nanabee

I am thinking (in the very early stages and we may not be able to pull it off due to family obligations) but would like to check out the possibility of doing Christmas in England or northern Europe some year. It would be our two daughters and their families - 6 adults and 3 youngish children.

What would be an inexpensive idea for lodging? Maybe do a farm stay? Rental?

Has anyone dones this and what was your experience?

adrienne

I've not done anything like this but I would choose a town rather than a farm. There's not going to be a lot to do on a farm in the winter and the only place you'll have to get warm is your rooms. In a town there are shops, cafes, and people around and you can use public transportation to get to other places easily. There's much more activity. A farm is the last place I'd want to be in cold and damp weather.

In the past several months I've read several posts/trip reports on this board on Bamberg, Germany and it's intriguing me. Someone posted a TR about self catering (it has a particular name in Germany) which would be ideal for families; giving you more room than a hotel and you can eat in therefore saving money on restaurant meals.

Click on Germany from the country drop down list and then look at the trip reports.

nanabee

Thanks adrienne, I will check out Bamberg.

Elizabeth_S

We spent Christmas in Paris in 2010 and it was lovely - went to Saint Chappelle for a Christmas Eve concert and walked through Tuileries Garden on a bright sunny Christmas Day.

StCirq

A farm stay in northern Europe in the dead of winter doesn't sound terribly appealing to me. A rental (or two or three) in a big city with a lot of holiday activity does.

We once rented a small château near Beauvais, France, with a total of 10 people, but it was mid-summer, so a completely different experience.

dutyfree

Our family has been spending Christmas overseas for the past 4 years since my folks passed away. I would highly recommend picking someplace that isn't going to be closed up the week of Christmas as it can be hard to find somewhere to eat,etc.
We have been choosing countries that are warm (to us -around 60ishF) and has history,culture,good food and scenery.
Past trips have been Egypt/Jordan;Morocco;Canary Islands and this year will be Cyprus.(We fly to the UK and then pick up a discount carrier out of there.)
The countries we have chosen are considered low season at this time of the year;have great weather and lots to see and do.My kids live overseas and the weather in Northern Europe and the UK doesn't lend itself to alot of activities at this time of the year.These trips are filled with lots of laughs,love,wine and things like Bananagrams,Scrabble and cards at night. Whatever you chose,enjoy the moments together!

Odin

We've spent couple Christmas and New Year in Russia, so obviously not warm but plenty of sightseeing and things to do, places to eat. Good thing is the Russian Christmas is not celebrated until January so everything is open around the end of December. However, it is a hassle and expensive to get visas, young kids won't appreciate the experience yet. Maybe something like a winter holiday in Lapland might be fun for kids if you want a northern European experience.

Underhill

Head to Nice, France, where the holiday decorations--especially all the lights--are amazing. There's a large open-air market to enjoy, and many displays in shop windows.

Two other options: Strasbourg and Vienna.

Mimar

In England everything closes down for Christmas and the day after. Even in a city, almost all public transportation shuts down or runs very limited service. And it's hard to find restaurants open. You might find some Christmas-holiday-all-included package at a country hotel, but that's likely to be expensive.

In other words skip England for Christmas.

bilboburgler

If you can bear the weather I'd look at York, in England
http://www.york360.co.uk/whats-on/december
http://www.visityork.org/wrappedup.aspx

nanabee

mimar, actually I don't mind somewhere where it is quiet and not the frentic shopping and crowds and traffic jams. It might be nice to just have someplace to take long walks or hikes, or just hang out. Would like someplace with an indoor water pool though.

dutyfree, Canary Islands sounds interesting and I have a friend who is from there, she might have some good suggestions as well.

Underhill, I've been to Nice, and loved it. We actually stayed in a TimeShare at something Sur-Mer? I imagine it would be lovely at Christmas time. Will have to check the weather out.

odin, I would like to visit Russia someday (especially St. Petersburg), but it might be too much for a group like ours with young kids.

Elizabeth, next time I go back to Paris, it will be just my DH and I! No Kids Allowed!

nanabee

bilboburgler, york would be perfect - or maybe even cambridge, lots of cool activities on the site you posted. however, the weather is cold (mid 40's Fahrenheit). But we live in southern California so sun and hot weather is overrated!

dutyfree

Nanabee-the Canaries were great and definitely not on most American's lists. We flew to Gatwick airport in London and then took EasyJet discount airlines there. We chose to go to two islands with a hour ferry ride between the two. We stayed in Mogan in Gran Canaria which is a delightful town without the massive resorts in your face. Our other longer stay was over on the island of Tenerife at Los Gigantes which was very cool! You can find some great deals with lots of space on Holiday lettings for villas,apartments,etc. which might be perfect for having kids with you?(Plan on a daytrip via a funicular on Tenerife to the top of the volcano -gorgeous!)

nytraveler

I don't think you are going to find any farms with indoor pools - never mind ones that are operating in winter. That sounds more like a (very expensive) luxury resort.

And frankly I would be bored stiff sitting in a chilly house (heating in europe is typically not the same as in the US) in the middle of winter with nothing to do. (Walking around someone's farm I don;t think counts as hiking.)

It sounds like you are looking for an upscale winter resort - that will have lots of activities (including an indoor pool) to keep people busy. But unless I wanted to ski I would stick to a city that is open except for the holiday itself (Paris? Rome?)

sheila

Edinburgh might be a nice pick. There's a lot of activity round Christmas and New Year (and it's a nice city anyway). Rent a nice central flat. Do Christmas dinner either en famille at home or a hotel- as the mood takes you. Lots of lovely places to walk off the turkey.

Plenty of nice day trips into the country; carol signing, Christmas market- OK, it's a fake, but quite a good one- Watch Night Service.

see what you think. A lot is posted on Edinburgh's Hogmanay web site

Leely2

I've been to Paris and Rome for Christmas; both were great but, yes, bustling. Doesn't sound like you want bustling. However, it is nice for people to have numerous sightseeing options when a large group is traveling together. Couples can go off while grandparents look after the grandchildren for an evening, you and your daughters can have an afternoon at a museum, etc.

I was really hoping to get to Sevilla this Christmas (90% sure it won't happen b/c of work stress), so I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately. I would consider a smaller town/city for the holidays but not a farm, at least not for more than a few days.