To go away for Christmas this year?

[InAPrettyCabinet]

Dh and I were having a chat last night and he brought up going away for Christmas.
We've been to Center Parcs several times and the kids love going. We like the slower pace of it all and being able to let them cycle everywhere. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea though.
Dh is torn between wanting to go and feeling bad that we are taking the children away from grandparents and family especially after we've all been separated during this lockdown. (Sorry I had to say it)
I'm of a mind that we can have a get together afterwards and as we live a fair way from half the family it won't matter too much as Christmas for us is often two weeks long just because of the logistics of getting round everyone. This way we will have some time to ourselves (dh and I work in a business that is incredibly busy in the run up to Christmas) and then have everyone round once we get back. We would only be away for four days.
Whilst we are all together at the moment dh is working from home and incredibly busy and I'm still going out to work. The children will be set more work once this half term is over.
The other thing to add is that they wouldn't know until we were actually going.

YABU if you think things will be back to normal by Christmas if I’m honest.

I think there’s more likely to be restrictions on going away over Christmas due to the NHS being under more strain due to seasonal illnesses and therefore less space for COVID patients.

Agree with Gin. Don't assume things will be back to normal. I was actually thinking last night we may see our first lockdown Christmas....

Things won’t get back to complete normal until a vaccine is fully rolled out which according to most scientists etc won’t be for another 18-24 months. I wouldn’t be thinking of booking a holiday at all this year.

there is no way we will be in a full lockdown still at Christmas. they might be strict then loosen then strict again but the economy and frankly, a lot of people mental health, wouldnt survive a lockdown that lasted 9 months

I dont think you would be unreasonable for wanting to get away at christmas, it sounds lovely, would love to do a similar holiday myself!

I wouldn’t book purely as no one knows if holidays will be going ahead.

Do the children want to go and not be home for Christmas? Unless older teens most will want to stay home I’d imagaine.

I doubt they're taking bookings and they'll have a fuck tonne of people who will want to rearrange their postponed trips too.

I've just booked a hotel for a few nights in London just before Christmas, not paying for the hotel till we arrive!
Really hopeful it will happen, if the theatres, restaurants etc aren't open by then they won't be opening at all and I really can't see that happening.

They are taking bookings. I'd assume we'd be refunded if it didn't happen?

We're hoping to drive to visit friends in France for Christmas, but if it doesn't happen then it doesn't happen, Nothing to book, we just drive up (from Spain) and stya with them, so no hotel.

We've planned it meticulously, so meticulously i can almost smell it! We might have to make do with our "imagination" (cue Spongebob and his rainbow )

We’ve discussed going away for Christmas as we normally go away for New Year anyway.

We’ll just see how it goes and where we’re at nearer the time.

To me a family Christmas all together again would be far far higher priority than shelling off for Center Parcs complete rip off prices- especially at that time of year and being around 1000s of strangers, in close proximity. Actually shudder at the thought of Centre Parcs usually, let aloe right now. I'd do a low key family Christmas and save the money you would have spent for an amazing summer holiday next year.

We went to Center Parcs just a few days before lockdown started and it was closed. We'd also just booked to go again in December. They said we'd get a refund if it is cancelled (and are now giving £100 off breaks that need rescheduling) so would feel happy booking it now.

We like being home for Christmas and would prefer to go just before or after as we like the winter wonderland but go for it if your children would love it. Maybe don't tell them in case it's cancelled!

I enjoy centre parks when the weather is lovely, can’t say I’d relish a holiday outdoors in winter unless it was skiing.

Oh lovely, do some of the lodges have log burners? We've been in the summer and had our own sauna, that would also be lovely.

Enjoy

Can’t think of anything worse at the moment, being surrounded by crowds of people in the pool, restaurant etc. However, each to their own.

I was debating booking two nights in the UK travelodge/ primeir inn near my hometown for a Christmas festival. We go there every year it's only 90 mins drive away. I looked and I dont think they are taking bookings at all. But once they do, I will take the risk. Even if we dont go I will enjoy looking forward and fantasizing. If you will get a refund why not? No harm if it's open by then.

Go for it.
We've had some fab holidays there.
It will be great to look forward to.

Dh is torn between wanting to go and feeling bad that we are taking the children away from grandparents and family especially after we've all been separated during this lockdown.

Obviously it is your choice to spend Christmas in which ever way you choose, but I think your DH has a point.

I very much doubt places like Center Parcs will be open over winter this year

Personally I wouldn't be booking anything. But YANBU to go away at xmas if you can safely do so. Sometimes we stay at home and see family other years we have gone away to Asia for sun or skiing.

Wait and see would be my advice, I wouldn’t book just yet.

I’ve already got a forest holiday ( in the UK) 4 night break booked in December. I think breaks that far ahead will go ahead. I would be more cautious about going abroad though- perhaps that will be going ahead though also.
It’s nice to have something to look forward too. Nobody can predict how all this will pan out just yet and I’m sure worse case scenario if places were forced to close again that people would receive refunds.
I would book

Thanks for all the feedback. A real range or opinions which is good. As I said in my first post I know cp isn't for everyone so if it's just that you've got something against cp would you go away at Christmas somewhere else?

I think on MN at the moment you could ask about going away in five years time and the first response would still be a ‘YABVVU if you think we’ll ever be allowed to leave our homes again!!!’

If we’re still unable to travel around the U.K. in nine months time then as a country we will be facing far far bigger problems than a Covid virus