I've never done it but would certainly consider it. My dad regularly spends christmas away either with work or on hols. Thinking about it, where's that brochure gone ............. !

Darren

Spent Christmas 2005 in Portugal and thoroughly enjoyed it.We managed,with the help of the internet, to find a local English language Christmas church service for Christmas Eve and enjoyed the Portuguese people's more traditional approach to the festive season.A stroll on the beach on Christmas morning was a great way to prepare for dinner and we even came home with a bit of a tan !! Highly recommended !!

1999/00, Gran Canaria, 2000/01, Dom.Republic, for xmas and new year. It's certainatly feels different, lovely sunshine instead of cold, miserable weather here, don't really miss anything. Only problem with doing it is, the cost Prices go up so much for this period

hi.all........my wife and i go away for christmas every year .
we have been on cruises,benidorm,costa brava plus others.
and we have enjoyed each and every one.....
regards.........j.d.........

I have only once to the Black Forest in Germany. For atmospheric, christmassy feel it was really lovely. However, we were quite young and took a coach trip and the other guests were all considerably older. Not too much of a problem though.

Best bit was we were located in a largish village (certainly not a town) and on Xmas eve the whole town congregated outside the village hall in the square to sing carols. It was beautiful. Then walk back down to the hotel for mulled wine in front of a roaring fire.

Been away a couple of times. Best one was definitely Florida. I remember walking around Sea World in 75 degrees on Christmas Eve thinking that it beats rushing around the supermarket buying all the food!

Been to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Florida for both Christmas and New Year - loved it

ooh, you lucky people ! I never get chance to spend christmas away as being a hairdresser its my busiest time of the year. One day though.......

Hi, we haven't been away for christmas ever, but, this year we are going out to Benidorm on 30th december for 6 days. One day we'll do christmas I hope.

Deb.

Spent last Christmas in Benidorm. Enjoyed the weather and escape from cooking. Did not go to the Gala Dinner in hotel as menu was unsuitable with no choice. Didn't feel much Christmas atmosphere about the New Town. Not a lot different from our usual holiday in November. Our enjoyment was probably tempered as we had attended my best friend's funeral the day before we left.
The previous year we spent Christmas in Aboyne between Ballater and Aberdeen. The scenery was magical, the hotel pulled out all the stops, there was a nice gift for all the guests. I would thoroughly recommend it.
Not away for Christmas this year but back to Benidorm from 19th to 23rd December. Just hoping the weather will give us a boost after being in the floods in October

We are doing it this year for the first time and going to the French pyrenees for a week.Admitidly we are staying with family but this will be the first time we have ever woken up anywhere on christmas morning other than home. My sister in law always invites us but we have always politely refused ,but this year hubby and I decided it would make a nice change from cooking dinner for 20 odd which I have done for the last 15 years without an offer from anyone else . We are a little unsure whether we have made the right decision and the children were not keen , especially having to wake up christmas morning to NO prezzies,but santa is going to deliver them a stocking in France if they behave my sister in law and hubby have also promised them plenty of skiing so they have come round to actually looking forward to it now

must admit we have never had any desire to go anywhere hot over christmas/new year but now our children are older I would love to hear if anyone has any ideas for Cold/snowy places with teenagers who can ski but 2 useless unfit parents that cant

lyn

Have spent 3 xmas&newyear in tenerife about 13year ago before my daughter was born we whent to purto de la cruz and it was brill met the same people evry year and we still keep in touch onces my daughter is older we will go again

Never been able to yet, my youngest daughter insist we spend xmas at home, I think its so she can get her xmas presents when we visit relatives.

One year, get away from all the visiting and being visited.

My neice is surprising her family with xmas in orlando, she is excited because it is her first time on a plane. She told the kids they are going to lanzarote. 6 kids she is going to have her hands full.

ok done christmas in tunisia and it was wonderfull,the tunisians realy made a big effort to help us guests celibrate.they even had 3 wise men and a camel in the hotel lobby.. how they got the camel through the doors still puzzles me to this day?????????

we have also spent christmas in tenerife and that was a total disaster..
the hotel did manage to get a tree up for the actual day but it was obvious they could not realy be bothered...

the best thing about going away for christmas is phoning home xmas day from the boiling hot sun to hear your family saying they are defrosting the car or digging the snow away from the path..

We are going away for Xmas for the first time this year. Going to the Madeira Centro in Benidorm. Got a real bargain with going DIY, only £330 each.

We have been away at New Year loads of times, but the flights were £100 more each so we plumped for Xmas.

luci

Did Christmas and New Yaer with French friends many years ago and then for Millenium went over again and stayed with other French friends. Raelly enjoyed it. having your Christmas dinner on Christmas eve instead of Christmas day!

Holidayed once in Austria over Christmas and to be honest it felt more chrismassy than the UK and much less commercialised - pity there was no snow though.

Would not want to go to a hot country for Xmas as it does not tie in with my expectations for the season (and prices are too silly anyway and places too busy). I've lived in a hot country over a number of CHristmas periods and its not quite the same.

We've been away loads of times at Christmas/New Year and when the lads were younger we usually went to Tenerife/Lanzarote"¦purely for the weather for the lads.
Now the lads are adults and there's just the two of us, we have been to Benidorm for Christmas/New Year for the last 5/6 years on the trot so you could say we like it .!

TBH, I go away to get away from the cold over-rated, over-priced, hyped up commercial Christmas in Britain and I'd rather be in Benidorm any day.
I get away from the routine dinner and everybody falling asleep watching the Wizard of Oz for the umpteenth time and the ultimate "let down" when the day is over and the sink is still piled high with dirty pots and pans.

People go to Spain and come back complaining that it isn't very Christmassy, well if you're expecting a booze filled party from dusk till dawn, then no it isn't, unless you're amongst British tourists.
While the Spanish are just as commercialised as us, they tend to celebrate Christmas for the true meaning and make it a low key until the 6th January (Three Kings Day) when the kiddies get their presents, although small presents may also be exchange on Christmas day.

Benidorm is a great place to spend Christmas and the Three Kings Parade/evening will beat any over priced freezing cold Hogmanay in Edinburgh "¦I've been there and done that too.

Where else could you have the sun, blue skies, the sea and be ice skating in a park all at the same time"¦and a great holiday/festive atmosphere.?
It beats staying in this poo hole of a country.

The only thing that will stop me from going away, is ill health or the lack of money or if someone produces a grandchild the chances of the latter two happening for the next few years are remote.

PS: Christmas in Benidorm is not expensive if you book it early, at the right time... Tenerife is a rip off and always has been, but we had better weather last year in Benidorm than the Canary Islands got..

Bring it on...I fly out early Christmas day

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Since our youngest was 9(and knew there was no santa ) we have spent every xmas and most new years away.
First with all 3 children to salou/benidorm in spain coach holidays or cheap teletext late deals
As the youngsters have flown the nest we now go to more exotic places Mexico Sri lanka and our favourite kenya with a 3 day safari Off to go Goa this Xmas and already booked for the maldives for xmas/newyear 2009
Last April we became a grandparents for the first time and my daughter is giving me the guilt trip how could we miss her first xmas