Help! Need to be away at Xmas

[Xmas25]

Toxic family member has announced they are coming to stay with relative nearby for Xmas. They ruined last Xmas DH and I really want to avoid their drama this year.we will have teen son, back from college and his 18th birthday.
has anyone any hotel/ destination recommendations for us to escape to? Budget small ish as this was unexpected. But may well be worth chucking some savings at it, help! We are in Edinburgh and can fly.

Canary Islands?

Malaga. Plenty of flights and the Christmas lights will still be up.

Would you consider house-swapping? There are a few Facebook groups for that, and I would imagine Edinburgh would be popular.

It’s a shame you feel you have to leave home because of this toxic family and at extra cost to yourselves.

Is there any way you can just ignore them ? Refuse to engage with them ?

Airbnb in uk as an option though.

Or for a holiday,somewhere warm. Madeira is subtropical but can get quite a bit of rain.
Feuteventura and Lanzarote are the warmest and driest Canary island for that time of year.

Agadir, Morocco.

Seville? Mild weather, great prices, beautiful city, lovely Christmas things to do.

would they know you’re still there? Tell them you’re away and enjoy the peace.

what sort of things do you like? We went to north Devon last year long walks and cosy pubs.

as you’re only Edinburgh which I’d love to do for Christmas. What about an Airbnb in the cairngorms for some skiing

If you are considering throwing savings at it then look at Mexico. Often not much more than Europe price wise but so much warmer and beautiful.

Drive to St Andrews or gleneagles, your budget will
go much further without flights and travel

Haven do Christmas breaks, we went on one about 12 years ago now mind but it was lovely, you get a cabin, Christmas lunch was pretty good and they done a foods of the world buffet on boxing day when we went, kids did sleding on the dry slope at the park which was fun activity Christmas day xx

I would look for a nice lodge/cabin where you can go on walks or just hang out. Bring some small decorations unless the host states that they decorate.

Food from Cook to make it easy on Christmas Day.

Or see if any hotel has some packages, some have spas and/or pools.

Most short flight destinations aren't really that great weatherwise or look into Scandinavia, they may be the most snow secure ones.

Go skiing (or to a winter resort in the Alps). Christmas is not the busiest week and there are often good deals available from the Tour Operators.

The atmosphere is always great - families enjoying the snow - and getting away from the inevitable "turkey, tinsel and Tesco" is well worth considering. Even if you don't ski, there are hotels with spas, pools and "wellness" areas, snow-shoe walks, horse-drawn sleigh rides, tobogganing, cosy mountain restaurants with stunning views ...

what sort of thing are you wanting......traditional sort of Xmas but not in your home, activities (it's ok suggesting skiing but if you're already skiers it's a lot of money to spend on something you might not enjoy), a beach holiday in sunshine, totally escape Xmas all together and go to somewhere like the middle east or north africa??

How about London?

Christmas lights, winter wonderland events, decent pantomime, Xmas lunch in a nice restaurant etc…

We are doing this for the first time this year. Excited! We do not plan to ski, just soak up the vibe for a few days.

Do a city break - most European capitals are great at Christmas, and usually everything is open. My best ever Christmas Day was spent in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Canary islands for winter sun, cheaper to book your own flight and hotel than to book a package. Flying on Christmas day itself is particularly cheap.

We're doing this with an Easyjet package - £500 each.

Southern Spain or Canary Islands lovely and warm at Xmas and a relatively short flight.

North of England? I’d go to Scarborough. The fireworks on New Year’s Eve on the beach are stunning.

We’re going away this Christmas for the first time it hasn’t gone down well with my mother in law but tough . I’m sick of the same shit every year and we just want a change , life is too short for feeling obligated to people every year . We’ve always wanted to go away for Christmas but never did it is very expensive so we’re hoping it’s worth it
we’re going to Tenerife

My suggestion would be a self catering place as you could cater for yourselves and have a few meals out if you wanted. I hope you have a lovely time wherever you go to.

Gran Canaria would be perfect but it's peak, peak season. Have a look at Las Palmas, Puerto Rico ( Marina Suites or Bayview) or the the nicest bit Puerto Morgan. They trend is for apartholels so your own cooking facilities and more space but room cleaning and bRs and restaurants like normal hotels.

Barcelona is fab too. Christmasy but not crazy as their main celebration is the 6th Jan. Hotels tend to be of a good standard. I stay at the H 1898 every January as it's got an amazing indoor pool but you'd be looking at 2 rooms.

We spent Christmas in Prague last year and it was wonderful. Very festive. Things (some tourist attractions and shops) were open on Christmas Day and public transport was running too. It was lovely.

Thank you! What a brilliant lot you are with great ideas, I’d never have thought if these. DH is now doing his usual and backing out ( he does this every holiday) so what was 3 days will probably becomes a lunch at ours and he throws every excuse under the sun at me. Currently his dad will miss out, and it will cost money. I am a bit fed up and bored too if I’m honest. Is that fair!? Our two week holiday got reduced to one week because.. I paid the summer holiday out of my inheritance. I’ve already put the rest in the joint account to do up the house. I’m a bit fed up, every year I’ve wanted to go away, we never do.