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Christmas

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Original poster

Family Christmas at a hotel - a good idea or crazy?!

34 replies

mummysandwich · 10/11/2019 10:29

My family (me, DH, DD 8 and DDs 5) are on our own for Christmas Day this year (no fallings our etc, just the way it has worked out this year!).

Last time this happened, the day didn't feel very special - almost like an ordinary day but with the added excitement/pressure of presents for the DCs added in!

We are thinking we may try to book into a hotel for 2-3 nights over Christmas to make it a bit more special, and get away from the domestic drudgery too.

My reason for posting is to find our if anyone has ever done this with 3 kids??
Was it worth the expense?? We can afford it, but it will be an expensive way to spend a couple of days which I feel cautious about...
Any recommendations on where is good and family friendly??

OP posts:
butmumineedit · 10/11/2019 10:31

I know you said hotel, but can recommend Butlins or Centre parks both really good and with the added bonus of a good swimming pools .

babbi · 10/11/2019 10:32

I wouldn’t do it ... but up your game at home ... !
Think of a few new traditions to do just in your little foursome .
Remember the children live being at home at Xmas .. excitement of waking up to SANTA 🎅 in their own house .. !

Struggling to understand why you don’t think that this special day with your loved ones is not enough on its own tbh ?
Not a criticism but maybe food for thought ?
What do you think it lacks ?

Original poster
mummysandwich · 10/11/2019 10:41

Thanks, I'll look into Butlins/Centreparcs now!

It's hard to put into words how I feel about Christmas at home on our own. In my imagination I can see a perfect little quiet Christmas, but I fear reality may be a bit different!
Our 3 girls are very close (twins plus elder sis) but bicker a lot at home and can be very demanding.

I think DH is keener on this idea than me, as he has very fond memories of going away with his family when he was younger.

OP posts:
cccameron · 10/11/2019 10:52

I think it's a really nice idea. If I didn't have extended family coming I think I'd probably go away abroad somewhere hot for Christmas. Could you stretch to 5days or a week holiday, maybe take in new year as well? Or maybe even Euro Disney?

dimsum123 · 10/11/2019 10:55

What would you do in a hotel? You would just have a room, everything around will be closed, meals will be taken care of but how would you spend the day?

WhereverIMayRoam · 10/11/2019 11:08

I’ve never done it myself but a friend did with 2 dc and her mum (marriage had broken down that year). She said it was very expensive for what it was and while there were some things on to entertain the dc, she was kinda stuck if they didn’t want to go! She felt it would have been a lot easier to entertain the dc in their own home with their own things around them.

So I’d say if you really want to do it make sure there is something to do/somewhere to explore other than just what the hotel is offering otherwise you may find yourselves stuck in your room or dragging everyone out constantly for brisk walks. I’d expect though that places that are really good for a family Christmas will be booked up by now.

3littlemincemeatpies · 10/11/2019 11:10

I have visited a few lodge/country hotels that have always sounded like they offered a magical package at Christmas. Sleigh rides through the woods, candlelit carol service round a piano on Christmas Eve, Champagne drinks repetition before Christmas lunch and of course a very convincing Santa with stockings left at the door on hung by the fire.

We wouldn’t (and probably still couldn’t) of afforded it but if I’d had the means I would loved to have treated me family for a one off different kind of Christmas.

Of course it could be a huge disappointment and nothing at all like you might have expected but I guess you’d never know unless you went for it.

I understand OP we have 3 girls and this is the 1st year ever due to circumstance that we will have no extended family visiting or staying, I am actually looking forward to it but I hope we have enough fun and excitement to fill the day.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 10/11/2019 12:33

We went through a period when I was young of having Christmas away in hotels etc (all my grandparents died quite young, both parents only children so it wasn’t as though we had any extended family to be with).

We always had a brilliant time and I have lots of really fond memories.

I don’t know if the kinds of places we used to go really exist any more but they always had a big community atmosphere, shared tables for meals etc. Always a mix of families and older people, who loved playing ‘grandparent’ to the children. Lots of ‘organised fun’ indoors and outdoors We often went with ‘Holiday Fellowship’ - not sure they do the same kind of thing these days but might be worth a look.

abitoflight · 10/11/2019 13:02

I used to go every Christmas as a child and loved it
All the meals were fancy and there was afternoon tea as well as big breakfast and 3 course lunch and 4 course dinner
There were snooker competitions organised, treasure hunts around the hotel, table tennis tournament, trips out in a coach etc
Entertainment in the evening was a band for dancing and comedians etc.
This was over 30 years ago but I would think some hotels still do similar

abitoflight · 10/11/2019 13:03

Oh and Santa and elves gave all children a little gift

Orchidflower1 · 10/11/2019 13:05

What about just going out for lunch at a hotel near you. Won’t the girls want to wake up at home?

Spied · 10/11/2019 13:06

I think it will be dire.
A 'proper' break somewhere like centre parcs then fair enough but no way will you get booked up at this late date.

MsSquiz · 10/11/2019 13:13

Some Center Parcs villages will have availability - I know Whinfell does (arrive on 23rd and leave on 27th)

Although I haven't been for Christmas Day, we did a weekend there last December for my twin nephew and niece's 2nd birthday, and Winter Wonderland is brilliant. Santa was by far the best Santa I've ever seen. They had pony rides and horse & carriage rides, Christmas treasure hunts, festive disco, etc. We all (adults included) had a great time!

BillieEilish · 10/11/2019 13:21

That is not for me at all! DD would hate not being at home with stocking arriving, our decorations, our tree, my Christmas dinner, her things around her, monopoly after lunch etc...

There will be 3 of us and it will be fantastic and full of joy! (Hopefully)

HUZZAH212 · 10/11/2019 13:27

We've spent Christmas in Tenerife before (years ago), and done the pub lunch a few times. If it's a hotel I think it'll not work that great tbh. If it's an open restaurant they'll have Christmas bookings already so you'll need to check for space still and it'll be extra money on top. Then there's schlepping presents there and back home again. If you're staying at home can you make up an itenary to keep the kids entertained? Christmas eve Carol service, Christmas film night with hot chocolate, going to see Santa and reindeer a few days before. If you don't want the full dinner and trimmings you can order a takeaway.

When we've eaten out it was nice and the staff laid out crackers and whatnot, but the places were heaving, there was pressure to get the tables turned round for the next bookings, and it was a bit uncomfortable to be stuffed, and then a drive home. Also no going back in the kitchen to pick at leftovers 😒

Barbarara · 10/11/2019 14:33

It depends what you’re hoping to get from the experience. I’d love a quiet, cosy Christmas just ourselves but dh needs the camaraderie and buzz of other guests to feel it’s really Christmas. I don’t think going to a hotel would meet his need because it would still be just us, albeit in a public setting.

The kitchen drudgery avoidance is a very good reason though.

If you’re looking for distractions for the dc, research the hotel carefully. Sometimes the usual activities and amenities can be closed on Christmas Day even if the hotel itself is open.

Since you’re still a bit uncertain, I’ll add that I put a lot of planning into Christmas Day at home, both in terms of the timetable of activities and the types of gifts the dc get, to keep the day running smoothly. They get what they ask for from Santa but I’ll always ensure that there are other gifts designed to keep them busy and quiet for a while. Alongside the timings for the big roast, I plan their food schedule and snacks, to allow for lunch running late, or them getting over excited and not eating much dinner. We open Santa gifts in the morning and family gifts in the afternoon so they are engaged and busy again while we’re lying on the sofa, helplessly over fed after dinner. I‘ll have a new dvd on standby that I won’t have told them about, and I’ll make sure they get some time outside too, even if it’s just to hunt for reindeer tracks in the garden.
One of mine has asd so I’m very aware of the need to actively manage these kinds of days but I think all dc can find it over stimulating at some level. And as a society we paint a picture of these serene family christmases without acknowledging that it’s only a snapshot moment or that there’s a lot of management and planning. So we can end up feeling like we got the only bickering children.

Episcomama · 10/11/2019 14:36

I'm watching the responses with interest, OP. We are going to Florida for a week and having a Disney/Universal Christmas. We live somewhere very cold in winter and thought a few days in the sun would do us all good.

TryTry123 · 10/11/2019 14:39

Hotel sounds good, let someone else cook an clean up. Have a swim etc

stucknoue · 10/11/2019 14:48

If you stay at home they are the perfect age for new traditions. Family service at church, brunch, walk and evening dinner with fancy napkins etc. My kids loved this

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/11/2019 15:14

I'm an old fogey and I love my Traditions - so it would be a "No" from me .
I would be really sad to leave my decorated house and come back when Christmas is over ( I cannot fathom why they do it in "Home Alone" - leave that beautiful house in snow to fly to Paris Xmas Confused from Chicago )

I would do a hotel with extended family and older DC , then no cooking or cleaning for anyone and everyone has room to slope off . Things to do, walks etc.

DH and I went away for New Year years ago, drove miles ( East London to Cornwall) . Hotel was fine but hardly anyone dressed up. The only couple our age had a toddler so went up early .
We were offered an extra day for reduced rate but we were Nooo have to get home .

I think if you want to escape the drudgery -
get pre-prepared food
go out for dinner
get taxis
Xmas Smile

Imonlymoominafterall · 10/11/2019 15:16

If you can afford it have a look at Calcot Manor. Magical!

ChicCroissant · 10/11/2019 15:24

If your children bicker then trapping you all inside one small room in a hotel wouldn't be my idea of fun, actually! At least at home you've got space.

I take it you haven't done Christmas Day yourself very often, OP? I admit I am always a bit baffled by people who can't make Christmas Day special for their own family though.

If you go away I'd go for somewhere that has plenty of entertainment laid on like Butlins. If you are thinking of Europe be warned that their main celebration is Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day (I do know that Disneyland Paris, for instance, is open as usual Christmas Day but will be incredibly cold weather-wise and the cost of meals on Christmas Eve is astronomical!)

Hope you have a lovely Christmas wherever you all spend it OP (I love Christmas!). Could be the start of a new tradition for you all Grin

stridesy · 10/11/2019 17:34

You could go for self catering along the coast. My bil did Cornwall one year. Near Great Yarmouth in horsey they have seals on the beach and it’s around the time they give birth.
I like the idea of being somewhere remote in a wood cabin and hot tub like Scotland.

flooredbored · 10/11/2019 18:20

We've booked a landmark trust property for christmas this year. Maybe worth a look they have lost of interesting properties.

alwayscauseastir · 10/11/2019 18:32

We go to a caravan park if we are going to be alone for Xmas. This year we went to Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire and we loved it so much that we're going again, but this time just for New Year. Our caravan had central heating and the owner had trimmed it up throughout. It had a hot tub which the kids were never out of. We have two dogs too so we did lots of walking (and eating) in the local area. Yes it was different and Christmas dinner didn't feel as nice, but taking the kids swimming on Xmas day was also nice.