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Original poster

Never Again. Next Christmas we will go on holiday. Where to?

86 replies

MaggieFS · 25/12/2023 21:24

I'm done with a "traditional Christmas".

Weeks of prep and then busting guts today so try and get everything just right to please a zillion requirements. I do get thanks but the dynamics of the family members have made it hard work and taken the shine off it. I can't think of a way not to invite everyone apart from to be on holiday.

I'm sad at the thought because DC are 5 and 3 and have just been so excited today. They've just hit the age where they understand the magic of Christmas. They also love all the family members being round, but they [fortunately] don't pick up on the grumbles and at atmosphere.

So it may not actually happen, but if I were to try and go away next Christmas, DH, DC and me. Where should we go that would be good for all of us?

OP posts:
elsx · 25/12/2023 23:49

Can recommend the lakes, me and my dp are here with our dog, so far so good, hotel have been amazing, christmas dinner spot on, beautiful walks, a very chilled needed xmas - highly recommend

lochmaree · 26/12/2023 00:03

in Scotland the winter days are pretty short, starting to get dark at 2.30 (North east), the weather can often be pretty rubbish. We had snow a couple of days ago but it immediately started raining and was miserable to be out in 😂 however overall we have had a nice time staying with family, we live in SW England. love the idea OP, and if we could afford it then going abroad would be amazing.

i know its not what you're asking for, but you could do a sort of take it or leave it offer with family next time? x is what I'm offering, you can come but you don't have to (with nicer wording haha!)

hashbrownsandwich · 26/12/2023 00:07

Why don't you stay home but tell the others you're not hosting or attending?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Events & celebrations
user1477391263 · 26/12/2023 00:23

Xmas is a working day for most people in Japan. All the usual stuff is open, but you do get Christmas lights and festive decorations! Stay in a family friendly hotel and knock yourself out!

user1477391263 · 26/12/2023 00:28

reluctantbrit · 25/12/2023 22:45

We have all family abroad but I refused to travel over Christmas. I don't fancy dragging presents around, be in a hotel or s/c appartment with no decoration and have to sort out food with a limite equipment or trying to find a decent restaurant (no way family would be able to host us all).

I think I would do a Christmas just you all and then go on the 26th for a week.

The solution to this is go to a place where Xmas is not much of a thing, do AI, and only take a couple of small Xmas presents with you and open the rest before or after traveling.

ilovesooty · 26/12/2023 00:29

Comedycook · 25/12/2023 21:39

Ive never been but apparently Benidorm is meant to be really good fun at Christmas....I read a thread about it on here ages ago. I'm quite tempted!

I've been to Alicante once but I've read the same. I'm tempted too.

user1477391263 · 26/12/2023 00:29

MaggieFS · 25/12/2023 21:39

Skiing is a fabulous idea but I doubt we could afford it.

I wouldn't actually mind cooking if I could just do what I want. But certain relatives are quite particular about some items and one always has to bring some of the sides. It really pushes me over the edge trying to cope with the additional dishes plus having someone else trying to do bits in the kitchen at the same time is a nightmare.

But if I put my foot down and said no, then it would "ruin their Christmas" and whilst they don't have to come, they are close family and don't have anywhere else to go. It's just that guilt thought of them being without other people which means we're in the situation we are now. And the only way I can see to break the habit is to literally run away.

They need to get together at the pub or one other person needs to host instead.

theduchessofspork · 26/12/2023 00:29

Sicily

Nice weather and very chilled

WithIcePlease · 26/12/2023 00:42

The real problem is that you are hosting unreasonable people - there is nothing wrong imo with shop bought gravy, custard and stuffing. It had never even crossed my mind that I had to heat plates for Xmas pudding!
Just buy it and hide the evidence?
You can't leave the country every Xmas so it'll happen again surely?

ILoveMyCaravan · 26/12/2023 00:48

We go abroad every year for Xmas to get away from all the nonsense. We've done Caribbean, Canaries, Malta, and Southern Spain. The last option may be better with small kids as it's a short flight and usually cheap. There are plenty of decent self catering options, so you can still have the freedom and space for the kids to celebrate Xmas and open presents etc. Hope you do it, it's very liberating!

AppleChristsBirthdayMacchiato · 26/12/2023 01:28

I spend Christmas in Jordan one year, which is extremely nice, very sunny, enough Christmas stuff to feel festive. I obviously wouldn't recommend this at the moment with the war, but it used to be possible to do Jordan very cheaply by flying EasyJet to Tel Aviv then taking a public bus to Allenby Bridge and crossing the border on foot. And Israel (again, not during the war) is amazing if you want to completely get away from Christmas.

New Orleans and New York are both extremely magical at Christmas, though the latter is stupid crowded. New Orleans is just amazing at Christmas, but expensive.

Introvertedbuthappy · 26/12/2023 01:48

We go to Thailand for Christmas- rent a huge air bnb with a pool - it's bliss!

madamepresident · 26/12/2023 02:00

We've not lived in the UK and this is other 10th Christmas away. While I feel a bit guilty for my kids mainly missing out on a "traditional " Christmas we have a less stressful time and go out for lunch , or we go on holiday. We haven't travelled from our current country since we moved here , but there's no stress in the build up and we go out for buffet style lunch to a hotel and it's nice and warm 👍🏻

DrBlackbird · 26/12/2023 09:29

Pmk for ideas.

disappearingfish · 26/12/2023 09:39

Cornwall. The Fowey Hall Hotel if it's open.

Or just tell your relatives to do one!

PermanentTemporary · 26/12/2023 09:50

I went to the Canaries with my mum and sister one year. I personally didn't like being away for Christmas but it was a lovely place to be and sea swimming on the 25th was bliss.

For inexpensive options here look at less popular counties. Shropshire or Herefordshire aren't people's first choices as a rule but there are lovely places to go. We did a cottage near Wem one year in the woods. Lots of space for kids to play, we took jigsaws and balls etc.

Allthroughthenight23 · 26/12/2023 09:57

Centre Parcs - not cheap but absolutely magical for the kids and loads to do.

themusingsofaninsomniac · 26/12/2023 11:07

Is Lapland obscenely priced, has anyone done it? I'm so tempted, it's always been on my wishlist!

SeamsLegit · 26/12/2023 11:31

Let everyone know NOW (or soon) that next Xmas (and possibly EVERY Xmas!) you are going on holiday and they have lots of time to make their own arrangements. Any pushback, just say it's important that YOU get to enjoy Xmas too, and unfortunately the last xx years you have been altogether too occupied satisfying everyone else and haven't been able to RELAX never mind enjoy. Foot down, now, or accept that every Xmas will be like this

MILTOBE · 26/12/2023 11:54

Would you consider a cruise? Plenty of food options, lots for the kids to do...

Gardeningtime · 26/12/2023 11:58

Op, if you can’t afford sking then Xmas in the Caribbean is generally more expensive. Xmas anywhere is expensive.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 26/12/2023 12:56

We've holidayed a few years to southern Spain travelling on 27th December flying into Malaga (we stayed in Nerja but plenty of other resorts).

We agreed that Christmas was the 25th December - a busy day as either everyone for lunch or a lunch / evening split but that was it . Boxing Day we tidied up and packed.

Weather generally warm enough for tee shirts in the day time but not for swimming. Quite cold in the evening .

I think the Canary Islands give more reliably warmer day time temperatures .

whiteshutters · 26/12/2023 13:56

themusingsofaninsomniac · 26/12/2023 11:07

Is Lapland obscenely priced, has anyone done it? I'm so tempted, it's always been on my wishlist!

It was bloody freezing when we went there and it was dark all the time.

Carpediem15 · 26/12/2023 14:29

ilovesooty · 26/12/2023 00:29

I've been to Alicante once but I've read the same. I'm tempted too.

Show quote history

Re Benidorm - we lived on Costa del Sol and went up to Benidorm for Christmas one year (along with 50 other people on a coach trip) and it was the best Christmas in all the years we lived in Spain. Didn't expect it to be but went along because everybody else we knew was going.
Until my husband became ill we never had a Christmas in UK for over 20 years, done India, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and lots of Europe and would never be in UK at Christmas if I could avoid it.

3peassuit · 26/12/2023 14:34

Rasa Sayang resort in Penang. Great resort fronting onto the beach. Fantastic kids club and wonderful food. I’ve done it to escape Easter (a big deal with my family) but it would work just as well to escape Christmas.