Top 10 Christmas escapes to help spirit you away from the festive madness
1. Sunny Marrakesh
Five nights from £860ppMorocco is a great place for winter sun and the Riad Hikaya, a boutique guesthouse in the heart of Marrakech’s Kasbah, is perfect for a romantic Christmas holiday.
Curl up with a book on the roof terraces, take a dip in the heated plunge pool and enjoy local food in the restaurant.
Check out Jemaa el Fna Square, with food stalls, story-tellers and a maze of shops.
THE DEAL: A five-night B&B break in Marrakech from December 22 starts at £860pp with the Discerning Collection, including flights from Gatwick and transfers.
2. All the trimmings
Mince pies, mulled wine, a Christmas feast and a traditional Boxing Day walk – this Herefordshire break has it all.
Brooks Country House is a 22-room Georgian manor between the market town of Ross-on-Wye and the cathedral city of Hereford.
The hotel’s festive package includes a cinema room showing family favourites such as It’s A Wonderful Life.
THE DEAL: The Brooks Country House three-night festive package starts from £369pp based on two sharing a double or twin. Dogs welcome from £10 per night.
3. Learn to dance
You can make your stamp on Christmas Day learning a new skill on this flamenco holiday in the middle of Andalucia.
Enjoy daily two-hour classes learning the unique and passionate dance and spend the rest of your time exploring the region’s historical cities, including Andalusian and flamenco capital Seville and the dramatic mountaintop Ronda.
Make your base the three-star La Casona De Calderon, a beautiful 17th century building in the town of Osuna. And Game of Thrones fans are in for an extra treat – there are filming locations to visit nearby.
THE DEAL: Vidados has six nights’ B&B at La Casona De Calderon from £266pp for arrivals between December 11 and 31, which includes flamenco classes.
Flights from Stansted to Seville with Ryanair , on December 21 start at £191.
4. Country retreat
Hot foot it to the countryside for a luxurious and stress-free break at the Cotswold House Hotel & Spa.
Kick off your relaxing stay on Christmas Eve with cream tea in front of a roaring log fire, before enjoying champagne and canapes and a five-course meal.
THE DEAL: Three nights at the Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, arriving on Christmas Eve, starts from £655pp with Bespoke Hotels, based on two sharing a petite double.
5. Romantic retreat
Sneak away with your loved one to The Boathouse, and snuggle up in this stunning lakeside retreat
in Northumberland on the Middleton Hall Estate.
The luxurious open-plan haven has a roll-top bath, a huge ornate double bed and the exclusive use of a rowing boat to explore the lakes it looks out on. The coast is a short drive away so wrap up warm for a bracing Boxing Day walk to work off those Crimbo calories.
THE DEAL: Seven nights’ rental of The Boathouse (sleeps two), starting December 23 costs from £1,235 with CoolStays.com.
6. Floating Christmas
Splash out on Christmas Day in your very own barge on Warwickshire’s Grand Union Canal. Steer the 58ft long Isabella to Warwick Castle, where a 20ft Christmas tree dominates its Great Hall, or head south to the market town of Banbury, during your week afloat.
THE DEAL: A week from December 23 on the six-berth Isabella starts at £1,395 with Drifters. Pets can join in the fun too for £25 each.
7. Clean Caribbean living
Escape the family drama and the Christmas chill by jetting off on your own for a healthy holiday in St Lucia at The BodyHoliday Resort.
Head to the haven of this wellness retreat in the north of the island, where solo travellers can unwind on Cariblue beach. The award-winning spa will ensure you welcome in the New Year feeling truly rejuvenated along with plenty of activities from yoga to scuba diving.
THE DEAL: Health and Fitness Travel has seven nights’ all-inclusive at The BodyHoliday Resort from £3,990 including return flights leaving Gatwick on December 20, daily spa treatment and activities.
8. A true getaway
If you really want to retreat this Christmas, take a slow drive along a gated, rugged track to Penryhn Cottage in Strumble Head, on the north-west tip of Pembrokeshire.
The picturesque three-bedroom accommodation has no electricity, instead you’ll find oil lamps and candles for lighting, a log-burning stove and an open fire. There are books, games and a piano for entertainment and the garden gates leads to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path – excellent for hikes and bird-watching.
THE DEAL: Seven nights’ self-catering in Penrhyn Cottage (sleeps up to six) costs £746, arriving on December 21, with Coastal Cottages.
9. Cruise into Christmas
Christmas and New Year will be plain sailing on Fred Olsen’s voyage round the UK and Ireland.
Falmouth is the first port of call – you’ll arrive early on Christmas Eve so you can soak up the atmosphere listening to carol singers in the pretty Cornish town.
Festivities will be in full swing out at sea on Christmas Day on board Black Watch as she steers towards Ireland, with lots of traditional food and seasonal celebrations. On Boxing Day morning the ship will visit Cobh, then it’s on to Dublin to snap up bargains in the sales.
Belfast is the next port of call before arriving at Leith for the rousing New Year’s Eve Hogmanay celebrations.
THE DEAL: Fred Olsen’s 11-day Tinsel & Hogmanay cruise will sail from London Tilbury on December 22 with fares starting at £999pp.
10. Reykjavik
The Icelandic capital is sure to get you feeling festive because you can enjoy two Christmas days in this short break.
Arrive by plane on December 23, the day of the Icelandic holiday Thorlaksmessa, before soaking up the atmosphere on Icelandic Christmas Day – our Christmas Eve – when locals gather in the city centre. On December 25, celebrate with a three-course Christmas lunch at your hotel, the CenterHotel Plaza right in the heart of the Reykjavik.
THE DEAL: Four nights’ B&B at the CenterHotel Plaza starts at £734.50pp including Christmas Day lunch and flights from Heathrow on December 23 with SuperBreak.
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