Away for christmas - bah humbug

maggiesoop

It's started!! Mincemeat pies spotted in Tesco yesterday has got us thinking about the dreaded C word.

We're thoroughly sick of the annual 12 week of the run up to "the" day and the horrendous consumerism that goes hand in hand with it.

We'd really like to get away from it all between 24Dec - 3 Jan but we're at a loss to know which countries "don't do" Christmas.

Not keen any Muslim countries and we've not got an unlimited budget but can anyone suggest somewhere it may be warm & sunny and not have the sound of jingle bells?

daveyjp

There are plenty of places which still do Christmas 'properly'. A few years ago we went to Madeira for Christmas and it was everything we wanted - a few lights in the streets of Funchal, but no commercialism. New Year is supposed to be amazing.

We have also been to Sharm and Christmas was just a tree in the hotel reception.

Bob_the_Saver

maggiesoop wrote: »

It's started!! Mincemeat pies spotted in Tesco yesterday has got us thinking about the dreaded C word.

We're thoroughly sick of the annual 12 week of the run up to "the" day and the horrendous consumerism that goes hand in hand with it.

We'd really like to get away from it all between 24Dec - 3 Jan but we're at a loss to know which countries "don't do" Christmas.

Not keen any Muslim countries and we've not got an unlimited budget but can anyone suggest somewhere it may be warm & sunny and not have the sound of jingle bells?

Almost everywhere does something Xmassy (is that a word) but often it only lasts 24 hours. Vietnam, Cambodia there is no escape unless you get right into the wilds. HOWEVER unlike stupid shopping obsessed Britain most places don't go over the top starting in July.
As you've ruled out Turkey most of North Africa and large parts of Asia you're not left with much. Singapore, USA, Hong Kong all do Christmas. You wouldn't like Goa at Christmas (trust me). Obviously Malaysia is a Muslim country but what about Penang? or the less touristy parts of Thailand.

DollyDabbler

We went skiing in Germany over Christmas, there was no great commercialism too it, the village we stayed in was snowy with a tree and a few lights, but nothing like over here. It kind of restored Christmas to how it should be.

Bob_the_Saver

DollyDabbler wrote: »

We went skiing in Germany over Christmas, there was no great commercialism too it, the village we stayed in was snowy with a tree and a few lights, but nothing like over here. It kind of restored Christmas to how it should be.

Sounds good but the OP did mention warm & sunny :cool:

Katiehound

You haven't mentioned a budget! but although it is winter parts of South Africa will be hotter than a summer day in UK! Spent Christmas & New Year there many years ago and it was very strange (but memorable) cooked dinner in evening and sitting round the pool in the middle of the day. Also spent one Christmas in Botswana- probably even hotter

richardw

Have been in Thailand and it wasn't christmassy at all.

littlereddevil

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Almost everywhere does something Xmassy (is that a word) but often it only lasts 24 hours. Vietnam, Cambodia there is no escape unless you get right into the wilds. HOWEVER unlike stupid shopping obsessed Britain most places don't go over the top starting in July.
As you've ruled out Turkey most of North Africa and large parts of Asia you're not left with much. Singapore, USA, Hong Kong all do Christmas. You wouldn't like Goa at Christmas (trust me). Obviously Malaysia is a Muslim country but what about Penang? or the less touristy parts of Thailand.

The few times I have been to Penang at Christmas it was very Christmassy. I also did in fact like Goa the few times we were there at Christmas. I always stick to the muslim countries now being a right bah humbug!

claire16c

I was in Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam last christmas as I was travelling. Its not a holiday there, so although the hotel workers put on a lovely meal and party for everyone staying there, they did it on Xmas eve not the day. Christmas day itself was pretty much business as usual and we did a trip to the cu chi tunnels that day. It was about 30C.

The northern parts of Vietnam were cooler, but in Da Nang which is about half way down we managed to get to the beach. Think it was about 24C but cloudy.

It didnt feel Christmassy there other than the fact that the hotel staff went to so much effort, put nice decorations up and all the uk travellers were on skype in the reception to their families at home.

Bob_the_Saver

Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam a couple of Xmas ago 200 million (or might have been 300 million) mopeds with riders wearing Santa hats and yes Xmas eve rather than the day and the hotel really made us feel so welcome. Would suggest you go there anyway. For Xmas dinner on the way to the zoo I had the choice of noodles with pigs fallopian tubes or noodles with cockerel b*lls - I had mixed noodles :eek: Mrs Bob the Saver had a glass of water.

lollipopsarah

Funnily enough I met a lovely lady at work today (xmas trees coming out tomorrow - spits!), who was telling me how wonderfull it is in Spain at christmas.
Traditional christmas - i.e. December only in the shops with wonderfull displays in shops and street displays.
I believe it's supposed to be really good in europe too, but expensive and not too warm.
I hope you find something you like.
xx