Want to get away for Xmas - any ideas?

cubegame

Would you consider travelling on Christmas day? The prices will be a fair bit lower.

kerrymay

cubegame wrote: »

Would you consider travelling on Christmas day? The prices will be a fair bit lower.

I'd prefer not to be travelling on Xmas day tbh. Kids are excited about being away around Xmas but they say they will miss the excitement of waking up Xmas morning to see what Santa has brought them. So i don't really want to spend it travelling, would rather actually be wherever with a couple of small gifts for them to wake up to. Or if needs must be back at home for Xmas morn. I appreciate what you're saying though, if it was just me and hubby would def do it. I know I could 'postpone' Xmas for a day or two but my 11 year old looked at me as though I was slightly insane when I suggested it earlier.

I think I may go with the Cologne idea 20-24 Dec, just waiting to hear from the apartment owner. Any other ideas in meantime gratefully received xx

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

One of the best things we ever did was take our kids (of a very similar age) to an apartment in a place called Samoens, in the French Alps, for christmas. It's a ski resort, but (the first time) we just went to escape the commercialism, and for the snow. We've been back twice- xmas here is no longer the same.

The apartment we rented was a home from home, and the owners are lovely. We had two bedrooms, bathroom, hallway, and large lounge/kitchen/diner- with everything you need, not a sparsely furnished place at all, for around £500 xmas week. The kids could open the door in the morning and spend all day in the garden, which is brilliant for sledging (I even did a run at midnight in my silky pj's!) making igloo's, and snowball fights. The town is 5 mins drive down the hill. There are a couple of restraunts within walking distance, and at the top of the garden, through a field, is the old bubble lift- you can get a day pass & go up onto the mountain for a walk around, more sledging, and a hot choc on the slopes

Samoens is the only ski resort listed as a "bourg historique" in France. It's a beautiful, working town. Bedecked with fairy lights, and with an outdoor ice skating rink (MUCH cheaper than the uk) from where you can watch the sunset turn the mountain peaks orange & pink...it's beautiful. If you're there on the right day, santa parascends in & hands out sweets to the kids. Just roaming around the streets & the market at night is lovely- there's a fantastic atmosphere.

It's a 10+ hour slog from Calais, but it was so worth it.

quids_in_2

We went to Brussels on xmas day as a day trip on a short break, coach holiday over the festive season. I was amazed that things were open, cafes, pubs and shops etc. they even had a large nativity scene in the square with lights on etc, completely different to what you might get here. Also there were ice skating altho I didn't see them on xmas day, just days leading up to it.