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Short Breaks

It is astonishing how much you can pack into a long weekend. Fly to the Arctic to experience the heart of winter and to seek out the Northern Lights, or head to the Alps or central Norway, where you can fill your days skiing, relaxing in the comfort of our high-quality hotels or enjoying the Christmas markets. Whichever you choose, you are sure to return home feeling fully refreshed.

Kandersteg, Switzerland

• choice of activities • welcoming hotel with pool • charming village

There are many activities to try on a long weekend at the 3-star Hotel Victoria in Kandersteg: cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, winter walking, snow-shoeing, curling, ice-skating and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Equally, with its pretty main street and splendid mountain backdrop, Kandersteg is a place where you can simply enjoy the magic of winter, making it a good choice if you have never been on a winter holiday and want to see if it’s for you. The hotel’s good-sized indoor pool makes the most of the views, and there are several public rooms where you can curl up with a book before a dinner of delicious cuisine, but the hotel’s best feature is the warm hospitality of hosts Casi and Mimi Platzer, who will help you enjoy your break to the full.
We also offer five-night breaks over Christmas, a very special time at the hotel.

Nights: 3
Meals: dinner & breakfast each day
Start: any day
Included travel: British Airways Heathrow-Zurich (1h45) (out dep 0850, home arr 1740), connecting journey by rail (3h) & transfer (0h05)

Sjusjøen, Norway

• fantastic cross-country skiing for all • intimate hotel with great food

Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced skier, for a break devoted almost entirely to cross-country skiing, choose the Rustad Hotel in Sjusjøen. With its sheltered terrain, good choice of easy tracks, and resident British ski instructor, Sjusjøen is a great place to try out cross-country skiing for the first time, but also thrills more advanced skiers with its vast network of very scenic trails. The tranquillity and splendour of the mountains is instantly relaxing, as is the cosy atmosphere of the Rustad Hotel with its log-cabin-style lounges. Choose between the well-appointed, comfortable rooms in the main building or the smaller twin-bedded rooms in the original wing (the ‘Fjellstue’) just 50 metres away.

Prices 2009

Nights: 3
Meals: dinner, breakfast & lunch pack each day
Start: any day
Extras: free use of cross-country trails
Included travel: SAS Heathrow-Oslo (2h10) (out dep 1020, home arr 1830) & connecting journey by rail (1h50) & transfer (0h30)

Ylläs, Finland

• wide range of activities • good chance of seeing Northern Lights

Lapland is a truly special part of the world and at no time more so than at Christmas. This is, after all, the land of reindeer and Father Christmas. With such a wide range of unique activities on offer, festive breaks at the Ylläshumina Hotel are always memorable. Try your hand at some of the more unusual activities such as reindeer sledding or ice-fishing, or make the most of the first-rate skiing - the cross-country domain here is extensive, with something for everyone, and there is also some good-fun downhill skiing for beginners and families. Though the hotel’s saunas and bar are very inviting at the end of an active day, be sure to pop outside once or twice - weather permitting - as a sighting of the spectacular Northern Lights will make your Christmas break all the more special.

Nights: 3 or 4 nights
Meals: dinner & breakfast every day
Start: Sunday (3 nights) or Wednesday (4 nights)
Extras: free use of cross-country trails
Included travel: Gatwick-Kittilä (3h30) (out dep 0755, home arr 1700) & connecting transfer (0h50)

Lucerne's Christmas Market

• romantic ambience • thrilling mountain journey

To get into the Christmas spirit, head to the handsome Swiss city of Lucerne this December and experience the unique - and very romantic - atmosphere. Pretty decorations hang from the historic buildings, many of the boutiques - particularly the toy shops - mount themed window displays, and a daily Christmas market is held in addition to the normal weekly food and craft markets. You stay in the Old Town at the atmospheric 4-star Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann, where you are treated on one night to a sumptuous four-course dinner. Part of Lucerne’s charm is its splendid location by the lake of the same name, and we include tickets for a wonderful journey by boat, cog railway and cable car into the surrounding mountains for spectacular winter views.

Nights: 3 nights
Meals: breakfast every day, plus one four-course dinner
Start: any day
Extras: tickets for mountain journey included
1st class rail: add £20 per person
Included travel: British Airways Heathrow-Zurich (1h45) (out dep 0850, home arr 1740) & connecting journey by rail (1h10)

Salzburg's Christmas Markets

• irresistible atmosphere • exciting bustle

For simply the best Christmas markets in Europe, you need look no further than the historic city of Salzburg where, throughout December, the welcoming streets give way to bustling markets and rousing festive cheer. The peel of church bells; the smell of hot chestnuts, gingerbread and toasted almonds; and the excited chatter of people, fuse to create an unforgettable atmosphere, and will give you memories to last a lifetime. You stay at the 4-star Hotel Wolf Dietrich in the Altstadt (Old Town) perfectly located for easy access to the heart of city. Christmas markets fill the numerous squares, and, as you would expect from Mozart’s birthplace, there are some spectacular concerts to enjoy in wonderful settings at some of the city’s most famous historic buildings. Teeming with vibrant colours, delightful smells and magical sounds, Salzburg is the place to be throughout December for a Christmas to remember.

Nights: 3
Meals: breakfast each day
Start: Sunday
Included travel: British Airways Gatwick-Salzburg (2h) (out dep 0845, home arr 1340)

> Notes on prices

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