Christmas in an Hotel?

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Luckily, I have never had Christmas on my own. The first after I was widowed I spent with DD and her in-laws as I didn't want to be at home remembering the previous year's happy gathering, and the second I spent in Sydney with another DD. This year, 2 DD's + families are coming to me. It will be strange, but I feel now is the time to bite the bullet.
We once spent a 3 day Christmas with another family and our respective parents at Crieff Hydro. It was wonderful, great fun with lots of activities for the children including a creche where they could be left for a couple of hours if required, leaving the adults free to enjoy a or three. Every meal was an occasion with the Turkey being piped-in on Christmas Day, much formality, hilarity and laughter especially when instructing Santa to change his arrangements . I look back on it with such happy memories.

We did it one year when I was heavily pregnant with first child and working and we were having a new bathroom installed and our house was chaos. It was very nice to be waited on at the time, although the enduring memory is simply one of too much food!

Being alone at Christmas suits me down to the ground - it means I can ignore the whole thing!

I'm inclined to agree with that sentiment. Once my children had passed the age of about 13/14, I lost interest in Christmas as a holiday season and it just became a chore with all that cooking and clearing away - all that preparation as well. Now I can blissfully ignore the whole charade (apart from Christmas dinner - I still have to do that as my son prefers to come here for Christmas dinner).

My mum goes away for Christmas every year. She loves it. No cooking or washing up. Day trips out. Entertainment. New friends.

When my DF died, the last of our older generation, I could not face Christmas for just the four of us, so we 4 (2DDs, DH and Me) booked our time off work, held our breath until a fortnight before Christmas and then got a real bargain of a late deal at a top hotel in Majorca. Having found that it is the more expensive hotels that sell out last, we repeated this, twice to Benidorm, which is where the rich Spanish go at Christmas, and once each to Lanzarote and Cyprus. Then when the DDs could not arrange a full week off we went to Auchranie on Arran twice and also to Dumfries. The 2nd visit to Auchranie we hired a lodge there instead of staying in the hotel and each took part of a sumptuous Christmas dinner, although we booked into the boxing day Murder Mystery dinner in the hotel and joined in with the duck race, swimming, quizzes etc. We paid for the hotels as DD's Christmas presents and they paid their airfares. No other presents allowed [this was not strictly adhered to] We all enjoyed these breaks from tradition and taking part in different kinds of Christmas celebrations. I particularly loved avoiding the Christmas food shopping, the cooking and the clearing up.

Thereafter, DDs' partners and one set of in-laws joined the family and then the DGC came along so back to 'at home' Christmases for us.

Being alone at Christmas suits me down to the ground - it means I can ignore the whole thing! The best Christmas day I can remember was in an hotel, though - it started at 10:30 with champagne cocktails in the Manager's apartment -- after which I shall draw a veil... it was at the Gulf Hotel, in Bahrain, by the way.

Forgot to say...... after meeting the locals at church, meet the locals at the pub.Or if you don't go to church, just go to the pub. If you never drink, and don't go to church, light the fire and have a great day in, with a lovely Christmas meal of your own choosing.

I have always loved to spend Christmas at home with the family but our eldest has for the last number of years wanted us as a family to go to a good hotel but DD and family couldn`t afford to do it nor youngest DS but this year I have been thinking about it DH suffered a severe stroke at Christmastime last year and going away for 2014 sounds good - but don`t know if I we could manage it and to pay for everyone to go would be exhorbitant. But I understand where you are coming from Sue

The trouble with hotels is that [for me] there is far too much eating and drinking.I like to eat only when I am ready, and I like to eat only what I fancy.So, perhaps a holiday cottage somewhere [in this country] would be better if you and your DH feel abit the same? Somewhere with a log burner, and you can take [or buy there] all the Christmas food you need.You don't have any forced jollity thrust upon you that way.Choose a part of the country that you like, or somewhere you have never been before. Go to the local church on Christmas morning.

Whatever the reason for being alone at Christmas (I am too), I think it's very easy to feel sad and as though you are the only person not doing anything.
I've always found that if you regard it as just another day and a good chance to lounge around, watch a film, eat chocolate for breakfast, and smoked salmon for dinner, or whatever seems a bit decadent/naughty/rebellious, then before you know it..............................it's over and you've had a good time!
Works for me anyway

Sue!

That was to Sie

Not at all!
It's just me that's

When the children were travelling we spent two Christmases on a Travel Editions five day trip. The first was to Strasbourg and the second to Montpelier. Both were wonderful. Quite small groups with amazing meals at the small hotels and trips out on the other days. There were quite a few solo travellers and as we all sat at tables of eight everyone was included. Strasbourg was snowy and like a storybook Christmas, Montpelier was beautifully warm and we went for a long walk along the river on Christmas Day ready for one of the best meals we've ever had in the evening. Now the grandchildren have arrived I don't think we'd get away with it.

Oh dear I have just read all this and now feel I ought to give my DH the Christmas he loves best - at home!

I am sorry that some people are alone and Xmas must be the worst time- sorry to have sounded so insensitive and spoilt. .

Culag I feel the same. I've spent several on cruises which are good fun, but owing to an expensive year and no work I can't for the next couple of years. Darling daughter comes with the DGC and her partner for one day, but after that I'm on my own .
Expect I'll just curl up with a good book.

Culag I'm sure we would feel the same, a bit wistful that we don't have a loved one there to share the experience, and talk it over with afterwards.

Back to the hotel cost though, at Xmas of course it is expensive, the staff pay rates go up as it's all bank holiday rates, so mostly double at least. Plus, you can't rely on casual staff for something so important.

My family and I spent one Christmas in Austria and it was beautiful (at least we got some snow!) and, under the same circumstances, I would do it again.

I'm feeling bad now that my post sounded so miserable. My husband died seven years ago, and I've only had that one Christmas on my own. I now have a super grandchild which helps alot. But I do feel guilty that my family always feel they ought to invite me as I'm on my own.

I try to remember the good times, but it usually makes me so sad that he is not still here enjoying life.

Ignore me, I'm just going through a bad patch at the moment, I'll get over it

Hike up the prices yes - but if you consider what many hotels lay on, it's not surprising. A typical four days at the one I used to go to most often provided child care free in a room near the main ballroom. On arrival, you would have afternoon tea, and a glass of champagne (all paid for as it was a package). As you had dessert, there would be a group of some kind arriving to sing carols - I remember the Salvation Army being very popular! Afterwards, a disco for those who wanted it.

Xmas day, and after breakfast Father Xmas would arrive by heliocopter and provide a small gift for the children and apologise for anything he had got wrong overnight. Then (it was a country hotel) lunch, after that you could go for a walk or have a go on some kind of racetrack game, gamble (not for money) watch a film, borrow a bike or a kite, and many other things I can't even remember because I didn't bother with them. I used to go for a swim.

Then dinner and a cabaret afterwards, a live band for dancing (how they found them on xmas day I shall always wonder) followed by yet another disco for the younger ones.

Boxing Day, repeat, apart from Father Xmas. All wine came with meals unless you didn't like it, in which case you could order something different. Also buy your own spirits from the bar. But as much tea and coffee all day as you like.

Leave after breakfast the following day.

I could never afford it now, my family would hate for me to do it - but oh how I miss it...

Culag so sorry to hear things were so bad for you. I was fortunate to spend my first Christmas alone with my family who live in Australia (my nephew, who is completely bonkers, seemed to sense when I was feeling down and would do or say something to make me laugh). The last 2 Christmas' I have spent Christmas day alone but visited in-laws on Boxing Day.

It is still early days for you, and it is hard, but I found remembering the good times helped a lot. I also went out for a long walk after lunch (worked off all that excess food and wine!) and then settled down by the fire with a good film.

I've spent one Christmas on my own since my husband died, but it was grim. I did well up to lunch time (I cooked something special) but it was downhill after that. (Maybe the alcohol had something to do with it ). Then there was Boxing Day to get through. I would really like to go away, in good company, to somewhere with no Christmas celebrations at all.

Charleygirl, my DH and I always had Christmas Day alone and then would visit family on Boxing Day. Since being widowed my in-laws have invited me to spend Christmas with them but so far I have opted to stay home. I agree you can then do as you wish, watch TV, go for a walk or whatever. I usually have a few tears first thing on Christmas morning but then I remember all the good times we had and soon feel better.

It is a lovely idea but do hotels not "jack" up their prices at that time of year? I am in the same position as sunseeker and would not go on my own.

When I was married I think we had one Christmas together- I was either working or we went to in laws and I loathed that as breakfast was at 8am lunch 1pm etc. They went to bed at 9.30pm but complained about the noise if we sat up to watch TV. I prefer to be on my own and can have a boiled egg if I so wish.