Ideas for a short xmas break that includes Christmas Day

[alwayssleepy]

This year we would like to go away for a break with our 5 year old at Xmas. Please help me find something nice to do!

We are happy to travel somewhere that is anything under 4 hours flight (or it could be in the UK), and enjoy a fun break together which will include someone else cooking Xmas dinner on the big day.

We like:

Log fires
Posh dinners
Swimming pools (though not an essential for this holiday!)
Nature and wildlife
Fun sporty things

We like it very hot (we went to an AI in turkey this year for our summer holiday), we like snow (but actually only one of us snowboards), and last year we went to Centre Parcs just before Xmas and had a lovely time.

Our kid is an only child so enjoys the company of some other kids while he is on holiday, but is also quite happy going out to dinner with us. We don't need a play barn or soft play though.

We have considered Lapland and going to see santa, but I wasn't able to find a hotel that I really liked. It seemed like a lot of money to stay in a ski hotel that looked a bit like a youth hostel, but perhaps we have not found the right place to stay?

Also we are considering somewhere nice in Europe, with an xmas market and a lovely hotel xmas dinner.

Or maybe even a castle in the UK that does the whole Xmas thing?

Anyway, thanks for reading all my twaddle and has anyone gone away for Xmas and can recommend a short break?

I booked a New Year package a couple of years ago at The Druids Glen Resort near Dublin and had a great time, they also do Christmas packages. You could also investigate Scotland luxury hotels as you may get some snow there. I've been away for Christmas in the UK and in Europe (skiing and canaries) and prefer it here. If you hadn't already been to Centre parcs I would have suggested it.
Do you want it to be a few days mini break or more like a week long holiday?

Christmas markets are closing on Christmas Eve in Germany, you would have to travel around the 22 December or so to make the most of it. White Christmas is unusual nowadays you could have nice breaks. You could try Kinderhotels, most of them are in Bavaria or Austria.

If you want to ski then Research the average snow end of December. In lots of areas the real skiing only starts in January/February. We have friends from the French part of Switzerland and they often tell about green Christmas. Colleagues went last year to Austria, there was snow and they put the children into skiing school but said they were so tired that all went to bed very early.

Well I'm looking for 4-5 days, maybe a week. Scotland might be nice?

Not actually looking for a ski holiday.

Any more ideas?

How about Norway, with tobagining type activities?

Calcot manor or saunton sands hotels in uk

What about Centre Parcs? We've been over Christmas, the kids lived it.

What about Centre Parcs? We've been over Christmas, the kids loved it.

Calcot manor looks great! I like Saunton Sands too as it has a kids party Xmas eve, which sounds nice.

And recommendations for hotels in Norway?

We went to CP for Xmas last year, but I agree it is rather fab.