| Traditionally Christmas is seen as a time to spend | | | | places to spend Christmas is in Lapland. Many |
| with the family. However, more and more people | | | | holidays feature Lappish traditions and luxury |
| prefer not to spend Christmas at home. There is | | | | cabins with Christmas trees. They also include |
| no shortage of options for the Christmas break. It | | | | champagne breakfasts, traditional Finnish |
| is important to plan your Christmas holiday in | | | | Christmas Eve dinner and a reindeer, husky or |
| advance so that you are not disappointed. First | | | | snowmobile safari. Of course no trip to Lapland |
| you need to decide what sort of holiday you | | | | would be complete without a visit to Santa Claus. |
| want. Are you looking for a traditional Christmas | | | | If you are looking for something truly unusual |
| or do you want to experience something | | | | then why not try an igloo in Finland? You can stay |
| completely new? Do you want to go somewhere | | | | in a snow or glass igloo and enjoy a spectacular |
| that is cold and where snow is likely? Or do you | | | | view of the northern lights, go on a reindeer or |
| long for some warm weather as a complete | | | | husky safari and learn how to ice fish. Guests can |
| contrast to the British winter? Do you want a | | | | also visit the snow restaurant, the ice bar and the |
| holiday with plenty of activities or are you looking | | | | Ice gallery that features some amazing ice |
| for a relaxing quiet time away from the bustle of | | | | sculptures. If you are travelling to a city and want |
| the city? | | | | to combine your Christmas trip with sight-seeing |
| Many hotels in the UK offer Christmas breaks, | | | | you should check in advance which attractions will |
| ranging from relatively cheap to very expensive. | | | | be open during the Christmas period. |
| Rooms in hotels in Wales and Bath can be booked | | | | If you would prefer to travel to somewhere |
| for as little as £45.00 per person per night. | | | | warm for Christmas there are plenty of options. |
| Alternatively if you want to spoil yourself then | | | | You can choose a luxurious hotel in the Caribbean |
| you can travel to the Scilly Isles and enjoy | | | | or try somewhere a bit different such as Cuba or |
| champagne, boat trips, helicopter transfers from | | | | Costa Rica. Other great destinations for the |
| Cornwall and gourmet meals. For those seeking | | | | Christmas holiday period are South Africa, Mexico, |
| some peace and quiet during the holiday season, | | | | Argentina, Brazil, Australia, the Maldives, Thailand |
| Skye may be just the place. You can stay in a | | | | and Malaysia. It is best to book early and it is |
| lodge in a quiet corner of Skye and enjoy the | | | | cheaper if you can depart before December |
| food and walks around the lochs. Devon offers | | | | 20-21. You don't just have to consider countries |
| everything from thatched cottages with real | | | | that are predominantly Christian; the Red Sea |
| wood fires and inglenook fireplaces, to olde-world | | | | Coast is another good destination although you |
| country inns, to 4-star hotels. Whether you want | | | | need to book before the end of October. In fact |
| the bright lights of London or the quiet of the | | | | the Muslim countries of the Middle East are |
| Cornish countryside there will be something for | | | | becoming more popular with British travellers |
| you. Check around mid-December as often this is | | | | wanting to escape the excesses of Christmas at |
| when hotels begin to offer room deals. | | | | home. Some of the most popular destinations are |
| Christmas holidays abroad are becoming more | | | | Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Dubai and Oman. Turkey |
| popular for those who want to escape the | | | | and Jordan are also rising in popularity. |
| commercialisation of Christmas or just the British | | | | For those who want a more active holiday, skiing |
| weather. A wide range of trips is available from | | | | is a good choice. Again if you are considering a |
| stays in an Austrian castle to beach holidays. | | | | Christmas break in the Alps then you need to |
| A number of travel companies offer tours that | | | | book sometime in September or October. Once |
| depart during the Christmas period. You can spend | | | | the first snow starts to fall in November |
| a leisurely week in Andalucia, enjoying the local | | | | availability will fall rapidly. This is especially true if |
| cuisine and Moorish architecture or tour through | | | | you have children. For the more adventurous, |
| Northern India, visiting the magnificent Taj Mahal, | | | | there is ski-sailing in Norway, a snowmobile safari |
| the Pink city of Jaipur and the Ranthambore | | | | in Canada and much more. |
| National Park. Perhaps one of the most beautiful | | | | |
