To ask if anyone has gone away for Christmas? Where did you go?

[Joyousjobhunt]

And how did it work out? Did you "do" presents before you left or take them with you?

I would love to do Christmas differently this year. We've gone NC from the only extended family we have, that we usually spend Christmas with (and have for the last 18 years) last Christmas wasn't great as it was building up to NC so it was a bit of a crap one and I want to make this one better for DC.

I know if we're still here everyone might be reminiscing of what we had previously, so I just wanted to do something different. It needs to be dog friendly (just one) so I thought maybe a cottage or something would be best, but somewhere with activities. It feels like a huge wishlist just for being away for a few days.

I've looked at caravan type places with activities but they don't seem to have enclosed areas we could let the dog in, and the cottages I've found with enclosed garden don't have activities. Or maybe I'm over thinking it all, I've not planned a holiday in years so probably am. And I don't think we could stretch comfortably to over a grand - found some lovely cottages for around £3-600 surprisingly, but nothing seemed "right" yet.

What did you do?

We have spent Christmas in Austria, Germany, Jamaica and Sri Lanka over the years.
I wouldn't bother going away in the UK, far too much trouble, unless you are staying at a 5* hotel.

Have been to Bruges for Xmas. Was lovely. Not very practical with dog but you could drive and take it.
Somewhere like bluestone or centre parcs if you want activities?

FeeEngel what did you do present-wise? I can't imagine carting them across the globe lol. I'd love to go abroad but we wouldn't kennel the dog so would have to bring him, I'm not very knowledgeable about pet travel but I'm imagining pet passports and quarantine or something not being much worth it unless it's a longer holiday. We only want maybe a day or so before and after Christmas.

I've not heard of bluestone Rainagain1 will look it up

Often go away.

Somewhere hot, or skiing.

Take a few small gifts with us. If there was to be a large gift like a bike would take a photo or something. Other family gifts we open on our return, or maybe before if the giver is there.

Father Christmas always finds us for the stockings.

We don’t do in for masses of ‘stuff’ st Xmas though.

We don’t recreate Xmas at home but abroad, we are there for the holiday and have a small Xmas celebration.

OP what about centre parks for your needs? Uk, can take dogs, activities and it’s lovely at Xmas.

Lanzarote - every other Christmas.

Secret Santa for adults.
Loads of gifts for kids but more packable stuff and spread between lots of cases.

Bloody brilliant.

serbska that makes more sense I think. A holiday with a little Christmas cheer rather than recreate it elsewhere. It's alien to me, we've only ever done Christmas the traditional way.

And damn, bluestone have a no dogs policy. That's a shame.

We went to Las Vegas for six days with five teenage DC.

We took some small pop-up Christmas trees to have on the dressing tables in the rooms and everyone had three small presents - something to wear, something smelly and one other thing specific to them. They knew the holiday was their 'present'. Family gifts at new year once we were home.
We were in the swimming pool Christmas morning, had a buffet lunch, saw a show Christmas night, went ice-skating next day in Caesar's Palace. It was really memorable.

Headland hotel, Cornwall? Dog friendly and we went for Christmas many many years ago. Was lovely

We take our annual family holiday abroad at Christmas. Father Christmas drops a small bag of practical gifts at the hotel, and the other presents from him arrive while we are away ( while Dh is putting the kids in the car!)

On Christmas Day, it is fairly like other days, the hotels sometimes put something on and the children are allowed to eat and drink as they please all day!!

betondthesky that sounds lovely!

Unfortunately nothing for Christmas available at centre parks for three adults and a dog! How cheeky of them to have 17 as and adult as well.

Will look at Headland, thanks for not be lovely suggestions. And your Christmas away stories are fab.

Sorry meant "all the lovely suggestions" don't know where that came from!

Headland hotel looks good, lots of offers to look into, will have to give a good go through later.

Yes, Skiing in Vermont- I love it. For presents we do basically nothing for adults and gift cards, consumables or small things for kids

We've done Barbados and the Maldives for Xmas and we took a few gifts with us for our daughter to open both times, and then put the main presents up at home on our return.

I'm not sure I'd do it in thr U.K. either, unless with a big group of friends if I'm honest.

Wow so many luxurious locations. I think the op was asking about ideas in England. Op, if you want to bring the dog a cottage is probably your only option. We've stayed at ones that were lovely, near the sea that had been decorated for the season. We bought our presents with us and then either cooked or went to a local hotel for dinner. Nothing like a walk by the sea on Christmas day!

Venice.
It was utterly jaw droppingly amazing

My friend and her husband hired a cottage last Christmas, up near Aviemore. It was beautiful apparently, they had a great time. Their dogs seemed to have a good time too, lots of places to walk. If you're restricted to UK I'd do a cottage holiday. Book a food order to arrive on the first day, sorted.

Barbados- great time. Aim to repeat again in the future.

Oh trojan horse why was Venice amazing? The place itself or Christmas there... Or the hotel you were in?

Wondering what Austria would be like too

Sorry trojan pony

Put the dog in a kennel or to stay with a friend and go to lapland, the authentic lapland is drop dead gorgeous. Special offers are available.

Otherwise I would head to Scotland, it is always snowy and very festive. You have Christmas still. Hire a log cabin with log burner in Scotland or Cumbria. Some are great value.

For a very festive christmas head to the Cotswolds, it is beyond beautiful at christmas. Many different options.

Or go for something really different and fun, like a treehouse:

www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/somerset/cheriton-treehouse/cheriton-treehouse#search_type=placeType&search_text=treehouse&

If you are creative you could make it very special. If you are staying in England just fill the car with presents that is what we did!

The dog is really limiting your options here, could you find a dog sitter who would have him/her in their house? So not kennels but 1-2-1 love and care?

Here: www.lakevyrnwy.com/breaks-and-special-offers.html

They have family rooms, dogs are welcome, and there's plenty to do.

We used to spend Christmas abroad a lot when I was a child (Germany, Holland, Florida).

This year I’m taking my kids away for Christmas for the first time- to Efteling in Holland, staying in a log cabin in the woods. We are taking presents with us (as were driving) and some food but have arranged breakfast delivery to the cabin everyday and booked meals out for Christmas Day and booking day.

If centre parcs in the Uk is booked why not look at some of the ones in Holland? They’re much cheaper, have all the same facilities, and you’ll find a really lovely christmassy atmosphere. I’m already starting my snow dance- the kids really want a white Christmas!