by Bah humbug, it’s that time of year again. Over-eating, over-drinking and over-exposure to family, as well as slacking off when it comes to the bank account. A recent survey suggests that Londoners spend an average of £973 on Christmas, including presents, food, drink and all the extras that go with it. The score is lower in some regions (£752 in Scotland, £803 in East Anglia) but, for many families, the bill will be even higher.
But, if it’s not too Scrooge-like, is Christmas able to spend so much money? Does the family need those expensive gifts, the flowing fizz, the deluxe biscuits, the giant turkey and the endless trimmings? Wouldn’t everyone be happier if they added a little more? After all, think about what else you could do with the money when it comes to getting a different kind of break in 2024.
Granted, £973 won’t buy you a super cheap holiday in peak season, but there are plenty of great breaks for this amount at other times of the year. It could be a few nights of dinner, bed and breakfast in a spa hotel in the UK, or a half-term family stay in a cozy cottage in Wales. Or maybe a chance to catch a glimpse of a weekend break to Paris, or even some early season sun in the Balearics. Or, invest your money in a new year’s resolution and challenge yourself on a creative course in West Sussex.
It’s not too late to set your Festival budget a little lower. Send fewer cards, choose a smaller tree, cut back on gifts, trim stockings and limit your cooking costs. Ring the bells, not the silver coins. You might not even notice the difference in well-being and happiness – and if it means being able to take an extra break in 2024, surely it’s worth a try?
So spend that £973 on a holiday instead: we’ve picked a selection of great breaks that cost, give or take ten, exactly:
£963: Spring break in Paris
Maximize the joy of Christmas by planning a spring flight to Paris in May. Expect to stroll through the boulevards and large gardens in the early sunlight and people watch from a street side cafe table. Window shop along the Champs Élysées, walk from the Place de la Concorde through the Jardin des Tuileries Garden to the Louvre and book advance tickets to the upcoming “Inventing Impressionism” exhibition at the Musée Orsay.
Book this: Eurostar (03432 186 186; eurostar.com) offers a three-night stay at the four-star Maison Malesherbes on Place Saint Augustin from £963 double occupancy, including rail travel, leaving St Pancras on 10 May.
£966: Half term family in Wales
Hold back on the gifts and instead treat your family to a February half term break in a wonderful corner of the UK for walks and board games by the fire. Choose one of the Landmark Trust’s characterful, family homes, a selection that includes Stockwell Farm in Powys, a centuries-old stone farmhouse with far-reaching views over the Radnor countryside. The scenic walking countryside of Offaly’s Dyke is nearby, and the towns of Hay-on-Wye and Llandrindod Wells are within 15 minutes’ drive.
Book this: Landmark Trust (01628 825925; landmarktrust.org.uk) offers stays at Stockwell Farm, sleeping six, from £966 for seven nights’ rent, from 9-16 February.
£970: Spa Hotel in Norfolk
Lean back on the Christmas cooking and treat yourself to an indulgent half-board break at Congham Hall near Kings Lynn in West Norfolk, where a full English breakfast and three-course dinner are included in the nightly rate. With 31 rooms spread across the main house and garden courtyards, this luxurious Georgian house offers an on-site Secret Garden Spa with a pool, hot tub and a range of treatments. Local tours include the King’s house at Sandringham, the 18th century Houghton Hall, the shopping town of Burnham Market and the great sandy beaches of Norfolk.
Book this: Congham Hall (01485 600250; conghamhallhotel.co.uk) offers three nights from £840 half board for two people sharing a standard room. Add a half day spa package for £130. Based on a weekday or weekend stay before March 31.
£982: Sunshine in the Balearics
Embrace the worst of winter’s cold in December while looking forward to a sunny June getaway funded by your Christmas savings. Head to Majorca’s north-east beach resort of Puerto Pollensa, with its beautiful bay backed by the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains and its promenade and marina and low-key bars and restaurants, for a week of water sports, walking or swimming by the pool.
Book this: Tui (0203 451 2688; tui.co.uk) offers a seven-night stay at the four-star Club Del Sol Aparthotel in Puerto Pollensa from £982 B&B per person, based on two people sharing a junior room with balcony or terrace with their -includes flights. and transfers, taking place June 20.
£984: Creativity in West Sussex
Put your Christmas money towards an exciting residential course at West Dean College near Chichester in West Sussex. Part of the West Dean Estate on the edge of the South Dunes, it offers instruction in a wide range of arts and crafts including painting, photography, jewellery-making, sculpture and basketry, aimed at all levels from beginner to expert. Accommodation is provided at the main house or the nearby Old Vicarage – and food is sourced from produce grown largely on site.
Book this: West Dean (01243 818 300; westdean.ac.uk) offers a four-day “silver jewelery making” course for £545. Book a four-night stay at the college for half-board from £439, based on the use of one standard en suite room, from 14-18 January.
