Help me narrow down family trip over Christmas

[olivelime]

For various reasons we're looking to escape the UK over Christmas this year - me and DH, kids aged 8, 11 and 13. I imagine we're looking for self-catering as DD13 will no longer share a bedroom, so we need 3 bedrooms. Plus I think we'd probably still want to do a trad xmas dinner on the day to make it feel like Christmas. I'm not tied to any particular type of holiday other than that. Except we're likely going to see the Northern Lights next year for DH's 50, so maybe not Scandinavia.

Budget prob max 5k, for travel and accommodation. Would obviously like to spend less!

I'm wondering about skiing somewhere - we're not skiiers but the kids would like to learn and snow at Christmas would be magical. But I'm so bamboozled by ski trips and all the options etc when I look online and I don't know where would suit beginners + a total non-skiier best. I think if we're there for a week the kids might only do 3/4 days of lessons. I would want a nice spa to go to instead of ski.

Or alternatively a city break somewhere that might feel very festive - Belgium, Budapest, Vienna? I like grand churches and old swimming pools - bit niche I know. But not sure if there would be enough to fill a week and I imagine some things will be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day?

A few activities for the kids would be great - not necessarily Disney-size, but small theme park, or toboggans or waterparks. Maybe shopping for the tween/teens. Or unique experiences you can't get in the UK.

I'm flailing with all the choice! Has anyone been anywhere over Xmas would work?

Flights and accommodation are massively hiked up over Christmas….not sure 5k will do it unless you going somewhere cheaper and a less popular…..we like Poznan in Poland ….flights were cheap and so was Airbnb …..but if you looking at Budapest, Vienna then very unlikely on your budget

Vienna is great at Christmas. Most things close at lunch on Xmas Eve, and reopen 24 hours later on 25th - I have great memories of visiting a gallery there on Christmas Day!

There may not be enough for a family to fill a week, but if you go before 24th there is also a huge Xmas market. Also, there are decent trains, so you may be able to do trips out of the city.
And New Year is a big deal in Vienna, if that helps.

Budapest?

I was looking at Seville at Christmas seemed good value.

How about Madeira. There’s loads to do. Lights and new year fireworks are great. Stay on Funchal though as it’ll be too quiet elsewhere. Temp should be nice and mild as it’s subtropical. Lots of things to do including the cable car up to Monte Palace Gardens.

Don’t go ski-ing.

it is a holiday but learning to ski is a very physical thing to do. It leaves you pretty tired and you need to buy a reasonable amount of clothes - thermals, etc to do it.

as beginners you get very tired very fast. It’s not magical the fourth time you’ve fallen over in snow.

consider ski-ing if you want to ski but don’t go for Christmas.

OP, I think you’re trying to combine too many ideals into one trip, especially at Christmas at your budget.

Instead of 3 bedrooms, could it be 2 hotel rooms - you share with DD13?
That would open up cities like Berlin, actually, before all that, have you looked on Airbnb’s site , as a starter, and got any idea of prices at Christmas?

Funny, I've had Poznan in Poland recommended before! I'll check that out. And Madeira - that wouldn't be an obvious choice for me but worth a look.

We've got family in Seville (but don't want to have to visit lol) so might leave that for another trip - although I've been before and its absolutely gorgeous.

I would absolutely love to go to Budapest, and Vienna. But looking more at all the stuff I'd like to do there, I'd probably enjoy them more as a weekend break just with husband (I wish!). SO that has whittled things down for me.

Noted on the skiing - I think I agree, making it the main focus would put a bit of pressure on and make it possibly an expensive and stressful Christmas if the kids got bored after a couple of hours.

I think I've settled on an airbnb in the Pyrenees. Even if there isn't snow it will feel festive and wintery. Cauterets looks beautiful for a mooch, there are grottos (with little trains and boats) to visit, an animal park with bears, a mountain luge, Lourdes which I've always wanted to visit, a couple of gorgeous looking spas, we can fly in and out of Toulouse which also has a couple of fun and quirky attractions. If there is snow there's a beginners ski school we can try out to get a taster, but it need not be the main attraction or rely on it. And accom + flights + car hire works out within budget. Sorted. I think?