I want to go away next Christmas and do no planning, no shopping, no stress

[Florally]

It wasn’t a bad Christmas, in fact, all pics, experiences and reviews from attendees would probably say it was a great Christmas.

But I’m so tired, I kind of don’t see the point. Spending thousands of pounds (I would imagine if I added it up) and a hamster wheel of cooking, clearing, dishwasher, dishwasher, dishwasher, tidying, start again for dessert, start again for tea.

I just want to go somewhere where they make Christmas dinner and maybe there’s some entertainment or something in the evening.

Everyone is against this of course 😂

Am I wrong?

It’s all a bit ‘what’s the point’ isn’t it?

Yes agree! We’re In Dubai. Same last year

You have to choose your location carefully. We've just been away for a week. It was an amazing break but if you wanted a break from cooking you'd have been struggling.

Lots of pubs and cafes only open Thursday through Sunday over winter in the area we were in and so with them closed on Christmas day and Boxing day, eating out wasn't much of an option.

It wasn't an issue for us and we knew it would be the case but worth considering if the main aim is avoiding cooking.

Do it! We have and will continue to every year. Sun and no stress. After years of difficult christmases, I ca highly recommend it!

I’ve done that too on either 27th or 28th, it’s always been nice and hotel prices are so much less than over Christmas proper.

We were away this year in a catered French chalet .

absolutely brilliant and highly recommended!

Do it ! Just back from a week in the Caribbean- booked last Jan so all paid for and honestly about the same spend as a usual Christmas at home. (Ish)

it was amazing. But almost the holiday was like the cherry on top as using the holiday as an excuse we just ignored Christmas. No special food, no gifts, no decorating, no stress. Just a year off all the unending and pointless stuff. Just for one day ! Mad !

just book in Jan and tell everyone. They have a year to get over it. And if they can’t forgive you for you having a year off then they are toxic. It is Just One Day

We know the area well. Took Cook food for Xmas eve and day. Boxing day.....cheese .
All restaurants open from 27th

Would love to do this could only manage 5 to 7 days but would love some lighter brighter days and no hosting. Any suggestions of where to go, best day to go either just before or the day after Christmas day (for cheaper cost) etc.

I am posting this ha inf had Christmas in Portugal, sunny enough to wear shorts if not to lie by the pool. Had a fab week including full Christmas dinner and not washed a dish all week. We have not had a Christmas at home since youngest was 16 and went to his girlfriends for Christmas dinner. Not sure I ever want to host a Christmas dinner ever again .

We used to go away for every other Christmas, but we decided we prefer to be at home and get some sun in January/February. But, that decision coincided with our increasing the use of the word “no”. So, we host who we want, when we want and if we don’t want to? We say no. We no longer entertain horrid SIL with her never ending litany of complaints and (fake) food intolerances, or my vile SM who couldn’t crack a smile if she tried. We willingly host the people that we love and want to spend time with and it’s great. It helps that DH is a star who more than pulls his weight so hosting is no trouble really.

I'm super tempted to book a cruise for next Christmas but the kids are all adamant we have to spend it at home. I've suggested more wintery options too like perhaps a Center Parcs in Europe, just somewhere it's the 5 of us and no extended family. They still say no and think Christmas should be spent at home. I'm sure there's a compromise with a traditional Christmas dinner earlier in December so I'm going to work on them!

I’ve decided the only thing I’m doing for Christmas is cooking Christmas dinner. For years I’ve done all the planning, buying, wrapping, writing cards, plus all the extra that I have to do for MIL because she’s in a care home and simply HAS to get her favourite carers gifts that I buy and wrap. I make up christmas stockings for five children, which I start shopping for in January. I’m exhausted and I’ve resolved never again.

This year I’m done. I’m not doing it any more. I can cope with Christmas dinner. I’m not shopping for MIL, the kids, no one. The kids will get money. MIL will have to find another mug to do her bidding. I’m having a stress free Christmas next year, which will set a president for the years to come.

It’s one year. Just book it and then let them decide once they’ve tried it.

That’s fine. So they need to decide between them which one is doing the present shopping and wrapping, who is doing the food shop, who is decorating the house and who is making Christmas Dinner and doing all the clean up. Because you aren’t. Once you explain that, I’m fairly sure they’ll be keen for a get away type Christmas.

Did it once to Egypt and hated it , forced festivity in a glorified compound

I think you need to identify exactly what you dislike and what elements you’d want to keep. For example, I’m not sure an AirBnB or villa would work as you may still end up doing all of the catering - unless you think others would step in more if it was neutral territory. If just you went away, what would those you usually host do and would anyone be by themselves? Would it get you out of present buying or would you still have to do that but have the additional hassle
of getting them all posted?
I’ve realised that, whilst we have enough bedrooms & enough room at the dining table to host, we don’t have enough sofa space now the DC are teens and don’t go to bed or can’t be sat on a knee. Then there’s the issue that we have a motley assembly of characters and, by day three, whilst we’re all getting on relatively well still, people have spent all of that time together and have just run out of conversation. Then there’s the present issue. All of this motley crew want meaningful presents to give to the DC but have no ideas themselves so expect me to come up with it all. And then they take the credit! Finally, there’s the fact it’s England in winter and, whilst the grandparents are all in good health for their age, they increasingly feel the cold and so many of both sides’ friends have had falls that they are nervous about going out of it is dark or slippery so the chances of actually getting out are limited and so we are quite on top of each other. Actually, there’s one more thing which is catering around which I share your pain!
I am increasingly thinking a hotel in the Canaries or similar is the way to go. Or somewhere like Palma or Seville (as a PP suggested). Everyone would have their own space plus there will be communal spaces. Things won’t shut down in the same way so there will be things to do. Even if there aren’t things to do, walks & things would be in new places. We would be eating in restaurants so people could chose what they wanted rather than every meal being a compromise.
The only problem it doesn’t solve is presents. Unless we did the whole “we know that this will cost more money so let’s not do presents”.
Otherwise, I just want to go skiing with DH and the DC. But that leaves my parents by themselves.

I’ve already booked !

We’ve been looking at holidays for next Christmas today. I stopped hosting last year as I’d done it for years and got fed up of it all. We’re looking at the Caribbean flying out on 23rd Dec. Like @NCfor24 we’re getting grief as the grown up children want to come home next year.

Where are you going?

DH is onboard. We're going to book somewhere for next year. DD also has a significant birthday around that time so it will be more about celebrating her than xmas.

We are going to a coastal town in the West Country. We know it well and as it’s a surfing resort it doesn’t really shut down in winter. I’m hoping for a nice Christmas dinner in a hotel or pub and lots of coastal walks .

We went to Thailand last year over Xmas and New Year - flew out the day the younger 2 children broke up from school and flew back on the Sunday before they went back. It was brilliant....I don't think I wrote a single Xmas card, and didn't have to lift a finger for 2 weeks....bliss!

Our best Christmas’s have been when we were at 30,000 feet heading for a sunny beach

Although I don’t do anything like the amount of work others do I still find it really really boring. Don’t get me started on presents for even just a few people

Me too, and it was only the 4 of us, lovely day; didn’t spend too much money, but it was only one day. I just want you to go away for week or more if possible and scape the winter blues(SAD)

We are just back . The seven of us were skiing in the Dolomites . Was incredible . Slopes packed on Christmas Day. Saved so much hassle in the run up too.
We are having the usual M and S ‘Christmas’ dinner on New Year’s Day - got lots of bargains in there today !!!
Being away from it really makes you appreciate how much focus there is on it and how commercial it is .