To 'skip' Christmas and take a family holiday instead?

[GuineaPigsAreSuperCute]

On the one hand I do love the Christmas time of year but it is a lot of build up and prep for 'one day.' I was thinking we should try a holiday in the sun instead. Myself, DH and 2 DC aged 12 and 11. Given the choice I am pretty sure the DC would be happy to forgo gifts for a holiday. (The holiday would be instead of a summer holiday I should add as we definitely couldn't afford more than one in a year, we tend to go every couple of years).We don't have a very large extended family and only usually see 4 or 5 family members over Christmas.

Has anyone ever done it? Do you recommend it? Or is it way over priced due to the time of year?

Where did you go? Thinking warm weather 24/25'C + and as little rain as possible.

We done it pre covid & went to Thailand! It was incredible, beautiful weather & loads to do, will defiantly do it again.

Haven't you seen Christmas with the Kranks???

Do it.

A friend of mine asked her tweens if they would prefer a stocking full of tat or a camel ride in Egypt. The camels won🐫🐫

I have relatives who go skiing every Christmas and New Year.
They love and treasure their time there.

Colleagues went to Barbados just after Christmas, they loved it.

I went to Hawaii beginning of December once. Kitsch as hell but still Christmassy. But long flights and very expensive.

Can you save up and do it the year after? Very small Summer holiday and then one big at Christmas? We went twice over the Easter holidays to the Caribbean but still did a week in Summer as it would have been very long otherwise.

We’ve had a couple of Christmases overseas. Venice, skiing in Austria and Mexico. Venice and skiing felt very Christmassy and were wonderful holidays. Mexico was not at all Christmassy, but it was our favourite Christmas away, and it was most definitely warm!

Do it!!

Christmas is such a pain with the logistics

Yes I'm thinking it would need to be 2024 to give us time to save.

Costa Rica is amazing at Christmas time!

We always go away over Xmas. We had to be home during covid and it was horrible. We’ve done morrocco, israel, Thailand, Dubai, Florida and lanzarote. Highly recommend. We usually fly on 23rd and come back for new year, not that we do anything for new year but it’s usually the most cost effective way to do it

Sounds like a lovely idea! Go for it!

We did Egypt in 2018 and it was brilliant. Warm weather, heated swimming pools, gala dinner on the 24th, pizza on the beach on the 25th. Also the best time of year to visit Luxor/Valley of the Kings etc as the summer is just too damn hot.

We did smaller (in size) presents (DD had a phone), and I even took a small tree and battery powered fairy lights with us! There was a Christmas parade in the village and loads of decorations etc so we didn’t feel like we were missing out at all (ooh, actually, there was one thing missing- pigs in blankets 😱)

I am desperate to do it again.

We love going away at Christmas. We've been to Tenerife and although it was warm it wasn't very Christmassy. Our fave place for weather and atmosphere is Madeira. It's got a rep for being a bit quiet but there really is lots to do. It depends what kind of holiday you want. Christmas is lovely as folk go about their business preparing for Christmas but the place really comes alive for the NewYear's eve when there is the most amazing firework display. Check it out on line

We did it last year . Left early on Boxing Day which meant we "had" to have a quiet Xmas day so we felt rested for our flight. It was truly the best decision we made and I hope to never have another festive fortnight in the UK ever again.

Yes the prices are more expensive.. but spending New Year's Day on the beach relaxing when back home is dark and miserable is fab.

I love the run up to Xmas but the day itself is always a hit disappointing and knowing I was going on holiday the next day just made such a difference. Also makes the winter feel shorter .....

I've booked to return to lanzarote again this year and can't wait 😊😊

We skied for Christmas last year. Ours were 9 and 11 at the time. We loved being away over Christmas. We did a small 'Fake Christmas' just the 4 of us 2 days before we flew out as DC1 got a Switch and DC2 got some Switch games, so we wanted them to be able to use them on the journey. We had a roast dinner and crackers, and then DC2 and DH headed straight out so he could spend his Christmas money. It was the shortest lived Christmas money in history (he had something in mind).

We didn't see them much on Christmas Day as they were in all day ski school (met for lunch and they finished at 3:30). We had a fabulous evening on Christmas Eve in the restaurant. The atmosphere was brilliant and it was very festive with the snow outside.

We'd absolutely go away for Christmas again.

Why they've got birthdays for that.

@GuineaPigsAreSuperCute btw I love your username. It's nice to see another guinea pig themes name🐹

Nope. Enjoy Christmas and take kids on holiday another time of the year.

We're thinking of doing just this. In our case, the DC will still have presents as I find that they're at an age where there are things they "need" for Christmas even if it's some new clothes, sports kit & that sort of thing. DH and I will forego presents though, I think, and I will suggest that grandparents and so on donate money which can be used on activities on the trip.
It might seem strange but it's not Christmas Day I'm worried about but those days between Christmas & New Year which are when we usually have a couple of really lazy days at home and become quite special due to that.

I would want to make it a bit Christmassy. I’d bring along a long roll of paper, blutac and the colouring pens/pencils and have them draw a tree to put on the wall, but might depend on your kids. If you fly out just before Christmas you can pack a tin of treats and a couple of gifts they’d use on the holiday - bathers /snorkels etc as well as something v small.

We always fantasize about going to florida for Christmas but the busyness of the parks puts us off, the weather should be perfect though

We’ve done this lots of times. Don’t see the point of a summer holiday in July or August when everyone else is away and the weather in the UK is fine. But winter sun in December / January, when it’s dark and gloomy in the UK, yes please. Usually go to Australia but have also visited Costa Rica and India.

We spend xmas in australia every year with DHs family. Very hot and very exotic. And such a wonderful place to travel. Landscapes, animals, people, weather all perfect!