WWYD if you were alone for Christmas Day?

[Kat19899]

Appreciate this is really early to think about but it’s popped into my head so want to get some ideas.

I think I will be on my own this Christmas Day with family living out of the country and friends out of the city. I have no DCs and no current partner. I’m looking at it as it might be the only Christmas I “get to” spend alone (as opposed to “have to”.)

A couple of years ago I spent Christmas with a friend’s family but it was a long day with family tensions and no guarantee she will ask again anyway.

I have bad travel anxiety so can’t leave the country but could travel between London and the south coast.

Would it be really weird to go to a fancy hotel and order room service? I don’t really want to be around happy (or unhappy 😅) families and don’t want people to feel sorry for me.

Aside from that or just staying at home, what could I do?? I really like the outdoors, obviously everything will be shut anyway. I looked into volunteering a couple of years ago but charities are really over-subscribed for December.

When I’ve Googled it all the articles assume I’ll be really sad on my own and that I hate Christmas which I don’t. Without going abroad what would you do if you were me?

Go to a lovely hotel with pub / restaurant in the new forest and eat well / go for a walk / have a log fire.
Boxing Day - watch the forest pony race! I’ve always wanted to take part in it but watching is good too!

This is very encouraging ❤️

Ooh I would definitely book a fancy hotel and room service. And near a nice beach so I could have a walk on Xmas day.

I had it unexpectedly thanks to covid - until evening when DC came back from dad's anyway. I ate cheese and did a jigsaw 😂
It wasn't awful!

Yes I was thinking of a spa hotel ☺️. I’ve never really had any treatments before so could be an opportunity for facials and massages

Should have added.. if I'd known, and it wasn't a lockdown, I'd have definitely treated myself to a hotel!

Double- check what services they offer on 24/25/26 December. They may dial or close down

I would do a long challenging hike in a silly Christmas jumper/hat. Finishing in a youth hostel where no doubt id have some takers for a board game and a bottle of fizzy I would bring. I’d also bring a good book just incase. For food I would make a lovely curry and have it in the fridge at the hostel for when I get back. During the hike I’d have blue cheese and cranberry sandwiches with chocolate covered pretzels.

I think I'll be on my own this year. DH is travelling to spend it with grandparents and due to our dogs we don't both travel at once.

I've done it once a few years ago in the same situation and it was perfectly fine! I got myself some lovely food. I watched all the girly films and Christmas films DH doesn't enjoy, and spent a lot of time in pj's. Everything was on what ever schedule I decided for the day with no one to have to conceed to or compromise with.

Nothing to be sad about. At the end of the day, it's really just another day of the year. But I had no sadness at being home. And I'm so pleased DH is going again this year, for him.

I'd either book a group walking/swimming holiday over Christmas or buy in some lovely easy Christmas food, go to Carol services, wander round Borough Market on Xmas eve, walk round the empty centre of London on the day itself (maybe after morning service at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's if I could drag myself out of bed)
And then enjoy champagne and pigs in blankets at home in front of the telly.

All these ideas of having a solo Christmas sound amazing! I've got a DD and live with family so will likely be with family every Christmas, which I do love, but I might take some of these ideas and do them myself...like buying something for myself and putting it aside for Christmas etc.

I was on my own unexpectedly at Christmas last year as I was in a car accident on 23rd December and broke a vertebrae in my back. Had 1 visitor (my mum) while I was in hospital so wasn't the best Christmas tbh...loving the ideas of solo Christmases. I love Christmas in general though!

I love Christmas alone (just as much as Christmas with family or others)! And a hotel stay is a great way to do it. Though an anonymous place might be better than a fancy hotel with enforced jollification.

As for stockings - my close family exchange them even when we’re apart, so I’ve picked mine up when visiting them a few days beforehand, and taken it with me to the hotel. Makes for a lovely Christmas morning!

And we usually Facetime main present opening.

The important thing is to ignore the unimaginative joy-suckers insisting you’ll have a sad lonely time. You won’t!

really??
just because your place was luckily overrun does not mean the rest of the country and the various needy organisations are! what an attitude.

My Google searches were pretty fruitless so I didn’t know this kind of thing existed but sounds very promising! I’ll see what I can find

Get up in my own time and luxuriate in clean sheets and time to myself. Make coffee and a special breakfast. Open a couple of presents, (from myself).

Go for a walk. Enjoy a quiet afternoon with a book, movie, chocolates, glass or two of something nice.

Call a few special people for a chat.

Have a simple but favourite evening meal. (Not a huge Xmas dinner but something I like but that is easy). More reading, dozing, TV watching.... maybe a late evening walk just to enjoy the quiet streets.

Absolute bliss! (Did it a few times in my thirties before kids and they were the best days ever!)

I once stayed in a youth hostel on Christmas Eve, just to get to family on Christmas morning. There were about 20 of us there and the other 19 we're staying for Christmas, having lunch together and planning a walk for the afternoon. For a random group of people, they turned out to be great. We had a fab Christmas Eve together and I seriously considered cancelling family and joining them instead for what was clearly going to be a great Christmas Day! Might not be so lucky with the group next time, but I'd risk it for a one off!

It depends. I think as long as I really liked my house and location, I'd rather spend Christmas there on my own than in a hotel, which would feel too impersonal for Christmas. I think I'd do similar to @TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross - sounds fab!

I'd rent a lovely holiday cottage or luxury shepherds hut with a hot tub on the coast. I'd cook myself a proper Christmas lunch ( probably just a chicken breast though)

I'd also buy myself some presents now and wrap them up so I would have forgotten some of them by Christmas.

What do you mean an anonymous place? Like an Airbnb? I’d love to see the big trees and decorations and warm atmosphere in an expensive hotel but I’m quite an introvert so wouldn’t enjoy forced merriment 😆

Yes this is what I was told! They said they actually have too many volunteers in December and a few places said only regular volunteers could come in at Christmas. I completely understand, it must be a stressful time and they don’t want people who only want to give their time one day a year

I would go to a local stable and offer them a generous sum (if I could afford it) to go riding on the beach!

Obviously if you don’t horse ride this won’t be appropriate for you op, but I would get up and do something active very early in the morning - a walk in a forest, by the sea or up a mountain would be fine - then I would come home and get cosy and eat a Marks and Spencer Christmas dinner for one and watch a romantic film and instead of buying presents I would make a donation to a good cause and maybe take a small hamper to an elderly person living nearby.

Hope you can make a good day of it op!

I'd buy lots of my favourite food, buy some new pyjamas and spend the day relaxing, watching TV and reading. It sounds like bliss.

No, I’m not a great Air BnB fan. A Premier Inn in an exciting or wonderful location has suited me well. I do actually find very smart hotels somewhat oppressive - always a member of staff popping up to offer you something. I prefer to be left alone - but with staff available if required.

I’ve also spent Christmas alone at home - but there can be a feeling of trying to replicate family rituals. A hotel is better in this respect. Or house sitting for a friend in a place you love! Did that once in Edinburgh - one of my best holidays ever.

'what would you do if you were me?'

I was in this situation for a couple of Christmases whilst in between husbands, so I shall tell you what I did. I got the Radio Times early, and marked every single programme on Christmas Day I wanted to watch, and made myself a list so I didn't miss any. I bought all the food, drink and chocolates I like the most, and stuffed myself silly whilst bingeing on television programmes. It was really nice. I could do exactly what I wanted when I wanted to do it, and didn't have to cook for anyone else, or consider what anybody else wanted to do. Bliss.

So if I were you, I'd do that.

I'd afford the best London hotel possible. Go to the theatre on Christmas Eve and walk home afterwards taking in the lights. On Christmas Day I'd go out for a walk around an area of the city I'm particularly interested in. Public transport doesn't really run on Christmas Day, so choose a hotel near somewhere interesting or have a cab. Indian and Chinese restaurants will be open and cheaper than having an in-hotel Christmas dinner, so have a good lunch. Back to the hotel for a swim and a sauna or Jacuzzi, then a nap. Down to the hotel bar for a drink/ cocktail (there may be music or something festive going on) and then an M&S picnic feast in your room. Unless you can afford somewhere seriously expensive, you may not get room service over Christmas. On Boxing Day go to the sales if that floats your boat, or more sightseeing and a film in the West End. Home on the 27th when public transport resumes properly.

I wouldn't recommend the seaside in December unless you know a place will have a lively, upbeat feel. My mum lived quite near the sea in Eastbourne and it had a deserted and rather sad feel at Christmas. I used to go walking to get an hour or two to myself and the only people I'd see out and about were families: singletons do stand out at Christmas.