Why not head away during the festive season for an extra special Christmas or New Year? With the catering and decorations in someone else’s hands, you can relax and make the most of your surroundings. All you need do is decide where to go…
For a traditional white Christmas, choose one of the hotels from our winter snow breaks programme. Whether you opt for the majesty of the Alps or the rugged beauty of the fells of Scandinavia, you can enjoy first-rate cross-country and downhill skiing away from the crowds, as well as scenic winter walking and snowshoeing, both great ways to appreciate the views. Back at the hotel, you can enjoy a celebratory dinner and traditional festivities (some hotels, such as the Inntaler Hof in Austria, Posthotel Lamm in Italy and Hotel Edelweiss in Switzerland, organise special programmes of events and excursions). Most hotels offer seven-night stays over Christmas and New Year; for a five-night Christmas break, choose the ever-popular Hotel Victoria in the Bernese Oberland, where we include a horse-drawn sleigh ride, guided torchlit stroll, traditional fondue evening and Christmas Eve gala dinner.
If you prefer sunnier climes, head to Tenerife, Mallorca, Andalucia, Alicante or Madeira, where we offer four-night breaks at some truly special hotels for New Year. As well as enjoying the lively southern celebrations – the perfect beginning to the year ahead – you can make use of the included hire car to explore the dramatic scenery and enjoy some rewarding walks using our route notes as a guide.
If you’re looking for something to get you in the Christmas spirit, then a break in Bruges is a good choice – the elegant streets are the setting for various markets throughout December. We also offer Advent breaks to Salzburg, which boasts the best Christmas markets in Europe, and the handsome Swiss city of Lucerne, from where you can enjoy a memorable journey by boat, cog railway and cable car (tickets included) across its eponymous lake and into the surrounding mountains. Finally, if you’ll already have done all your shopping by then and are looking to enjoy some cross-country skiing and a wide variety of other winter activities, we recommend the Ylläshumina Hotel – a short break in the snowy wilderness of Finnish Lapland is bound to get you in the mood for Christmas…