V-Flyer

Hello all,

As the title says, I'm looking for recommendations for Christmas this year. Last couple of years we've gotten into the habit of escaping the usual Christmas enforced festivities, not that we're humbug or anything. Well, maybe my hubby is and it's rubbing off on me, but I digress.

We're still toing and froing over whether we're going to leave the UK or not. I'd rather so that I don't necessarily have to join countless people in a hotel in Bristol (as an example, nowt wrong with Bristol) forcing ourselves to make merry, when neither of us are the type. We like a quiet time, bit of shopping, nice hotel, good food but not a big party.

So, somewhere in Europe, (we've been to Prague and Krakow at Christmas) or somewhere on the VS network (we've been hovering over NYC but not yet convinced).

There's too many options and I need something to persuade the OH to leave the country. Christmas dinner is not a necessity, but would need to be somewhere where we could find a restaurant or two or dine in hotel on Christmas Eve / Christmas Day / Boxing Day. Looking for up to a week away.

All (sensible :0 ) suggestions greatly appreciated y)
John

Xmas in NYC would be fantastic I would have thought ,never done it myself but if I was you I'd def give it a go , not sure what the prices would be like though

Blacky1 wrote:Xmas in NYC would be fantastic I would have thought ,never done it myself but if I was you I'd def give it a go , not sure what the prices would be like though

I'm with Blacky on this one go for NYC.

Bretty forget the cold, we've done cold - from Norway to New York and heat - from Barbados to Bermuda and I would take the heat anytime.

There is nothing as cold as chilled champagne on a hot Caribbean beach as Santa arrives by boat. Best of both worlds.

I would love NYC over Christmas I think, but then I love NUYC at any time of the year. If i were going away I would choose Iceland, Norway or Sweden myself. Or the remote Scottish Highlands.

We have been away once for Christmas- to a hotel in Cornwall. Whilst it was all very nice, I really missed being at home for the festive season. So we usually go away just before or after the Christmas holidays. then we miss the crowds and it is cheaper!

NYC would be my choice, but him indoors needs persuading and the upcoming trip to SFO will seal the deal. If he doesn't like it then NYC will probably be off the table. It also is quite expensive over Christmas. I've been looking at Caribbean today, but we don't normally go for sun. I take 2 weeks off work at Christmas so going just after isn't out the question. That's what we did last Christmas, and had a couple of lovely days in a country hotel where we did nothing but read all day, interspersed with an occasional walk and fabulous food.

Still stuck for inspiration, so keep it coming folks. Funny Maximus should mention Iceland, as I've always wanted to see the northern lights.

Florida is great over the Christmas / New Year period. Nice and warm and great beach weather.

Nothing like spending New Years Eve on a beach watching the sun go down and then the fireworks

Having done both previously, Miami or the Keys win with having slightly warmer weather compared to the West or East coast of Florida.

Thanks, Florida isn't somewhere I'd thought of but will investigate.

Consider Burgh Island in Devon.
Nice and secluded when the tide comes in.
Beautiful art deco hotel.
Dress up for meals and they do a good Christmas.
Not cheap, but no airfares. (unless you fly in by helicopter!)

http://www.burghisland.com/

Dick D
PS I would recommend the Beach House, but sadly that's already booked for Christmas.

I think we might have settled on NYC for 4 nights. There's loads of rewards availability, especially in UC, and I've found some reasonable prices for a few hotels. My favourite choice is The Conrad which has all rooms - suites actually - at the same price, so I can have a 700 sq ft suite for the same price as 430 sq ft, and on the larger suites there's $100 per night credit to the room ($400!) to be spent on breakfast, dining, and anything else.

My OH was a bit brow beaten in the end and just agreed to go along if I book it. So here goes...

Bretty wrote:I think we might have settled on NYC for 4 nights. There's loads of rewards availability, especially in UC, and I've found some reasonable prices for a few hotels. My favourite choice is The Conrad which has all rooms - suites actually - at the same price, so I can have a 700 sq ft suite for the same price as 430 sq ft, and on the larger suites there's $100 per night credit to the room ($400!) to be spent on breakfast, dining, and anything else.

My OH was a bit brow beaten in the end and just agreed to go along if I book it. So here goes...

Good choice John ,you won't regret it y)

Dusseldorf & Cologne area because of the Xmas markets.
Otherwise I would be looking at something that resembles a 'chocolate box ski resort' but without the ski resort tag.

Eggtastico wrote:Dusseldorf & Cologne area because of the Xmas markets.
Otherwise I would be looking at something that resembles a 'chocolate box ski resort' but without the ski resort tag.

Lol, I've done Cheistmas markets to death I think, and am familiar with the Düsseldorf area as I have friends there. Fond memories of spießbraten and reibekuchen with apple sauce

Well it's on and all booked so thanks everyone for input, but NYC it is.

2 x M to G return, VS111 / VS046 & 4 nights in a large suite at The Conrad y) .
Very helpful FC agent who I think was more excited than me to be going to NYC for Christmas in UC!

BTW The Conrad came up on a search for places to eat at Christmas as it seems they have a decent restaurant that opens Christmas Day and put on an annual banquet of some kind, so that's my lunch sorted already :w :w

Blacky1 wrote:

Bretty wrote:I think we might have settled on NYC for 4 nights. There's loads of rewards availability, especially in UC, and I've found some reasonable prices for a few hotels. My favourite choice is The Conrad which has all rooms - suites actually - at the same price, so I can have a 700 sq ft suite for the same price as 430 sq ft, and on the larger suites there's $100 per night credit to the room ($400!) to be spent on breakfast, dining, and anything else.

My OH was a bit brow beaten in the end and just agreed to go along if I book it. So here goes...

Good choice John ,you won't regret it y)

+1. One day we'll get a signed letter from the offspring that we can do this!

Xmas in NYC sounds like a great idea, and that Conrad is being added to my list of places I ought to check next time I'm out for a Red Bulls match.

Sadly I have to play host to my mother who wants some winter sunshine courtesy of Hotel Offspring.

ooooh that all sounds idyllic. I am not a fan of the madness that is Christmas in the UK and in the past we have done Europe for the Holidays, Lanzarote, Madeira... I think NYC sounds like a possible for us in the future.
Having been to the Faroes and Iceland (but in Aug) my OH wants me to research Tromsø as he loves all things Scandi but dear Lord in December !!! no daylight, nothing much to do - no way !

I guess if you were still looking for suggestions I would have added that it is always nice to have a longer day length than in UK so S California or Arizona (warm days and cold nights so log fire in a log cabin are a must have ) would have been on my list as well as FL.

have a great time ! looking forward to your TR so I can then plan ours !

Snora - what did you think of Iceland? It's on my to-do list for either this or next summer.

Bretty wrote:Well it's on and all booked so thanks everyone for input, but NYC it is.

Very helpful FC agent who I think was more excited than me to be going to NYC for Christmas in UC!

Great choice. I would love to do that one year. if it snows do go to Central Park, it is magical covered in the white stuff.

The FC agents do get excited I have noticed when booking flights, almost as if they think they are coming along too :0

abraxias wrote:Snora - what did you think of Iceland? It's on my to-do list for either this or next summer.

I am not Snora but just wanted to say it is FANTASTIC. One of my favourite trips ever. We went in January and went to the far North (Myvatn) where I had a midnight dip in a thermal pool where we spent time star gazing- truly awesome. Lovely people, amazing landscapes- looks like an alien world in places.

If you can, do go.

Iceland is a place I'd like to visit. I had the chance a couple of years ago as I had an acquaintance who invited me and a bunch of others for a trip, but I couldn't make it.

Tallinn in Estonia is very nice. Small, with a lovely 'old town' area where most of the good restaurants are, fantastic opera if you like opera. Restaurants are good, although is think the Estonian people, like many in that region, think vegetarians a bit weird. We traveled with 2 veggie friends and the food varied for them. One night they had to eat meat because there was no veggie option! Good little Christmas market too.

I'm looking forward to NYC, we arrive on 23rd and will do just a little sightseeing, and chill out some in the vast suite I've booked! I'm also thinking about something really cheesy like the Rockettes / Radio City Xmas Special, but tickets aren't cheap. But then the average price of London theatre tickets has increased a lot in the last 3-4 years so not much different I suppose. I might make the Boxing Day sales at Macy's or Bloomingdales too

You *have* to do Radio City. It is otherworldly.

I don't agree with your observation on Broadway ticket prices though. With a bit of thought you can pick up tickets for top London plays for around £15.

abraxias wrote:Snora - what did you think of Iceland? It's on my to-do list for either this or next summer.

Iceland was amazing. We need to go back and spend more time! Def worth a trip even a short one just to experience this 'strange' place. Loved the length of the day in August and interesting food and culture. we are planning on going back.

Bretty wrote:Well it's on and all booked so thanks everyone for input, but NYC it is.

2 x M to G return, VS111 / VS046 & 4 nights in a large suite at The Conrad y) .
Very helpful FC agent who I think was more excited than me to be going to NYC for Christmas in UC!

BTW The Conrad came up on a search for places to eat at Christmas as it seems they have a decent restaurant that opens Christmas Day and put on an annual banquet of some kind, so that's my lunch sorted already :w :w

Well done Bretty, NYC at Christmas will be great, just returned on Sunday from the Big Apple, found a new restaurant (for us), the Modern Dining Room on West 53rd St, very good.

Cheers

oldboy

Bretty you've really stumbled across something with that Conrad! I was looking at NYE and most of the Hiltons with availability were hugely expensive, even crossing into over $1000 a night. Then the Conrad was $349 for a 700 sq/ft suite overlooking the Hudson.

Now.....do I go spend NYE in NYC?!