To spend this amount of money

[Mindycindy]

Basically I've had the year from Hell. My dog passed away, I had a major health scare and was admitted to hospital, I was diagnosed with a chronic serious illness and then most recently my dad passed away.

I want to do something special this Christmas.

I have been left a small amount by my dad, a few thousand.

I have found a 3 night stay in a really luxury place that includes all food (three courses etc) for Christmas eve Christmas day and boxing day. It really is a special place.

It costs 1800. Is that just a total waste of money? It's over half of what my dad left me and I'd hate to think I'm wasting it. I know its all relative but do you think that's what you'd expect that to cost for 2 people at Christmas time in a luxury place with all food included for 3 nights?

@Mindycindy inthink you should go for it. It sounds a magical once in a life time treat thing that you’ll always remember fondly and better to feel like you’ve been treated by your dad than it just slowly go on bills. I vote go for it!

£300 per person per day in luxury accommodation and with all good food included over Christmas does not seem expensive for what it is.

Only you can gauge how far you can afford this and how far it would be a good value thing for YOU to do!

It does sound as if you would really enjoy and appreciate it. If you want to go away for Christmas, then you could end up spending nearly as much on something less than half as good, and a bit of a a disappointment.

Would you be going with your DH? As you mention your wedding anniversary there.

On balance -go!

£1800 for 2 over Christmas is pretty good.
Plus if you’ve been there before and like it, I think with all the other circs, do it.
Life really is too bloody short.
Go and enjoy every minute.
(And I say this as someone who spent over £3k on a 24 hr experience and it was bloody amazing)
So I’m a big believer in just going for it. 👍🏻

As you've found is short and often cruel, do what makes you happy, personally I'd go away for some sunshine

I wouldn't as if its not as amazing as you thought it would be you'd be gutted to have wasted the money.
I agree with a longer cheaper holiday another time. Or rent a cosy cottage somewhere over xmas with a big roaring fire would be cheaper.

I spent the last £4k I had upgrading to First (£70 cheaper than business!) on the flight home from Australia last year. Yes, the money could have been better spent but it was amazing and I still think about it now. I don't regret it.

Life is too short to not do these things. Book it and enjoy it.

I would go for it. We spent a Christmas away after a tough year and had a really lovely experience. It was good to get away from anything that could stir up painful memories and not having to worry about shopping, cooking, clearing up for a few days was incredibly relaxing. We always remember that break fondly and it did us both the world of good.

all (or almost all) the reputable rescues charge an adoption fee.

I think if you’ve a healthy buffer of savings go for it. If not,then this would be foolish,

I would do this, and we do every other year, but I’d have to be certain that it was going to be excellent.

We went somewhere for a weekend recently with a view to booking for Christmas (which was £3k). I’m so glad we went because I would have been so disappointed with it for Christmas.

We’re staying at home this year instead and going to a really nice restaurant for lunch on Christmas Day.

A break in between Christmas and New year would be cheaper if you’re not sure about spending so much.

I would do it. You’ve had a terrible year and I bet your dad would want you to enjoy this experience!

What a beautiful way of putting it

@Mindycindy - sorry you’ve had a bad year. But I think you’re overthinking this! As long as there’s not a drip feed of you being a spendaholic with 000s of debt, I think you should go for it.

£300 per person per night in a luxury hotel with food etc over Christmas is pretty reasonable. You say your dad would be happy for him so think of it as a gift from him.

What I personally wouldn’t do is as some PPs have suggested and spend (less) £sss doing some kinda half way house. Your thoughts went to a luxury away stay, not to a “bring your own food to an air B&B” type thing - there’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s not where your mind was wandering to!

Go for it!! 🎄 🎅 😁

It's an impossible question to answer. Only you know if you can easily afford it or if you should really be putting the money to use for other things. If you feel it's an awful lot to spend, that suggests you maybe should stop and think about it carefully for a few days.

It sounds perfect, and pretty good value - especially over Christmas. A night in a good London hotel is £1,000 these days - without any food - so I think some posters on here have no concept of what going rates actually are! In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'd say that you have yourself a bargain. Ultimately, it's your money - spend it however you like.

Op if you have rhe money why don’t you spend your own money on this, and save your dads? If you don’t have the money. Then it would indicate you have minimal savings and live pay cheque to pay cheque so should reconsider. That money could come in handy.

It will be an anti climax.

Depends how much money you have. If you live month to month it might be nicer to spread it out on several meals out or day trips etc. Or an annual membership to a fantastic gym/spa. But if blowing it in 3 days would be worth it to you then go for it.

I don't think that's a lot of money for a complete Christmas package in a luxury hotel. I go away most Christmases and always to very good venues, so I am well placed to know the cost. I spent double that for two of us in 2019 but admittedly we did hit the cocktail menu and room service quite hard. I would think £1,800 is about right. Unless you're in serious debt and living on the breadline, I really don't see the problem. Go for it, it sounds lovely.

Oh love do it. I'm sure your DF would want you to enjoy the time you have.

@Mindycindy How much luxury does it involve? What's your definition of that?

I ask because I think that is a lot of money for a 3 night Christmas Package. We have been away for Christmas the last few years and are going away again this year. We are paying £1200 for 3 nights ( for 2 of us) this year to the same place we have been before. For real 'posh' luxury, costs in the same area are around £2500 - £3000. Cheaper 'ok' places around the same area are £650-£800 for 3 nights.

It's a 4* Hotel. I would describe it as 'comfy/cosy' with log fires on the ground floor and squashy sofas and the like. Staff are all lovely and helpful. Great Christmas Trees and Decorations everywhere, the food is good too. In fact we get fed FAR too much food throughout the 3 day stay. The entertainment is also excellent. It is Excellent Value for money. I've copied below what we are getting for that amount of money.

This is, however, in Scotland, so it depends a bit on where abouts you are proposing to stay? Not naming it as they have been fully booked for the Christmas Package for months and months ( not surprisingly). I can't say whether you should spend £1800 as I don't know where you are going and what you are getting for that amount of money, but just giving you an idea of what we are getting for our money. Lots of places will already be booked up for Christmas Packages by now though, so if you are going to do it I would do it very soon

Christmas Eve
• 4pm to 5pm – Afternoon Tea by the Fire
• 4pm to 7pm – Live Music in the Lounge
• 6.30pm – Bubbles and Canapes in the Lounge
• 6.45pm – 3 Course Dinner in The Restaurant
• From 9.00pm – Live Entertainment in the Lounge

Christmas Day
• 8am to 10am – Bucks Fizz Breakfast
• 12.30pm – Piper Heidsieck Christmas Champagne Reception followed by Christmas Lunch in The Restaurant
• 4pm – Afternoon Tea served in the Bow Lounge
• 7.30pm – Fork Buffet Supper
• 8.30pm – Live entertainment in the Lounge

Boxing Day
• 8am to 10am – Boxing Day Breakfast
• 12.15pm – Chef’s Soup, Baked Potatoes and Sandwiches
• 4pm – Afternoon Tea
• 7.30pm – Chef’s Hot Beef Buffet served in The Restaurant
• 9pm – Live Entertainment in the Lounge

So sorry you've had such a bad time.

Only you will know the value to you, but my view would be that it's a lot of money to spend on a very short time of year when you frankly might be feeling crap anyway with your recent losses.

Personally, I'd rather have something to keep to remember my Dad by, and I'd worry I'd regret that afterwards.

Do it. It sounds like your dad would want you to spend the money on something nice for yourself and this sounds perfect after a tough year. Totally understand wanting to be away from home and do something different. Go relax and feel pampered, hope 2025 is a much better year for you

I would be going with my husband yes.

I can pay for it with income yes, but the point was I was thinking of specifically using this money so that it didn't feel like I'd spent that on something necessary but terribly mundane like a new washing machine or something 😂

It may well be a bit of an anticlimax but to be honest it can't be worse than spending Christmas without my dad when we have hosted him the the last 5 years or at my in-laws trying to put on a brave face.

The food was good last time I was there and it includes a champagne breakfast on Christmas day, breakfast on the 26th and 27th.

Mulled wine, Carol singers and then a three course meal and live singer on Christmas eve, it just sounds so festive and yet time to relax away from washing up and cooking.

Really interesting hearing your thoughts all

Unless you have massive debts op, go to the hotel. My friends DH died very young. They had so many plans for the things they’d do in the future “when they could afford it”. The irony is, they had the money, they just thought that it was too much to spend for just a few nights. Now they’ll never get to do it together.