santa Over Zoom

You may not be able to visit Santa at the mall this year, but jolly old Saint Nick is still coming to town -- via video chat. Thanks to modern technology, Santa Claus can now appear at your home virtually through a number of different booking services. If you're looking to chat with Santa live from the North Pole, you have a number of options available at different price points.

Here's a look at some of the available services and how much it will cost you to get some virtual face-time with Santa Claus this holiday season. Do what you can to support the Santas out there.

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Airbnb

• Cost: Varies

You can book live Santa experiences via Airbnb, including a "Virtual Visit and Story Time with Santa" experience for $35 a person. Book a session as you would with an Airbnb stay, and your child can live-chat with Santa and hear stories about life in the North Pole.

Chit-Chat With Santa

• Cost: $35

Choose from a "Chit-Chat with Santa" or a storytime session with Mrs. Claus via ChitChatWithSanta.com. Calls are six minutes long and cost $35. Chats can be conducted on any internet-enabled device, and there's no limit to the number of children that can attend each session.

Macy’s Santaland at Home

• Cost: Free

Macy's has hosted Santaland in stores since 1861, but this year it's made the experience virtual. "To safely bring the wonder of this cherished holiday tradition to families nationwide, Macy’s Santaland’s in-store experience will be available through an immersive and whimsical digital-only engagement available at macys.com/Santaland," the company announced in a press release.

Now through Dec. 24, kids can log on (with an adult's permission) to take a virtual train ride to the North Pole, play interactive games in Santa’s Village and Workshop and meet Santa through an interactive video where they will be able to share their holiday wish list and take a selfie with Santa, the press release stated. The virtual experience is free to all.

Mr. Kringle & Company

• Cost: $48 to $58

Book an e-visit with Mr. Kringle for a personalized Zoom chat with one of the best Santas in the U.S., as chosen by Time. Calls start at $48 for a six- to eight-minute chat for up to two children (each additional child costs $8). You can also book a "deluxe" e-streaming visit for extra time and a more personalized conversation starting at $58. Bookings can be made at MrKringle.com.

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Nordstrom's Santa Chats

• Cost: $20

Nordstrom won't have in-store Santas this year, but you can book a virtual "Santa chat" via NordstromRSVP.com. Video calls are 15 minutes long and 100% of proceeds will be used to support Operation Warm, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Nordstrom notes that its Santas are diverse, with a range of ethnic backgrounds and body types.

Sam's Club's My Santa Session

• Cost: Free to Sam's Club members

Sam's Club members with a photo account can sign up for a free five-minute photo session with Santa via MySantaSession.com. Multiple children can participate in a single session, and you'll receive a shareable digital photo and video of the virtual visit. The Santa session is done via Zoom, so be sure to install the app before your session.

Santa Claus Virtual Visits

• Cost: $100 to $750 depending on date, time and length of virtual visit

You can book a Zoom, FaceTime or Skype call with Santa Ed Taylor, aka “Hollywood’s Go-To Santa Claus,” via Santa-Claus-Virtual-Visits.com. According to the site, in this virtual format, "Santa can spend more time asking and answering questions. Santa can even tell a story or sing a song… it is SO MUCH fun!"

Bookings start at $100 for a 15-minute session during off-peak hours and go up to $750 for an hour-long session on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Santa Zoom Visit

• Cost: $129 to $150

SantaZoomVisit.com says that magic is included with every booking. Visits are 20 to 25 minutes long and can include singing, storytelling and a Q&A session with Santa. A visit with Santa for up to four children costs $129 for 20 minutes, or you can opt for a 25-minute session with Santa and an elf for $149. If you have a large family gathering, Santa charges $150 for a solo, 20-minute visit.

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About the Author

Gabrielle Olya

Gabrielle joined GOBankingRates in 2017 and brings with her a decade of experience in the journalism industry. Before joining the team, she was a staff writer-reporter for People Magazine and People.com. Her work has also appeared on E! Online, Us Weekly, Patch, Sweety High and Discover Los Angeles, and she has been featured on “Good Morning America” as a celebrity news expert. 

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