to not want to do Christmas at home - where would you go?

[SoTiredNeedHoliday]

I really am just over the Christmas prep and cooking etc etc. No family nearby either so its just us. Kids are older mid teens so they are no longer into the magic of Christmas......sadly

Where would you go or what would you do to either

1. escape the tradition or 2)make it more exciting at home

I did dinner out the year before last it was lovely the atmosphere was fantastic just me and partner as ex had kids in the evening so we got the last slot in a nice pub/restaurant then went home and relaxed. This year I’m off the whole week (worked it last year) so excited to just do lots of family stuff over the week before I work new year.

There’s bound to be a lovely pub / restaurant. I know of one in Berkshire which does amazing food. They’re open Xmas day for lunch and it’s in a lovely rural location. I’d do that and then maybe go and see the ballet in London on another day? It’s Christmassy but grown up. Or some other play / show. Whatever you and your children like.

Our local gastropub is doing takeaway Christmas dinner - you pick it up on Christmas Eve, it’s all prepped so you just put it in the oven. If you don’t want to go out on the day that could be an option?

That’s what we’re doing this year, keeping it hassle free so I can spend the day not worrying about the food and with the family.

That’s such a clever idea re takeaway Christmas dinner^^!

A takeaway christmas dinner is brilliant- we did it 4 or 5 times when the kids were young- they didn't like the traditional roast dinner and it was a break for us.

OH would pop out in the afternoon to the Indian takeaway, we would set the table, warm up serving bowls and plates in the oven, put out the crackers and novelties of the table.
When he got in we would put everything into serving dishes in the centre of the table, light the candles, put on the christmas music, open the fizz for the grown ups.

No less of a celebration and everyone enjoyed the food- also no greasy roasting tins to wash or huge turkey carcass in the fridge afterwards.

Last year we went to Birmingham, kids are younger than yours but we visited a few attractions and a lovely Christmas dinner in a nice hotel, seeing the Christmas markets and lights in a different city, it just spices it up a bit. This year going to Southampton. As kids get older and money gets better we will definitely start going further afield!

A friend of mine goes to Thailand every second Christmas, which I like the idea of

Or alternatively stay at home but do it differently. I'm always struck by how French Christmas food is really treaty, but requires limited prep. Foie gras, big (bought) seafood platters, lots and lots of fizz.

We do that GinScented! Usually in Scotland. Me, DH, and my parents (I'm an only child and DH's relatives aren't in the picture). It's fantastic.

Essential requirements: wifi, a dishwasher, and M&S food to order, so no one has to spend the day slaving away in the kitchen. Desirable: a log fire and a big window to watch the weather coming in across the hills/loch/sea.

The only difficulty is timing it right so that you have a few days before Xmas day to catch up on your reading backlog as well as time afterwards to make a start on reading your Christmas presents.

Usually every other Christmas we either go away or eat out. We have to book months in advance but it’s worth it. I can’t really cook, can’t be doing with decorating. A couple of years ago we rented a huge house and family came there. It was already decorated and it worked out well. The other Christmases we spend with my dad and he enjoys hosting and cooking so again, works out well. I think Christmas should be a time for relaxing and spending it how you like and if like me you genuinely don’t enjoy all the faffing that goes along with it don’t put yourself through it. I do enjoy buying and wrapping presents though and I’m really extra about it so I feel like that’s my contribution.

Now my children are grown up 😞 we tend to have one Christmas with family and one without. We have recently both lost our beloved mothers so it is sad at home on our own and so we have had one Christmas at Butlins and we are going again this year. It is expensive but if you can afford it they do it really well. I particularly liked the fireworks on Christmas Eve, a lovely touch.

Christmas is just DP and I - we have no kids and for many different reason neither of us spend Christmas with our families.

Last year, we spent Christmas Day binge watching Game of Thrones whilst lounging on the sofa eating yummy food and drinking beers!

This year we're going to Amsterdam from 23rd until 27th December and we're planning a month long trip from mid December to the Philippines next year!

Can't wait!

Our best xmassy is when we have played really silly games and done silly stuff.

Esp with guests who can bore a bit.
Doing something a bit different.

I'd try and do both going away is lovely too. One more magical Xmas was away at a gite in France

We're going to the Highlands. DP's ex won't let him see his DD at christmas (at all!) so it's always really sad for us. We've decided to just fuck it and go away this year instead of us both moping at home.

My parents are NC and my brother always spends it with them. DP's family live hundreds of miles away so they never see each other at Christmas either generally. So we thought we'd choose to go and hide away in a cottage with lots of board games and jigsaws / maybe get a little bit of walking in.

We're hoping next year we can convince his ex to at least let us take DSD away for New Year and just make New Year our thing instead. We'd love to do similar with her as she loves the outdoors / jigsaws and board games etc.

I have thia dream of renting a really isolated cottage. Loading up the car with a weeks worth of food, dvds, games, walking boots and waterproofs and spend the week building fires in the cottage, playing games, walking and drinking champagne and eating cheese. The lakes, North Yorkshire moors, Scotland, the coast anywhere!

@TwoGinScentedTears - this is pretty much exactly what we're doing!! Though with cheap Asti or some nice Port instead of Champagne

Last few years my family have worked over Christmas. So we have had a mini holiday before Xmas together. One year to Prague, one year Basel in Switzerland to see the beautiful Christmas markets. This year we are going to Portugal.In the past, we have post lines a family Christmas until January, when people were available to meet up.