Special Christmas treat for family - suggestions?

Seanymph

Not lapland - I've been, and we paid a LOT and spend five days there but during our trip saw day trippers and people with cheaper companies and it was awful.

Some of them would have got a better quality experience popping down to the grotto at debehams.

Why not buy the tickets at christmas but do it later on? So they have something to look forward to and you can then save up a bit more for spendies.

Mine love alton towers - drayton manor is brilliant........ we Youth Hostel which is an experience all to itself and you can stay in some brilliant places combine it with perhaps a theatre trip? Or boat ride somewhere?

A balloon trip or helicopter ride?

Buy a family tent and take yourselves away for a week next summer (they can unwrap the tent at christmas).

What would your children love? Mine are theme park fiends - love caving and adventureness...... as old as they are now (16, 17 and 18!) I took them camping for two weeks this summer and they did surfing, horse riding, coasteering, zorbing, a theme park.

I wouldnt though do anything for christmas, because christmas is brilliant anyway, and they'd miss something by going. I'd hand over a tent or tickets or flights or whatever and then actually DO it later in the year - perhaps on the anniversary of your giving up?

My best trip ever with my girls was to Rome - flights from Stansted were cheap as chips (we flew midweek) - we stayed at the most wonderful rooms near the station (Welrome Hotel!) - which were cheap for Rome - and spent a week on the buses and trains there - it's brilliant for kids as well as adults - it will give them fantastic memories and you'll be surprised as they grow up how many times Rome features in films, on the tv in documentaries (and in their schoolwork!)......... every time they see it they remember and talk about it.

I like the Disney idea - and you'll love it - but for me, with that money, we'd be off to Rome to explore for a week in May - but I'd give them the flights for Christmas and start talking to them and building the excitement about the sights (the Capuchin Monks Crypt is guaranteed to get any child shuddery)....

Spendless

JodyBPM wrote: »

Would ideally like to keep it a surprise for DH and the children, and if its a trip/activity for it to be something that could be done during the school christmas holidays.

When do your children break up? That might dictate what you do. Mine break up very late this year on Fri 21 Dec, so the 1st day of their school hols is Xmas Eve. Mine would also be back earlier this year on Thurs 3rd Jan, if it wasn't for 2 teacher training days on the 4th and 5th. And for us to do something then, we'd need to take AL into account as hubby's only starts again from Jan 2nd and we'd be using days up straight away

I've been to Disneyland Paris shortly before Xmas and the place was mobbed, DS was 6 and managed to get on 1 or 2 rides and that was it. We always DIY it, by stopping in self catering accommodation and driving, so would come in within budget, but depends on what you prefer.

I do like all the suggestion you've been given. Though I also wondered if the kids would be bored of a Xmas Market. Depends on what else is there, we have done this as an adult thing for several years, and last year 1 place had a big wheel and another an outdoor skating rink and me and a friend did a horse drawn carriage ride. We've also taken the kids before and there were some fairground rides and live animals at a nativity scene - but that was the hol we combined with the Disney trip.

Depending on how the school hols work out and what you intend to do, I might also go for telling/presenting them with the treat on Christmas Day for something to go on later in the year.

FatVonD

JodyBPM wrote: »

Unfortunely I think Lapland comes in at around £2-2.5K for a day trip!!!!! Admittedly that's just from initial googling and I'm sure as a good MSEr that I could get it cheaper, but unlikely to get it within a £1K budget.

I do like the idea of a Christmas market, either in the UK or abroad. We live in the South East, near Gatwick airport, so travel is fairly easy. Wondering if the children are old enough yet to get something out of a city break abroad?

Since you're down this way, there is always an ice rink in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace during the Christmas holdays and then, just down the road from there, Sandown Park racecourse are staging a Christmas Wonderland event.

loubie1

Well done :j

I will go with the rest and say Disneyland Paris, we went last year in Dec for 3 nights and it was fantastic !

If you are willing to drive, we did and it's very easy. I had a quick look and you can go on the 20th dec for 3 nights staying at Davey Crockett for under £600 ( 40%off plus kids under 7 go free ).

Have fun whatever you decide.

Louise

FatVonD

zippybungle wrote: »

How about going to the 'Santa sleepover' at Alton towers? (look on the website for full info). Basically you stay for 1 night in the hotel, get to go on the kids rides, entry to the waterpark, xmas dinner, breakfast and see the real santa, his reindeers and the elves.

The hotel is decorated lovely. I've been every year for the last 6 years

This sounds nice. I stayed at Alton Towers Hotel a couple of weekends ago and I've also stayed at Disneyland Paris and Alton Towers was waaaaaaay better. I found the Disneyland Paris hotel really impersonal whereas the staff at Alton Towers Hotel couldn't do enough for us.

Seanymph

FVD I have a wonderful memory of my daughter taking her newly purchased cuddly orangutang (sp?) to dinner at the hotel at the end of the day and the staff put him into a high chair and fed him dinner!

I agree, AT staff couldn't do enough for the children - picky eaters were accomodated, smiles were compulsory and like I say, they feed stuffed animals.

74jax

JodyBPM wrote: »

I gave up smoking a while back, and ever since have been transferring over into a savings account the amount I used to spend on smoking. It all adds up, and by Christmas I will have over £1K saved.
WOW:jWOW:jWOW
I'd like to spend that money on a surprise special treat for the family this Christmas, to say thank you to them for supporting me through some of my crankier days (hopefully all well in the past now!)I think that is absolutely amazing!

Any suggestions? I'm happy to spend up to the whole £1K, but if I do, I'd want it to be something pretty special that will be remembered.

JodyBPM wrote: »

I think a panto is a lovely idea. Only thing is that we take the children to a panto most years anyway, so it won't be a one off big treat iyswim, (although a treat none the less of course).

I'm quite happy to spend the whole £1K, we have plenty of other money in savings anyway, this is just different as its *my* savings rather than *family* savings, and its almost a bit of a bonus as its money I've saved from quitting smoking. I think you are totally right to see *this* saving (from smoking) as different. You have kids and stopping smoking (I'm guessing they were an incentive) is a true dedication and so spending what you would have spent on this (bad) habit on something good for all of you would be truely fantastic :j. The fact you want to thank them for supporting you is lovely.

I really just want it to be a wonderful surprise for everyone. I don't think that DH has really realised that I've squirrelled this all away, and how quickly it has added up. Obviously he knew how much smoking cost, and that I have that extra money now, but he just told me to treat myself to stuff (think he's just so pleased that I've given up that he'd be quite happy for me to be buying diamond shoes or snacking on caviar as long as I don't take up smoking again!) But tbh I don't really want for much, and I'd far rather treat the family to something Aw, even if we can't help you with what you plan, please come back and update us! This is lovely and set me up for my weekend!...

When do your kids break up? Do you have a centreparks near you? They do special Christmas breaks and are a lovely way of getting the family together.

Altontowers/Legoland would be good, I know you see it as not 'that much' of a treat but seriously, you've saved this from stopping smoking. They no nothing of this money - I recon whatever you do would be fantastic.

What about a trip to Cadbury World for Christmas with a stop off at the safari?

kj*daisy

Centerparcs do breaks at Christmas where you don't have to do the usual weekend or weekday breaks, you can just go for a couple of nights. They decorate the parks with lights and some snow and have Santa there etc. friends of ours always go then, and few times recently it's been snowy there as well and they say it magical. If we had the money that's what I'd do as a Christmas treat.

I've just had a quick look and you can do 2 nights 2-4 jan for £300 ish!

JodyBPM

Guys, thank you for so many fab ideas!

I'm trying to look up the various website etc, but its a bit hard over the weekend as I don't want to ruin the surprise by DH or the children looking over my shoulder whilst I'm doing it.

Will report back when I've made a decision! It's a fun thing to be researching!

tesuhoha

You could take them to see Cirque du Soleil at the Albert Hall in January. It won't cost you £1,000 but looks like a really lovely experience.

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/kooza/show/about.aspx

https://tickets.cirquedusoleil.com/zope/webshop/walkin?channel=8&seriesCode=KOOLDN&language=en&lfMix=CDSGP&promoCode=PUBLIC

You could also take them to see The Hobbit which is supposed to be released at Christmas. They would still then have a traditional Christmas with treats thrown in.