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?

If anonymous hotel you do need either a decent restaurant nearby, a takeaway option, or fantastic food shops so you can put together a fabulous in-room meal. (Deli stuff, cake + all the wine and chocolate from your stocking …)

Alternatively pack a picnic for a long walk.

Really bad advice.
Op lives in London, so unless you do I'd say your advice isn't great.

Crisis need a vast amount of volunteers over the Christmas period to keep their shelter's running successfully.

I volunteered with them pre dc and it's beyond amazing what they manage to do and offer to each guest.

Do the fancy hotel thing

Or volunteer for the day

Regarding the volunteering option (and setting aside the insulting assumption that a person can’t enjoy Christmas alone) I have heard repeatedly from charities that what they don’t want is inexperienced people deciding a week before Christmas that they’ll volunteer. Because it’s such a busy time they prefer having experienced, committed volunteers at Christmas time.

So I guess if people do think they want to go this, now might be a good time to start …

I’d definitely stay at home but make it a very luxurious day. A bath with a more expensive bubble bath than usual, a lovely new piece of loungewear and slippers that I’d stay in all day and all my favourite foods and a lovely indulgent cake. Oh and some presents I’ve bought for myself of course.

I would 100% stay at home and plan a day of lovejy solitary TV and delicious food. I think a hotel alone at Christmas sounds a bit depressing but everyone’s different. I’d book a hotel alone on maybe Boxing Day or 27th December. So still lovejy and Christmassy but not Christmas Day itself

You need to go for a walk in the countryside - an hour or more , gets the endorphins going so you feel in a good mood. Perhaps take camera or just your phone for nice wildlife/scenery photos, these will give you a positive lift too.

I was in this situation for a couple of Christmases whilst in between husbands

made me lol

I think you're responding to me and not Coffeetree. I didn't read the OP as being based in London: I thought from 'between London and the South coast' indicated somewhere in-between. My mistake if I've misinterpreted. I lived in London for 20+ years, but out in Zone 3 or 4 and not in a particularly nice area and yes, one year I stayed in a hotel near Russell Square when I had relatives visiting from Australia. I wasn't alone, so different circumstances, but I enjoyed exploring London as a tourist and not a resident.

OP, unless you're in one of the full service 5* hotels, spa treatments may not be available over the Christmas break. I stayed at a Hilton near in-laws one year, specially chosen because it had a good pool and steam room. Arrived to find it shut over Christmas. So check ahead.

Some parkruns do an extra event on Xmas day which is always fun and festive. If you don't want to run or walk you can volunteer.

Me too. A hotel alone on Christmas Day doesn’t appeal to me at all. Being at home but making the day extra luxurious would be heaven.

If you are happy to travel between London and the South East, have a look at South Lodge Hotel it's absolutely beautiful and just up the road a few yards is Leonardslee Gardens who are doing the Illuminations too.

South Lodge

My immediate instinct was to say "stay home", because I normally have a houseful of people and being on my own is a luxury.

If I lived on my own I think I'd head out to a luxury hotel by the beach. I've just spent a happy ten minutes fantasy holidaying with the Portmeirion Christmas break. https://portmeirion.wales/images/accomodation/hotel/Food/TAFLEN%20NADOLIG%202023.pdf

Portmeirion is lovely, I certainly could spend Christmas there assuming good food is available.

I think volunteering would be good and not need travel, OP.

I would do deliberately solitude things. Walks , check into a lovely hotel with a great book and a jacuzzi bath . Room service , films

Im not really sure what I would do but I agree from past experiance its miserable to tag on to other peoples family drama and tensions.

I think I would go abroad maybe if possible, sit on a beach somewhere warm.

Sounds lovely but would you really want to be the solo diner in the hotel restaurant on Christmas Day.

I would book myself a small self catering place by the coast for a week over Christmas. And would have a lovely time walking whenever I wanted and settling down on a sofa reading and watching things television. I’d get Christmas dinner things from M&S and love the idea of doing a stocking as I would definitely forget what I’d wrapped up!

I think I would book into a luxury hotel for a couple of days and enjoy being looked after

Christmas Day Parkrun obviously!!!

Yes, reading it back, perhaps I could have worded it slightly better! 😂

If I could afford it I'd go to a nice hotel, somewhere with good walks. There would be good food, new books and champagne.

Do you like walking OP?
There is an excellent holiday company called HF Holidays who own a few country house style hotels about the country. It's quite down to Earth but they have some lovely breaks.

I know you said not aboard, but years ago I considered having Christmas alone in the sun, I was thinking Thailand/ similar. I wish I had done it.

I think I would do lots of little indulgent things for myself. The idea of a nice hotel by the beach sounds good, I love the beach when it's pretty empty and cold. IDK what/ where you would get food so I would bring lots of very nice snacks (in a little cooler box if needed) like cheeses/ crackers/ olives etc. Or you could do that from the comfort of your own home!