Going away for Christmas

[Guylncognito]

For various reason - I'd like to try and convince my family to do Christmas away from home this year. We have NEVER done this. Usually both my sister and I go home, but this year my sister is seeing other family.

I'd love to hear about trips/places other people have done, or even places you'd like to go!.

Thanks!

We’ve done it twice abroad, but both aeons ago now.

Once was Austria, skiing for 4 of us and a dd’s friend, plus we had my DM and FiL, both widowed within the previous 18 months, which was the main reason for doing something very different.

The other was Cuba, when it was just opening up to tourism - just us and late teens dds. At the time it was considerably cheaper than any other reliably warm, long haul destination at Christmas.

We also did a combined family stay in a big place in Devon a few years ago - 12 of us, inc. 2 tinies.
They all worked well and were enjoyable, but TBH I still prefer Christmas
at home. But then I don’t mind cooking!

Thanks @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER - my dad loves skiing so that's a great idea!

We went to India 2 years ago! Flew out in Christmas Day! Was the most relaxing Xmas day I ever had - being served drinks in my pjs on a long haul watching films 😂😂
We went to Goa and relaxed on the beaches for 2 weeks ! We are now gonna alternate family one year abroad the next going forward

We've gone to stay with friends in the Swiss alps a couple of times, once to Damascus, and once to Kerala -- all were lovely.

We went to the Canaries one xmas. What a joy it was to feel the heat as soon as we stepped off the plane. Lovely to be sat by the pool on xmas eve day, sipping a glass of fizz, kids in the pool whilst every one back home was complaining about Sainsbuys running out of chippolatas, and car parks being gridlocked with last minute shoppers.

We have booked to go Dubai this Christmas, the hotel really puts a Christmas show on. Huge xmas tree and decorations and New Years Eve Gala.There is Christmas Eve iceskating with snow in the Dubai Mall and other Christmas themed things going on around the Marina and The Irish Village. After the year I have had I will honestly shed a tea of relief and happiness when I am on that Emirates flight with a fizz in my hand!

Just me and DH here so no dc to consider.
We've done a few christmases away, all to relatively cold places - I resisted for years until one year when MIL, FIL and my parents were all pushing for us to spend time with them on Christmas Day and I was feeling stressed. DH said 'oh look, there's a flight to Iceland here on 23rd December, shall I book it?" And I said yes in a mood so he booked it before I could change my mind 😂
It was one of the best decisions we made.

The places we've been for Christmas are:
Prague - beautiful, you can do skiing trips if you'd like. Lots of bars, lovely to walk around (but I may be biased as it's one of my favourite cities anyway)

Reykjavik - this was very relaxing, we did a few trips (blue lagoon, chasing the northern lights) but mostly walked around enjoying the lights.

New York - amazing but so so busy, and beyond freezing (went down to -14° one night). We did all the touristy things but left the city on 26th and did a road trip (DC, Pennsylvania etc, back to the city via the Hamptons for NYE).

Scotland - spent Christmas on Mull, left 27th for a road trip around the very north coast (beautiful beaches) then did Edinburgh for Hogmanay.

All amazing - I'm quite sad we're not going anywhere this year.

We went to Fuerteventura about 5 years ago for Christmas, flew from Gatwick on 23/12 and returned 30/12.

It was a great experience, swam in the sea on Christmas Day, all inclusive hotel had a lovely evening buffet on Christmas Day and was a wonderful relaxed week getting some Winter sunshine, it was lovely we wear summer clothes again and very strange to see Christmas trees in the sunshine, was due to go last Christmas but cancelled due to COVID, will definitely go again.

When I was 17 our family went to Jamaica for Christmas and it was awesome to do something different.

DH and I went to Prague for our first married Christmas together, that’s a stunning place to spend Christmas!

This year we’re going to Mexico City, a delayed trip from April 2021 and I can’t wait!

Taking my parents with us to Mexico City - we’ve done Mexico once between Christmas and new year which was also fab

DH and I spent Christmas on a river barge in Ghent. Was a really great Christmas

I've been away for Christmas multiple times, I loved it. Dominican Republic, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Thailand.. All over, just never anywhere cold. My favourite ever Christmas day was spent sandboarding and snorkeling around shipwrecks.

Did you book? We booked Mexico for Christmas - and now worrying about whether it will go ahead or not, of course. Doh!

What's everyone thinking about going away for Christmas now?

Hi sorry to gate crash but we’re thinking about going away this Xmas , Evesgarden where did you stay in Dubai please ?