The best Advent calendars for the holiday season

The Neuhaus Belgian Chocolate Advent Calendar is loaded with top-quality chocolate that comes in a rich assortment sure to please even the most discerning chocolate fans.

We have gotten several Neuhaus Advent calendars in years past, and perhaps the greatest praise I can proffer is to report that not once has one of these calendars made it more than a week without being picked clean.

Last time, I don't think my wife and I even waited until the start of Advent before we had devoured every last truffle, caramel, bonbon, and so on.

As candy alone these chocolates would be quite overpriced, quality notwithstanding. But given the added thrill of the chase – especially if you have the will power to just eat one a day – and the charming winter-themed artwork on the face of the calendar, these Neuhaus Advent calendars are worth the price.

Pros: Excellent quality chocolate, good variety included

Cons: Rather pricey for sweets

The Playmobil Christmas Toy Store Advent Calendar is a great alternative to candy-filled Advent calendars. It comes with multiple charming little characters and props that encourage imaginative play.

The Playmobile Christmas Toy Store Advent Calendar is a gift that just keeps on giving: From the first day of December, when the first little figurine is revealed, all the way through the 24th, the set grows until it features 89 pieces (many days have multiple items) that can be used to create a charming winter toy shop scene. It even comes with a cardboard backdrop for your growing display.

While a choking hazard for babies, the components of this kit will be perfectly suitable for children ages four and up, and the figurines and set pieces are more than durable enough for rough play.

Pros: Encourages imaginative play, great alternative to sweets, toys can be used for years

Cons: Choking hazard for younger siblings, cardboard backdrop may not last multiple seasons

The sturdy Hyggehaus Wooden Advent Calendar will last for years, allowing you to curate the perfect Advent calendar season after season.

No one knows your family better than you, so who better to pick the 24 goodies that will fill their advent calendar than you? The Hyggehaus Wooden Advent Calendar features 24 wooden little wooden drawers that are perfect for everything from candy to gift cards to little toys to notes and more.

This wooden Advent calendar will last for years with careful use, and its Christmas themed designs and red-and-white coloring will make it a welcome part of your holiday décor every winter season. While pricey, the many years over which your family can enjoy this calendar box will more than justify the expense.

Just pull on the knobs gently, as some customers have reported them popping off in overly eager fingers.

Pros: Can be used year after year, charming patterns on drawers, allows for customization

Cons: Drawer knobs occasionally detach, expensive

The Wawi Chocolate Advent Calendar is the prototypical advent calendar in every way, from the little chocolates to the little price tag.

Remember those Advent calendars from childhood? The ones with the little pockets filled with little chocolates that were pretty good if not maybe the best ever? These are those.

You get four Advent calendars with each order, which is priced at just over seven bucks. That's $1.79 per advent calendar.

That rock bottom price makes the Wawi Chocolate Advent Calendar perfect for the large family watching its budget, to distribute at a school, church, or office, or to buy for yourself without a bit of guilt.

Each cardboard calendar features a different seasonal design, and the little "doors" cut into the fronts of the packages are easily popped open to reveal the sweets inside.

Pros: Great low price, four calendars per order, good as seasonal decorations

Cons: Chocolate is decent but not great

The Flaviar Whiskeys of the World Advent Calendar lets your favorite whiskey aficionado sample drams of their favorite spirit from around the globe.

If you're looking for a decidedly adult Advent calendar, this is a fine choice. The Flaviar Whiskeys of the World Advent Calendar contains 24 unique whiskeys, making the evenings in the run-up to Christmas Day a bit tastier and more relaxing.

Each day, you'll be met with a unique 1.7-ounce dram of whiskey, along with an informative card detailing the liquor's origin and tasting notes. The kit also comes with a Glencairn glass specifically developed with whiskey tasting in mind, so you'll get the most out of the day's spirit.

As $225, you'll have to plunk down quite a bit of cash to be able to indulge, but it's a whiskey lover's dream to be sure.

Pros: Unique adult Advent calendar, comes with whiskey glass and tasting notes

Cons: Very expensive

Kids will enjoy revealing each LEGO figure and accessory tucked into the LEGO City Advent Calendar, but they'll enjoy playing with everything once the calendar is empty even more.

Most years, we have at least two or three Advent calendars in the house, because why not? And every year for the past few years, one of them has been from LEGO. My son loves finding each little LEGO character or construction, but better yet they get added to the larger LEGO bin and increase the size of the greater inventory.

This LEGO Advent calendar is rich with winter and Christmas themed pieces, such as a decorated evergreen tree, presents, a reindeer-pulled sleigh, and Santa Claus himself. There are also plenty of characters and pieces that would be at home in any LEGO collection year-round.

Just note that this calendar is recommended for kids five and up; the many little pieces are a serious choking hazard for smaller kids.

LEGO also has several other great Advent calendars, including Harry Potter and Star Wars versions.

Pros: LEGO pieces can be enjoyed for years, good price point, encourages fine motor skills and imagination

Cons: Choking hazard for smaller children

The Uncommon Goods 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar comes with such a rich variety of teas it's almost sure to introduce even diehard tea aficionados to something new.

If you know someone who loves tea, you are going to score yourself some serious points with this superbly well-curated 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar from Uncommon Goods.

Along with classics like English black tea and Chinese green tea the recipient will also find options like cranberry and elderflower blends. All in all, there are 24 unique teabags included, making the Advent season that much tastier and more interesting.

The calendar features both caffeinated and decaf teas, making its contents alternately suitable for mornings and evenings, and it will fit most budgets, too. While it's a great gift for the tea lover on your list, this is also a great way for you to expose yourself to a wonderful variety of teas if you're a fledgling fan yourself.

Pros: Great variety of teas, handsome package design, fair price point

Cons: User can't tell when decaf or caffeinated teas will appear

The 24 sachets of coffee contained in the Yawn Coffee Advent Calendar box will expose even the most experienced coffee drinker to something new.

There's really nothing like a great cup of coffee. Except maybe 24 great cups of coffee, and not one of them a repeat all Advent long. The Coffee Advent Calendar by Yawn comes with two dozen sachets of coffee ready to be brewed to create one perfect cup, day after day.

Some of the coffee types your coffee lover will know and love such as The Colombian or Supreme Crema. Then others will be a brand new treat, like Ethiopian Limu or Bourbon Daterra blends.

As with the tea calendar above, this is also a great gift to give to yourself, whether you already know and love many types of coffee or if you're hoping to jump-start your journey into the land of the bean.

Just note that while in the spirit of an Advent calendar, what with the 24 packets, this "calendar" is really just a box of coffees, so don't be let down by the lack of little pockets.

Pros: Great selection of coffees, available ground or whole bean, good price

Cons: Not a true Advent calendar with pockets to open

The Haribo Advent Calendar sticks with the classic sweet-filled Advent calendar theme but replaces all that boring chocolate with a wide variety of candies.

With apologies to chocolate lovers, it's hard for some of us to stay excited about getting pieces of chocolate for 24 days in a row. Now, packets of candies as varied as chewy cola bottles, marshmallows, licorice, gum, and gummy bears? That's a bit more like it.

The Haribo Advent Calendar comes with 24 little packets of assorted sweets that are sure to excite and satisfy the person with a sweet tooth all Advent long.

All in all, you are slightly overpaying for what amounts to a rather small amount of candy, but the fun of discovering a new treat each day (there are repeats, for the record) makes up for the price, which is still affordable.

Pros: Great assortment of candy, more interesting than standard chocolates, genuine German import

Cons: Flavors repeat