If you want to go away for Christmas there are probably three main types of break that are good for families with children. Briefly, you could describe these as: snow based, sun based and home based (I’m assuming home is the UK for you?)
Indeed, if you live in colder parts of the UK such as Scotland, you may not need to travel far to find snow – but you can’t guarantee it, and snow is much more likely after Christmas than before it, so if you are looking for that ‘winter wonderland’ experience you are better off going abroad. The ultimate Christmas experience for many children of course would be a trip to Lapland where Santa himself is traditionally supposed to live. You need to shop around for the best deals but a good place to start is here – they go from all-inclusive three day breaks to longer holidays, and of course this kind of holiday is completely geared to children.
Alternatively, for something that all the family can enjoy, how about going skiing or trying other winter sports? Switzerland is the classic place for this, but you can also look for breaks in France, Austria and other parts of Europe – if you put ‘bargain ski break’ in a search engine you get a good idea of what is on offer. Like the Santa option these holidays, even if you get a good deal, don’t come cheap, but a snowy holiday is a wonderful experience and if you or your children have never tried winter sports it’s a great opportunity.
The second way to go is the opposite – get away from the winter and head for the sunshine. Although almost everything costs more around Christmas, sunny destinations can be surprisingly cheap. Try websites like On the Beach.co.uk where you can find last minute deals, especially if you aren’t too worried about where you go. Do bear in mind though, that some of the cheaper destinations like the Canary Islands, while they will almost certainly be having better weather than the UK or northern Europe, are also having their winter and it could easily be cold and wet for the whole of your stay. If you really feel you need some winter sunshine and want to be sure of it, you will probably end up going much further afield – and that’s expensive again. A good alternative is often to opt for a city break in a southern European city, where you will probably get better weather and also find plenty to do if it’s inclement (though remember that almost anywhere in Europe, a lot of places will be closed over Christmas).
Or there is the third option – stay in the UK. While the weather isn’t likely to be much fun, you do have a wide range of options. If you have to think about your budget, it’s a good idea to look at specialised holiday centres like Butlins, Pontins or Centerparcs. These are all aimed at families and provide non-stop entertainment for children and adults alike, and prices are kept as low as possible .
Or if you’re looking for a bit more comfort, you could think about a hotel deal. If you’re able to wait until almost the last minute and are prepared to be a bit flexible, you can get some excellent bargains. The same applies to holiday apartments – some people like to have a family Christmas in new surroundings, but to look after themselves and do their own catering, and this can be a cheap option too. Lastminute.com is a good source of ideas for UK family breaks and much more besides.