ideas for next year Christmas holiday please?

[triplets]

Hi,I say this every year but this time I mean it! Having spent a fortune and done nothing but work and have none of it appreciated by husband or kids, I am determined that next Christmas will be different. So does anyone have any ideas for a reasonably priced break, can be in this country, 3/4 nights, would just love to escape with a suitcase of clothes and a suitcase of presents, nothing more. Somewhere we can get out and do things, I ideally would love somewhere warm but probably my budget wouldn`t stretch to that. Have already looked at Centerparcs but far to expensive even for the cheapest lodge. Where has everyone been to this Christmas?

Well ,two years ago we were in Sri Lankawhich was lovely andcheap but obviously airfares for the five of you would be pretty hefty,so not an option I'm sure.

Problem is that Christmas automatically means massive price hikes.
What about something before or after,like one of those turkey 'n tinsel three day coach tour things?? It would be a hoot and your three would be fussed non stop!

What is your ideal budget? (Have no idea how much CenterParcs is at Christmas!)

running away.

after having fed endless people with 2 enormous turkeys, I can only think "never again".

How about one of these in Provence? You would have to drive there and back but price includes ferry crossing.

sorry but for me a "holiday" is when i don't have to work. I work harder during the holidays than i do during normal times & I bet 99.9% of mums would agree that having to do the same chores & cooking in an unfamiliar environment does not appeal.

I can't imagine a better place to spend Christmas than Castello di Casigliano in Umbria. It is a castle which has been converted into a series of apartments with a fantastic restaurant attached. I haven't had the good fortune to spend Christmas or new year there yet, but I know several people who have and it's brilliant and relatively inexpensive (Ryanair to Rome or Ancona = cheap, then hire a car).

That part of Italy isn't warm in the winter though!

Gosh I didnt expect such a quick response! Is it running away, I am sure I am not the only one who feels like this. It just seems to me that each year I work harder, spend more and more money and enjoy it less. I suppose being alot older than some of you Mums I feel as though I have been doing Christmas forever, been married 27 years so cooked 27 turkeys! Also I know I cant help but compare past Christmas`s, life is different, but it is all so very commercial and I just want a change, to see if nothing else what I am missing or what I have missed! Budget would be around £1000, if going somewhere abroad, we do get free ferry crossing still P&O,so thats a big help, if it were in this country for 3/4 nights probably would want to spend no more than £500. Of course if money were no object the world would be my oyster as they say!

you aren't the only one at all. I love the idea of going away for Christmas to somewhere that doesn't do the mass hysteria thing we do here

Hi, i have been talking to my family about doing this. we are talking about a villa in lanzerote or tenerife. i would go with my dh, ds1,ds2,dd1,dd2, mum, dad, sister, brother in law and 2 nephews. We all want to escape just to get some sun, and also cos we cant go out cos we have no babysitters, and not many restaraunts welcome kids at night times. i like to socialise with the kids.
if anyone ahs details of villas in the canaries i would be interested

Have a look here , dizzy

We are thinking the same and it's a good idea to book early so that you are definitely going and cannot change your mind to appease relatives..
what about the Alps - we are thinking Austria, a pretty chocolate-box Alpine village like Solden or St Anton, guaranteed masses of snow! Tobogganing in the middle of the night, mulled wine, cheesy Tirolean music, mountain air... it's not as expensive as Switzerland and France and you can drive.