Has anyone gone to a hotel for Christmas and what was it like?

[MilkyWay]

We were invited to the inlaws (speculatively) back in the Summer for Christmas Day but they've obviously forgotten and told us now they have other plans. My mum's going to Austria with a friend and we descended on my sister last year. I really don't want to spend Christmas in the house. Lots of negative vibes here, having had a really bad year and so I thought about taking off somewhere for a couple of nights in a hotel with organised Christmas entertainment.

We have dd(2 tomorrow) and ds 12.

Anyone done it? What was it like? Is it worth the expense?

Have never done it MilkyWay so sorry, no insights here, but never really fancied the idea TBH. Seems a bit too impersonal to me. Not that I get off on getting up at 5.30 to shove a turkey in the oven only to stress about it for the next 5 hours and then deal with the mountains of washing up and hyper kids wanting to play mousetrap for the 5th tinme with DH pissed and snoring on the sofa. But at least its home

MW, are you thinking of U.K or abroad?

Sorry I haven't replied to your messages before but very busy coz of my 'orrible job!

We were thinking of a Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day - home again in the evening. I did look up some hotels and the prices are hideous so we've looked at local hotels. All seem very child "unfriendly".

Think we'll probably just buy the easiest to cook turkey, ready prepared veg etc etc and save on some of the hassle.

Did this a few Christmases ago. All the family decided to spend Christmas day at a nearby hotel. The hotel had quite a good reputation and we were really looking forward to it. BIG dissappointment though. The food was mass produced and not very nice. There was nowhere near enough of it either. The waitress was miserable (obviously not too chuffed at having to work on Christmas Day). It all went so badly we complained and got vouchers for a meal on another day. This didn't make up for the ruined Christmas though. The entertainment was geared towards elderly people and tbh I think they were the sort of guests they were expecting. This is my only experience however, and might not be the same for all hotels. I'm sure there are some lovely ones but do your research first as it's a lot of money to pay. I for one wouldn't do it again

thanks for that bonniej. I did a hotel Xmas lunch with ex hubby when we lived in Nottingham which was great (aimed at adults only though)and 4 years ago with the inlaws when I met dh. The 2nd was a disappintment but it was a reasonably priced meal and again no children.

I'd been looking at somewhere with childcare and children's entertainment and a magical atmosphere I guess but that loooks like it'd be about £1800 for a quality hotel and 3 nights.

Our local hotel is doing Xmas lunch but it's £120 a head (gulp).

Think it'll be a day at home after all.