Want to go away next year for Christmas.

[Grrrpredictivetex]

Guests not here yet and dinner semi under way but I’m exhausted. I would like to go away and be wined and dined.
Has anyone done exactly this and if yes was it as lovely as I imagine.
I would like a nice hotel, a fabulous Christmas dinner, come and go as I please, yes hubby will be with me but no children preferably.
All recommendations gratefully accepted. We live SE but happy to travel to the perfect place.

Please Santa grant me this one request next year. 🎄

NYC! It was magical. A fantastic hotel lunch (booked well in advance) and a stroll around Central Park + to look at the lights. Spent the evening in bed watching films with snacks we’d bought the day before. Honestly it was incredible, but we spent £££ on the hotel to ensure it was nice, friends who’ve gone and went budget for the hotel found out that it’s not quite as magical if you go cheap!

We booked a hotel in March, checked which room we had booked etc. All good on the confirmation. SIL expressed surprise when we mentioned it a few weeks ago (coming to see them over Christmas in their new home) as most places are closed where they live. We checked - sure enough the hotel wasn't even open Christmas Day and Boxing Day, so they had put us in their apartments (where we stayed once before and wouldn't again). Fuming. Sorted as SIL and DD managed to move into their new home so we are staying in the old one which is lovely.

We're in Estepona area Spain now staying in a friends place. Buses running, cafes, shops and restaurants open today. Spanish celebrate on Xmas Eve and 6 Jan. so nice here. Weather not perfect but it is December! Been dojng this for a few years now and will not, barring illness/inability to travel spend Christmas at home again.

that doesnt help you with recommendations! I was just expressing how great it is to be away now 😊

Do it! I've just been chatting to a friend who is cruising down the Douro river in Portugal right now to (in her words) "escape from my appalling, dysfunctional family". She is having a lovely time, it sounds beautiful and she is much happier.

I can also recommend a nice city break - we have enjoyed Rome, Venice, Vienna and Amsterdam in recent years. In all of them (except Rome), museums etc stay open - the best Christmas Day I ever had was spent looking at the Vermeers and other Golden Age art in the Rijksmuseum. Perfect!

I'm away in a hotel, and not enjoying it. Just feel awful for the poor people having to work so I can have a good time. Except I'm not having a good time as I feel rubbish about it all. I've booked a massage later- who on earth wants to spend their Christmas day giving me a massage when they could be doing something lovely of their own choosing?

I've done a cottage away and self catered. I'd do that again in a heartbeat, but I'd never do this again.

i have! Went for a walk and sat in a pub by the fire in the morning enjoying a nice coffee! Back to the place we were staying and soaked in the hot tub with a glass of champagne then had a nap! Was simply the best and one of the most memorable Christmas’ yet

That is so thoughtful of you to think of the staff. As someone who spent their entire career in hospitality some of my absolute best Christmas days were working. It’s usually great fun and if you work for a decent company you are fed and taken care of.

Oh yes a proportion of the staff will also be from places that don’t celebrate Christmas today so will be happy to work. Enjoy your massage!

Madrid, especially if you stay til Kings Day

We’re in Malaga where it is gloriously sunny. Tapas for Christmas lunch and now a catamaran trip. Shops and restaurants are open and the Christmas lights are amazing. It’s everything I hoped for and more 😎🎄

We’re going to Florida next Christmas 🌴

I did a Nile cruise with a friend one Christmas, the weather was gorgeous, so much to see and do.

I also spent a Christmas alone in Thailand. It didn't feel like Christmas at all which is a good or bad thing depending on your perspective.

Currently in switzerland. Everything open as normal, all public transport running. Most other countries don't do the wholesale shut down we do in the UK.

Antigua in an AI hotel last year, it was my best Christmas ever, beautiful breakfast with champagne, Christmas parade, Father Christmas arrived by boat, BBQ on the beach, snow foam party in the pool, lovely dinner in the being, party, lights, decorations, steelband the works.

This year at home, cooking and clearing with the TV on is just not the same!

Yes, we have done it since 2018.
Rome, NYC, Thailand, a tour of California and then UK since we got a dog.
I wouldn't change it and once you do, you love it or hate it but I would give it a go and see how you feel xx

A lot of them are probably choosing to for the enhanced pay and/or because they genuinely aren't that fussed about it! Enjoy it guilt-free, none of them had a gun to their heads.

Honestly, not everyone feels the same about Xmas as you. Plenty of people don't ever 'do' xmas and are more than happy to be paid to do their job rather than have a forced unpaid day off.

Or you can go to a country where they don’t celebrate Christmas so to thr staff it’s just another day but they will do Christmas things. Highly recommend the Indian Ocean. Had some wonderful christmases there.

Last year we rented a cabin in the Swedish mountains (I am Swedish) and it was beautifully decorated. We celebrate on the 24th so had our dinner then and then spent 25th in the ski slopes up until NYE when we returned home again. It was lovely.

Bookmarking, as going away is one of our options for next year.

After a completely shit Christmas last year thanks to elderly relatives we promised ourselves we would go away this year. We warned our adult DC and made sure BIL would have MIL and so here we are completely stuffed after a wonderful Christmas dinner in a Pig Hotel. We've retired to our room to loosen clothing and relax till this evening's buffet. For us its just a one off and we'll be at home as usual next year but its been a fabulous experience so far.

I’m here for Christmas https://www.thecapaldi.com
and it’s bliss. Just DH and I, no kids under 12 allowed and absolutely zero Christmas bollox. The joy of having Ibiza chill out vibe music, not Slade while eating excellent food can’t be beaten imho

I’m currently in the Caribbean and I can’t describe how incredible it has been and is. Start to finish. Unbelievable. Highly recommend for Christmas.