AIBU to ask where you've gone abroad at Christmas?

[TwattingDog]

DH and I (no kids) are considering buggering off abroad this Christmas. As much as we'd love to go somewhere very hot and far flung, we'll be restricted to a budget under £1000 for a max 7 days.

Not fussy for whether it's hot or snowy etc - but I love to be in water so will want to swim (indoor, outdoor, hot spring baths etc all considered!).

Tell me the stories of your Christmas travel? Where did you go? How much did you spend?

We went to Cabo Verde for Christmas a couple of years ago. Stayed at the Hilton on Sal and it was amazing.

Only problem was the flight. It's 6 hours but the airlines class it as short haul. So cattle class, no included meals or drinks and no entertainment.

However the islands are beautiful and the people so friendly and really know how to celebrate Christmas.

Would not hesitate to go abroad for Christmas again

Meant to add, cost us about £3k, but there were 3 of us and we did splash out on an amazing suite in the hotel

Thanks Birdie. I've had a look, but can't get things under £2k....

I'm wondering if we sack it off and go to a spa hotel in Aviemore or somewhere!

Budapest!

Cheap, amazing sights and hot thermal baths :)

We spend Christmas 2016 there and loved it.

We had a three night stay in Bruges in between Christmas and New Year, came home NYE. We could have stayed longer as I booked with the hotel direct. Cost about £600 for the two of us including travel. More nights would cost more. Train to London, Eurostar to Brussels, train to Bruges. Such a lovely place, especially at Christmas time!

Forgot to say, we spent around £300, two adults for a week on our Xmas Budapest trip. But it was part of a bigger Europe trip so that was just a budget hotel, food and sightseeing. Getting there had only cost a few quid from Krakow on an overnight bus.

I’ve been to Faro in Portugal for NYE - gorgeous sunny T-shirt weather and even 2 days on sunbathing on the beach.
It was cheap flights and nice hotel for the money

Tenerife. If you go to the south it's sunbathing/pool weather.

We go every year in December, the week before Christmas. This year it has cost us £820 for 2 adults and 2 dcs. You can get some amazing bargains. I would probably wait a week or 2 before you book though and let the kerfuffle over thomas cook die down. I have just looked at return flights again (we are atol protected and our return flight is with thomas cook) and they have gone up from £23 yesterday to £28 today.

Malaga old town. We are Muslim so don't celebrate christmas but this was my fave one so far The switching on of the lights was magical (I think was the 21st?) and the atmosphere was just lovely. Busy, but not in the frantic way it is in the UK. So many restaurants to choose from. Christmas Eve most places closed at 6pm but on christmas day it was more or less business as usual.

Easyjet are doing fairly cheap tickets to Malaga at the moment.

@Marzipane, DP and I have booked for Budapest this year, can you share some top tips? We already have tickets for the Opera one night. I’m concerned about things being closed over the holiday.

• OP, sorry to hijack, but I we looked at European cities. Istanbul? Budapest? We have an apartment so can hole up with good food for a couple of days if things do really shut down.

I haven't been for Christmas, but I bloody LOVE Budapest and they do gorgeous hot spring/thermal bath type things. Gorgeous, gorgeous city - I think I went in March, and I would go again even in coldest winter. Take a look, OP, and see what 1k gets you there.

We spent one Christmas in Marrakech. It was great - good weather, lovely meals and not too far.

Skiing in North America, always had a great time but very expensive.

Thailand, Mexico. Make sure you go to the 'right' bit of both to ensure the best weather. Phuket is stunning in December and must be very many ways of getting there, i.e. packages or independent travel. I love being away for Christmas.

We went to Malaga old town last Xmas & NY
it was lovely and warm in the day, and the Spanish celebrate New Year's Eve so beautifully

This year we're going to Fuertaventura, hoping for slightly warmer weather but will just be nice to go away

Just had a very quick look at On The Beach and there are quite a lot within your budget. Flying from Heathrow. Not 5* but very doable.

Austria
Jamaica
Sri Lanka
all lovely in their different ways.

The Gambia
Morocco
Been to both near Christmas and both great

Nerja (fly to Malaga) have been a few times - it's chilly in the evening but mostly T shirt weather in the day, occasionally can sunbathe and DH/DS have used outdoor pool. Likewise we've sometimes needed a jumper.

For me it's amazing how much nicer weather you get from a 2.5 hour flight.

I love Budapest - I would love to go there. I think we're looking at the wrong dates. If we are abroad for Xmas Day, the prices are much higher (obviously).

Maybe we should look to come home for Xmas Eve or something.

Yes, there are piles of trips on sites like On The Beach, but given TC have just collapsed, I'm not sure I want to risk a cheap travel agency. Maybe separates would be worth it?

You are safer booking through a cheap travel agent. Apparently as we booked outbound flight, accommodation and return flights through the same company (Travel Republic) we are ATOL protected. Which is a good job as our return flight is with TC.

Ah, I think I was making assumptions about ATOL applying to flights (I promise I was going to look it up!). Ta.

Definetly look it up, I did some brief research this morning but definitely have an ATOL certificate so we are covered. I think Martin Lewis's website has some quite good information. You are covered if you pay by credit card, but that would be a chargeback I assume. At least with Atol they will still want you to go on holiday so they will try and find alternatives.

Bloody hope so in our case anyway.

Best ones were in Bangkok, the Cook Islands and driving the Great Ocean Road in Australia. I've had Xmas in a lot of countries, I usually have to take leave at that time so like to put it to good use!