christmas abroad - where's good

[Mousie]

i fear this will be too expensive for us - but would love two weeks abroad this christmas - any suggestions for sun and space for kids to run around. we are being evicted from home due to building works....
other kids a bit of a must (mine are 4 and 6 and fight perpetually - but great with others...)

Personally I can think of nothing better than a couple of weeks in the mountains. Lots of skiing, gluwein, hot tubs and a really Christmassy vibe. However, I don't think it'll come cheap.

ahhh now see Califrau - I am the opposite and associate hot summer days (and the beach) with Christmas.

I am still trying to adjust to the 'snowy' (well at least cold) winter thing at the festive time, and often find myself in the middle of summer - doing something simple like brushing my teeth etc - and feeling all Christmasy!

I would like to give that skiing Christmas a go though - sounds divine!

We did Mark Warner in Abu Soma Christmas before last - it was fab

We did Neilson in dahab last Christmas and it was fab in a different way

MW childcare was excellent - but nightlife nonexistant (only really watersports - no nearby town but it didn't matter)

Neilson childcare was excellent - but wasn't impressed with the poverty (DH went cycling, I went sailing, DD wasn't allowed to bike - your kids wouldn't either obv)

I am looking for somewhere to go too

thank you . will google mark warner now. all other advice much appreciated. i am incapable of independent thought now thanks to mumsnet...

We have been to Orlando, Florida for Christmas. It was great wearing shorts, vests and santa hats round the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day.

We did Sri Lanka (just got a flight and moved about as mood took us) one year,arriving on Christmas day.One of our best holidays ever.

katy mac - how old were your kids when you did abu soma?

sri lanka sounds lovely but I fear the flight and jet lag might be too horrific..

DD was

But as a childminder I was always on the lookout to see how they were doing the younger ages I was very impressed

Was fine Mousie.
DD was only 2 as well.

I haven't ever found long fights a problem really.We've just come back from Martinique in the West Indies with our two (2 and 6).

Hang on my 7 disappeared

DD was 7

Hi Mousie
We have been to Kenya at Christmas (2005) and to the Dominican Republic (2003). We had wonderful weather on both trips. This year we are going to Mexico but only for a week - we fly home on Christmas Day. You may find that flights flight availability is already quite limited for a lot of hot Christmas destinations though and, yes, it is horribly expensive especially if you stay over Christmas and New Year. Thailand, Sri Lanka and so on would be hot.
Speaking from experience of researching Christmas holidays abroad I would think that both the Dominican Republic and Kenya would be two of your 'cheaper' options for an All Inclusive deal with lots of kids activities and clubs. The DR, in particular, was awash with families and our children (who were 6 and 9 at the time) made loads of friends. The kids club was open in the evenings too so DH and I enjoyed a couple of meals together. . Hope you find something you can afford.

copycat - all very useful, thank you very much. hadn't thought of kenya - do you recommend anywhere in particular (kids clubs a big bonus....)

Hi Mousie
We stayed at Club Sun n Sand which did have a Kids Club although we didn't use it. We only went for a week and for two days we were away on a safari. To be honest although we had an amazing time I wouldn't go back to Kenya unless we were taking another safari (which was absolutely fantastic). The general standard of the hotels is not as high as in other places we have stayed and if you just want a hotel based week or two of sunshine and activities for the children (as we often do - especially when they were young like yours) then I wouldn't chose Kenya. We went for the safari as well as for the sun but our DSs were 8 and 11 so they really appreciated seeing the animals in the 'wild'. Having said that, the Kenyans are just wonderful and the staff at Club Sun n Sand were so friendly and helpful. The standard of food was excellent and the hotel was clean but not as luxurious as lots of others we have been privileged enough to stay at.

Have you decided on a budget or tried to price up any holidays online or spoken to a Travel Agent yet? Don't book anything without checking for hotel reviews on Tripadvisor and other review sites first though.

hi, tripadvisor great idea. am also thinking of thailand as my brother adored it there with his family... but long flight i imagine.. thanks for the info on kenya too..