Christmas breaks

The leaves are turning golden which can only mean one thing
– Christmas is around the corner and for those who
don’t want to spend it at home with the big bird, it’s
time to plan the great escape. The possibilities of where to go and
what to do are endless – will it be a beach holiday in
far-flung climes, an action-packed adventure break with a
like-minded group, or a few romantic days tucked up in cosy UK
hotel?

Travel Weekly has come up with some of the best options for a
fun festive season, with or without the tinsel.

Where? Australia.

Why? It’s Christmas, but not as we know
it. With 30C sunshine virtually guaranteed, Australia celebrates
Yuletide with gusto. Trees are decorated and Father Christmas still
makes it Down Under, but a barbecue on the beach or picnic with
family and friends is the norm. In such a vast country
there’s plenty of choice, but for that true Christmas on the
beach experience Sydney’s Bondi Beach is not to be missed,
before perhaps heading into the Blue Mountains and to Uluru and
Cairns.

Sample product: Travel 2 features an opulent
14-day Australia in Style tour with three nights in Sydney
including helicopter and limousine tours, two nights in the Blue
Mountains, a tented safari at Uluru, a rainforest stay near Cairns
and two nights on Hayman Island. The tour costs from £2,380
for mid-December departures, excluding flights but including some
meals.

See also: Fregate Island, Seychelles, is the
ultimate Christmas beach hideaway. A 12-night break from December
17 costs £10,791 per person sharing a double villa, 
full-board, including flights and helicopter transfers with
Elite.

Where? Lanzarote, Canary Islands.

Why? Just over four hours away, Lanzarote
enjoys  year-round sunshine. Beautiful beaches stretch from the
sandy white variety in the north to black ones in the south. A good
resort for families is Playa Blanca, with safe, sheltered coves and
quality hotels to choose from. While there are plenty of authentic
Spanish restaurants, many ‘expat’ eateries will feature
traditional Christmas dinner. The islanders celebrate Christmas and
many hotels have festive programmes.

Sample product: First Choice features Holiday
Village Sun Tropical, Playa Blanca, for £459 per adult and
£399 per child for seven nights’ self-catering over
Christmas, including flights. With good facilities, including
kids’ clubs, there will be Christmas entertainment and
traditional lunch.

See also: in Cyprus the Christian spirit
manifests itself in numerous hotel festivities. Olympic Holidays
offers seven nights at the three-star Atlantica Hotel from
£2,734 for a family of six (four adults and two children)
half-board, including flights and based on a family and twin
room.

Where? The Lake District.

Why? Though snow isn’t guaranteed, many
hotels across the UK pull out all the stops to create a perfect
Christmas. Head to the Lake District for beautiful winter
countryside scenes and stay at the Lodore Falls Hotel, outside
Keswick, for a festive extravaganza. The hotel lies on the banks of
Lake Derwentwater, surrounded by woodland. Christmas Eve begins
with mulled wine and mince pies, followed by a candle-lit gala
dinner and a walk to the lakeside for roasted chestnuts and punch.
On Christmas Day visit Santa in his grotto before tucking into a
traditional Christmas lunch. On Boxing Day there’s a guided
launch trip around the lake and a gala dinner to round things
off.

Sample product: three nights at The Lodore
Falls Hotel, from December 24, with meals and entertainment, cost
£435 per person twin-share with Superbreak.

See also: the five-star London Marriott County
Hall, close to Westminster, will be in a festive mood with huge
Christmas tree and mince pies for guests on arrival. Accommodation
on Christmas Eve, breakfast and a gourmet turkey lunch, costs from
£198 per person.

Where? New York.

Why? New York and shopping go together like
peanut butter and jelly and, with the weak dollar, what better
place to stock up on Christmas pressies? With everything from
big-name department stores like Macy’s (the world’s
largest shop) to quirky boutiques, New York is a material
girl’s (and boy’s) dream. Chelsea is a good bet for
antiques and unusual bric-a-brac, while trendy SoHo is the place to
head for stylish home furnishings. The city sparkles with lights
and decorations at this time of year too, adding to the
ambience.

Sample product: Thomson features three nights
at the 2T plus Skyline hotel, near Times Square, for £419 per
person with flights, from December 12-18.

See also: for tax-free shopping in the sun head
to Dubai, just a six-hour flight away. Bargains include gold and
great-value electronic ware. Western and Oriental features four
nights at the One&Only Royal Mirage from £1,128 per
person, room-only, including flights.

Where? Sahara Desert, Morocco.

Why? To get away from it all head into the wild
Sahara. Explore Worldwide has a five-day Saharan Escape –
ideal for single travellers who may not want to be alone –
with no tinsel or turkey in sight. After a night in Ouarzazate, the
Jeeps head into the Southern Oasis Valley of Draa and across the
black rock of the Jebel Bani before pushing on to the M’Hazli
sand desert at Chegaga, with its huge golden sand dunes. Nights are
spent at desert camps with nature walks, an optional camel safari
and berber dinners.

Sample product: the trip departs on December 23
and costs £605 per person with flights, transport, four
nights’ accommodation, most meals and a tour guide.

See also: for those with more time, head to
South America on the 20-day Peru and Bolivia Explorer. Departing La
Paz on December 8, the four-day Inca Trail Trek is a highlight. The
trip costs £785 excluding flights, plus a kitty of around
£275.