Christmas in a hotel - ideas to make it special

[Snickersnotknickers]

We are staying in a pub hotel near my family for 2 nights (Christmas Eve and Christmas night). My children are 5 and 8 and we've never stayed away from home before over Christmas so we feel a little bit of trepidation about it although also excited as it means we can possibly do things that we don't normally do at Christmas.

Has anyone got any ideas about things to take to make it feel special in a hotel room or things to do? We will be giving presents to my mum and telling children Santa has delivered there but will do stockings in our room on Christmas morning and thought would also bring Prosecco.

Christmas lights.

if the walls are conducive to it, I pin them up in the shape of a Christmas Tree, if not just drape them around something.

depends on space/weight etc but just a few Chrustmas decorations. Packet of cheap red shiny baubles, tinsel & let the kids hang them wherever they want. Blow up Santa or a favourite musical Christmas cuddly.

new/favourite Christmas PJ's. Pillow case.

Letter to Santa beforehand explaining where they'll be.

hard to know what YOUR children would need to make it feel special but also not break the fantasy!

don't forget any night time friends they MUST have!! It's easy to forget the 'usual' when you're focussing in the 'special'!!

I would go all out!

Christmas Eve box waiting on arrival (DH takes and checks in when your at relatives or local coffee shop) with new pyjamas for you all, lush bath bomb or equivalent, a book to read before bed and a few edible treats. I would include a letter from Father Christmas saying I hope you remember to leave out your stockings for me to fill and that he has heard Granny lives at XYZ so check under her tree tomorrow for a surprise from me too!

Cute Christmas blankets to snuggle with in the car/Hotel - primark, matalan etc.

Have you checked with the hotel- they may be able to decorate the room with a few decs?

Take a mince pie/cookies, a glass or milk and carrots to leave out for Father Christmas and his reindeer.

I agree with the PP about having a special Christmas box with pj's an easy craft set, their stockings maybe and Christmas bubble bath and new mugs, hot chocolate powder marshmallows etc.
A few years ago we spent Christmas at Centre Parcs and did that and the kids really loved it. I put it outside in the forest and draped it in fairy lights, but a dark bathroom would do the job too just let them 'discover' it.
Oh and an age appropriate Christmas jigsaw might be good too. I say age appropriate because ours wasn't, so the cosy family evenings I'd envisioned were replaced by tears when we didn't finish it, and mean old Daddy had to break it up when we went home 🤣

This is so thoughtful , really lovely

I have never spent Christmas Eve/Day in a hotel, but I remember a friend going with her then 5 year old and taking a mini Christmas tree (an artificial one!) to put up in the room.

One of my favourite childhood Christmas memories is when we stayed in a hotel. But it was an actual 3-night stay, rather than visiting family.

A mini tree is a great idea!

I loved swimming on Christmas morning. My parents (Santa) packed stockings for us and the hotel provided a mince pie, carrot and milk on a tray. We did a long walk and lovely lunch on Boxing Day in a cute village pub.

Thanks everyone, love the ideas! Hadn't thought of a Christmas Eve box so will definitely do that and take fairy lights as well and a little tree!

Make sure they tell Father Christmas 🎅 where they are going to be and if you do the bastard elf bring him too!