Christmas holiday with kids cheaply

Dunroamin

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Youth Hostels?

That's what I was going to suggest. They do some excellent, reasonable priced house parties at Christmas which get excellnt reviews on Trip Advisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g754084-d563360-r91133266-Hartington_Hall_YHA-Hartington_Peak_District_National_Park_England.html

balletshoes

mrcow wrote: »

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.

I agree - Butlins would be as hyped-up as Christmas on speed wouldn't it?

OP I'd try a chilled Christmas at home first before you spend hundreds of pounds trying to "get away from it all".
If you have nice walks near you, do that on Christmas day, or have a PJ day at home on Christmas, no visitors, no phone calls, order in a Chinese, have a help-yourself buffet instead of a Christmas dinner.

Spendless

It's self catering! You can go buy and cook your own dinner and wander down by the beach by yourself if you want. No one forces you to wonder in the main part and do the hokey cokey if you don't want to!

It did give the OP a suggestion of an option that was around about her budget!

notanewuser

Spendless wrote: »

It's self catering! You can go buy and cook your own dinner and wander down by the beach by yourself if you want. No one forces you to wonder in the main part and do the hokey cokey if you don't want to!

It did give the OP a suggestion of an option that was around about her budget!

I'd much rather a cottage in snowy Scotland (hundreds of miles from family) than 4 nights in rainy Skeggy!

Spendless

notanewuser wrote: »

I'd much rather a cottage in snowy Scotland (hundreds of miles from family) than 4 nights in rainy Skeggy!

Maybe you would and maybe the OP would too, but unless people throw some suggestions at her she isn't going to be able to choose anything. If she knew and could find what she wanted she wouldn't have started the thread.

pigpen

We had similar issues.. a couple of years ago I banned Christmas day visitors and they had to decide when they did want to come and I would be hospitable etc.

We do family presents on Boxing Day and extended family presents on the 27th.. so the children are not overwhelmed by getting so much stuff on one day.

Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas eve .. and leftovers/cold meat and salad and sweets are eaten on Christmas day.

Much easier and less stressful than organising a few days away and carting presents etc with you..

notanewuser

pigpen wrote: »

We had similar issues.. a couple of years ago I banned Christmas day visitors and they had to decide when they did want to come and I would be hospitable etc.

We do family presents on Boxing Day and extended family presents on the 27th.. so the children are not overwhelmed by getting so much stuff on one day.

Christmas dinner is eaten on Christmas eve .. and leftovers/cold meat and salad and sweets are eaten on Christmas day.

Much easier and less stressful than organising a few days away and carting presents etc with you..

The OP says they wouldn't take presents. We certainly don't.

Octobergirl

Thank you all for your replies. The Youth Hostel / Scottish cottage really appeal, I shall look further into those, the hall Dunroamin suggested looks lovely.

As for the suggestion that were looking to make life easier.....yep, definitely. DD is disabled, requires 1-1 24/7, can't play, not interested in toys or entertain herself. she does love socialising and getting out exploring new places. Relaxing at home is really hard work and stressful for us ( as we found out last year) we need to be out doing and meeting people.

Some really good tips , thank you, I think we'll try a Pigpen style Christmas this year!

1886

It's June and you're thinking about Christmas already, get a life!

sillygoose

1886 wrote: »

It's June and you're thinking about Christmas already, get a life!

Your a lovely little piece aren't you?

Places at certain times get booked up early, reality! some of us have to get leave from work around other people hugely in advance so have to plan early, I am already looking for options for summer holidays 2014, thats just life in the grown up world.

Op - we always go away either Christmas or New Year, I think it works really well because at home there is always the temptation to do stuff at home or the usual activities. When we are away we are just a family enjoying stuff together an its the most precious time to me.

Renting a cottage is good, but you won't get a pool very often, there are some group cottages that have shared pools. Always the nearest leisure centre and usually lots of outside space. A good pub nearby is a bonus.

I can think of a few places but do you have any limits on where? Wales is a good option.