Christmas holiday with kids cheaply

Octobergirl

I hated the commercial, hugely hyped Christmas that we had last year, which resulted in overwrought, tired, whingy kids (4 & 8). so, this year we have agreed on a small present each and a 'get away'. ( they'll still get stockings and relatives presents).

I'm struggling to find anything within my £500 budget. I'm looking for the Christmas feel, decorations, walks, pool, not fussed about traditional dinner. whilst i love christmas markets, they're not much fun for the kids. centre parcs and forest holidays are out of our budget.

Does anyone have any experiences or ideas?

Moomum

We went to shorefields in new Milton in the new forest a few years ago, we cooked our own dinner in the lodge but was lovely to go to the forest for a walk on Xmas day etc

pukkamum

Why not just change the way you do Christmas and avoid the same scenario, our Christmases used to be really hectic, visiting relatives having people over ect.
Then I realised that I wasn't enjoying it at all and neither were the kids and dh.
So for the past 2 yrs we have done exactly as we pleased, staying at home on our own all Christmas day doing whatever we wanted and it has been wonderful.
It caused some upset with other family members but i put my foot down and boy was it worth it.

mountainofdebt

Tbh for a budget of £500 you're going to struggle - I would imagine alot of places would expect a week's stay

For a couple of years now we've had a chilled out Christmas with an 'alternative' christmas dinner and none of us are stressed at all

joeblack066

Butlitz? Could be good for the ages?

Yorkie1

Youth Hostels?

notanewuser

We've hired houses for Christmases away several times. A 2 bed place in the wilds of Scotland will be around £500 for the week.

You still have food costs etc on top, but we've had some brilliant Christmases away.

Treevo

Are you doing this to make your life easier because I'm not really seeing what your children would get out of it? And shouldn't they be the focus at their ages?

Spendless

4 night Mon-Fri break from 23 Dec -27 Dec staying at Butlins Skegness in standard apartment at £522.

https://www.butlins.com/sw/BSearchCategory.do?extId=A141E670000013F6B88AF33000101C5&r=consumer

Own_My_Own

Spendless wrote: »

4 night Mon-Fri break from 23 Dec -27 Dec staying at Butlins Skegness in standard apartment at £522.

https://www.butlins.com/sw/BSearchCategory.do?extId=A141E670000013F6B88AF33000101C5&r=consumer

Link times out .
Here is their homepage.

http://www.butlins.com/where-to-stay-dine-and-play/our-resorts/skegness/#

mrcow

Spendless wrote: »

4 night Mon-Fri break from 23 Dec -27 Dec staying at Butlins Skegness in standard apartment at £522.

https://www.butlins.com/sw/BSearchCategory.do?extId=A141E670000013F6B88AF33000101C5&r=consumer

Sounds like hell on Earth. You're not going to get away from all the commercial hype there!

I agree with the above posters - make Christmas at home what you want it to be. And then make that your tradition. It's cheaper in the long run too.