Spending Christmas alone in foreign country

[Clocksgobackautumngirl]

My partner and I have just separated, although we still live together and will be for at least the next six months until our house is sold.
It has totally broken my heart and it’s made worse knowing Christmas is coming and all the emotions that brings. His family are coming to our house - because we have the most space. I’m absolutely dreading it.
My family (who I’m very close to) say I should spend it with them but I can’t face being the spinster aunt around all my lovely nieces and nephews. I’m late 40s, don’t have any children.
I dream of going off by myself for the week over Xmas eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day to a hot country where I don’t have to listen to Last Christmas on repeat. It would honestly be like heaven for me right now.

1. AIBU to spend it away from my family who say they’ll just worry about me the whole time being abroad on my own?
2. has anyone done this and can you recommend somewhere hot and safe? Money isn’t really a big factor as I’m hoping to get a bit of equity from the house when it’s sold.

I did this a few times at a certain stage in my life and it was wonderful. Asia is a good place to get away from all the Christmas crap. I especially liked Thailand at Christmas, I bought myself loads of great stuff and was mainly by the pool or on the beach. Japan I enjoyed, it was really cold and I loved going to the hot spas in the mountains and the people are so kind and welcoming I didn't have a meal alone 💐 xx

You know where might be good. Boston

Did Christmas there once it was cold but crisp and a ton of things to do. And its the US and they like Christmas there

Wouldn't stick around to entertain your ex's family

OP, whilst not sure of your skill set or intrests, have you considered volunteering over the Christmas break rather than a holiday, where you may encounter countless other couples/ families celebrating? Volunteering could be in UK or abroad.

A recently single friend spent a week volunteering at a dog rescue last year in a warmer climate.

Another friend a widow, who finds Christmas with her adult children very difficult always books active group holidays. One year she took part in a 7 day group walk across Scotland staying nightly in fabulous hotels another was a sailing holiday learning to crew a yacht/ boat in the Med with another group of single folk. Another year she took an intensive residential (or may have stayed in a local hotel nearby) HGV course, purely for the challenge. She's senior management but likes to stretch herself. Last year she spent a week in Istanbul over the Christmas period and thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Anywhere in the UAE would work as would Oman. I went to the Seychelles one year for Chrsitmas, found a small B&B and had a lovely time. Non Chrsitmassy I've done an Ayerverdic break in Sri Lanka and a Detox in Thailand.

I often wonder what I'd do for xmas if (when) im single again

Definitely somewhere warm and non christmassy

You don't have to agree to his family coming to your house btw ... you live their too! You could host a Xmas with your family or friends.

But if not I think going away is the best thing you can do. What's your budget? I'd go for-

• a guided tour group to cuba
• lovley hotel with lots of spa treatments in Thailand
• yoga or diving retreat in Bali

Oman is a great shout, it's beautiful there. I'd maybe do a bit of a tour taking in Muscat (capital city), the Damaniyat islands, the empty quarter (desert camps), and Salalah in the south. Go up into the mountains, go snorkeling, go 'wadi bashing', and relax in the sunshine.

Yes, pretty much, I have and I am. I am also very experienced at traveling on my very own but yet I avoid it when I am feeling lonely because it just makes me feel worse. You shouldn’t escape loneliness into more loneliness.

Having said that, I found the traveling very beneficial when I was traveling with a group of strangers or joining a group of people for a prearranged activity for a few days like sailing with a group of new people, spending some time in Florence taking art classes with other people, or taking an off the beaten track tour with a small group of people. The thing that was beneficial was the “sense of community” in those trips even if all the people were new to me, I made good friends and had a good time but… sitting alone at a spa or by the pool when heartbroken I would not advise.