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Original poster

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

174 replies

Florally · 28/12/2025 15:37

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?

OP posts:
ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS · 29/12/2025 18:01

My worry with this is that someone or multiple people in our house are always ill. I’d love a hot sunny holiday but don’t want to spend a load of money for us not to enjoy it.

One year we did book 4 days between Christmas and NY in a hotel, we had a great time, didn’t leave the hotel, enjoyed the swimming pool and sauna, kids entertainment and the 2 restaurants. Everything was so festive but we didn’t have to pay Christmas Day and NY eve prices.

Tuesdayschild50 · 29/12/2025 18:09

I totally agree with you . I've said this I find the whole christmas day boring as hell.
I'm going to plan to go away next year.
Why is everyone against it is it because you do it all .

Zippidydoodah · 29/12/2025 18:11

Me tooooooo. I feel so “over” Christmas. It’s a shame for my kids and they won’t ever know how I feel about it, but I’m done. Luckily, they and my parents (we hosted) had a fab time.

Tuesdayschild50 · 29/12/2025 18:12

FairKoala · 29/12/2025 17:51

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

Same here it's so boring isn't it I can't stand the thought of every December having Xmas at home .. I'd go away in future .

Zippidydoodah · 29/12/2025 18:18

Franpie · 28/12/2025 17:12

We’re just back and it’s been amazing! I’m a massive convert and think it’s unlikely I’ll ever do a Christmas in the UK again.

My kids didn’t want to go but even they said it was the best Christmas. I think it helped that we went to Christian country that celebrates Christmas so it still felt Christmassy for the kids.

But feeling the sun on my face and it not getting dark at 3:30pm was a massive mood lifter!

This sounds ideal! Where did you go?

FlorianTV · 29/12/2025 18:20

I really fancy a cruise, all that delicious food onboard and not having to prepare any of it!

plus all the staff working hard to put on the Christmas magic! How blissful and festive

SockFluffInTheBath · 29/12/2025 18:21

NCfor24 · 28/12/2025 18:00

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!

How old are ‘the kids’? If they’re 18+ they don’t get to call the shots on your Christmas.

Zippidydoodah · 29/12/2025 18:21

Sorry @Franpie , I just saw your post re: Seville. Sounds amazing! Especially the sunlight and not getting dark so early.

SockFluffInTheBath · 29/12/2025 18:24

Florally · 28/12/2025 15:37

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?

How much did the ‘everyone’ who don’t want to go away actually do? Do they not see the point in spending money going away because they’re already getting serviced nicely as things are? You are allowed to enjoy Christmas too, and don’t have to throw your Christmas under the bus for the others. We’ve booked to go away next year to be far enough to not be able to jump to the snapping fingers. We wanted to go this year too but left it too late to find somewhere as nice as home.

Berlinlover · 29/12/2025 18:29

I stayed in a hotel 20 miles away from 24th to 27th December. They do a three night residency package every Christmas, it was great.

Judecb · 29/12/2025 18:29

We went to Amsterdam on the Eurostar this Christmas and stayed for 3 nights. Booked into a fabulous hotel for Christmas lunch (stayed in another as the place for lunch was eye-wateringly expensive!). The city is so festive, with lights everywhere, Christmas markets and lots of places to visit. I'd 100% recommend it.

godmum56 · 29/12/2025 18:30

Octavia64 · 28/12/2025 16:22

We did the Caribbean one year.

was lovely.

sadly mil chucked a tantrum about not having her whole family round her so only the once….

Why?

CharlotteStreetW1 · 29/12/2025 18:50

Franpie · 28/12/2025 17:23

We went to Seville. It seems that a lot of Spanish people go to Seville for Christmas. The streets were bustling with people all day, every day including Christmas Day.

The streets are all decorated beautifully. All the restaurants are very festive. Everyone is really celebrating and happy.

On Christmas Day we wandered around the beautiful streets and parks doing a bit of sight-seeing. We went into a few bars and cafe’s then we went for a lovely big lunch at a restaurant. In the evening we went and watched a Flamenca performance.

Everything is open as normal, unlike in the UK.

It was mid to late teens temperature and beautiful clear sunny skies.

Show quote history

Us too. It was lovely wasn't it? Perfect Christmas.

(Although it's normally warmer.)

Lambington · 29/12/2025 18:57

We're on the last night of a week long cruise. Havent lifted a finger all week including Xmas dinner. And we got a tan in the process. Highly recommend!

Missingpop · 29/12/2025 19:07

I’ve done everything for Christmas for the last 35 years; this year I’ve been really unwell; no shopping done; no tree up; no cards written but we went to each of our children’s on Christmas Day & Boxing Day & it was incredible so relaxing no cooking; no cleaning; no stress; I had the most relaxing Christmas ever & I loved it even though I relapsed on Christmas Day but tgat was a tiny protective able to watch our grandchildren opening their gifts & playing we were spoilt rotten I’d happily do it every year 😁

OhMaria2 · 29/12/2025 19:09

brightnails · 28/12/2025 15:49

we went away for Christmas last year for a white Christmas, it was a bit different to what you want in that we had a lovely Christmas breakfast out then free time then went to friends for dinner but it was a little bit strange doing it that way. I kind of wanted to be home with my dishwasher lol and wanted to really go to town cooking/baking….and being out visiting the very quiet snowy zoo on Christmas Eve also seemed a bit odd…. not having sellotape or scissors or anything was annoying…. I fully appreciate that it was a privilege tho. going away on St Stephen’s Day would be perfect tho not too early in morning so all cleaned up think.

Where did you go?

WarmGreyHare · 29/12/2025 19:12

Florally · 28/12/2025 15:37

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?

Who and what did your Christmas include?
Was it Christmas day or all the surrounding things?
I think there could be a compromise to leaving the country and just not seeing any of those people at Christmas. (And if you are thinking of taking them with you it would be £££)
Book somewhere to eat out on the day? Tell people you are having a quiet Christmas and not hosting at home?
What prep and organizing did you have to do?
Can you do less, eg if you normally go all out with the decorating then cut it back. Stick a wreath on the door and a Christmas tree with some lights and baubles and call it done?
Do a secret Santa/name in a hat deal between adults so you aren't buying an insane number of gifts?

Allthecolours55 · 29/12/2025 19:15

Q

OrSoItSeemsThatWay · 29/12/2025 19:17

Berlinlover · 29/12/2025 18:29

I stayed in a hotel 20 miles away from 24th to 27th December. They do a three night residency package every Christmas, it was great.

This sounds like a good option to me. I could go for a nice hotel in the UK, where I could wander downstairs and be served lovely meals, and then either have a cocktail in the bar and chat to people if I felt like it, or go upstairs and lounge in my room if not. Total relaxation.

incognitomummy · 29/12/2025 19:17

Dublassie · 29/12/2025 17:59

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 .

@Dublassie where did you stay? And who did you book it through?
And would you recommend it?

I’m considering a trip away next Christmas which will really be all about celebrating my birthday!!!
looking for inspiration

Franpie · 29/12/2025 19:17

HouseWithASeaView · 28/12/2025 19:07

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.

We did an Airbnb in Seville and it was perfect. I didn’t do any cooking at all as we ate out breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. All the restaurants and cafes are open as normal and no pre-booking required or pricey Christmas set menus.

We went with extended family including elderly grandparents and it worked well. We all had our own Airbnbs within a couple of streets of each other.

Highly recommend it.

FinallyHere · 29/12/2025 19:19

Anyone against your idea has clearly not been pulling their weight. What do they suggest for doing differently in future?

Franpie · 29/12/2025 19:19

Oh, and for presents, we had a fake Christmas morning with our kids before we left and agreed with extended family not to do presents this year as too much of a faff when going away. Although grandparents did give the kids some money when we were there to go shopping with.

incognitomummy · 29/12/2025 19:21

Muchtoomuchtodo · 28/12/2025 17:47

We were away this year in a catered French chalet .

absolutely brilliant and highly recommended!

Ooo @Muchtoomuchtodo where did you stay and who did you book it with?

very tempted by a catered chalet next Christmas. As it’s my birthday week as well!

looking for inspiration and your comment caught my eye!

SpiritOfEcstasy · 29/12/2025 19:22

I feel you OP. Booked this on Boxing Day for Dsis, DD15, DD17 and I. https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/H701/H701
We’re doing a secret Santa too … so very little gift stress either 😊