Anyone ever spent actual Christmas on their own in a hotel?

[AloneRapunzel]

Just that really - this may be more a question for the 'alone in life' with no relatives than just the pure 'childfree'.

Suffered some bereavements so didn't want to do this for the first few years as worried I would be too emotionally vulnerable. Time has moved on so was thinking of doing this. I like the idea of being catered for, having a bit of luxury, probably would be looking at a luxury country house hotel type place with roaring log fires and opportunity for a walk in some woods.

What bothers me though is actually how many people do this? If you have ever spend Christmas (meaning including the actual day/night 25 Dec) in a hotel, how many people did you see who were alone or was it all big families having a day out?

I don't mean from a point of view of other solo dinners/travellers to interact with btw - just the prescence of other solo people at lunch/ in the dinning room so I don't feel like a freak or worse stand out so much that I have big groups feeling sorry for me and asking me to join them...

if you've done it, did you have a good time? would you do it again? any advice?

No but I love the idea of it!

I’ve not done it but have a friend who takes a cruise each Christmas, she says around 20% of the travellers are typically travelling alone and of the couples many are childless too. They really look after you and there’s the option to have a shared table if you want it or a table alone if that’s your preference

@cleanshirt LOL. Me too but I'm worried that I'm expecting some kind of cosy 1920s Agatha Christie (without the murder) country house experience that will be utterly divorced from reality and will be a sore thumb surrounded by cooing couples and large groups.

I think would be the sore thumb version to be honest!
I think the choices you have are to either go all in on mixing with others and befriending some nice tipsy families, or go for a plush self catering place (thinking hot tub type places!) and get some nice food and fizz in and veg out in front of the TV!

I have experience through working in the industry, albeit many years ago.
At Christmas there would be a few "singles" and nobody thought much of it. Usually mature in age, happily indulging themselves and enjoying being looked after. New Years Eve was particularly good.
I would advise choosing a medium sized quiet ish hotel. Personally I think the MacDonald Hotels would be good for this.

I did it the first Christmas after my husband died, and to be honest, I wouldn't do it again.
Perhaps I expected too much, but I felt much more 'alone' in the hotel setting than I ever felt in the resort setting.
I was so disappointed at still feeling lonely and discarded in a strange way the first year at a very nice hotel Country House Hotel, although, the food was exceptional. Although I smiled and chatted to fellow residents, I was 'alone'.
Contrast that with the following year when I went abroad, had my own apartment, but joined a solo ( not looking for romance) group before I went.
It was fabulous, I had all the company I needed, day or night, but could spend time alone when I needed it.
It was so brilliant, I did it every year since😁

Than you for this @ICantBeDoingWithThat that's very useful information. would never have thought of asking for the perspective of hospitality industry...

I don't know MacDonald hotels so off to look at that. I was thinking sort of that Relais Chateau country house estate vibe.

Not sure if it's helpful but IL used to do coach trip with DH as well - they did hotel abroad they claim few years ago now that Germany the trains ran christmas day and they went to an orgaised trip to a winery but had to be sure to get back on time as it was a reduced Sudnay timetable for trains. The rate it as one of the best Christmas days they had.

There were often singles on the coach trips.

@Flicitytricity

I did it the first Christmas after my husband died, and to be honest, I wouldn't do it again.
Perhaps I expected too much, but I felt much more 'alone' in the hotel setting than I ever felt in the resort setting.

Sorry you did not have a good experience
This is why I didn't do it before after bereavement and have waited to consider it until now. Someone told me when you are grieving you get comfort from familiar surroundings so being alone in your own space is more comforting than being alone in a strange space. I wonder if it was too soon for you?

The second trip you describe with your own apartment - what was that? a group organised trip or something you organised yourself? any companies or travel agents you'd recommend?

I think it’s likely you’d be in the minority as a solo diner in a country house hotel at Christmas, so if that would bother you, I’d make a different plan. It wouldn’t bother me as I’ve got used to - and now enjoy - dining alone, through many solo business trips. But if I were you I think I’d look at taking a short winter break abroad, wherever your budget and preferences suit. Could be a lovely city break in Europe, or the Canaries, or further afield the Caribbean or Asia for warmer weather. I’d definitely do that (and probably will in future years)

Just to add, I have holidayed alone in self catering accommodation and felt much more lonely than the times I have stayed alone in a hotel. I think if you are confident and are at ease talking to strangers that helps.

I was so disappointed at still feeling lonely and discarded in a strange way the first year at a very nice hotel Country House Hotel, although, the food was exceptional. Although I smiled and chatted to fellow residents, I was 'alone'.

This has always been my concern when I’ve thought of having Xmas in a hotel. I’m not sure that I would really relax and enjoy it and there’s nowhere to really escape to, apart from your room.

I think if I was ever in a position to do this I’d go on a cruise.

There is so much to do and I’d join in activities etc.

Trains in Germany do always run on Christmas day.

The hotel I go to in Austria normally has 6 or 7 single people, all women.

No. I went to Lanzarote. I'd been there twice with my husband over the years, and loved it.
I booked a flight, then booked a fabulous little bungalow.
I was on Facebook and found a group that was full.of solo travellers. There was no pressure, just a kind of ' we're meeting for a meal at xxxxx tonight at 7pm' kind of invitation. I bit the bullet and tried it, meeting lovely people of all ages. From that, I did some trekking up to volcanoes, wine tasting, cocktail making classes, lots of meals, loads of drinking and dancing and zero sleezeness.
I've done 3 years now (gulp) and although it's a lot of different people every year, the cosy, involved feeling persists.
I know I'll never feel ' out of it', but still retain the ability to be alone, which I happily do for several days.

Reading this thread and googling I didn't realise there were so many specialist companies organising Christmas stays OP. Have a look at go singles.com, friendship travel.com, justyou.co.uk

There were lovely hotel options on the Cotswold Inns & Hotels website too. Looked very cosy!

This sounds good for a Christmas solo in Portugal. I know it's not the Cotswolds but still, worth a look!

www.friendshiptravel.com/holiday/casa-rosa-at-christmas/

Actually I think an HF holiday might suit you. They are walking breaks in country hotels run by HF. An older age group but always a mix of genders, singles couples and groups of friends. Meals are round tables of 8 people and the whole ethos is about including people.

https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/holidays/guided-walking/festive-breaks

Yes. It was absolute and utter bliss.

I haven't but I dream of the day that I can just eff off up to a cozy cottage in the Lake District on my own and go off grid and non-contactable. Christmas dinner would consist of a turkey, cranberry and stuffing sarnie and a slice of Christmas cake and cheese with a hot chocolate and Baileys, sat on top of a mountain somewhere.

If a luxury hotel was my thing, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I'd prefer an airbnb. I'd feel very exposed in a hotel on my own at Christmas. I do sometimes go out on my own and I once spent Christmas alone, but no a hotel would not be my choice.

We use to do Christmas in posh country house hotels when I was a teenager. I remember there were single older people and it was very sociable and civilised but I’m talking the mid/late 1980s so maybe I’m remembering a bygone era! 😃 I agree with the comment regarding Macdonald Hotels. They took over many of the upmarket TrustHouse Forte hotels as they were in the old days, many of these are the hotels we stayed in back then. Hope you find something suitable, Christmas can be such a difficult time for so many.

I did a HF Holidays, never again. I was the only single person and very much younger than everyone else, and I am no spring chicken. They were all long retired.

I’ve spent Christmas alone in so many places … My Cambridge college as an undergraduate a million years ago; in my own home, wherever I’ve been living at the time; house sitting for a friend in Edinburgh; once or twice in hotels. I love a solo Christmas; I’ve had countless wonderful Christmas days with family / partner / etc and some of those were relaxed and stress free, but Christmas alone always is.

If staying at a hotel I’ve preferred somewhere anonymous rather than a fancy place that tries to involve you in festive jollity. The few days at a Premier Inn on a Welsh coast were particularly peaceful (and useful as I had a work deadline I needed to concentrate on).

But I like cooking, so a hotel Christmas misses one of the elements I enjoy most. Other than that I don’t give a fig for whether the other guests are families, or couples, or other single people - I’m much too absorbed in my own pursuits.