| Love it or dread it, Christmas is inevitable. No | | | | always a popular choice and there are plenty to |
| sooner have the stores taken down their | | | | be had at a reasonable price for those shopping |
| Halloween displays than they're replacing them | | | | around. Prague, with its rich history and opulent |
| with huge spangly icicles, gold stars and beaming | | | | beauty, is a firm favourite and the wonderful |
| Santas. The pressure's on to fight late night | | | | Christmas markets are open throughout the |
| shoppers, order turkeys and vast pork pies, and | | | | festive season, including Christmas Day itself. In |
| work out how to be in three different places on | | | | Vienna, the Christkindlmarkt in the City Hall Square |
| Christmas Day. There's no escape. | | | | is famous the world over for its elaborately |
| Or is there? Maybe it's time to start thinking | | | | decorated trees, dozens of wooden huts selling |
| outside the festive box. | | | | gifts and food and, of course, welcome glasses of |
| For those fortunate families who love the annual | | | | hot Gluhwein. |
| round of feeding fourteen relatives, closing the | | | | Curiously, although renowned as one of the most |
| curtains against the drizzle and huddling round for | | | | romantic and magical places in the world, Venice is |
| the TV Christmas Specials and yet more | | | | comparatively overlooked when it comes to |
| chocolates - great! But what if you're one of | | | | spending Christmas away from home. Gone are |
| those countless people who secretly yearn to be | | | | the souvenir stalls and sweltering August crowds, |
| rebellious and dare to Do Something Different? | | | | as the population seeps to just half of its summer |
| Celebrating Christmas away from home doesn't | | | | size. Spending Christmas in Venice gives the |
| mean that you have to lose the festive | | | | visitor a chance to enjoy the real city, with its |
| atmosphere - unless, of course, you want to! The | | | | wonderful architecture fully on show and evening |
| possibilities are endless. All it takes is a bit of | | | | concerts in its vast, albeit chilly basilicas. |
| imagination and planning - and, if you stay at | | | | If it's that traditional White Christmas you're |
| home, aren't you doing enough of that anyway? | | | | dreaming of, then the ski resorts of Switzerland, |
| As with anything involving travel and | | | | France and Austria are great places to head for. |
| accommodation, budget will be a key | | | | Sunshine on crisp snow, pine-covered mountains |
| consideration. The least expensive option is likely | | | | and crackling log fires all make for that perfect |
| to be simply treating yourself to a 'day off.' | | | | Christmas card scene. And, away from the |
| Instead of spending hours in a steamy kitchen, | | | | slopes, a glass or two of hot punch always goes |
| returning to wrestle a pile of washing-up and | | | | down well as the snow softly falls. |
| trying to squeeze some relaxation in between, | | | | For those with a higher budget and looking for a |
| many people turn to a local restaurant or hotel. | | | | decidedly less chilly Christmas, what better than a |
| Served with good quality food and all the hassle | | | | Caribbean island or the Maldives. With softly |
| taken care of, they can make the most of the | | | | swaying palms, turquoise seas and freshly |
| day and enjoy it from start to end. | | | | prepared gourmet food and drink, how much |
| Spending the festive season at an all-inclusive | | | | further could you get from rainy streets, empty |
| British holiday park/camp can be a great way for | | | | sweet wrappers and yet another turkey |
| mums and dads to take it easy while the kids still | | | | sandwich? |
| get to enjoy a fun-packed Christmas. As ever, | | | | But for Christmas with an even bigger difference, |
| there's tons for children to do, loads more room | | | | imagine being out in the deep, silent snow at night, |
| for them to let off steam... and Santa still drops | | | | lying on a reindeer skin as amazing colours dance |
| by for the ones who've been good! | | | | and shimmer their way across the sky. Imagine |
| For younger children, where better to see Father | | | | the spectacular Northern Lights. Several |
| Christmas than at home in Lapland... and if he's | | | | destinations offer a great chance to see the |
| already whizzed off on his sleigh, well the elves will | | | | Aurora Borealis in all its magnificent glory, including |
| still be around to give a warm welcome, taking a | | | | Finland, Norway, Sweden and The Yukon. |
| well-earned break after all that hard work! As well | | | | We hope we've offered something for everyone |
| as day trips, there are plenty of tours around, | | | | in our variety of Christmas Hotel Breaks. Before |
| lasting from two days upwards. Huskies, | | | | you dig out those fairy lights for another year, |
| snowmobiles and those all-important reindeer will | | | | stop for a moment. Do you really want to spend |
| all leave magical memories that the kids will | | | | another Christmas half asleep on the sofa with |
| treasure for ever. | | | | indigestion? Go on... dare to Do Something |
| When it comes to the grown-ups, city breaks are | | | | Different. |